Above: Mayreau’s youngest competitive sailor, 12-year-old Lily, is one of the fiercest Left: Full Click Family members and coaches prepare for 1st youth sailing class Right: Optimist sailboats now a common sight on Saline Bay
Plans are in the works to obtain three more Optimist sailboats from the Bequia Youth Sailing programme, and to “do a little thing” in December when school is closed – including another sailing programme and other activities for youth. The Family is also planning more traditional onshore activities for next year’s Regatta, including Round Dodge on the pasture. Full Click team members acknowledge what they’ve learned by helping out on Mayreau. Two of the young women said “We learned responsibility. We learned how to cooperate with each other. As responsible teenagers, we learned how to manage the children - to make up our mind when to send the children home, when to feed them, how to control them and how to speak to their parents if anything should happen.”
Looking into the future, the Family speaks as one, “I hope we accomplish reaching higher, racing bigger boats and helping the younger generation go out farther in developing their skills.” Group members are proud “that we were seen to help out the community, that we got sailing boats for youth to use and joined the national sailing group, that the young children are actually participating and liking what you’re doing for them,” and, perhaps most of all that “some of the community are actually supporting us.” Recognizing all those who’ve helped the Family thus far, the group doesn’t hesitate to acknowledge, “We need support. We need sponsors from all over.” So, the next time you’re near Mayreau, check out the Full Click Family. Ask what they’ve done lately and offer whatever support you can give.
Tobago Cays Marine Park 125 MAYREAU