Innovative Sailing Program Makes A Difference

A chance meeting between the Rear Commodore of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria and a teacher from the Olympic Village Primary School resulted in a group of 24 students passing through a sailing course and delivering top marks.

The mission was not so much to teach a bunch of kids to sail, but to make a difference to their lives. By any measure the students at the Charles LaTrobe College, Olympic Village Primary School are highly disadvantaged.

David Seaman, Rear Commodore of the RYCV, took it upon himself to reach out to a group of children and help them with their personal and life skills.

"We saw an opportunity, where through sailing, we could make a difference to the lives of these kids," David said.

The RYCV entered into an arrangement with the school and their teachers. The club would take 24 Grade 3 and Grade 4 students as selected by the school and put them through their sailing course. The school would provide transportation and ensure the children attended all of the 10 half-day sessions.

The RYCV would provide the facilities, yachts and instructors. To provide the essential funding to run such a program, Nautilus Marine and RYCV members contributed the cash required, principally for staff wages.

"This wasn’t about teaching kids to sail, but rather to give the kids confidence and a sense of self worth," David Seaman said.

"Initially some of the students displayed all the normal shyness and reluctance to get involved. But once encouraged, they conquered their fears and their faces lit up with delight as they embraced the opportunity."

"The introverted kids came out, non swimmers donned their vests and were soon jumping into the water from the jetty. Kids were working together."

Within three sessions we had the group of kids out on the water and sailing. Each of the Optimist boats had two kids on board working as a team practicing their new sailing skills.

"Our mission was to make a difference and we have certainly achieved this," said David Seaman.

"Our instructors' feedback is that this course was one of the very best ever conducted. The enthusiasm of the kids was outstanding."

Laura Keays, the Olympic Village Primary teacher involved said: "There was an enormous improvement in the students' confidence and ability to form relationships with one another that continued on once the were back at school.

"This has been an extraordinary program that was an absolute highlight of the students' year. It was incredible to see students that were previously afraid of the water to work confidently as a team sailing out on the bay."

The involvement of Nautilus Marine has been vital in making the program possible. Since the pioneering course has been completed so successfully, Nautilus Marine as sponsor of the RVYC, has pledged to provide further funding for future courses.