We went along to give the ‘Try Sailing’ a go as it seems daft to have all of this wet stuff (often known as the sea) around us on the Wight and not be making the most of it.
Try Sailing is an initiative by Skandia and the UKSA which offered a free one-hour trial-sails each day of Cowes Week.
We had tried to get signed up for it on Friday, but had left it a little too late. Due to the popularity of the programme, the day was booked up.
Having got the idea in our heads, we figured that we’d go along early doors on Saturday to make sure we were on the list.
Post Cowes fireworks, we jumped out of over-night Cowes bed (Thanks Jax & Andy!) at 7:30am — dragged ourselves more like it — and headed off to sample the delights of the cooked breakfasts in the town.
Settling ourselves into Eegon’s, the provided nosh did the job, as it clearly did for the other increasingly growing band of sailing-types who were also gathering there, swapping stories of the previous night’s experiences.
Getting to the Try Sailing tent on the Parade where we needed to sign up, we took advantage of the benches a little way away to wait for the 9am opening.
Not the best idea as it turned out, as a couple of people were standing outside the tent when we went there ten minutes before it opened.
Being second in the queue, the earliest we could sail was 11am, so a wander around Cowes was decided upon to fill in the time.
By the time we got back to the tent at twenty-to sailing, the rain had started and, as we heard from the returning instructors, the wind had picked up substantially.
Given this, it was decided that sailing tuition was going to be suspended – they didn’t want our first experience of learning how to sail to be terrifying!
The disappointment all three of us felt was instantly deflating, but very kindly, UKSA offered a trip out on the water on the RIB by way of a second best.
Donning waterproofs we headed to the pontoon with another couple, a young lad and his Dad to board the RIB.
The trip around was superb, as we darted around various areas of the entrance to Cowes with plenty of opportunities for us to take the sea back home with us, mostly in our shoes and trousers.
Getting into the channel, it was obvious why the advice was not to go out sailing, as stiff winds picked up the sea and drove it into our faces.
The male/female instructor combo who took us out were a great advertisement of what the joys of sailing can bring – youthful, enthusiastic and wearing a sunny disposition.
We returned to shore with huge grins on our faces having enjoyed the experience immensely.
Those who were waiting back at the tent were less lucky. Due to weather conditions, it had been decided that even trips on the RIBs had to be suspended.
The ‘Try Sailing’ idea, funded by Skandia has been around for four years, but whoever thought it up, is clearly a very clever stick.
A superb idea that is thoroughly recommended.
If you’re like us and can’t wait for next year to learn the basics of the sailing, you can call UKSA who run courses the year around.
UKSA
Photos: UKSA
