Tomorrow it will be six years to the day since we opened 7th Wave, and what a great six years we’ve had!
We started with a fleet of six RS Teras for dinghy training. Jon became a Powerboat Instructor in 2006 and Jack the Dog found us as well.
In 2007 Jen qualified as a Shorebased Instructor and Jon achieved the VHF Assessor qualification. We got our RYA Shorebased Recognition and ran our first VHF, Yachtmaster and Dayskipper Theory courses. We entered a team into the Topper Challenge for the first time and Tom Howitt, Greg Kelly and James Kelly came home with the trophy.
The highlight of 2008 was Jen and Jon’s wedding, which was a glorious day in the fields at Grenaby. The Manx Youth Sailing Squad was formed in 2008 and began training at 7th Wave using the RS Teras. We took the team to the RS Tera Inland Championship at Draycote Water, Greg Kelly won the first race and finished third overall. Sarah Butler represented 7th Wave at the national final of the RYA Honda R.I.B. Challenge in Southampton. Alex Sharpe, James and Greg won the 2008 Topper Challenge and 7th Wave received a Tourism Award from the IOM Government.
Lucy Gregg and Alex Sharpe competed at the 2009 RYA Honda R.I.B. Challenge final in Southampton. Alex, James and Greg won the Topper Challenge – again! We hosted the Queenie Festival Sails and Tales event on Port Erin beach. The Manx Youth Sailing Squad entered the RS Tera National Championship at Dabchicks S.C. where they won the National Team Trophy. All members of the Squad were invited to join the GBR RS Tera Squad based on their results at the Nationals.
In 2010 it was time to replace our Tera fleet, this time we opted for the Topper Topaz and Taz dinghies, which we now love 🙂 Ffinlo Wright and Matthew Petts competed in the IAPS National Prep Schools Regatta in Weymouth, where they finished fourth overall. Jon became and Advanced Powerboat Instructor. Ffinlo, Greg and Tony Pitt won the Topper Challenge and the Manx Youth Sailing Squad were crowned National Inland Champions, with Izzy Sharpe finishing third overall.
The MYSS competed at their first RS Tera World Championship in Brittany. Hannah Howitt was top girl in fifth place overall, Izzy Sharpe was second girl in seventh place and James Kelly won the event, receiving the title of RS Tera World Champion 2010.
In 2011 Ffinlo Wright and Matthew Petts competed again at the IAPS regatta in Weymouth, this time they won every single race! Prizes were awarded by Ben Ainslie and sailors from the Olympic Squad. Greg Kelly finished in fourth place at the RS Tera World, National and Inland Championships! Hannah Howitt, Izzy Sharpe and James Kelly made the move into the Laser Radial class and received Sports Aid Foundation support with their 2011 campaigns. Alex Sharpe and Luke Collins both passed their Dinghy Instructor courses.
By 2012 we think we have trained almost 200 powerboaters, 80 adult dinghy sailors and have taught almost 400 youngsters to sail. Tom Howitt completed his Dinghy Instructor course at Easter. The Manx Youth Sailing Squad has three new members. At 7th Wave we have an almost fully booked summer to look forward to!
Happy Birthday us 🙂 Thank you so much to everyone who has helped and supported us, we couldn’t have done all this without you. The list is too long to list everyone here, but you all know who you are, customers, family, friends and all the new friends we’ve met along the way…..