All hands on deck!
What’s not to love? Beautiful scenery and afternoons spent on the glistening water at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. There is so much more to this sport, however. We asked Giacomo Helliar, Captain of Sailing to share his experience for those who may be interested in trying their hand at sailing at Scotch. How big is the team and how do you help with the junior members who are just starting out?
The team consists of approximately 20 individuals, ranging from younger Year 7 boys to the older Year 12 boys. The Year 7s bring valuable contributions to the growth of the sailing team and play a crucial role in forming exceptional crews. However, this also places a significant responsibility on the older boys to foster their growth and development as they progress through Senior School and into leadership roles as skippers.
How often do you train?
For the competitive squad, training involves after-school sessions on Tuesday and Thursday throughout the Spring and Summer term. What is the most challenging and rewarding part of this sport?
Building a strong team dynamic proves to be the most challenging aspect of the sport. It requires countless hours of practice to achieve seamless coordination among team members. Yet, it is also one of the most rewarding aspects of team racing in sailing. When everything falls into place, when each person knows their role, the result is a flawless and seemingly a choreographed display of sailing prowess. Tell us about the recent State Sailing competition.
The competition took place at Nedlands Yacht Club over two days. A three-way battle soon emerged between Scotch, Christ Church, and Shenton College. Shenton was a firm favourite going into the regatta
How much experience do you need to join the team?
Over the years, the sailing team has comprised sailors with varying skill levels. Some members are completely new to sailing, while others have been sailing for 5-6+ years. Regardless, all team members share a keen enthusiasm for getting out on the water.
Scotch Sailing Teams A and B
but were knocked out in the semi-finals by an increasingly confident Christ Church team. Both Scotch and Christ Church put on impressive performances on the water however, the Scotch maroon team won an incredible 11 out of 12 races and convincingly secured the title once again. I would also like to make special mention of the Scotch seconds team placing a solid effort in fifth place ahead of Denmark sailing club. What would you say to someone who has never sailed and to future Scotch sailors?
Sailing is a sport that caters to everyone, whether you are driven by the racing aspect or simply enjoy being out on the water. We have some excellent facilities and passionate sailors at Scotch, so have a go. Having been a part of the sailing team for five years, our ongoing success is a testament to the countless hours of hard work the boys have put in and with so many younger boys in the crews, sailing is in safe hands.
