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Sooke sailing says “Sayonara” — for the season

BC Sailing wound up their sailing program for the 2013 season this past week in Sooke.
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A group photo of the students from week two

BC Sailing wound up their sailing program for the 2013 season this past week in Sooke.

The sailing camp, also called the MOSS Program, is organized by BC Sailing and certified by Sail Canada (formerly Canadian Yachting Association).

The Sooke Sailing Association (SSA) was instrumental in bringing the program to Sooke for its second year. The purpose of the MOSS program is to build the legacy of a sailing program in communities that don’t already have one. For those who are still keen, the children are encouraged to come back and assist instructing the program after they are 15.

Safety comes first, fun is second, and then sailing!

On some days the wind was excessive. As Chris Carberry, the head coach for the MOSS Program, said “It is more fun and better to learn in lighter winds.” After the first week camp, held at Mariners Village, it was decided to move location due to at low tide the surrounding eel grass was impeding the coach boats mobility. Everyone at Mariners Village was very helpful and accommodating. It was a great space for a camp — especially on their new docks.

The second and third week camps were moved to Coopers Cove, which is nicely protected and a great place to learn. If a challenge is needed the basin is a short sail up the cove. Scott, the owner of Rush Adventures & Stickleback Restaurant, was very supportive and helpful in the move to Coopers Cove.

SSA is looking for local Sail Canada certified coaches for young kids and adults. Contact us at 778-425-4030 if you would like to part time coach some of our Sooke kids that want to make it to a regatta this fall. There are adults that need some coaching in keel boats as well and SSA feels if there are any qualified local coaches they could help get Sooke on the map for sailing.

We had some wonderful volunteers. Dennis Touhey, a newcomer to Sooke, volunteered as ground crew for all three weeks and was amazing. We had help from parents as well and extend a special appreciation for Mary Cole who was hands on for the whole second week. We could not have done it without our volunteers.

Due to two of the weeks being fully registered the SSA will receive almost enough funds to purchase two one-year-old Optimist Sailing Dinghies for their sailing school in Sooke.

Having a Yacht A Fun

Dale Baker from Sooke always wanted to see something happening in regards to sailing in Sooke. He ended up taking his kids to the Kootenays to learn to sail. When he heard a club was getting going he approached Sooke Sailing Association with the offer of a 2007 Catalina 22 MkII sailboat on a trailer. Dale has been working up north more lately and hated to see his boat Yacht A Fun just sitting there. SSA is extremely grateful and is working hard to get it in the water soon. Possible plans are to see if there are enough people that would want to Co-op the boat.

“We are not sure yet, what we will do with it but there are a lot of options going through our minds”   said Robert Chouinard of the SSA.