FROM THE NORTHSIDE
Northern Yacht Club Junior Sailing Association developing leaders
Northern Yacht Club Junior Sailing Association developing leaders.
To see, first hand, young people being developed into leaders through the Northern Yacht Club Junior Sailing Association’s sailing program is very gratifying.
Denis Astephen, who belongs to a long line of Astephen family sailors, is director of junior sailing at the Northern Yacht Club.
The board is as follows: Denis Astephen, chair; John MacDonald, Kim Hatcher and David Buis, commodore.
How the board works: John MacDonald is Denis’ go-toman; Kim Hatcher looks after the junior sailing association’s banking and finances with the help of Merle Carmichael, while David Buis is the commodore of the club.
The object of the association is to teach youth boat safety and boat handling while sailing. The association takes youth from ages eight to 18.
The association has to abide by the CanSail regulations.
This year, the program started on July 4, and will continue for eight weeks until Friday, August 26.
First of all, they do a twoweek session followed by another two-week session, a one-week session, then they’re off to Baddeck for Regatta Week.
On July 4, the youth sat down with their instructors and reviewed the safety rules re life jackets at all times around the wharf or water. All of the instructors lead by example as far as life jackets in the area are concerned.
The instructors break the youth into groups and teach them the terminology of boats and boat parts, and how to rig a boat properly.
They start off the youngest group in Opt’s (Optimists) and Kingfisher Prams. As they develop their sailing skills, and become more experienced, they advance to the 420’s which have two sails, a main and a jib, and they take two sailors to sail them.
Some of the older youth have advanced to become crew members on larger yachts.
“This program is the backbone of the club: some of these young sailors will become instructors, and eventually will purchase their own boat to participate in yacht racing,” says Denis Astephen.
In Baddeck they participate in the regatta in all classes, e.g. the Opt’s, the Kingfisher Prams, and the 420’s.
The regatta in Baddeck is provincial, and allows these young sailors to advance in the marine field.
One of the board members, David Buis, who was at one time a young sailor, is now commodore of the Northern Yacht Club.
Stephen Cantwell, who was an instructor for years at the club, runs an adult learn to sail program which has become an integral part of the club’s activities.
The young sailors participate in yacht racing every Wednesday evening when they become experienced enough to do so. After the racing, the participants (senior and junior members) enjoy a lunch and social evening. Awards are then presented for the first, second and third positions.
Jack Gogan, one of the junior sailors at the club, is going to Antigua in the Caribbean on Wednesday, July 6, for 10 days, competing in the Opt’s North American Championship.
For further information, the reader can check the Northern Yacht Club website: www. northernyachtclub.com or try the Junior Sailing phone at 902-537-2157.
If this is not development of leadership in youth, what is!
Gordon Sampson founded the North Sydney Historical Society on January 7, 1980, and selected the library as the centennial project out of 10 possible projects in 1985. He was an educator and administrator for 38 years, the last 28 at the Canadian Coast Guard College. He can be reached at gh.sampson@ns.sympatico.ca