North Sails Cowes Week is set to introduce a new Youth Sailing Zone as part of its 200th anniversary celebrations, with a target of getting 200 young people out on the water through free sailing sessions run in partnership with UKSA.
The initiative is designed to encourage more young people to experience sailing for the first time, while highlighting the opportunities available within the sport.
Throughout the regatta, UKSA will deliver free ‘Try Sailing’ sessions for under-18s from Trinity Landing on Cowes Parade. Running daily between 09:30 and 16:30 from 1st August to 7th August, the sessions will offer youngsters 45 minutes on the water aboard one of two keelboats, accompanied by experienced instructors and supported by safety boats.
The programme has been funded by The Gosling Foundation and forms part of Cowes Week’s ambition to inspire the next generation of sailors.
Bruce Huber, Chairman of Cowes Week Limited and Cowes Combined Clubs Limited, has said:
“Early sailing experiences have been proven to build confidence, resilience, teamwork and leadership skills. Many sailing bodies such as UKSA nationally and, here on the Isle of Wight, in co-operation with Seaview Sailing Trust, are already delivering high-quality youth sailing programmes at scale together with schools and other youth and charitable bodies.
“Cowes Week aims to support projects which leverage existing sailing and safety boats, infrastructure and facilities, and training expertise and resources.”
Adam Gosling, Chairman of The Gosling Foundation, has said:
“One of The Gosling Foundation’s key funding priorities is to support projects taking young people out of their comfort zone, thereby encouraging vital resourcefulness and resilience.
“UKSA’s Try Sailing sessions – specifically created to encourage young people aged between 8 and 18 to come down and have an experience on the water, giving young people the chance to discover sailing for the first time – dovetail perfectly with our ethos.
“We are thrilled to be able to support young people on the Isle of Wight in this way.”
Alongside the sailing sessions, members of the Athena Pathway Youth Squad – a high-performance foiling programme developing Britain’s next generation of elite sailors – will host a series of question-and-answer sessions in the Youth Sailing Zone.
The talks will give young visitors the opportunity to hear first-hand about the routes into competitive and professional sailing, while meeting some of the sport’s rising stars.
Organisers say the new Youth Sailing Zone reflects Cowes Week’s commitment to using the regatta’s platform to encourage greater participation in sailing and ensure the sport continues to thrive for future generations.
