Sailing

Sailing is an activity which runs throughout the year, and it is open to all members of the School. It is a popular sport both within the School and as an activity beyond school either competitively or for pleasure. As a school boys have access to two racing fleets of boats, one of 420's at the local reservoir, Sutton Bingham, Thursdays all year round, and a fleet of 470's and a Hobi Cat at Poole harbour (possibly one of the best dinghy sailing areas in the country) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and at weekends during the summer term. There is usually an additional sailing week after the end of the Trinity term. Boys who sail are charged an annual membership of £40 (2012) to offset some of the costs of membership and transport to and from Sutton Bingham, harbour dues, provision of sailing kit and maintenance of boats. An additional charge of £8 per trip is levied for boys sailing at Poole to offset the cost of transport. Also the occasional opportunity to sail in yachts, go to boat shows and spectate at major racing events exists.

Boys of all levels, from complete novices, are welcomed and all are coached to a level beyond RYA level 2 giving them the ability to take a performance boat out in testing conditions. Additionally for more senior boys there is the opportunity to apply for the Andrew Yorke award which covers all costs for boys to complete the full RYA Dinghy Instructor's course.

There is a full programme of Team Racing against local schools in the first half of the Michaelmas term, the end of the Lent term and throughout the Trinity term in addition to entries for national British School Dinghy Racing Association competitions. Boys from both the junior and senior parts of the school may compete either as a combined team or independently as a junior or senior team. Additionally we sometimes make entries to match racing competitions.

Chris Hamon PhD
Master i/c Sailing
RYA Senior Instructor