Tackers Sail Training Program Melbourne Victoria Australia
Program 1, Week 1, 14 February 2009
What a great start to our very first Tackers Program at Mordialloc Sailing Club!
We started with 11 children and after writing names on the new drink bottles, caps and t-shirts, we went on a tour of the club with the Commodore of the Mordialloc Sailing Club, Crawford Wintersgill.
Whilst the Personal Flotation Devices (PFD's - life jackets) were being fitted with Megan Densely from Yachting Victoria, our Assistant Instructors James and Andy got the boats out. We then went through some parts of the boat:
Bow - front of the boat (and Joshua bowed for us)
Stern - back of the boat (and Blair put a stern look on his face)
Port - left hand side of the boat (and Noah with the red pants pretended to pour a glass of port)
Starboard - right hand side of the boat (and Millie with the green top on made a star shape)
Rudder - used to change the direction of the boat
Tiller - used to move the rudder
Centreboard - put in the middle of the boat to stop it tipping over (also called a dagger board)
Mast - the big pole in the middle of the boat (James pointed to it)
Sail - the multi coloured material on the mast (James pointed to it)
Boom - the pole at the bottom of the sail (Andy showed how it can come across the boat and can go 'boom' if it hits you in the head)
It was then time to have a drink, put on sunscreen and go to the bathroom before heading out on to the water.
We took the boats down the boat ramp to the water and had between two and three people in the boats and one person with the tow rope to help move the boat around.
We had some paddling practice and then experimented with what happens when all the people in the boat sit near the bow, the stern, on the port side and on the starboard side - guess what - the boats did not sink but we did get WET.
We also spent some time talking about keeping all of our body parts inside the boat when we are next to other boats - we don't want any squashed fingers!
It was time to come back in and go up to the upper deck and enjoy morning tea and enjoy the wonderful view - can you remember what everyone enjoyed? Help me fill in the blanks!
Lucy - shopping
Millie - ___________
Tessa - __________
Laura - horses
Joshua - Eskimo rolls
Connor - cricket
Patrick - surfing
Noah - football
Blair - eating
Isabella - _________
Mitch - ________
(here are two clues: football, sewing)
Then it was time to go back on the water. James and Andy (nick-named Hamish and Andy) were in the rubber ducky and one by one, each boat was towed.
Our volunteer Dads, Peter and Richard supervised the other boats while they did some paddling and sculling (by moving the rudder quickly) practice and then one by one, everyone jumped out of the boat and then had to climb back into the boat.
It was really difficult to climb back in when we could not touch the sand so the people in the boat moved over to the side of the boat to make the boat lower in the water.
We also practiced throwing the tow rope out to rescue our 'kids overboard'. And yes, we all got WET but we were all safe because we had our PFD's on and they kept us upright in the water.
We did have to paddle away from the rocks because the wind blew our boats too close.
Now it was time to come back to shore and say farewell to those that had to leave and the rest of our Dads and kids helped wash the boats and life jackets and put them away. Sean was extra helpful so he will be wearing one of our yellow 'volunteer' shirts next week.
We said our special thanks to the Commodore - Crawford, Megan for coming to visit us, Peter and Richard who spent a lot of time in the shallow water and our assistant instructors 'Hamish' and 'Andy.'
We had a chat in the long room afterwards and next week, one of the families will be bringing everything so we can have a sausage sizzle when the training is finished - yummy!!!
Please bring with you next week:
. your Tackers Hat, Shirt, Drink Bottle (with water)
. shoes you can get wet (crocs, surf shoes, old runners)
. fruit to share for morning tea
. if it is cooler weather, you can bring a wetsuit or some warmer clothes to wear
If you have any questions you would like to ask or special requests - please send me an email during the week.
See you bright and early at 8:30am on Saturday!
Sue Ellson
Instructor 'Tackers' Sailing Program
Mordialloc Sailing Club
Phone 9888 6480 or 0402 243 271
sueellson@yahoo.com.au
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