Novices feel the wind in their sails
The Port Hedland Yacht Club has held its first Discover Sailing course for a number of years.
Entitled Start Sailing 1, the course ran on the weekend of March 29 and 30 by qualified Yachting Australia instructors.
PHYC Rear Commodore for sail Chris Ellis called the weekend a "super positive start" for the club's sailing program this year.
"Although it came a couple of weeks earlier than the start to our sailing season, the weather cooled down just enough to make it bearable for the nine trainees who started the weekend," he said.
"We had only one who could not attend the second day of the course, but rest assured that day will be made up at a later date, so nothing lost there.
"It was an amazing weekend and great to see all who began as complete novices progress through the skills required to competently and safely sail one of our club dinghies with minimal instructor input."
Ellis said that by Sunday afternoon, four Corsair dinghies were "buzzing around the sheltered Yacht Club Basin and showing great speed, control and collision avoidance skills".
"An added bonus was the chance to showcase one of our new poly training Optimist dinghies," Ellis said. "These will come into use as an ideal training boat for young sailors aged between eight and 12."
The eight sailors who completed the weekend's requirements will have the chance to further advance their skills this season.
"There will be more training opportunities available throughout the year, with some fixed-date courses," Ellis said.
"But also opportunities to arrange custom dates if we can make the stars align.
"We will also be running some social sailing days for the benefit of our full sailing members, so we encourage any budding sailors out there to join in the fun."
For more information, contact the club via admin@phyc.com.au .
