Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2011/January 2012 | Page 72

ON THE WATER

Sailing to aid
Island youth
The Island is consolidating its
leadership in encouraging the young
and the disadvantaged, who may know
nothing about the sea and sailing, onto
sailing yachts.
The initiative started seven years
ago when Ventnor resident Anthony
Churchill persuaded the national
organisation ASTO (the Association of
Sail Training Organisations) to hold a
Small Sail Training Ships Event in the
Solent.
From 15 yachts and 150 youngsters
there are now 30 yachts and 350
participants who gather at Cowes
Yacht Haven each autumn, and then
race for a day fro m the Royal Yacht
Squadron line in sailing ships, most
from 30 ft to 80 ft long.
Anthony said: “Major Island sailing
clubs realise they haven’t been active
enough outside Cowes, and now their
horizons have broadened to try and
reach the whole Island. The Royal
London Yacht Club, Royal Yacht
Squadron, and Cowes Corinthian

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Yacht Club support with cash
and help; so do Island charities,
such as the Daisie Rich, Delphie
Lakeman, Ellis Campbell and
Herapath-Shenton Trusts.
“Cowes Rotary, the Cowes
Town Council, and High
Sheriff ’s Trust are three others
enthusiastic about the project,
along with the Yacht Haven,
and Ocean World. Next year
we’re focusing on getting
even more island youth on
board for what experts say could be a
life-changing experience.
“Next year we hope to invite crews
from all five Sixth Form Colleges, each
on a similar 80 ft yacht, with up to 19
on board of each. We aim to find the
funds for these crews to participate
free”.
Local Sea Cadets, Carisbrooke and
Medina sixth forms, and other private
schools took part this year, and other
youngsters sailed on the Island’s Island
Youth Water Activities Centre yacht

‘Paddiywack’, and on Sir Francis
Chichester’s ‘Gipsy Moth IV’.
Anthony added: “Let’s get more
Island youth with difficulties, or those
who never considered a day on a yacht,
or are learning, to come with us. The
sailing community in Cowes is now
especially anxious to help youth from
elsewhere on the island to come to sea
for the first time. With more help we
can make this possible”