youth & dinghy sailing programmes

History

The St. Lucia Yacht Club Youth Sailing Programme, now known as the “Kids’ Sailing Programme”, was started in 1995 by Dr. Michael Camps, at the suggestion and with the help of Robert Geoffroy. Over a period of ten years Dr. Camps, ably assisted by Dr. Brigitte Schuling, taught sailing to hundreds of young people in St. Lucia. In 2005, sadly, Dr. Camps had to retire through ill health.

Boats

Beginners learn the basics of sailing on the small, easy to handle, Optimists. Those with the ability and desire to do so go on to learn racing techniques. St. Lucia has been represented at several international Optimist Championships over the years.

The older kids, with the necessary skills and strength, can progress to sailing and, thereafter, racing lasers.

The Present

Pictures in Picture Gallery

SCHOELCHER REGATTA MARTINIQUE 2008
The St.Lucia Yacht Club Dinghy Sailing Programme sent a team of 8 young sailors and 2 coaches off to Martinique to compete in the 19th Annual Schoelcher regatta. On Wednesday February 6th the team sailed into Rodney Bay Marina on the yachts, "Clara", "Turtle", "II Restless" with their dinghies strapped to the decks. The yacht captains, sailors and coaches were wet and exhausted but well satisfied with the performance og the young sailors over the previous 4 days in Martinique. At the prize giving ceremony on Tuesday evening the regatta organizers acknowledged the St.Lucian team's participation in this prestigious regatta and for the team's overall great improvement on the water this year. The results tell it all. In the laser radial class Fred Sweeney (18) just missed 3 place by a few points putting him in 4th overall. Dominic Lovell (15) and Eric Simmons (18) in the same class placed 9th and 10th respectively. Luis Meixner (16), in the Laser Standard class was the team's award winning sailor placing 3d. Marc Spurway (11) placed 8th in the Optimist Benjamin class . In the Optimist Minimis class Marcus Sweeney (12) placed 27th, Thomas Meixner (12) placed 31st and Stephanie Lovell (12) placed 35th. This was a wonderful performance from all of the young sailors and the coaches were very pleased. The team wishes ot thank Sue and Norm and "Clara", Barbara and Steve and "Turtle" and Jonathon and "II Restless". These Yacht Club members generously offered themselves, their time and their yachts to the team. Lily Bergasse"

A view from the Crows Nest.............

SLYC entered eight young sailors in the 19th Schoelcher Regatta which started with the boats being loaded onto Clara, Turtle and II Restless on the dock on Wed 30th Jan. Early on Thursday morning excited children started to arrive and final provisions were taken aboard.
The yachts set off mid morning and Danielle has taken photos for the web album for you to see.

The wind was not kind to us that day and there was far too much North in the wind for comfort and together with big seas many felt seasick. Eventually we all arrived in Schoelcher where we anchored in a large swell which rocked all the boats without mercy. Dinner was served on Clara and I must say we all had plenty of good food for the whole week. Clara was the 'food boat' and they did a sterling job. Turtle was the home for the four small children, Marc 10, Marcus 11, Tommy and Stephanie both 12 and Teresa our sailing instructor. Barbara & Steve, the Turtle crew, built an assault course on deck which included walking the plank which was enjoyed immensely by the kids.

Clara was home to Eric for the fifth year at Schoelcher which now must be home from home for him. Jonathan our Vice Commodore kindly let the club use his boat II Restless which was skippered by Ben our Laser coach with the older boys, Louis, Freddy and Dominic as crew. They all stayed on II Restless with
Ben & Kitty.

We attended the opening ceremony on the Friday evening after a day of registration and getting the boats ready. After the speeches we were entertained by some fabulous dancing on stage. Team St Lucia looked great in their yellow T-shirts and they really stood out from the crowd.

The kids were up bright and early on Saturday morning for the first race. The weather was very gusty and the seas were big. Our young sailors did so well in those rough conditions with big squalls and lots of rain passing through continually. The course was very long and the children were all tired and ready for
food at the end of the day and there were no problems getting the kids to bed for the rest of the week. Lunch was provided each day by the organisers for the competitors in the club house. The days seemed to pass very quickly and we all donned our yellow T-shirts again for the closing ceremony on Wed evening
where our hosts fed and watered us all after the prize giving.

After many weeks and months of sailing against each other our sailors noticeably gelled into a team during the week and a huge cheer went up when Louis won 3rd place in the Laser category and stepped onto the podium to collect his trophy. This has shown his potential for the 2012 Olympics.

Congratulations to all our young sailors as they all made a noticeable improvement on last year.

Barbara Groome