Thanks to all our families and kids for joining us this season. It has been a challenging one due to Covid and the subsequent interruptions to all our lives, however team FBYC have been stoked to see most of our young sailors persist towards receiving their YNZ certificates!
While all summer we have been teaching the “nuts and bolts” of the sport, I hope the families involved have also noticed our holistic approach - Learning the value of persistence, independence and play is the foundation of a healthy life in the sport. Regardless of talent, these attributes really put a sailor in good stead and are central to what we teach at FBYC. So we hope you all might consider staying on with us into next summer where we can continue to support you (kids and parents!) on your sailing journey in this way.
A note from Andi:
All participants should be proud of what they achieved, every day on the harbour was different and we learnt heaps and I hope they enjoyed it. It's been an absolute joy being a part of their sailing journey and all the best for what they decide to do next.
Certificates
Those who have turned up frequently over the season will likely be eligible for a YNZ certificate. They need to demonstrate knowledge of all the things mentioned in the booklet you received at the start of the course. Some of you did not make the final weekend, who we know are ready to be ticked off. Please return to the club on one of our winter sailing days to collect - We will ask you to prove your knowledge first!
We’re enjoying our time at FBYC - What’s next?
Winter sailing
We continue to sail on days in our winter calendar. KLTS kids are invited to continue to use club boats until the start of our new intake around October.
Note the format during winter is more ‘casual’. Coaches may be available and there might be RIB cover, however it is up to members to step up and make it happen, and we will not be rostering.
So other than being wary of the conditions and not taking any risks in unknown conditions, I encourage you all to continue to practice at least once a month if you are joining us next summer.
I also encourage parents, in the spirit of FBYC, to maybe take some time to bake something for our sailors, or get MOSS qualified (info will appear in newsletter) and join us on the water in order to support the community.
The primary means for communication will be through our club WhatsApp which you can join here. We will also continue to send updates through our newsletter.
Next Summer
You are all equipped with the skills to go sailing every now and then in our club boats. At the next level we aim to fine-tune your skills, which requires frequent practice in your own boat. This is a lot of fun!
Finding a boat
Winter is the time where I am helping a lot of families find/upgrade into boats. You will need a boat to take part in club activity, as come next summer we will be using ours on the new KLTS intake.
What boat to get into is a conversation I’d rather have over the phone/in person. Here we will weigh up cost, kid’s preference, group viability, kid’s size etc.. Please get in touch if you want to talk about this if we haven’t already.
For those who are looking for a boat after talking through the options, I have set up a WhatsApp group where I will post good deals I find online, as well as allow members to advertise their gear.
Do know, we keep things as cheap as we can, and that boats hold value pretty well.
Racing courses
Yes - If you took part in KLTS you are ready to join in our courses that focus on racing. Don’t be scared about racing, it’s a playground within which you can have a lot of fun with your friends, and all our sailors this year have really enjoyed themselves no matter the skill level.
In ‘Learn to Race’ we go to big regattas as a team, have a camp, and do a whole lot of other fun stuff.
Please let me know if you are considering joining LTR next season as soon as you can, regardless of whether you know precisely which boat you will sail - This will help me with planning the course.
For our older sailors who might move into ‘senior’ classes (eg. Laser, 3.7 / 55-60kg sailor weight+), our club racing community and senior coaching sessions are another great avenue to take.
Adventure sailing
For those who more enjoy a casual sail, we also offer adventure sails throughout the summer including our new year’s camping trip to Clarks Beach as well as low-tide Mud Meanders. These still require skill to partake in, and I encourage you to consider joining club racing / LTR to build this skill further.
Happy to talk anytime
I am always helping people find a place in the Club where they can make the most of the opportunities we have on offer. The best thing is to just get in touch and have a yarn. 022 533 1906 on mob or whatsapp, or hamish318@gmail.com.
Thanks for your participation this year!
Hamish on behalf of the rest of the FBYC coaching team