This year saw 17 youngsters take advantage of dinghy sailing
tuition during our Pico week. As with last year we benefitted from the expert
guidance of RYA Senior Instructor Carol-Ann Brown, but with the spread in
ability now spanning from beginner to advanced, we split into three groups,
each completing a two day course. The speed at which the children learnt was
great to see, and all were successful in earning their certificates and moving
up a stage. Well done everyone!
As I write this on Sunday morning, the weather is looking
very grim and I realise just how lucky we were through the week, although at
times I must have sounded like Goldilocks complaining that there was too much
wind, or too little. Suffice to say that the wind was just right for long
enough for the children to get some enjoyable sailing, and that the extremes
provided some challenges.
It wasn’t just Picos, however. We were also successful in
training up four adults to Power Boat Level 2, and one completed Safety Boat
training. This stands us in good stead for running some informal Pico sessions,
so that the children can get some practice and hone their skills. We’ll be
looking at folks’ availability to see how and when this will happen, and asking
children and parents what they would like to see.
Many thanks to the parents and club members who helped in
many different ways, from getting the club house ready for the invasion,
through shore support, to taking the race squad out in the Flying
Fifteens. Thanks also to Inverness Sea
Cadets for the loan of two Picos, to Andy the diver for recovering the lost
rudder, and thanks especially to Carol-Ann for some great tuition.