The Gibsons Yacht Club's (GYC) Learn to Sail program is now in its 33rd year on the Coast, with more than 2,000 children between the ages of eight and 16 learning how to sail. This is a tradition that the Club is extremely proud of, and today its numbers are ever increasing, under the leadership of program director Gillie Hutchinson.
Hutchinson attributes a lot of the program's success to the inspiration the beginners gain in watching the older kids complete in all sailing levels, some even going on to become instructors.
"It's so important to keep the kids sailing and enjoying the sport," she said. "Being out on the water is a healthy, fun way to spend their summer -away from computers and TV. The parents enjoy it too."
Learn to Sail is a non-profit organization dependent on grants from Summer Jobs Canada as well as municipal grants from the Town of Gibsons, the District of Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast Regional District. The Sponsor-a-Kid initiative, started in 2010, helps raise money from local businesses and individuals for kids who would otherwise miss this wonderful sailing opportunity.
Courses are run within Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) guidelines from White Sail Levels one to three beginners and advancing to Bronze Levels four and five.
With the active website (www.learntosail-gibsons.ca) as well as advertising on B.C. Ferries, Gibsons Visitors Centre, Gib-sons Marina and posting on community bulletin boards, registrations have reached as many as 84 students for the four two-week sessions during July and August.
"We have more than 30 per cent of applicants coming from off the Coast now," she said. "Many of these are from outside B.C., and five per cent of them are from U.S. or further."
There are four fully certified instructors with individual coach boats, and a fleet of 15 boats from Picos, Laser 1s and Laser 2s to the new O'pen Bic.
"I am introducing these exciting little boats into the program this year -both for beginners and with the larger rig for the racers," Hutchinson added. "There are over 60 junior sailing programs now switching to this boat. It's fun and powerful while still remaining easy to control."
There are racing evenings planned for Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout July for all bronze graduates. GYC is also hosting an optimist sailing week (July 25 to 29) for youngsters under eight. This is an exciting opportunity for children, perhaps even siblings of those in the LTS program, to enjoy being on the water.
LTS will also be running courses for students of Elphinstone Secondary School in early June as well as a weekend course for the Navy League cadets.
"It's a full and exciting program," Hutchinson said. "My goal is to encourage every child on the Coast to learn to sail with us."
-Submitted
