Students from Eden Marine High School have once again been the beneficiaries of sail training provided by the Cruising Yacht Club.
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Each year the CYCA invites a group of EMHS students to attend their Youth Sailing Academy as a thank you to Eden for assistance given by the community during the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
After 19 years, approximately 380 students have been through the clubs program.
Students arrive in Sydney at Ruchcutters Bay, home of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Ocean classic and stay at the club for the next 5 days and take part in learn to sail with the Youth Academy’s 7m Elliott yachts which culminates in team racing on the final day.
Accommodation for the week is on luxury yachts, ranging from 35 – 50 foot, kindly provided by East Sail.
Sail training takes place on the harbour around the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Luna Park and down to Watsons Bay, Balmoral and Sydney Heads. Marine Studies students have the chance to learn about all the navigational marks, lights and signals associated with the harbour.
Coaches provided by the club are elite racers and ocean racing crew who willingly share their experiences with the students. This gives our students a far better understanding of what is going on in the boat, and most are quick to grasp the new concepts presented to them each day.
The students have most meals provided by the club and one of the highlights is a trip to Phillips Foote Restaurant at the Rocks kindly provided by the owner, where many an excellent meal has been consumed over the years.
Wednesday and Friday nights are reserved for Twilight racing where the students are invited to crew on a variety of vessels in the clubs’ weekly challenge. Students can be working with Sydney to Hobart veterans, marine engineers and others in a variety of employment backgrounds. Once again they were complimented on their behaviour and eagerness to have a go at anything that was asked of them.
Squeezed into the sailing program is a trip to the movies, late night shopping, Paddy’s Markets and little bit of walking.
We would like to thank the Cruising Yacht Club, members and staff, for providing a fantastic experience to our students, most of whom would not normally get an opportunity like this.
We would also like to thank everyone in the local community for the assistance provided to the yachts who are forced to retire from the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race each year. It has been this amazing show of generosity and country hospitality that has helped to forge this unforgettable and ongoing experience for students at Eden Marine High School.