KGV Challenge Week 2021

英皇佐治五世學校挑戰週

Teaching and reaching on Jelik 6 (KGV Challenge Week)

From 1 to 5 November 2021, King George V School held its ‘Challenge Week’, providing an opportunity for its pupils to try a range of activities, including paddle-boarding, mountain-biking, sports and beach camps, even pottery, away from their books and computers.

In this case, 42 fortunate pupils, from years 8 to 12, swapped their classroom for Port Shelter, joining the sailing programme organised in conjunction with the Hebe Haven Yacht Club, for the Hebe Haven Yacht Club’s ‘KGV Challenge Week’.

The students were split into two camps—18 opting for dinghy sailing on eight Quests and four Picos to complete their HKSF Levels 1 & 2 dinghy sailing certification. Twentyfour others, some of whom have already participated in past years on dinghies, chose to learn on five of the club’s J/80 keelboats.

Conditions throughout the week proved ideal, although Friday the 5th was somewhat overcast, with a lighter southeasterly, when the fleet headed out. The sun eventually broke through around noon.

Organising the event on behalf of KGV was Kay Edwards, assisted by Lisa Conway and other teachers. Both Edwards and Conway have been involved in sailing activities at HHYC, including past ‘Challenge Weeks’, as well as supporting the KGV teams in the annual 24 Hour Charity Dinghy Race.

英皇佐治五世學校於2021年11月1日至5日舉行了挑 戰週，學生藉此機會遠離書本和電腦，嘗試各種活 動，例如划槳衝、越野單車和沙灘露營，甚至陶藝 課程。

英皇佐治五世學校挑戰週中的42名學生，年齡介乎8 歲到12歲，參加了由白沙灣遊艇會組織的帆船活動。

學生被分為兩組，第一組共18名學生將在8艘Quest 航行、4艘Pico航行，並以考獲香港帆船運動總會一 級及二級小艇證書。另外24名學生，當中部份學生 有航行經驗，選擇了5艘J/80龍骨船。

挑戰週期間的天氣非常理想，除了11月5日當天天色 陰暗，在隊伍出發時，海面吹著輕緩東南風。中午 時分，太陽終於出來了。

英皇佐治五世學校的代表Kay Edwards，在Lisa Conway和其他老師的協助下，組織了這次活動。長 久以來，兩人非常支持白沙灣遊艇會的活動，例如 與遊艇會合辦挑戰週活動，現身24小時慈善小艇比 賽支持其學校隊伍。

According to Conway, some of the pupils are naturals while others build confidence by being out of their comfort zones! One youngster was feeling a little queasy on the first day but refused to give up and, by the end of the course, was confidently helming her J/80.

Coaching and safety support was provided by a number of HHYC’s sailing instructors, one of whom, Nigel Slattery, is a former KGV pupil. Other students who have participated in the Challenge Week have pursued their interest in sailing by joining the HHYC Dragons dinghy sailing teams.

Yani, one of the instructors and safety boat drivers, praised the students and was surprised how attentive, responsive, polite and courteous they were, comments similarly supported by other instructors.

Grishma, Victoria and Hernice sailing a Quest loved the experience except for an early collision! Olivia on another Quest really enjoyed learning something different.

On the final day, the J/80 sailors sailed to a seafood restaurant in Cascade Bay, Kau Sai Chau, to enjoy lunch before sailing home. In the light airs, some were towed back to the club for a late lunch at the Garden Bar. There their instruction continued before certificates of participation were presented along with other certificates to the star performers. Certificates for those completing their HKSF Levels 1 & 2 will be awarded later.

The success and popularity of this programme, which started in 2008, certainly enriches the lives of the young participants and helps to develop their confidence and ability to work as a team, especially so given the range of ages involved.

Lisa Conway表示有些學生天生就有自信，而另一些學生則 是通過跳出他們的舒適圈來建立自信。在第一天，有個小 女生感覺有點不舒服，但她不想缺席活動就此放棄。在挑 戰週結束之際，看到她在J/80船上信心十足的模樣，十分 開心。

該活動由多位帆船導師提供訓練及職員，其中一位導師 Nigel Slattery還是英皇佐治五世學校的畢業生呢！部份 學員還想參加白沙灣遊艇會龍隊，顯然對帆船運動有極 大興趣。

其中一名導師兼救生艇駕駛員Yani，稱讚學生的專注力、敏 捷的反應、禮貌並且謙恭，其他導師也十分同意。

Grishma、Victoria和Hernice非常享受在Quest上的航行體 驗，儘管一開始發生了和其他船隻碰撞的狀況。在另一艘 Quest上的Olivia則坦言自己很享受學習新事物。

在航行的最後一天，J/80級船的隊伍前往滘西灣的一家海鮮 餐廳享用午餐，然後啟程返回。部份返回遊艇會後，在花園 酒吧又享用了一頓美食。接近活動尾聲，主辦方向出色表現 的學員頒發證書。而完成香港帆船運動總會一級及二級小艇 證書的學員，將於稍後獲頒發證書。

挑戰週活動始於2008年，不少年輕學員透過參加活動豐富 了生活、培養團隊精神、增強信心和能力。