10 WATERLINE
DECEMBER 2012
CLUB NEWS
A whole lot
Attending the Optimist North Island Champs recently I was reminded why it is that I am so pleased our family has become involved in sailing. My youngest sailor was waiting nervously onshore to see if Green Fleet would go out. It was around 18-20 knots, the sails were making a horrendous noise as the gusts came through, and it was raining and freezing cold. He was kind of hoping Green fleet would be called off. I spotted Dean Drummond, an experienced sailor himself and current Opti Dad and asked if he would give James a bit of encouragement. Better than that he gathered all our Greenies round and went over their rigs and explained to them how to make their boats easier to sail in the heavier winds. ‘What’s the worst thing that can happen James?, Dean asked, ‘ I’ll get scared!’ came back James, ‘ Sure you might get a bit scared, but we can make your boat easy to sail and we will always take care of you out there. Even if you get out for just one race you will be a better sailor next time you have to sail in the heavy wind’. All the TYPBC Greenies survived the windy day; in fact they excelled and were so excited about their achievements when they got back onshore that they haven’t stopped telling us about them yet! So much of what our children, and us adults, learn when we go sailing are things which carry over into all aspects of life. Being involved in sailing helps our kids learn to tackle things that make them a bit scared and get to experience the excitement of doing things on the edge of their abilities, having an adventure! It teaches them to look after their boats and equipment and to learn from others. It teaches them to share their knowledge, to give back to their club and to look after each other. There is a lot of cooperation involved in going sailing. That is the beauty of a club like TYPBC where all our sailors can learn from and help each other, where experience can be passed on and where adults and kids work together. Helping to get more people involved in sailing is our new club coach Taylor Chittick. Taylor has come to us from San Francisco YC. He is a keen traveller and is enjoying being based in Tauranga where he and girlfriend Anna can take in many of the outdoor pursuits which they are interested in outside of sailing. Taylor has experience sailing 29er, 420, and coaching optimists. Taylor couldn’t believe his first week at work at TYPBC, in October. There was no sailing at the club for nearly a week with winds gusting around 30 knots plus. When sailors did venture out there were plenty of spills and thrills, broken bits and a couple of near misses. Taylor promptly set about making the most of the conditions during the day as he is a keen kite boarder and spent his coaching sessions getting to know the sailors and their aspirations for the season ahead. Since that first week it has been all go, the wind has nearly always cooperated and Taylor has