This in from Marina, in her own words. Ed
Push the Boat Out starts this weekend and three clubs on the Island, Gurnard Sailing Club, Brading Haven Yacht Club and the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, are getting ready to open their doors to the public between 09-17 May to get out on the water and try sailing on selected days during this period.
The clubs have each signed up to RYA Push the Boat Out 2015 to offer free opportunities to get out on the water to try sailing.
RYA Push the Boat Out offers nationwide sailing and windsurfing taster sessions to introduce newcomers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to these sports.
What you can do
Visitors to Gurnard can try on the water sessions between 1pm and 4pm on the 16 May when there will also be a chance to have a ride in a RIB and to have a look round the facilities available.
On the same day the Royal Victoria will be offering joyrides between 10am and 2pm with one of their instructors in a variety of dinghies and cruising boats. Also on the same day Brading Haven will be aiming to get as many people as possible out onto the water.
Success of past events
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.
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.
Will you ‘have a go’?
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. For full details on Push the Boat Out 2015 and what’s going on at each club, including start times and detailed activities, visit our Website
