Middle Harbour Yacht Club pilots 'Sailing for Schools Road-show'

12:57 AM Fri 10 Jul 2009 GMT

'Sailing Simulator' MHYC

Middle Harbour Yacht Club will pilot its 'Sailing for Schools Road-show' demonstration this Thursday 9th July at Balgowlah Heights Public School.

The 'Sailing for Schools Road-show', an initiative of MHYC, is the first ever to be seen in Australia.

Carl Crafoord, the Club's Rear Commodore is responsible for the Junior Sailing Portfolio. 'We initiated our new Junior Program in January 2008.

'Utilizing the 'Tackers' program we have purchased 20 Optimist boats for the use of kids in our programs. We offer levels 1, 2 and 3 and we also provide a pathway for kids 14 years and above. Some 150 kids went through the program in 2009 and we expect to have taught another 500 by the year end.

'The Road-show makes use of a Sailing Simulator, supplied by Norman Saunders of Virtual Sailing - the first ever designed and built in the world. This simulator allows kids to experiment with the experience of sailing without actually getting out on the water. The simulator has been used to train our successful sail gold medallists in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

'Other junior sports have successfully conducted demonstrations in schools.

'One would think it could not be done with sailing but we have managed to climb over the hurdle with the use of the simulator.

'The support of Craig Davis at Balgowlah Heights Public School has also been instrumental in delivering sailing for juniors as a school sport.

'One of our program sponsors, SLAM has allowed us the use of their massive van to complete the Road-show 'look'. Together with optimist boats and our resident Gold Medallist, Malcolm Page, we are focussed on showing kids that the clean and green sport of sailing is just great fun!'

However, there is the more serious side. All kids achieve a real, quantifiable skill level they will carry with them for life. The Pilot is an exciting achievement for our club, one of the first of many.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Thursday 9 July 2009 from 11am
Where: Balgowlah Heights Public School, Lewis Street, Balgowlah Heights

Junior Sailing: www.mhyc.com.au