Sailing for Schools

Can you imagine a school that wants you out of the classroom, breathing fresh air and enjoying the beautiful waters of Hebe Haven and beyond? Sounds like a dream come true, doesn’t it? Well, for the many students who take part in the Hebe Haven Yacht Club’s Sailing for Schools programme, it’s reality.

Towards the end of last year, some 60 young people from four major schools, joined the club’s popular week-long programme and took advantage of the best sailing conditions Hong Kong has to offer. Autumn is always a great time of year as the northeast monsoon brings fresh breezes and clear skies. For beginners, there is no better time to learn the ropes and find out what it’s all about.

Sailing for Schools is an ongoing programme and courses can actually take place throughout the year, depending on demand. The club’s Sailing Centre organizes the programme and has contact with around 50 schools. From its beginnings in 2004, the five-day course covers all aspects of sailing in competitive dinghies such as Optimists, Fusions and Quests. Beginners start on the little Oppie, barely 8-foot long, and progress through to the speedy Quest, measuring just over 14 feet.

 
   
   
 



The Sailing for Schools programme is managed by the club’s Sailing Centre manager, Rob Allen: “It’s inclusive and we take all ages, turning young school goers into confident sailors, capable of handling difficult situations, all under the watchful eyes of our qualified instructors.”

Simon Thomson, a teacher from King George V School, brought his students to take part in the Sailing for Schools programme in late November last year. “KGV were thrilled to be able to return to Hebe Haven Yacht Club with 21 eager sailors for our school’s 2024 Challenge Week,” he said. “The students showed passion and commitment, led by fantastic instructors, to achieve their Level 2 sailing qualifications. This experience truly embodied the ethos of our Challenge Week; pushing the student’s boundaries through new experiences to achieving lifelong skills. We look forward to working with Hebe Haven Yacht Club again later this year.”

Victoria, a student from Sha Tin College, felt the programme was primarily about “experiential learning” and pointed out that there were other aspects to her school’s “activities” curriculum. Young sailing students, she said, were required to write an essay before and after attending the course. Awards are made at the college’s annual sports day and the hope is to participate in the Inter-Schools regatta in March. She felt that, despite being a long way from Sha Tin, doing the club’s programme has definitely had its benefits.

 
   
   
 



“Overall, it has been a fantastic learning and enjoyable experience for our 10 students who took part,” said Solomon Lukose from the Nord Anglia International School. “Hebe Haven Yacht Club’s instructors were very helpful and organized in support of our students. Clear instructions were given and great recaps to ensure understanding. First it was learning parts of the boat and uses, followed by the actual sailing tricks, capsizing ideas, safety in the water and knowledge of when it’s best to sail, or retreat!

“I believe our students have learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We look forward to seeing more of them do further training with the club’s very capable team,” he concluded.

There was more praise from Kate Turbett of Sha Tin College. “Explorer Week 2024 was a fantastic sailing programme for our students, many of whom had little prior experience. The friendly and professional sailing staff created a welcoming environment that put everyone at ease. Despite the challenges caused by light winds and gusting T8 conditions, the club ensured clear communication about safety and prioritized the students’ well-being. When inclement weather threatened to disrupt sailing, the staff went above and beyond by organising additional sessions, allowing every student to gain enough time on the water to achieve their qualifications.

“The clarity of teaching and engaging communication made the week both fun and educational,” she said. Students learned the fundamentals of sailing while enjoying the experience, and teachers were also encouraged to participate, fostering a sense of community. Overall, Explorer Week 2024 was an enriching experience, and we are grateful to the club sailing staff for their dedication and enthusiasm. We will be back!”

 
   
   
 



Post Covid, things have changed. Whereas, before, course participants were predominantly expatriate children. Now, local Chinese students number approximately 75%. This change in demographics is a good thing as one of the positive aspects of these sailing programmes is the potential for new club members. Also, the cost of the week-long instruction by qualified club personnel is just HK$4,500. – very reasonable considering what’s included.

Finally, Dion Houghton of Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, had this to say: “This year, Choi Kai Yau were delighted to introduce 10 students to Hebe Haven, and the sport of sailing. It was the first time our school had the opportunity to do this, and the team at Hebe Haven Yacht Club did everything possible to help us make it successful.

“In the weeks leading up to the course, the club lent us a boat so our students could get a head start on land drills. Our instructors, Billy and Mona, went above and beyond to ensure our group thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the course. Despite our schedule being disrupted by weather, the team were flexible and ensured we spent as much time sailing as possible, and when we were not sailing, they helped to make the most of our time ashore.

“We were fortunate to listen to a talk from Kay Rawbone of Sailability, to inspire our students to give back to the sailing community where possible. We are immensely grateful to all of the Sail Training team at Hebe for making the school’s first sailing experience great fun, and we look forward to doing it again.”

 
   
   
 
Widget is loading comments...
 
 
 
COPYRIGHT © 2025 FRAGRANT HARBOUR PUBLICATIONS LTD