1st October, 2010
FRIDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER WAS A BIG DAY FOR THE NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY
WE HAD OUR FIRST GROUP OF STUDENTS ARRIVE AT THE ANTIGUA YACHT CLUB FOR BEGINNERS SAILING INSTRUCTION. THESE LESSONS ARE FUNDED BY THE ACADEMY AND FREE OF CHARGE TO THE STUDENTS (8 – 18 YEARS) MORE SCHOOLS ARE SIGNING UP FOR THE PROGRAMME AND, BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER, WE AIM TO BE TEACHING AT LEAST 100 STUDENTS PER WEEK ON A COURSE OF 8 LESSONS PER TERM.
IT IS JUST 11 MONTHS SINCE THE PROPOSAL WAS PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE CREATION OF THE ACADEMY FOLLOWING THEIR INTENTION TO ADD SWIMMING AND SAILING TO THE LIST OF NATIONAL SPORTS. IN THAT TIME WE HAVE RAISED SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PURCHASE 12 NEW OPTIMIST DINGHIES AND TO FUND INSTRUCTION FOR AS MANY SCHOOLS AS WE CAN HANDLE EACH WEEK UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. THOSE STUDENTS WHO NEED SWIMMING INSTRUCTION WILL BE DIRECTED TO SWALINGS SWIM CLUB AT JOLLY HARBOUR FOR THEIR INSTRUCTION – AGAIN FUNDED BY THE ACADEMY.
THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN FORMED, AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION WITH CHARITABLE AIMS. IT IS MANAGED BY A BOARD OF VOLUNTEERS AND THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, DAME LOUISE LAKE-TACK IS OUR PATRON. THE ACADEMY HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF SPORT BUT IS FUNDED TOTALLY BY PRIVATE SUBSCRIPTION. OUR FUNDS HAVE BEEN RAISED FROM BOTH THE VISITING YACHTS IN ENGLISH & FALMOUTH HARBOURS AND FROM OTHER LOCAL SPONSORS.
IT IS OUR AIM TO CREATE A SATELLITE OPERATION AT JOLLY HARBOUR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE JOLLY HARBOUR YACHT CLUB, AND WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THIS. THIS WOULD ENABLE US TO DOUBLE TO NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE CAN TEACH EACH WEEK. WITH 82 SCHOOLS ON ANTIGUA THERE WILL BE NO SHORTAGE OF STUDENTS!! FUNDS ARE ANOTHER MATTER, HOWEVER, AND WE WILL BE ASKING FOR SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE YACHTING INDUSTRY AND THE ANTIGUAN COMMUNITY. | 
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