Report on the “Enable Youth” Project:
Bridgwater Primary Schools “Give it a Go” “Playsail”
Sailing and Windsurfing Week 12 – 16th July 2010

• Over one week in July 2010, the weather changed from glorious sun and a gentle breeze to torrential rain and gusty strong winds, however none of the changes in the elements stopped more than 180 wildly enthusiastic children, from 8 different primary local schools, taking to the water at Durleigh reservoir in Bridgwater to experience sailing and windsurfing taster sessions.

St Mary's Sedgemoor Manor Hamp Junior Hamp again Otterhampton & Stogursey Sedgemoor Manor

Eastover am Eastover pm The Instructors Windsurfing Having Fun This is how you do it

Wayfarers 1 Wayfarers 2 Wayfarers 3

• All of the children involved received a Royal Yachting Association “Taste of Sailing” certificate to go into their Somerset Children’s University portfolio. The certificates were signed by Sarah Ayton an Olympic sailing gold medallist.
  The children had an amazing time, while they were being taught the rudiments of sailing or windsurfing under the watchful eyes and expert tuition of the volunteer Instructors from Somerset Youth & Community Sailing Association (SYCSA) and Durleigh Sailing Club.
  Some of the children who took part came from some of the most disadvantaged
  areas of Sedgemoor, as a result of the experience on the water, the children’s
  confidence visibly grew, and they were totally engaged as any qualms rapidly
  disappeared. As the sessions drew to a close, many of the wet but smiling
  sailors expressed their desire to come back and join in with the Saturday
  Morning Sailing Club or more windsurfing sessions.

• All of these opportunities were made possible by a grant from Sedgemoor Learning Alliance and the “Have a Heart” Foundation towards new small Wayfarer dinghy sails and wetsuits.

• Peter Branson the event organiser commented “we really needed the small sails on Thursday when the wind reached Force 4 – 5, without them we may have had to cancel these sessions, which would have spoiled the fun for all of us. We are looking forward to repeating the event 2011 and are already looking for sponsorship”.

• A quote from one very satisfied school:
  "Please can I say a big THANK YOU from myself and the children who attended the “Give It a Go” Sailing day yesterday. We all had a wonderful time and myself and the Teaching Assistant were amazed how much the children grew in confidence during the session.
  It was a really fantastic experience for the children, two have already asked for sailing lessons for their birthday
  presents".