Sailing through summer

BY AMY SMITH

It's hard not to be jealous of a sailor: the wind-tousled hair, the toned shoulders and arms, the wicked tan. Their boats glide across the water, harnessing the wind and waves to create silent speed.

Whether they sail for the peace and quiet or the excitement and activity, the sailing world is seeing a whole new generation of boatmen and women coming out of the Aylesford Lake Yacht Club.

The club's sailing school is turning local youth into expert sailors all summer during week-long camps. Although it is young, the school has come a long way in only three years. This spring, the Aylesford club won Sport Nova Scotia's Association of the Year award for its excellent program.

The first year of the sailing school was a challenge. Trying to carve a completely new program out of the raw resources at hand was a difficult task, but Robin Eaton, sailing school chairwoman, her staff and volunteers persevered. In the second year, the camp only improved: donations allowed them to purchase new equipment and the organization of the camp became more routine.

Now in its third year, the camp has a new dock, a recently refurbished clubhouse and a team of energetic instructors ready to get out on the water.

“Thanks to the hundreds of hours of hard work of many volunteers in the community and from yacht club members,” says Eaton, “over 150 kids have hoisted sails that may never have had the opportunity.”

Eaton notes the financial support the program has received from Kings County Active Kids Healthy Kids, the Nova Scotia Office of Health Promotion and Protection and Human Resources Development Canada. She also speaks of the tremendous logistical support by Mike Trinacty, Tracey Roberts and Frank Denis.

This year, the program is expanding to accommodate younger sailors with the addition of their Wet Feet camps. Sailing is a great way to spend summers, but starting out - especially at the age of five or six - can be a little daunting. Wet Feet camps allow children aged five to eight to get used to the water during a three-day camp, before they move on to the more advanced, technique based atmosphere of the week-long camps. The kids learn how to deal with the water both on and off boats, and let loose for some fun on the beach.

“It’s more tailored to their learning capacities,” explains instructor Sydney Goodfellow. “More like a day camp you'd find at a rec centre.”

Older kids ages nine through 18 take part in the longer White Sail camps, where they can start progressing through the four levels awarded by the sailing school. Most of the day is on the water. Getting started at 9 a.m., students rig the boats, get physically active with a game and head out onto the lake. After a quick lunch, it's back on the water, where they continue to learn the ins and outs of their sailboats. At the end of the week, students get to put all they've learned about the water, the boat and teamwork into a sail to the lake’s public beach.

“Fridays are a really fun day because the kids get to utilize the skills they've been working on all week to actually go somewhere,” says head instructor Will Ferguson.

Ferguson is one of four highly qualified instructors, but his advanced level training and his Nova Scotia Yachting Association certification sets him apart. He has a deep understanding of his students' perspective. After six years of training and a life around boats, he still remembers what it's like to be a beginner.

“For a nine-year-old to be in control of their own vehicle is an amazing skill - and it's pretty exciting for them, too!” he says.

“We know they go home and tell their parents wide-eyed sailor stories,” adds Eaton.

While the camp is already bustling this summer, there are still openings. In addition to Wet Feet and White Sail camps, the club offers private and adult lessons. Information and registration forms can be found on the club’s website.

Weblinks: www.aylesford-lake-yacht-club.ca.