52 from two South Lanarkshire schools are all set for an inspirational day at the European 470 Sailing Championships in Largs on Wednesday 27 June 2012, when children from Blackwood Primary School and Hamilton School for the Deaf will all be part of the event’s VIP day.

The children will have the opportunity to meet and watch top competitors in a practice race. Hamilton School for the Deaf’s sailing interest began when Gerry Hughes, the first profoundly deaf man to sail single-handed across the Atlantic, visited them to talk about his sailing adventures.

So motivational was the experience that when South Lanarkshire Council asked the school if we would participate in a pilot scheme in partnership with RYA Scotland (RYAS), to introduce more children to sailing, they jumped at the opportunity.

Sailing instructors brought a boat to school and gave the children fun activities and explained the skills they would need to participate in sailing activities the following week.

“I was apprehensive about how they would cope communicating with each other as they were sailing,” said Class Teacher, Jackie McGuire.

“But any barriers were quickly overcome as they worked with the instructors to learn enough to enable them to go out in pairs. They had such great fun and would love to have the opportunity to further this experience in the future.”

That sailing opportunity proved an excellent stimulus for them to engage in other sailing related activities at school.

“Sailing has enabled our pupils to develop confidence and teamwork skills,” continued Jackie. “We are continuing to work with Angie Sword from RYAS who is helping to develop resources to support our studies.

“And we are all really looking forward to visiting the European Championships this week which will be an excellent end to the summer term.”

Through its clubs and centres, RYAS works with 135 schools in Scotland. Schools are proving a fertile ground for sailing and its related activities which link closely to the Curriculum for Excellence.

“I have worked in conjunction with Angie Sword, staff at the James Hamilton Heritage Park and South Lanarkshire Outdoor Learning colleagues to devise new topic planners based on sailing,” said Julie Burns, Primary 7 teacher at Blackwood Primary School, which will be sending 39 children to the European Championships next week.

“My class have used the planners which involved a sailing day at the park, numeracy work in class based on calculating speed, distance and time, literacy work including imaginative writing about sailing around the world, functional writing including instructions for rigging a boat and writing letters and also reading sailors’ blogs and biographies including Ellen MacArthur’s.

“Sailing allows children to challenge themselves and experience new things. It encourages them to work collaboratively with others, developing team work skills and communication skills.

“It boosts self confidence and self esteem when they have a positive experience and it allows children to develop resilience.”

Source: Rob Eyton-Jones

Image: Reigning 470 European Champions and 2012 Olympic representatives Sime Fantela/Igor Marenic (CRO).

25/6/2012 13:01