GHSC Sailors Benefit From Four Days Of Instruction Courtesy BSA

The Junior Laser Champion in Governor's Harbour - Photo by Margherita Matera

The arrival of the SeaWind on August 21 brought to Governor's Harbour the chief sailing instructor of the Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA), Shane Deppe and the Bahamian Junior Laser Champion, Donico Brown with the agenda to teach the Governor's Harbour Sailing Club's 24 sailors the rules of international racing and  the best way to get the most out of their optimists and sunfish. The first workshop began on Thursday afternoon, with more than twenty sailors participating.

The BSA had sent the instructors with the aim to increase the skills of our sailors. A full day on Friday began at ten in the morning with "classroom" study of the various flags and what they mean, how races were timed and  the rules of racing. The afternoon was on the water, with both instructors in the safety boat assessing the GHSC skills; and they liked what they saw. Saturday's classroom session taught our sailors the proper way to tack, how to hold the tiller extension to its maximum potential and about sitting more forward on their dinghy. In the afternoon, it was out on the water for practice. Sunday was actual race day and the beach began to fill up with the locals taking in the action.

The BSA has been sending Shane and Donico to other family islands where there are established sailing clubs, but they found the beauty and ideal conditions of the harbour just perfect for dinghy sailing. Donico had brought his immaculate Laser, and by Sunday, Justin Pinder and Patrick Similien had permission from Donico to try it out. Even Commodore Mark Adams took it around the harbour.

The BSA is hosting the National Optimist Championships in Nassau on September 26 and 27, and it is expected that more than 80 optimists will participate, with young sailors from the Exumas, Marsh Harbour, Man 'o War Cay, the Abacos, Long Island and four sailors with their dinghys from the Governor's Harbour Sailing Club.

Contributed by  Missy Kennedy Adams

Photos courtesy of Missy Kennedy Adams and Margherita Matera

Rodney Cadet smoothly tacks as Shane Deppe watches.

Daniel Davis on his Opti showing his new sailing skills

Justin Pinder is not far behind in his Sunfish