Brian Harvey, a director with the Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club, is excited about the new learn to sail program being offered to young kids between the ages of 6 and 13 for the first time during a one-week summer camp that takes place in late August. (Keith Lacey photo)
The Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club is offering a summer Learn to Sail day camp for kids in late August.
While the club has offered summer camps for teenagers in the past, this is the first time the club has ever offered one trying to attract children as young as six years of age, said Brian Harvey, a director with the Lake Osoyoos Sailing Club.
The official name of the summer camp is Mobile Optimist Sailing School (MOSS), which is being offered by BC Sailing.
“This will be the first time we’ve ever tried a summer camp directed specifically for younger children,” he said. “The goal is to have some fun, get them interested in the sport of sailing and hopefully have a few of them want to stay involved.”
The day camp will take place from Monday, Aug. 28 until Friday, Sept. 1 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. all five days.
The summer camp will proceed with a minimum of 16 kids between the ages of 6 and 13 and no sailing experience is necessary, but participants must be comfortable in and on the water, while wearing a lifejacket or personal floatation device, said Harvey.
The day camp is being offered in co-operation with BC Sailing and all children who register will be taught on Optimist dinghies, which are small sailboats that are seven-feet and nine inches in length and relatively easy to handle, said Harvey.
“The goal is that by the end of the five-day course, the students will be able to safely sail on their own,” he said. “In addition to learning sailing skills, the program will also develop confidence and leadership in the participants.”
The Optimist Level 1 course is perfect for children without any sailing experience and those who have graduated from BC Sailing’s Wet Feet program, he said.
The training sessions will emphasize learning proper skills by teaching the basics and progressing with small building blocks until the skill is mastered, he said.
Teamwork will also be encouraged throughout the summer day as sailors will start with two participants per boat, eventually graduating to sailing on their own by the end of the camp, he said.
Topics that will be covered include sailing terminology, water safety, balance, steering, stopping and going, capsizing, knots, launching and docking and tacking and gybing.
“All of the lessons are taught from the absolute basics, so those sailors who have taken Wet Feet will have an opportunity to review and build on their skills and those who are new to Optimists will learn the fundamentals in a fun and safe environment,” he said.
The cost of the five-day camp is $250 plus tax and funding will be available through Kidsport funding for qualified families, he said.
To register for the program, visit the website at www.sailosoyoos.ca.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
