Candy Strikes Gold

Candy 奮力摘「金」！

by Andrew Sheard

HHYC member and Sailability volunteer Andrew Sheard writes about Candy Tse, an instructor with Sailability.

About eight years ago at the beginning of her sailing life Candy went on a course at a government sailing centre where one day she saw a tall guy, teaching a kid sail an Optimist, get hit on the side of his head by a boom. Candy is quite small and she suddenly realised that her stature would be an advantage for her if she could teach kids to sail someday, so she set herself a goal of becoming a trained instructor. Since then, she has trained as a Power Boat driver and in first aid, as well as sailing instruction. In fact, it was whilst training on a Power Boat course at HHYC that she first came across Sailability.

Sometimes Candy takes part in Sailability activities as a sailor, sometimes she is a volunteer, and most often she’s an Instructor. This gives her an inclusive all-round experience of what Sailability offers.

She loves sailing a 2.4mR and often joins training with the para sailing team. As a result of sailing with disabled people she has become friendly with some of them, meeting outside of sailing for meals and other activities. She hugely admires people with disabilities and how they overcome the challenges in their lives. “They are so tough, so strong in their minds,” she said. She loves being part of Sailability where she can talk and share about sailing. She added, “Knowledge, tips, and just fun things, they are all part of the experience”.

白沙灣遊艇會會員及航能義工 Andrew Sheard 就於航能擔任導師 的 Candy Tse 撰文。

大約 8年前，Candy 的航海生涯 剛開始，她有天在政府航海中心 的課堂上，目睹教授小朋友乘航 Optimist 的高個子男生的頭側被 雷打中。由於 Candy 身型細小，那 一刻她突然意識到以後教導小朋 友航海的話，身型對她來說將會是 優勢，因此以成為一位訓練有素的 教練為目標。自那時起，她接受快 艇航員和急救訓練，以及航海指導 的訓練。事實上，她與航能的初次 交集由參與快艇課程開始。

Candy有時會以航員和義工身份 參與航能活動，但大部分時間她都 擔任導師的角色。此讓她在航能經 歷了全方位的體驗。

她喜愛登上 2.4mR 出航，並不時參 與傷健航員團隊的訓練。與傷健人 士出航的經歷讓她與一些航員成為 了朋友，除航海以外會相約用膳或 進行其他活動。她非常欣賞傷健人 士克服自身挑戰的努力。「他們無比 堅強，內心非常強大。」她說道。她 樂於成為航能的一分子，讓她能與 大家分享與航海有關的一切：「知 識、貼士，甚至有趣的小事情，全都 是經驗的一部分。」

One of the most successful Sailability programmes of the last 2 years is the Golden Age programme which is funded by The Hong Kong Club Foundation. Candy is one of the lead instructors on the programme. Its goals are to give seniors, defined as people aged 55 and over, the opportunity to try sailing for the first time. It was started during the COVID period and has thrived throughout.

The initial programme in April 2021 was a two-day “learn about sailing” course. As people heard about the opportunity to go sailing more and more people signed up. As of June 2022, around 130 people have completed the course, nearly all sailing for the first time in their lives, and about half of these have gone on to learn more either as a sailor or as a volunteer with Sailability. The participants are nearly always retired and in good health, so they have both the time and inclination to contribute their skills. “They contribute the skills they have acquired during their lives, at their work,” said Candy. Many of them are now part of the Sailability “maintenance team” led by Ernest Cheung fixing boats and making minor repairs caused by the usual wear and tear of sailing. “The group display maturity and initiative,” said Kay Rawbone, CEO of Sailability HK, “they organise themselves”. The Golden Age volunteers were a huge support during last year’s 24 Hour Race when they staffed the Sailability stand throughout the two-day event and in addition raised HK$ 100K in donations. Candy agreed it was a magnificent effort from the Golden Age volunteers saying, “I simply produced a form for people to use to sign up, and it all went from there, word spread and so many people were keen to join the event.”

Candy wants to encourage everyone to sail—women and girls, people of every age, and every level of fitness. “I treasure every day I can go sailing and teach others how to sail too,” said Candy. She is 100% committed to the vision of Sailability “making sailing accessible to EVERYONE”.

航能在過去 2 年最成功的 一個計劃，是由香港會基 金支助的 Golden Age計 劃。Candy是計劃的首席導 師。計劃以為長者—即55歲 或以上人士提供航海體驗為 目標。計劃於新冠肺炎期間 開始，並一直進行。

最初的活動為 2021 年 4 月進 行的「學習航海」2天課程。 越來越多人聽聞這個航海的 機會，不斷吸引更多人報名 參加。截至 2022 年 6月，大 約有 130 位人士完成課程， 大部分都是第一次航海。當 中約一半更以航員或航能義 工身份繼續學習更多相關知 識。參加者大部分為身體健 康的退休人士，有時間和意 向貢獻自己的技能。「他們 以人生中習得的技能投入於 工作之中。」Candy說道。多 位參加者成為航能維修團隊 的一員，由 Ernest Cheung 帶領，維修航隻或因日常使 用及出航所做成的微小故 障和損毀。「團隊展現出成 熟與主動的一面，」航能香 港的 CEO Kay Rawbone 表 示：「他們都親力親為籌備 一切。」Golden Age 義工提 供了去年24小時賽事的主要 支援，在爲期2天的活動期 間擔任航能攤位的工作人 員，並籌集了10萬港元的捐 款。Candy 認同 Golden Age 義工的重大貢獻，表示：「我 只是製作了一個報名表格， 消息傳開來，讓很多人積極 參與了這個活動。」

Candy想要鼓勵大家出 航—女士或女孩，不論歲 數，亦不論健全與否。「我 珍惜能夠出航和教導他人 航海的每一天！」她說。她 投下了100%的心力，完成 航能為每一個人帶來航行 機會的願景。