Sail Training Graduation

What a great day for our latest graduates from the famous WSC Learn to Sail program to test their new found sailing wings and brave the channel and sail over to St Kilda. Under the safe guidance of Allan, Doug, Gary, Andrew & Bruce, who tagged along  in the Jack Cox and an inflatable runnabout ; the team made the most of the lovely sunny and light conditions and made it over and back from St Kilda, without any major incidents. I think some had  thought they would be able to stop for a coffee at St Kilda!
 
This enthusiastic band of 19 trainees have come through their course with flying colours - from that first nervous day on the water they have survived the challenges tossed at them from their supportive and encouraging instructors- whether it was how to right a capsized boat, man overboard techniques, learning port from starboaard , and tacking from gybing, and how to move their bodies about the boats without capsizing.
 
After the morning expedition across the Bay, and some successful indviudal attempts at one man sailing of Pacers off the front of the Club- everyone reluctantly packed up the boats and put them away for the last time on the course. It was great to see how they have all banded together to work co-operatively and  there was a very positive and friendly vibe amongst the group.  Everyone then joined with family, friends, instructors and other course helpers upstairs for a barbecue lunch and then the formal graduation ceremony.
 
Of the 19 particpants, 17 have already joined the Club and are looking forward to learning how to take these new found skills they have achieved and move into racing. The club and various individuals will be supporting them in this process, encouraging rental of club boats, crewing for other skipers and even helping out on rescue boats to get an idea about what happens in races. So if you see some of these new faces around the club, say hello, make them feel welcome and share your knowledge and skills.
 
A big thanks to all who helped with the Learn to Sail programs- from our YATC  instructors & trainee instructors- Bill, Gary, Allan, Doug, David, Andrew, John & Stefan,  through to many other club members who came down at various times through the course to instruct in boats, help launch boats, run the canteen and just be there to provide manpower.
 
This is the first of our courses run under the Yacting Australia Training Centre system. We have added more instructors to our team to share the volunteer load,  made the hours of the course more user friendly, and worked harder at promoting joining the Williamstown Sailing Club. These new vibrant members will add some great enthusaism, energy and new blood to our club.