The kids had a variety of conditions with two days blown out entirely and the other three days had everything from 3 to 18 knots. Despite the average weather the kids were enthusiastic and were very keen to get out on the water and learn and all were sailing well by the end of the week. The Boatshed sent along Louise Poland, a professional Tackers Instructor who ran the program. Louise was assisted on the water by BYC members Mick Smith (who is a Tackers Assistant Instructor) and Floyd Bromley. Of course the Tackers week could not have run without the support and help from a small army of volunteers who organised the onshore side of the event. Pam, Mike and Bruce in the tower, Avril, Lorraine, Christine, Janette, Cheryl, Roger, Colin, Victor, Silke, Bronwyn, Mun and Judy in the canteen (not all at once – that might be a bit of a squash!). Thanks to everyone who helped out during the week. A lot was learnt from this inaugural Tackers week at BYC which will be put to good use in January 2014 when The Boatshed comes back to BYC. The Club is hoping to book the program a little later next time in order to encourage a greater level of attendance. Stay tuned!
Kid’s Corner At the Tackers course, we had a good time. We learnt many things. We learnt about boat parts. We had to sail an Opti. We learnt how to move the tiller and sail. The instructors are nice and not very strict. They never get angry when you make a mistake. They play fun games and look after you. What I learnt at sailing was that you have to be quick to duck under the boom when it passes over your head. What I learnt about the boats is that boats’ centreboards sometimes get chipped when they pass over rocks. We played all sorts of games like Wink the Murderer, Ninja and Time Games on things about sailing. They give you oranges and cordial for morning tea and sausages and cordial for lunch. Christopher Moews (Age 9) On an Opti there is a main sheet which controls the big sail and there also is a rudder, foot straps and a centre board. Our instructors told us a lot about sailing that includes games, set up tips and how to draw an Opti I learnt about tacks and pull turns which are the main things about Tackers 1. Tobi Moews (Age 9)
The Lidgett Trophy The Lidgett Trophy took place a few weekends ago, which was a sailing regatta that only allowed people from the ages of 8 to 15 to compete. I was in the Green Fleet level for the race; which is the level in sailing where you are starting to race. The regatta meant I got a full weekend of sailing. The first part was a bit of sailing around some markers, but there was hardly any wind so I practised some capsizing. We went back to the yacht club, had a break for lunch, and then did some more sailing. Some kids thought they had over taken me, and thought they had beaten me, but they had only done one lap, whilst I had done two. On the way sailing back in to the yacht club, I did some more capsizing. The next day started with no wind, so they gave everyone free time to play in the water while they waited for the wind to come up. When the wind finally did come up, we did some more sailing. We had to sail into the wind to get to the first marker. This sounds impossible, but if you zigzag, you can get there. After that, we had to sail downwind (with the wind behind us) to get back. We did a few laps, then went back to get our places announced. The first trophy given was to me, Nicholas Berry. I was 3rd place in the Green Fleet level. I got a trophy for it, and as I walked back to my place I saw my brother Cameron, with a jealous look on his face (he is very competitive). The 1st place winner also got a Canon camera. Later on, Cameron got an encouragement award. We were the only two sailors from Beaumaris Yacht Club there, meaning Beaumaris had complete success. Nicholas and Cameron Berry at the Lidgett Trophy
YC IN EARLY January. Normally a quiet period for our Club with little sailing between mid-December and mid-January. But not in 2013 as BYC hosted a week-long Tackers 1 and 2 course run by the Yachting Victoria Mobile Boatshed. This was BYC’s first foray into the Tackers program so we were a little unsure of what to expect. The numbers were down somewhat on what The Boatshed expected however that is likely due to early January being a popular time for family holidays.