The Tribune

THE Bahamas Sailing Association has been running its summer sailing school out of the Nassau Yacht Club since 2005. Its goal is to increase the number of Bahamian youngsters who know how to sail and to encourage sailing in all its aspects in the Bahamas.

The Summer Sailing Camp comprises three, two-week sessions, Mondays to Fridays, 8:30am to 3:30pm. Each student is assigned a boat which is theirs for the duration of the camp. They are also provided with a life jacket. Once they have been assigned this equipment, they are responsible for its care.

The day is broken down into many different parts. When the students arrive in the morning, they generally have an on shore lesson about some aspect of sailing. Then they work together to rig their boats for the day’s sailing session. Weather permitting, they sail in the morning and afternoon. At the end of the day, the students wash down their boats and gear and properly stow them for the evening.

The camp operates with a maximum capacity of 30 students per session.

Each year since 2005, in late September and early October, the BSA has assisted with the hosting of the Bahamas Optimist Junior National Championships. For the first five years it was held in Montagu Bay, but since 2011 the event has been hosted by clubs in the family islands such as Grand Bahama, Harbour Island, Governor’s Harbour and last year in Long Island. This year it will be held in Hope Town, Abaco. The event has now grown to where 80-90 competitors come from many of the islands to compete and have fun sailing.

Every student who attends the summer sailing programme is encouraged to sail in this event. It is a wonderful experience for them, one in which they meet others their own age with similar interests from different parts of the country.

Once a student has completed one of the summer sessions, they are able to continue sailing throughout the year in the Year Round Programme, (weekly Saturday sailing sessions as well as after school on certain days). They will also be given the opportunity to compete in the many sailing regattas that are held throughout the year and if good enough represent the Bahamas at international events.