This Week In Sailing - 21st September 2023

ATTENTION SKIPPERS & CREW – RULES NIGHT PRESENTATION

THIS WEEK @ OXENFORD WATERSPORT CENTRE AND SQUAD UPDATE

By: Amber Hudson

School Holiday Sailing at Oxenford Lake

This week we are holding our School Holiday program at SYC Oxenford. Participants get to do beach games, stand-up paddle boarding and sailing for either a half or full day. The first day was a big success with 36 children, ranging from age 7-17yrs with varied sailing experience, enjoying the activities and a zooper dooper at lunch. They all had a fun time and left with big smiles on their faces!

At the same time, we are running a Level 1 Windsurfing certificate for a group of squad sailors. On this course they learn about rigging, launching/retrieving, balance, how to self-rescue, safety position, steering, tacking, gybing and how to be rescued in a power boat. They were challenged on their first day with how to apply their existing sailing knowledge and skills to a windsurfer, but they’re well on their way to being competent in all areas by the end of the course on Wednesday.

School Holiday Sailing Week 2 – Kids Sailing Experience on the Broadwater:

Where: SYC Main Beach

Tuesday 26^th – Thursday 28^th September

Session Times:

9-10.30am

10.30-Noon

12.30-2pm

Cost: $40 excl. booking fees

Book HERE .

For more information please visit this link.

September She Sails

On Saturday from Noon-3pm SYC Oxenford hosted its monthly She Sails event. This month our group of women were predominantly new to sailing along with a couple of more experienced sailors. With light winds, skills were put to the test with sail trim and tacking, and the ladies thoroughly enjoyed the beach to bay race at the end of the session.

This month marks 12 months of the new She Sails program at Oxenford. We are now developing it to provide pathways and opportunities beyond Oxenford across all SYC venues. Thank you to everyone who has participated or volunteered over the last year, without you this program wouldn’t be the success it is today.

The next event is on Sunday 22^nd October from Noon-3pm

Click here to jump on board.

SAILOR of the WEEK

Congratulations to Elizabeth Lake who is our Sailor of the Week this week! Here’s our interview with Elizabeth about her sailing experience…

How long have you been sailing and what made you start? I started sailing when I was 6 and am 10 now. I started because I love swimming in the ocean and sailing seemed like a great idea.
What boats can you sail? The Opti and we have a small family boat about the same size but it is very heavy and made out of wood.
What skills are you working on at the moment? I am working on sharptacking, controlling the boom better, and understanding different weather conditions.
What are your sailing goals? I want to be able to sail around, go to islands, explore, and go see family and friends down the coast to Sawtell.
Do you love the competitive side of the sport, do you prefer the social side or do you like both? I enjoy the social side with friends who come often and we get to sail together. I also love being out on the water and going fast and the joy of sailing.

Thanks for a great interview Elizabeth, we can’t wait to see where your sailing future will take you!