Leckby set sail for Cowes

What a phenomenal week Leckby had in Cowes! The journey, (thankfully shorter than previous coach drives to Salcombe) was painless and of course included a ferry trip across the Solent, instilling a taste of far-flung adventure. The UKSA centre in East Cowes proved to be a perfect choice with comfortable accommodation, an enormous range of sailing craft and fabulous instructors. The weather was the only bugbear: whilst it was always warm and relatively dry throughout the week, the heavy winds proved quite a challenge. After a very enjoyable first day on the water, the budding sailors were then left high and dry on the second day as winds reached over 50mph. Alternative forms of entertainment, in the form of an impromptu rugby match, football games and a very useful classroom session covering all the theory required for the RYA Stage 1 certificate, filled the day. The third day was just as windy but with a little persuasion, the instructors finally relented and allowed the groups onto the water in their larger sail-training keelboats for a half-day session. With just a foresail (the winds were too strong for a mainsail) the pupils experienced the exhilaration of a yacht in full heel and at high speed. The other half of the day was spent messing about within the marina in kayaks – all great fun! The final day at the centre saw the winds calm down enough for another day of dinghy sailing although the afternoon’s gusts did preclude the scheduled racing regatta. Suffice it to say conditions ensured that every single pupil had thoroughly mastered their capsize drill by the end of the day! The instructors all expressed their appreciation of the pupils’ enthusiasm and resilience through the week and were delighted to present them all with their Youth Stage 1 certificates. Indeed, such was their progress, the pupils were encouraged to set their sights not on Youth Stages 2, 3 and 4, but on the more demanding Adult Level programme which the instructors felt the pupils were all ready for. Well done Leckby on a very productive – if exhausting – week on the water.