In any sport there are many routes for beginners to get started. In terms of sailboat racing Hayling Island Sailing Club is world-famous for the range of opportunities it provides for those wanting to learn to sail, and develop racing skills. The sailing club has an open to all philosophy, with RYA courses for children, youths and adults, private tuition, specialist coaching and mentoring. For those new to the sport HISC also has a fleet of 30 well maintained dinghies to help getting started.
For children living on Hayling Island aged 10 to 16 runs with no other means of getting on the water, there is the HISC Thursday Evening Club. Launched by long time Club Trustee and expert sailor Mike Baker in 2005, it gives Hayling Island school children the chance to try sailing. Run by volunteers, access costs just £2 per session. Over its 10 year life the scheme has already introduced over 300 children to sailing. From the outset Mike Baker enrolled the assistance and experience of Olympic Gold Medalist, Mike McIntyre. Many other top sailors and coaches have also provided input.
The Thursday group runs from May to October. Weekly turnouts average some 40 children. Each child enters a training scheme to build their confidence and skill set. As well as providing the opportunity for the children to sample sailing for the first time, the Thursday Club can also have a significant effect on the personal development of some of the children, helping them expand their circle of friends or improve their school work. Longer term the children are encouraged to develop dinghy racing skills. A few have already gone on to compete at a national and international level.
Mike Baker recently told ‘Yachts & Yachting’ a leading National yachting magazine: ‘The children start sailing from nothing, some haven’t been on the water until they join us. I find it tremendously rewarding seeing them grow in confidence and improve their behavioural skills. After just a fortnight they have a respect for the water and they change, becoming a different sort of person. I also notice that children with Down’s syndrome go from being very quiet and introverted till suddenly they come out of their shell and offer to help. It’s quite amazing.’
Brothers Jake and Ben Todd started sailing through the Thursday club. Jake, aged Sailing - Their Future in Their Own Hands 16, has featured in earlier reports in Postcode Publications. Jake became a national champion in the RS Feva Youth Class, finished second at the world championship, and is now in the RYA 29er national youth squad, while Ben, 14, is the national RS Feva youth squad.
Both boys joined the Thursday Club after hearing about it through school; mother Geraldine reflected: ‘I’d see a load of children just hanging around at the park and stuff and I didn’t want my boys to do that. We went down to Thursday Club and it felt like everybody else was born with a boat on their back, we didn’t even know the basics, but everyone was so friendly and the boys really loved it.
‘They’re now in national squads and travel all over the country, all over Europe, and they’ve learnt so many skills. When I thank the coaches, it’s because they’ve brought them on to be such nice boys, they’ve given them confidence and they even study better, and I’m sure it’s because of the sailing and the discipline it involves, and the nice people they hang around with and the places they’ve visited. It’s been an incredible journey for them.’
She says the boys do paper rounds and Jake works in a chip shop after school to help fund his sailing: ‘He crams in loads but he knows if he keeps working, he’ll get results - sailing has taught him that. It’s taught him to keep his head down and keep going and for parents that’s brilliant’.
Jake, who was about 10 years old when he first started Thursday Club, describes Mike Baker as a “legendâ€: ‘I went once and wanted to go again, then started racing and got addicted. I’ve got such a big friendship group from it and travelled all over as well. I wouldn’t be the same person I am now without sailing.’
Mum Geraldine’s comments about the positive effect the boys’ sailing development process has had on their educational studies should not surprise parents. The development processes in sporting and educational talent fields are very similar. Consequently the processes work well together when a child is highly motivated and committed to success in both fields. Experienced coaches and school teachers understand and can help a determined child achieve success in both areas at the same time.