12:08 AM Fri 13 Nov 2009 GMT
With the attention span of a fly, an addiction to the latest technological gizmo and a positive aversion to any form of physical exercise, it's always going to be hard to get teenagers interested in a new sport. One of the great things about the Tacker learn to sail program is that it's designed for younger kids, who are quite happy to muck about in dinghies without worrying about what the salt water will do to their complexion and/or hairstyle. Steven Bond, Tackers maestro and the driving force behind the success of this junior sailing program, recently saw retention rates of 40% from Tackers One ('But Dad, I've never seen a boat') to Tackers Two ('Tackers One is just for babies, Mum.')
Tackers uses an Optimist polyethylene dinghy as its training boat and Bond reckons that it's the boat and the way the syllabus is designed that is bringing the kids back for more.
'It's the ultimate parent and kid-friendly boat' he enthused 'not only is the Optimist Yachting Australia's preferred single handed junior class, but they're basically maintenance free and very stable. If you're thinking of getting your kids into sailing, Tackers is the way to go. With retention rates like 40%, why wouldn't you do it?'
Bond has made a name for himself in the boating world as approaching any project with a kind of missionary zeal. When he decides to do something you can pretty much guarantee that it will happen. Back in 2005 he took a look at the fragmented state of junior sailing programs in Australia and decided that we were in need of a national curriculum, with a standardised syllabus and bomb proof boats.
The rationale was simple: make it easy for the sailing clubs to support their junior fleets by providing training and boats 'in a box.' Keep the prices down so that if little Johnny turns out to be seawater averse, then Mum and Dad are left with a relatively cheap boat which, given the popularity of the class, is easy to re-sell. And make it fun for the kids by designing a syllabus that incrementally builds skills- as their boat handling improves, so will their confidence, and vice versa.
One of the great things about sailing is the diversity of boats on offer, and the different skills and mindset required to successfully master each class. It seems like everyone has a soft spot for a favourite dinghy or boat, often it's the one that they learned to sail on. But like many things in life, the great strength of our sport is also its greatest weakness: when it comes to getting a new generation of kids into sailing, there's a wide range of opinions on the best type of boat for the job.
Fremantle Sailing Club recently appreciated the value of their fleet of Optimist polyethylene training dinghies when rough conditions threatened to disrupt their Ronstan Indian Ocean Classic. Fremantle's Dinghy Racing Captain Nick Jerwood describes what happened:
'We had been worrying for some days before the event that the weather would be very windy, too much for racing. Some of the race management team hatched a 'Plan B' which was to use that training Optimist fleet for teams racing if fleet racing was canceled. Saturday of the event turned out to be every bit as windy as expected, way too much for a mainly junior fleet to go ocean racing and way too windy for the Tornados and 49ers to even contemplate leaving the beach, let alone the harbour. Racing was canceled and the teams racing event hastily organized using support ribs for start, finish and umpire boats.
Twelve teams from various clubs and across various fleets including Cherubs, 29ers, Lasers, Tornados, 420s and Optimists entered and enjoyed the short course fast turnaround style of racing.
The practiced Optimist sailors proved too fast and too well prepared for all comers and following one or two close calls whilst up against teams with many more years of experience under their belts, the young Opti sailors triumphed, much to the delight of the onlookers and coaches.
Following two hours of frenetic racing in strong to very strong winds, with sailors much larger than the normal range of Opti kids, the only damage was one or two shredded vang ropes. The boats proved robust and very suitable for the task in hand.
We, Fremantle Sailing Club, regularly use the plastic Optimists in our learn to sail program and our Bronze fleet program which takes the novice sailors to a level where they can contemplate racing over a set course. The plastic boats have proved invaluable: the hulls are proof against collisions which were previously racking up significant repair bills for parents to cover.
Novice sailors can test their skills safe in the knowledge that an unintentional bingle with an equally novice sailor will not result in damage. The twelve boats we have at our disposal makes it possible for every Bronze fleet sailor to be in the same type of boat so nobody feels different or disadvantaged. We hope to learn more about the Tackers program and possibly adopt their style to encourage even more young sailors into the sport, which is our main focus. Increasing participation not only increases the number of young sailors having fun involved in a healthy sport, but it is a certain way of increasing the volunteer base for the club. Another invaluable resource!'
For more information see:
www.oziopti.com.au
E-mail: Steven Bond
stevenbond@oziopti.com.au
Office & Chandlery: The Boatshed 3 Aquatic Drive, ALBERT PARK. Victoria. 3206
Telephone: +61 3 9699 3444
Facsimile: +61 3 9525 5329
Mobile: +61 424 225 774
by Jardine Media
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