on the water
Island Life - April/May 2010
PHOTO: Young members at the 'Bonding barbeque bash'
everyone could make this year’s bash, which
France over four days. The skipper was obliging
might have dealt with some of the initial fears.
enough to say ‘right, if that’s what you want to
This is what Christopher Ilott wrote in his log:
do’ – because they were so enthusiastic. They
“Because I have ginger hair I was expecting to
be bullied about it. That was what I was most
scared about. When we got to John Laing I was
did night crossings, they got over being sea
sick“
Brian adds: “Of course they come back so
surprised that no one took the mick out of me
proud, having done something like that. A
for not knowing about boats and being ginger.
lot of their parents say they come home so
It was a very friendly atmosphere.”
exhausted. Often the shyer, quieter boy or girl
To Brian and Marion, the voyage is just as
valid for giving confidence and friendship as
it is for teaching about sailing, though at the
same time they believe a love of being on
the water is a wonderful gift to give a young
person.
'We were heading for the Isle of
Wight and a HUGE wave came up
and broke over the front of the
boat and EVERYONE got soaked
(except me!!)'
“They join the boat, have a briefing, meet
everybody, are divided up into two watches,
gains the most in terms of confidence from the
and they go through the safety briefing, and
experience.”
handed out their oilies. Then, where they go
70
The adult crew are CRB checked and are
depends entirely on the weather. The more
experienced in dealing with the qualms, fears,
the young offer in terms of enthusiasm to the
and occasional inappropriate behaviour which
skipper the more they get out of it,” explains
can happen if a child feels pushed into the
Marion. “On one voyage they sailed that
trip. Marion and Brian are constantly looking
boat from here to Alderney and two stops in
for more financial support to enable deserving
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