Ten young sailors from the Calliaqua Police Youth Club participated in an intensive “Introduction to Sailing” course over the weekend as part of the ongoing St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sailing Association (SVGSA) programme.
The weekend kicked off on Saturday with the enthusiastic sailors completing essential land drills before moving on to rigging their boats.
Under the expert guidance of qualified coaches from the club, they then ventured into Calliaqua Bay. Despite stronger-than-ideal winds, the students managed admirably, handling the double-handed dinghies with confidence and skill, with the help of the coaches.
Sunday brought calmer winds, allowing each participant the exciting opportunity to sail a training dinghy solo, honing their newfound skills in a more controlled environment.
“The SVGSA program seeks to empower young individuals through sailing, whether that be for fun, racing, or as a vocational path. It was particularly rewarding to see that many of this weekend’s coaches started their sailing journeys through the same programme,” Jenny Trumble, president of the SVGSA, said.
The young sailors who took part in this transformative experience were Tavia Martin, Kaden Cumberbatch, Myra Quinton, LaShanda Harry, TajLee McPherson, Khaliel Isaacs, Kayzenae Riffin, Sarai Francois, Jaymari Young, and Ocean Alexander.
Each of these promising sailors has been offered additional lessons with the Vincy Sailing Club to further develop their sailing skills.
The dedicated coaches who guided the youth sailors, giving back to their community and sport, included Joshua Osborne, Isaiah Blackett, Scarlett Hadley, Tegan Deane, Shamesh Joseph, Benji Cyrus, Kai Marks Dasent, and Logan Banfield.
Martin Ince and Mischa Young organised the event.
“This weekend’s successful camp underscores the SVGSA’s commitment to fostering a love for sailing and developing the next generation of sailors in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the club said.
The Vincy Sailing Club’s next event is the World Sailing Women’s Festival, on Saturday at Coconut Grove Beach Club, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
People who would like to support these community sailing programmes can contaact Jenny at [email protected].