A legion of new salts learned how to assemble and navigate a sail boats with the Mobile Optimist Sailing school on July 9-13.
The 22 kids, aged from six to 14, spent approximately two hours on the water each six hour day, according to Chris Carberry, MOSS head instructor.
“They can only handle about an hour-and -a-half or two hours of technical, and then the rest is fun games,” he said. “Otherwise they get discouraged.”
Although a thick fog descended over the Sooke basin last week, the lessons were not disrupted.
The kids were sailing in an enclosed 10,000 sq. foot area, close to the dock behind Mariner’s Village.
A line was also placed around the space’s periphery to ensure the kids would not be taken farther out into the ocean.
The area also had winds less than five knots, which ensured the kids would be able to learn effectively.
MOSS instructors directed the kids from a motorized boat and the dock.
Carberry said the kids did well, considering sailing requires utilizing all skill sets immediately.
“Unlike other sports, this sport, as soon as you let them go, they’re in the boat and they have to do everything.”