When 10 year old Toby Widdows from Gloucester visited the RYA Dinghy Show last year (2012) with his family, mum Ann, Dad Ian, younger brother George and older cousin Jade it proved to be quite an experience that would lead to a lot of new adventures and opportunities.

Here Toby shares his story with Bob the Buoy and tells us about his trip to the 2013 show…

Last year (2012) my Dad was booked in to do the level 1 – 2 sail training course, so we decided to visit the RYA Dinghy Show 2012 to find out more about dinghy sailing. It was the first time we’d visited the show and it was great fun and after our visit I wanted to learn to sail too.

So when we got home I booked on to the Optimist sail training course at my local club, Frampton-on-Severn in Gloucestershire and brought a boat all within a matter of weeks using some Christmas and birthday money I had been saving.

While we were at the show I had also entered the RYA Sail for Gold ‘Good Luck’ card competition for the 9 – 12 years category, which I actually went on to win and

was lucky enough to be invited to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to present my card to the Team GB sailors and watch sailors from all around the world were competing in the Sail for Gold regatta, many of whom would be next racing at the Olympics, which were also to be held at Weymouth.

It was an amazing day and experience meeting all of the GB sailors and watching them compete from the Nothe. At the end of the competition, I presented my good luck card together with the other two winners to Niki Birrell, Hannah Mills and Ben Ainslie. I was really lucky to have my photo taken with ‘Sir’ Ben Ainslie, he really is my inspiration.

Following my trip to Weymouth I was really motivated to complete my training course. I achieved my level 1 & 2 Optimist sailing certificate, only three of us out of ten achieved both levels. I also attended my first regatta at my sailing club; apparently Ben Ainslie competed in his first regatta on the same lake! I came last but it didn’t matter, I had fun. My boat was a training ‘oppie’ and very heavy. I convinced Mum and Dad that maybe I could have gone faster if I had a lighter boat! I have now sold my first boat and have bought a fiberglass optimist. My Dad, Granddad and I have been renovating it in the garage. I am going to paint it light blue (like Man city!) and call it Mantoby – maybe! I am booked onto the Optimist course again this year and hope to achieve my level 3 certificate.

Bob: So why did you decide to visit the RYA Dinghy Show 2013 again?

Toby: We decided to come to the show because last years’ experience of attending was brilliant.

I wanted to see all the different types of boats again so I could try and memorize all the different names and improve my knowledge about boats. We also went to the show to buy some new equipment to repair and renovate my new boat for the new sailing season.

Toby’s four year old brother George added:
The boat show is brilliant and Ben Ainslie is the best driver of the boats and I love him because I want to be like him when I’m grown up and I’ll be the best sailor in the world.

Bob: What did you enjoy the most about this year’s show?

Toby: I really, really enjoyed the remote controlled boats because they looked easy to manoeuvre and quite fun, but when I actually had a go, they were really difficult to operate. I had to think about gybing, tacking and not going head to wind. I had to sail a rectangular course and had to use a wave motion going up wind.

Bob: What did you learn at the show?

Toby: I learnt about all the different types of boats that I could sail in the future. I met lots of new people on the optimist stand. I really enjoyed listening to the Olympic sailors talk about their Olympic experience and I got to speak to Olympic sailor Annie Lush on the Optimist Stand.

Bob: What is it about dinghy sailing that you enjoy?

Toby: My favourite thing is sailing a course that my instructors design with the buoys, I enjoy doing this because it makes you sail any type of course and gives you experience. It is also good because you get to sail alone and sometimes it can be very challenging but also very rewarding when you complete the course.

It’s good when you do the sail training because you get to meet lots of new and old friends from other schools.

I really enjoy dinghy sailing because you get to meet new friends, sail new courses, compete in competition, have fun and most of all learn to sail. I was also able to put my sailing skills into practice when we were on holiday in Mexico. It’s harder sailing on the sea than on the lake because you have try to not head into wind and also and try and overcome the waves!

Bob: What do you sail

Toby: I sail my own Optimist and also sail with my Dad in his Mirror

Bob: What would you say to other kids thinking about having a go at sailing?

Toby: They should definitely try it, because it is a great experience and a good skill to have. You get to meet lots new friends, visit other clubs and also other destinations.

I’m also going to try and convince my other friends at Wycliffe Preparatory school to start sailing, especially my best friend Jack. Perhaps we could make a great team someday and sail for Team GB in the Olympics!!

Toby Dabenett-Widdows, 10 years.