The past year for junior sailing was a fun and eventful year although, as usual, the weather was inclement, especially at the end of the season. I would like to thank all the instructors: Chris, Clive, Sarah, Carol, Joan and Sammy for all their hard work and dedication each week in helping the children learn to sail. We continued as an RYA Training Centre with the children achieving their RYA certificates. A big thank you to all the parents for their essential help in shore based activities, in the safety boats and getting the boats in and out of the water each week.

I would also like to thank Sam and Lisa for co-ordinating the safety boat crews – without them we would be unable to get on the water, and to Norma for the fantastically valuable job of registering the children each week. A big thank you also goes to Elsa Chance from the HRCST for taking time out of her busy life to be our Senior Instructor for the season.

We held a Fun Day when the children had a Fishing and Crabbing contest. Who would have thought you could catch large mullet from the pontoons, not one but two! There was also a Treasure Hunt, and I am still not quite sure what a slipper shell is, and not forgetting the children’s favourite – the swimming races, with competitors as young as five years old. This was an exhausting but enjoyable day for all.

The Junior Helm race was a success with perfect weather conditions and light winds. I would like to thank all crews for giving the children opportunities to helm and race a large boat. All the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience as well as some parents who also went on the boats.

Unfortunately due to the adverse weather conditions we had to cancel the junior camp, but did manage to have a fun games night with the children racing, playing games on the water and of course, swimming. The children enjoy being in the water as much as being on it!

The year ended with the Posh Nosh and Disco Night. The food and tables were fantastic with the children looking very grown up and devouring all three courses. A big thank you to Alli and Greg for all their hard work in making the dinner a success and catering for us all every Friday. During the evening it gave us great pleasure to hand out RYA certificates at all levels, and to celebrate the successes over the season, ending with the children dancing late into the evening.

Jane Dudley, Captain Juniors