Barry Wright
With cooler weather upon us and the ground about to be covered with snow, it's hard to imagine the serenity of sailing.
But that's what some members of the Sarnia Yacht Club have in mind as it plan a Christmas show and sale in support of its sail training program this weekend.
“It's a learn-to-sail program for ages six and up,” explained SYC spokesperson Lynz Jackson.
“They teach you starting with the basics. You don't need to know (anything) about it to start.”
Jackson says the club, which had previously begun youth training at eight years of age, is encouraging six and seven-years-old to come out next summer so they and their families can get an earlier jump on the sport.
“To start at six and seven, it might get more interest for the long term,” said Jackson, noting other activities have captured the imagination of children at an early age and sailing can do likewise.
The programs, which have been taught at the club for more than six decades, typically attract 75 to 150 students for lessons in July and August, depending on the year.
The goal for the coming season is to fill all the sessions.
A new family training program will also be introduced in 2016, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, so children and their parents can learn to sail together as opposed to taking lessons separately.
“We start out in the basin of the Sarnia Yacht Club and then we bring them out into the lake,” Jackson said, noting safety at all time in paramount.
“It's a fun program,” she concluded.
Registration begins in February with details to be posted on the Sarnia Yacht Club website in the weeks to come.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Christmas at the Club Show and Sale
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 27, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Sarnia Yacht Club, 1220 Fort St.
OTHER: Free admission