Year 6 Sailing Taster Day

All the Year Six girls enjoyed fair winds at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy today, learning how to rig and sail Laser Picos. A grey day did nothing to dampen the pupils enthusiasm as the RYA Laser School instructors guided us through the set up and sail procedures. Teaching points were plentiful as were the opportunities for practising sailing techniques on dry land before we got onto the water. The instructors ensured that everyone understood the ideas of turning the dinghy using the tiller and powering up the sails through pulling in the main sheet.
When the time came to experience the Portland harbour water at first hand, Leweston girls were the first down the slipway to launch their Lasers. A great time was spent racing against each other on a broad reach in between two markers, whilst listening to the instructions that the instructors gave from the water based support RIBS. Nobody capsized their boats today but some were intent on collision course tactics (!) which did end up in a couple of bumps, but nothing serious.
At the end of the session everyone was left with happy memories of their time at the Sailing Academy.