by Adam Bennett (pictured), 10 years old in Year 6 at Titirangi Primary School.
At the French Bay yacht club you get world class coaches and a family friendly environment. You can go from nine to twenty years old at French Bay, the sailing is amazing, a good sheltered bay for learning to sail and strong winds in the channel for fast racing.
You can become members, meaning you can come to member only nights and eat wood fired pizzas. The benefits of being members means you are in the list for kids learn to sail (KLTS), and if you want to race in the French Bay regatta, you can. When you start at French Bay you get coached by the best in the yachting community, they help right through till you start racing.
Racing at French Bay you get taught by Hamish, he is part of the New Zealand Yachting team along with Megan, a woman who was in the junior America’s cup for New Zealand. This shows that French bay members can go right up to elite sailing levels and racing all over the country and around the world. When I first started, I learnt all the parts of the boat and how to sail it. Winter sailing really helps with your skills in the boat, different speeds and knowledge of sailing in a brilliant harbour.
Sailing at French Bay is amazing. The atmosphere and adrenaline is hyper, you really have a great time in a yacht sailing whatever and wherever. You learn to sail and race as the French Bay yacht club has great access to the water. Sailing is a very good sport as it helps you with social awareness and your reactions can be as sharp as a click. Sailing helps you become aware of water situations and helps you to know what you need to stay alive in the water. If you haven’t started sailing I recommend joining a yacht club today.