Cowes Week

Have you ever visited Cowes Week and wondered what it is like to actually get out on the water and go sailing?

Well the United Kingdom Sailing Association is offering anyone who fancies it, a free one-hour sailing lesson throughout the week at Cowes.

Oliver Clare from the UKSA

Sailing instructor Oliver Clare has been working with the Try Sailing team this week and is enthusiastic about what it has done for new sailors.

He says: "We have had families of all ages, children as young as eight and they all go out with our instructors and have a really good time.

"We have had some complete beginners come down simply for the experience and simply because it is Cowes Week and it gives people the opportunity to get out there and enjoy the sport."

Brian, Richard, Emily, Jacob and Olivia

Instructors take out groups of five in 26 ft Keel boats, which due to their size and design are ideal to learn in. "An instructor will go out and take the groups for a little joy ride first before showing them the controls and letting everyone who comes on board have a go," explains Oliver.

"We have just had a fantastic time out there," says Richard, who has travelled with his family down from Nottingham to experience Cowes Week. "The wind was a little bit slight but it is great being down here for the sun and lack of floods!"

Sailing soccer stars

Also giving sailing a go for the first time before heading out to the Women's Football World Cup in China, were Arsenal ladies stars, Alex Scott, Lianne Sanderson and Katie Chapman.

England Women's Footballers

"I've been kayaking before but I have never done anything like this." said Lianne.

"Lianne thinks she is going overboard!" joked Alex, who was looking forward to the experience. "It is our first time here – it is a really good atmosphere, it is so relaxing. I am really looking forward to giving this a go."

"We were asked to come down here to promote Women In Sport day, none of us knew we were going to be going sailing, it is something new to us all" said Katie.

New interest

With the Olympics heading to the UK in just five years time Oliver believes that giving people a go at sports such as sailing can help encourage interest among younger participants.

"There have been a lot of competitive kids coming down. Most of them have had a go in the dingy simulator next door and then seen us and wanted to give real sailing a go.

"We have had one lad called Joe that has been down everyday with his Mum and he really enjoys it. So hopefully people will take up sailing when they get back home after trying it out with us."

Opportunity for all

People with disabilities have also been able to get involved, Oliver said: "We have got two Artemis sail boats which are specifically designed for people with disabilities to use.

"They work slightly differently to the Keel boats in that they have a helm at the back doing all the controls in and armchair as such, and the disabled person can sit in the front and can get as involved as much as they like in the sailing of the boat."

With Cowes now nearly over and the sun setting on another magnificent week on the Isle of Wight the encouragement of the Try Sailing team may well have made its mark on a generation of new sailors. Just watch this space.