5 Reasons your kid should sail (and nto just for kids!)

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Learning how to sail helps kids develop confidence and coordination. Photo by Allen Clark / PhotoBoat.com
 

Vol. 1, No. 11

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  1. Self-Confidence.  There is simply nothing like being able to pilot your own craft at the age of 9 years old.  Riding a bike is one thing.  Skillfully steering and docking a sailboat is quite another.  All of my athletic endeavors helped to shape my sense of self as a kid, but sailing was without a doubt the most instrumental.   I have not only noticed this in myself; during my ten years as a sailing instructor, I have seen it again and again in my students.
  2. Spatial awareness.  When kids learn how to navigate a boat through narrow spaces and tight turns—how to avoid collisions, coast to a dock with finesse, or squeeze into a packed starting line at a regatta—they develop a spatial awareness that will bring them prowess all activities that involve coordination.  Like driving, for instance.
  3. Sense of direction.  When I was 10 years old, I would sail all week with my class, and then go out on weekends by myself.  I would pack a lunch and take my Optimist out for a couple of hours to explore.  I believe that it was on those trips that I began to develop a good sense of direction.  Noticing which direction I had come from, picking out landmarks, and knowing how to get back became a regular part of my stream of consciousness.  That awareness is crucial to having a sense of direction.
  4. Weather knowledge.  Do you know from which direction thunder storms normally come?  Do you know what the water temperature normally is on Long Island Sound in May?  If your child is a sailor, he or she will know.   Weather knowledge will come in handy both on-the-water and on land.
  5. Shipshape habits.  Sailing students learn how to properly rig and unrig a boat.  Kids learn to put things away in the right place, and keep them tidy while on the water.  That’s a skill no mom or dad can argue with.  Longshore Sailing School even has a shipshape award for every class to encourage the behavior.   

So if your kids haven’t tried sailing, have them give it a try. 

-DC

Teens up from Wellington

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Students come to us from all over New Zealand and Overseas to start or get their watersports fix. This week teenagers from Wellington and palmy north joined us. Their progression has been fantastic. The sailors can now sail the omega all over the Harbour, trapezeing on the way, crew 3 sail reaching and chase each other around in the single handed topaz. After just a few hours a newbie windsurfer can expect to have the skills to windsurf back and forth from the beach. As with yesterday many people learn the basics so easily that we move onto some freestyle fun. Drop me a line to plan in some watersports to your next holiday, if you live in the area then lets get you out enjoying the Harbour all summer.

Doing all we can to help Boaties avoid incidents like this

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source - http://iwcp.co.uk/news/news/teenager-dies-in-boat-accident-45379.aspx

Teenager dies in boat accident

By Emily Pearce

Saturday, July 21, 2012

 

A 14-YEAR-OLD boy has died from his injuries after falling overboard from a boat and hitting the propeller.

 

The teenager was travelling to the Isle of Wight from Dorset on a small rigid inflatable hull boat (RHIB) on Friday, with his father and two school friends, also 14, when the accident happened just off the Needles.

One of his friends was taken to St Mary's Hospital, where he remains with serious injuries.

The boy's father and other friend were not injured.

The group are all from Surrey.

The Solent Coastguard launched a search and rescue operation shortly before 5pm in response to a 999 call.

The Yarmouth RNLI lifeboat and coastguard rescue helicopter, already airborne on an exercise, were called to the scene.

The boy was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with life threatening injuries, where he later died.

Solent Coastguard watch manager Tony Wheeler said yesterday: "We understand two of the four people on board the RHIB fell into the water and sustained injuries from the propeller."

UPDATE 12.10 A statement issued by police today said: "Hampshire Constabulary is now in a position to confirm the death of a teenage boy who was injured on board a RHIB off the coast of The Needles on the Isle of Wight on Friday, July 20, 2012.

"The boy, aged 14 from Surrey, was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital. He had been airlifted from the boat by a Coastguard rescue helicopter.

"Immediate next-of-kin have been informed, but police will not be in a position to confirm the boy's name in the media until all formal identification procedures have been completed.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious. An initial post-mortem examination is due to take place in the next few days. Police will prepare a file for HM Coroner who has been informed. HM Coastguard has notified the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB)."

Senior investigating officer Det Insp Floyd Higginson of Hampshire Constabulary's Public Protection Department said: "Although the death is not being treated as suspicious, it is routine procedure for specialist detectives to make initial enquiries into the sudden death of someone aged under 18.

"We are providing support for the other three people on board the boat to help ensure their welfare, and to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the death.

"A second 14-year-old boy from Surrey received a serious injury, which was not life-threatening. He is receiving treatment at St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight. An adult man and a third 14-year-old boy from Surrey were not injured.

"The RHIB was taken by Hampshire Constabulary's Marine Unit to Hamble from Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight on Friday, July 20, 2012 to be secured as evidence pending further enquiries.

"Police would like to thank HM Coastguard, the RNLI and the NHS for their considerable assistance during the response to this emergency."

"The Solent Coastguard, NHS and Hampshire Constabulary are working together to contact relatives and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has been informed."

UPDATE 17.25 A second statement issued today by police said: "Hampshire Constabulary is now able to confirm more information about the circumstances surrounding the death of a 14-year-old boy after an incident on board a rigid hull inflatable boat off the coast of the Isle of Wight.

"The privately-owned boat was travelling from Dorset to the Isle of Wight with four people from Surrey on board.

"The four people were a 14-year-old boy, who later died, and his father, a man aged in his 50s, who was the driver and owner of the boat. Two other boys, both aged 14, who are school friends of the family."