Sport Sailing
Ships Ahoy! A
Independent schools will be at the forefront of Britain’s success in sailing at the Olympics, writes Tracy Cook
s Weymouth and Portland prepare to host the sailing Olympics this July, it is worth remembering that sailing is one of Britain’s great success stories. At the Beijing Olympics, Britain topped the medal table as the best
sailing nation. There, out of the 19 gold medals Team GB won, four were for sailing. And yet, somehow, sailing isn’t seen as one of our major
sports. It still struggles to shake off the echoes of deck shoes and Champagne. But is that all set to change? Keith Sammons, Commodore of the British Schools
Dinghy Racing Association (BSDRA) certainly thinks so. He encourages team dinghy racing competitions on reservoirs all over the country and every summer organises regional and national competitions for schools to compete in. “We have about 65 or 70 schools entering the regionals, with about 100 boat teams competing,” he says. “Last year the Whitstable Trophy, for the highest placed BSDRA school, went to Magdalen College School (in Oxfordshire).” The Royal Yachting
Association (RYA) are also running the OnBoard scheme to
reach out and encourage schools to try sailing at 240 accredited training centres or sailing clubs throughout the country. They have set up a network of 28 Development Officers whose role is to link up with schools and get them involved with sailing. So far, over 1,700 have signed up. “These are fantastic times for sailing. We’re always
trying to bring in new schools and widen its appeal,” says Sammons. He is also Master of Sailing at Tonbridge School in Kent, where they run a fleet of 28 boats on the nearby 250-acre Bough Beech reservoir. “Boys can choose sailing as soon as they arrive in the first year,” says Sammons “It’s quite popular. They can sail
40 FirstEleven Summer 2012
Above, Dauntsey’s School owns the Jolie Brise, right, the Royal Yachting Association, left, Olympian Ben Ainslie
Children who might not
four afternoons a week. Some are very committed and even sail at weekends in their own boats. We cover everything from novices to team racing, to getting boys on the Olympic pathway and training for fleet racing. We also compete in the National Schools Fleet Racing competition and the Round Island Race at the end of June.” But for some schools, sailing is not just about winning
want to play rugby and cricket will try sailing.
They love it – it really fills a niche
races, but rather what it can offer the child in terms of personal development. “Sailing is fantastic for children’s self-confidence and self esteem,” says Chris Foster, Head of
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