The 麻豆社国产Yacht Club started taking registrations for its annual sailing school program on May 18, and in little time, most of the spots had been taken.
Organizer Trevor Chelswick registered his own son Gavin in person at Brennan Park but checked online soon after and found most of the 96 available spots for the different classes were taken in the first half hour.
鈥淏y the time I drove home and looked at the online system, it was 80 per cent full.鈥�
Three days later, there were only eight spaces left, most in the introduction class, and of the 12 different courses, eight had waiting lists. Two of the spaces have been sponsored through bursaries, one from the Royal Canadian Legion and one from member Gary Cotter.
Chelswick said the club is limited to 96 spots based on the space, equipment and instructors available. The program has grown over the years with the support of club members, and it also received Olympic Legacy Fund money a few years ago to help with costs.
鈥淭hat cash injection has made this possible,鈥� he said.
The classes run weekdays starting the week of July 4 through Aug. 22. The aim of the program is to introduce kids from seven to 16 to the sport.
鈥淭his will be the eighth summer we鈥檝e had something running,鈥� Chelswick said.
The intro program is for children ages seven to 10. For older students, there is a learn-to-sail program in two-week sessions that allow kids to work toward newly developed CAN SAIL levels 1 and 2, while the advanced classes, also over two weeks, are for levels 3 and 4. Safety is a key concern in the classes, so the younger students get their training in the Mamquam Blind Channel, while the older students move out into Howe Sound, where tides and winds can make the water surface choppy.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like anything else in Squamish. Sailing is an extreme sport,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 teaching kids in a fun and safe environment.鈥�
The 麻豆社国产Yacht Club has also made it easier for young people to sign up as junior members.
鈥淭his year, we revamped our junior membership. You don鈥檛 have to have parents who are yacht club members.鈥澛�
Chelswick started the sailing school program with his father and currently handles a lot of behind-the-scenes work. He calls head instructor Sacha Roberts the 鈥渄riving force鈥� behind the program. This year, four of the coaches are former students who were mentored and had the chance to come back to train others. The school falls under the club鈥檚 Learn to Sail Committee, which also oversees regattas and racing. Last year, the club held two major regattas. Chelswick said more people from the Vancouver area are interested in coming to 麻豆社国产to sail.聽
The sailing school aims to grow the sport in the community, but ultimately, the club hopes to see bigger things for sailing 鈥� even on a national scale, Chelswick said.
鈥淥ur goal is to be a national Olympic training centre, and we鈥檙e not that far away. It鈥檚 a distinct possibility that 麻豆社国产could be a national centre for sailing.鈥�
