The Optimist dinghies are especially suitable for children learning to sail. (Contributed photo)
For the second year in a row, the Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club (LOSC) is hosting an introductory sailing camp program for children aged six to 14.
The BC Sailing Mobile Optimist Sailing School is a province-wide program in which certified instructors introduce children to the basics of sailing.
This year, the one-week program will be offered during two separate weeks, said Brian Harvey, vice commodore of LOSC, who is coordinating the program with BC Sailing.
The first camp runs from Aug. 6 to 10 and the second runs from Aug. 13-17. The cost is $275 per sailor for one full week of lessons.
The camp’s hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Harvey said there’s no reason why someone couldn’t attend for both weeks, but the two weeks cover the same information.
“It’s a repeat, but if parents wanted their kids to get more experience with it, or didn’t have anything else to do with them, they are welcome to sign up for two,” he said. “But it will cover the same ground.”
Last year, said Harvey, the program attracted 13 kids, which was slightly under the usual minimum of 16, but BC Sailing opted to run it anyway.
“It went really well,” said Harvey. “The kids really enjoyed it. We had quite positive feedback. Parents were asking when we’d get parents’ lessons.”
No sailing experience is required. Harvey said the children wear life preservers so ability to swim isn’t a requirement, but it’s up to parents if they are comfortable with their children on the water.
Children have fallen off the boat in the past, but they’ve just bobbed in the water until they could be rescued and they’ve been fine, he said.
The seven-foot Optimists, or Optis, are small dinghies that are ideal for children learning to sail.
As well as learning safety, the kids will also learn how to read the wind, to tack and do tack turns and jibe turns, which are the basic manoeuvres to take the boat up wind and downwind.
Instructors will put out markers so children can practice doing figure eights and they’ll do small racecourses.
They’ll go out first with an instructor, then with two children in a dinghy and later they’ll do solo sailing, said Harvey.
He said LOSC has budgeted to purchase more Optis this year to help attract a younger demographic. This will allow local kids to continue sailing outside the lessons next year if they become club members.
There will also be two-person kayaks so that all the children can be on the water when all the dinghies are in use, said Harvey.
Harvey said there were still spaces available for the camp.
People can register and get more information at http://bcsailing.bc.ca/course/summer-clubs/.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
