Freeport, Grand Bahama - The Grand Bahama Sailing Club has come up with a novel idea that will certainly broaden the horizons of young enthusiasts.
According to Club Secretary Sarah Rolle, an essay competition will be organized in both the public and private schools in Grand Bahama, with participation in the 2010 Summer Sailing Camp as the ultimate prize.
The club focuses on optimist and laser boats and youngsters in the 7-13 age category are eligible. This academic aspect to the program is simply fantastic and it proves that those who operate the club are thinking out of the box, far beyond actual sailing competition. Although the club has a successful history with its camp, coming up with the essay angle is indeed innovative and actually sets a standard for other sporting programs.
The topic for the essay will be "Why You Want to Learn to Sail and How You Might Benefit From the Experience."
Marrying an academic educational factor with sports is " a winner" and those who enter the contest will no doubt reap satisfying dividends.
They would have participated in what is expected to be a very competitive essay competition. Then, they will get the opportunity to learn the skill sets that relate to two of the most popular sailing categories in the world today. These two classes are laying the foundation for an international resurgence in The Bahamas.
Across the nation, particularly in New Providence and Grand Bahama, many youngsters are being trained in the optimist and the laser boats. They are doing quite well in competition in South Florida and the stage is being set for The Bahamas to once again become a highly-reputed country in international sailing.
There was a time, during the 1940s, '50s and '60s, when Durward Knowles, Sloane Farrington, Cecil Cooke, Kenneth Albury, Basil Kelly, Godfrey Kelly and the like reigned supreme in the world of international sailing.
With the quality leadership of the GB Sailing Club and the New Providence-based Bahamas Sailing Association, standout competitiors are bound to emerge from the respective training programs.
The GB executives have cultivated a refreshing sailing environment and the camp is pivotal for the progress of the program.
"Typically about 24 students attend each camp, which is run by two qualified instructors and three assistants. Newcomers enrol in the "learn to sail" segment which covers basic seamanship, safety, capsizing and recovery, racing tactics, nautical knots, plus general boat-handling skills. It has been a great success as all the kids have come away at the end with tremendous enthusiasm, happy about having been introduced to the sport of sailing," said Rolle.
Now, with the academic element of essays added, the GB program is bound to grow to lofty levels. The GB sailing program is quite a comprehensive package, that could very well result in another era of Bahamian international champions.
Congratulations to Rolle and her associates in the GB Sailing Club.
Best wishes with Camp 2010.
