This is the second year Fowey Gallants Sailing Club has partnered with RYST to offer sailing lessons to schools based in and around the Clay Country.
Chief Instructor Jaz Spencer and her team welcomed primary schoolchildren from St Dennis, Fowey, Polruan, Roche and Bodmin Beacon, and secondary pupils from Fowey River Academy.
We know that learning to sail gets children off their phones, onto the water and out into the fresh air; that it builds confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
As Jaz puts it: “Sailing is a fantastic way for children to enhance essential life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership, as nearly every aspect of managing a boat relies on collaboration and clear interaction. You can see their self-belief grow as they learn to take the helm, handle the sails, and navigate challenges alongside their peers.”
We were delighted by the responses from teachers, suggesting further – and perhaps unexpected – benefits.
It turns out that the prospect of sailing gets children out of bed in the morning.
Says Alfie Havenhand of Fowey Primary School: “The general message from parents is that they think it is such a great opportunity for their children. Some have commented how it is the one day of the week in which their children are awake for the school run before they are.”
And not just out of bed, but into school.
Issy Hughes of Polruan tells us: “Sailing has encouraged school refusers to come in – it has improved attendance massively. We purposefully picked Mondays to actively encourage attendance and it has meant there has been a positive impact on the rest of the week.”
At Beacon Academy, Bodmin, sailing makes you famous.
Says Jack Madgwick: “Children have not stopped talking about it. We have many younger siblings that cannot wait to have their turn one day. The children who attend the sessions are celebrities in school for the rest of the week – everybody wants to talk to them about it.”
At Roche School, sailing actively supports classroom learning.
Says Jeremy Walden: “Our aim is to expose children to the opportunities that exist on their doorstep and ensure that they have a breadth of enriching experiences as part of their curriculum. We study the River Fowey as part of our Geography programme. The children visit Bodmin Moor to locate the source of the River Fowey. The sailing activity completes the journey from source to sea.”
And for Simon Horton of Fowey River Academy, it’s about removing obstacles to opportunity.
He says: “This programme has removed the glass ceiling that exists in Cornwall where students can see the activity, the idea of doing it is there, benefits are obvious, it looks exciting, but the glass ceiling is cost and accessibility. This programme has smashed that glass ceiling and provided young people with the step-up needed to engage with sailing.”
We’ve had a lot of support for this year’s Schools programme in and around the Clay Country and we’d like to thank four organisations who have helped fund it.
The Royal Southern Yacht Club Trust’s mission is to enable and encourage sailing activities for all. It was set up following a bequest by a Member of the Club, the late Sir Michael Cobham. Says Chairman Brian Mead: “We’re delighted to help RYST make sailing accessible for all children in Cornwall’s Clay Country, as we know learning to sail brings lifelong benefits. We look forward to following the progress of the young people we’re supporting.”
Founded in 2016, Cornish Lithium is committed to securing a sustainable, ethical and environmentally responsible lithium supply for the UK. The company has grown significantly and now employs more than 100 people, most of whom are based in Cornwall.
Cornwall Community Foundation is shaping a brighter future for Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly by connecting philanthropic individuals and businesses with grassroots organisations changing people’s lives. They continue to support our Clay Country School programme.
The TK Foundation is a private independent foundation organized in the Bahamas in 2002. It is named for J. Torben Karlshoej, “T.K.”, who grew up on a farm in Denmark and later founded the Teekay Shipping Company, now Teekay Corporation. Through the TKF Spirit Fund, its mission is to fulfil his legacy by enabling disadvantaged youth to succeed and promoting maritime education and safety. This is their second year of support for RYST.
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights is one of the City of London’s 113 livery companies, with its origins dating from before 1199. Originally formed to safeguard the quality of shipbuilding in London, today the Shipwrights’ Company provides support to organisations, charities, educational institutions and individuals.
Thank you from RYST on behalf of schools and parents and the young people whose lives you’ve helped change through sailing.