Medina Valley Centre is hidden deep down in the industrial estate in Newport, past the cycle path, beside the River Media – a surprisingly beautiful location. We met our instructors for the week, Elie and Ben who looked after us. On the first day we learnt how to rig a Pico Laser – a one or two person dinghy and we were out on the water by lunchtime! The wind was really strong the first day and after two people nearly capsized our instructors decided to pair us up.
On Tuesday we got onto the water early and started to practice our steering, played some games to help us steer without hitting each other! Later on we learnt how to capsize and, more importantly, get ourselves back in the boat. We were tacking faster (turning) our boats and vaguely going in the right direction and we could rig our boats without help. By the end of Tuesday we had all passed the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Stage 1!
Wednesday was a bit colder, but we rigged the boats and were out on the water with just enough wind to sail. Unfortunately the weather had other plans for us and within minutes of setting off from the dock we seemed to be motionless and then the heavens opened and it poured and poured and poured. Rain drops the size of teacups! No one minded as we played games chasing (very slowly) rubber ducks, throwing plastic balls and trying, usually unsuccessfully, not to hit each other in the light winds.
Thursday brought the sun and the wind – we were ready, or we thought we were! Slapped on the sun cream, practiced land drills – tacking and gybing (turning the boat much faster across the wind.) This was an amazing day we got to hike out – which meant putting our feet under the toe straps and hanging our body over the edge of the boat to stop it tipping over. It was also the record day for capsizing which kept Ben and Elie very busy! By Thursday we were sailing up, down and across the wind at speed and we had all passed RYA Stage 2!
Our last day came all too quickly – with games in the morning and then learning the rules of racing, shouting starboard, tack and sailing like pros. The whistle blew for the first race; two boats capsized on the start line then two more got stuck in the seaweed, five long minutes later Ms Travers successfully crossed the start line!
Well done to Ethel M, Kyle B, Jake D, Ty R and Tommy M for completing the sailing course. When asked what was the favourite part of the week? Capsizing, not capsizing, racing, and hiking out!
