RYA Push the Boat Out offers nationwide sailing
and windsurfing taster sessions introducing newcomers of all ages, abilities
and backgrounds to the sports. And for the first time ever this year Push the
Boat Out will run over nine days - two weekends and five weekdays - to give
people even more chance to have a go!
Last year 260 clubs and centres in Britain
hosted Push the Boat Out events with 17,000 people trying sailing or
windsurfing for the first time over one weekend. One club alone in Southampton,
Eling Sailing Club, welcomed over 200 visitors which completely amazed the
organisers. More than half of them managed to get out in dinghies and cruising
yachts to get a taste of sailing.
Each open day and taster session will be
different depending on the activities each club or centre offers, but all Push
the Boat Out events are geared showcase what the sports are all about from the
freedom of being on the water to the social buzz of club life and will highlight
just how accessible sailing actually is to everyone.
The Hampshire clubs and centres already
signed up to Push the Boat Out in May include the following:
- Hamble River Sailing Club is providing
sailing sessions on the weekend of 16th and 17th May
starting at £10 adult and £5 child for one hour to try sailing or powerboating.
-
Hythe Sailing Club is providing free
short taster sessions on dinghies and cruising yachts on 17 May.
-
Royal Southampton Yacht Club
will also be opening its doors to the public on 10 May.
-
Southampton Sailing Club is offering
beginners and improvers a chance to try out dinghy sailing on 17 May.
-
Southampton Water Activities Centre (SWAC)
runs its sailing sessions all through the year but it will run additional
evening sessions during the PTBO week at a reduced cost of £10.
-
Weston Sailing Club will have a Come and
Try Session at their Netley Abbey base on Saturday May 16 with dinghy and
catamaran races and there will be coaching on hand for would be 'Improvers'.
-
St Denys Sailing and Rowing Club
invite everyone to experience dinghies and dayboats on a sheltered stretch of
the River Itchen on 17 May. Come and
look at the unique club and facilities which give members the opportunity to
participate in a variety of on water activities, without the expense of boat
ownership.
-
Lymington Town Sailing Club will
provide a chance to get on the water on one of the Club's RS Vision sailing
dinghies or a member's Wayfarer or keelboat.
Short taster sails will be run throughout the day over the weekend of 09
and 10 May. The Club will be open for
visitors to view the facilities and enjoy the restaurant and there will be an
opportunity to join the Club on the day.
-
Hill Head Sailing Club will run
kayaking and dinghy sailing experiences on Sunday 10 May with qualified
instructors and experienced sailors on hand.
Adults and children choosing to become members will then have a great
opportunity to get into sailing after the event.
-
At Lee on Solent Sailing Club on 16 May
the club will invite sailors and non sailors onto the water and to activities
on the beach with kids’ competitions, ‘Try Sailing’ and refresher courses.
-
Portchester Sailing Club will be running
dinghy sailing taster sessions over the weekend of 09 and 10 May and
opportunities to have a sail in the harbour on a cruiser.
-
Thorney Island Sailing Club
will run their 'Plastic Fantastic' short course racing evening on 12 May
providing a range of boats for all ages to try. On 17 May they will run
their on the water sessions, again for everyone to try sailing.
- Tudor Sailing Club in Portsmouth will
have cruising yachts and dinghies available for taster sails, and there will be
RIB rides, tours of the club, a bar and barbecue as well as games for children,
all on 17 May.
-
At Havant-based
watersports charity, Releasing Potential,
there will be a fun free sail day on 17 May with the opportunity to
try small keel boats which can take the whole family out for a sail.
All you need for any of the Open Days or
‘have a go’ sessions are a change of clothes, soft soled shoes and a towel and
the clubs/centres will provide everything else. Booking is essential for some
of the activities. Refreshments will be available and a friendly smile
guaranteed as BBQs and other social activities also take place to give
newcomers a warm welcome.
In 2014, the nation’s sailing clubs
gained more than 1,000 personal memberships through Push the Boat Out with more
than 500 families also becoming members of the clubs they visited.
Full
details on Push the Boat Out 2015 and what’s going on in your area.
