Students from the school have recently returned from the trip to Sydney to get tutored about sailing by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia at Rushcutters Bay. 

For Year 9 student Annie Gilbert, it was the first time she had stepped onto a sailing boat.  

“It was one of the best weeks I’ve ever had in my life!” she said. 

“I just really liked how we got to learn new skills. 

“I just really like the ocean too, so it just made it even better.” 

Eden Marine teacher Joe Hill said the trip was linked to the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Every year, when the boats in the competition race down the east coast they have the option to retire to Twofold Bay if they get into trouble. 

So the excursion was a “gesture of thanks” the yacht club made, Mr Hill said, by hosting students from the community in Sydney and showing them the ropes. 

“They loved it, they were buzzing the whole time,” he said. 

“They had the same boat for the week and the same instructor, so they built up a good relationship with their instructor. 

“It’s a bit of an eye-opener for kids as well, some of the kids hadn’t been to Sydney before.” 

He hoped the school students would gain some skills from the experience.

“Hopefully the kids get involved in a bit of sailing, a bit of life experience outside their comfort zone,” Mr Hill said. 

The students learnt the basics about the sport, sailed around the harbour and even got to sleep on the boats before returning on November 17.

“On Tuesday they went out on members’ boats, big 50-footers, and had a race,” Mr Hill said. 

Year 9 student Emily Hodkinson said after the experience she would definitely go sailing again. 

“At first it was a bit scary, but then it was just really fun,” she said. 

“It was awesome, it was a really good experience.”