Sailing legend lends a hand
Sailing superstar Sir Russell Coutts imparted his knowledge on 11 lucky young sailors in a twoday workshop.
Held at the Kerikeri Cruising Club, Coutts along with top New Zealand sailor Barry Thom guided keen young sailors from the Bay of Islands, Mangonui and Taipa in O’pen Bic dinghies.
Multiple America’s Cup winner Coutts has been promoting the class of boats as a low-cost sol- ution to get more junior’s into the sport. The children learnt about race starts, tactics and strategies before putting their new skills into practice in a two-day regatta in the Kerikeri Inlet on September 17 and 18.
Northland sailors were joined by 11 from Coutt’s home sailing club in Manly.
Coutts says the kids enjoy sailing the relatively new class of boats.
‘‘They are quite tippy so kids learn how to not capsize them pretty quickly.’’
After the first day of sailing after school, the children analysed video footage with Coutts before heading out on the water for the second day.
Coutts says he was impressed by the standard of the kids taking part in the training.
‘‘They are learning really fast in great conditions. It’s good to give them the opportunity to learn a new thing.’’
The boats are low-cost and easy to maintain, making them ideal boats for kids to get involved with sailing. Coutts says sailing can provide valuable life lessons for young people.
‘‘You battle weather conditions, you can sometimes get a bit cold and wet and things don’t always go right. It teaches kids to get through these things.’’
Taipa Sailing Club’s Thomas Harley says he enjoyed sailing the O’pen Bics for the first time.
He had been getting slightly too big for the Optimus boat and was looking for the next step.
‘‘I want to be an America’s Cup sailor one day.’’
Kerikeri Cruising Club Commodore Doug France says it is great to have someone with Coutts’ knowledge train young people at the club.
‘‘We’ve had good sailors out of here. The Bics provide another step in the pathway from learning to sail at the lake through to high school sailing.’’
The Cruising Club has now purchased four of their own O’pen Bics.