Pirate Report 2004
We now have an arrangement with the Guernsey Sailing Trust in that they
are prepared to rent Oppies to parents for their children’s uses on Pirate
evenings – for a nominal fee! Thanks to John Elliott for sorting this out.
This has resolved the problem we have had in the past where a Pirate’s family
has had to own an Optimist to get on the water.
The idea of the Pirates is to provide early boating fun in the Model Yacht
Pond to children of about 5+ (some start even younger) and, hopefully, feed
them into the GYC training fleet at the appropriate time for them. Parents
have to be on hand during each session. New Pirates have joined in this year
and some older Pirates have moved on to the GYC Optimist fleet. There has
been a lot of interest in Pirates from new families this year and we are hoping
that many of these new Pirates will come along next year. This is a great
opportunity to introduce young children to the sport.
Many thanks to our Pirate Helpers. These are older children who help around
the pond and in the boats during the Pirate sessions. Their help is invaluable,
putting at ease the young sailors by being with them in the pond and in the
boats when help is needed.
Again thanks to the support of the parents and adults who
wade around the pond, particularly Martin Priest and Mike Chapple who is
one of the GYC Junior race instructers.
The pond is empty at the moment in preparation for some overdue repairs
to a leaky bottom and (we hope) will be operational for next season. New
Pirates are always welcome, details from Peter Sidebottom on 255742 or Charles
Parkinson on 720375. 2005 sailing will begin in late April, and a pirate
parent get together will be arranged for some time in February.
Peter Sidebottom
Pirates 2004