I was eight years old when I was put at the helm of a tiny sailing dinghy. I’m not going to pretend I took to it like the proverbial duck to water. No, I took to sailing like the average cat does to swimming.
It is hard to believe that now as I look back at a lifetime spent working on or around the water. Encouragement from instructors and sailors at the Isle of Man Yacht Club; Tony Eales Andy Green, Brian Cousins, Fiona Anderson in particular all played a large part in turning me from swimming cat to something that resembled a sailor.
For the eight year old me it took determination, perseverence and courage to keep getting in a boat. I didn’t know it then, but those years taught me much about what it meant to be resilient, to have discipline, passion, to have a dream and to not quit on that dream when things got tough.
Over the years I have come to realise that to sail is to navigate life. Each adventure onto the water offers a small lesson in life as the power of wind, waves and tide shape each journey.
In the last 19 years at 7th Wave I have watched so many other kids overcome, grow, build confidence, laugh and have fun simply messing about in boats. Seeing the bay full of boats and hearing the laughter and comradarie on the water always raises a smile for me.
Steering a boat, handling sails, and navigating the open water builds a powerful sense of accomplishment. Every summer I watch kids learn to trust their abilities and develop the confidence to tackle new challenges, both on and off the water. Sailing fosters independence as they learn to rely on themselves and make decisions independently.
Kids hone their decision-making skills as they assess wind conditions and chart their course. They learn the importance of teamwork and communication as they work together with their crew to maneouvre the boat effectively. These are skills that transfer to all aspects of life.
I was lucky as a child of the 80s, the screens and phones did not exist, we played outside if it wasn’t raining, we played cards or board games inside if it was raining, we were always chattering away the hours with other kids. Today, where the world is dominated by screens, sailing offers a refreshing escape. Sailing lessons provide a phone-free environment where kids can disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature. Instead of the screens we have the thrill of close-up encounters with dolphins, playful seals, or even the majestic basking shark! These unforgettable experiences inspire a deep appreciation for the natural world.
Sailing opens up a whole new world of adventure. At 7th Wave, we get to explore beautiful coastlines, discover hidden coves, and experience the tranquility of being out on the water. It’s a fantastic way to encourage a love for the outdoors and here at Port Erin we are certainly spoiled by nature’s beauty and bounty.
I doubt my parents realised back then, how much learning to sail was an investment in my future. It gave me a chance for to develop valuable skills, build character, make life-long friends, cross the ocean a few times, and it led me to establish 7th Wave, where the journey just keeps on giving as every season we help more young people embark on the start of adventures that could take them around Port Erin Bay, around the Calf, the Island… the world!
Posts Tagged with adventure
An unexpected visitor
Yesterday was the kind of day that most of us Irish Sea dwellers would have elected to stay firmly onshore. But not Stick Daring, I helped him launch from Purt Verk in Port St Mary, Isle of Man at 10am, sending him out to cross the Irish Sea on a 43NM trip to Holyhead.
Stick left Eastbourne on the 17th July and is sailing anti clockwise round Britain. He’s survived surf beaches, overfalls, doldrums and big breeze on his trip so far, with what sounded like some pretty hairy moments around the Scottish coast including a brief encounter with some orca.
He arrived in Port St Mary on Tuesday afternoon, my friends in Ramsey had asked me to look out for him, so when the sailor arrived from the sea I was able to give him food, drink, hot shower, wifi, a bed for the night, chart and almanac and some passage planning help.
My unexpected visitor and new friend set out to sea again yesterday in a decent blow with some big old waves, I spent all day wondering if I would be the last person to ever see him!
Just after 3pm my phone rang… it was Stick! The line was a little broken but I heard his message “Lost comms with coastguard, VHF died, call you call Belfast Coastguard for me”. I duly did, the lady in Belfast Ops room asked if I was his designated person ashore. “I guess I am, I hadn’t met this fella until yesterday, but it was me that helped him out to sea today” I replied. We were all happy to hear the update “10 or 12 miles off Holyhead”. What a trip!! 30 odd miles in 5 hours in a Laser!!
Around 5pm my phone rings again…. “Where is the RNLI station in Holyhead”, now I’m in Shoprite trying to act as a Holyhead pilot for a chap in a Laser. I hope he found Holyhead Lifeboat Station – RNLI and had a good night’s rest before carrying on the next leg.
Stick was a welcome visitor here, I am so happy to have been able help in some small part on his adventure and grateful to have had a brief opportunity to hear some of his stories of sailing, life and living. “I hate the phrase ‘can’t be bothered’ ” he said.
That Laser looked very small as it dropped below the horizon.
