Portland Yacht Club is proud to present this project for your consideration and support.

Objectives:

*To engage children in a physical outdoor activity that improves their motor skills, teamwork and boosts their self-confidence. At the same time they are increasing their awareness of water safety local weather and marine conditions.

*To provide the equipment and qualified Australian Sailing Instructors to give children the opportunity to learn to independently sail small boats in a safe affordable manner.

*To utilize the region’s sheltered and inland waterways and existing shore facilities shore facilities to safely introduce the region’s young people to a completely new and alternative activity.

*To inspire the next generation of young adults to participate in recreational sailing, being one of many aquatic sports.

The Junior Sailing Project Equipment:

Included is a fully equipped junior sailing fleet of twelve optimist dinghies in an enclosed boat storage trailer with space for two coaching vessels, life jackets and ancillary equipment. An enclosed trailer provides secure storage and the opportunity to travel to other suitable waterways in the region, providing the opportunity for every primary school aged child to be introduced to sailing .

The Optimist hull and rig are extremely durable, simple to assemble and safe training boats used around the world. Optimists are the designated boat for Australian Sailing’s ‘Tackers’ program. The enclosed trailer provides easy storage and a sheltered instruction area.

The Program:

Tackers is a national program designed especially for children (7-12years) as a non-competitive, games-based sailing program based on fun and participation. Tackers is Australian Sailing accredited and is suitable for schools as well as for individuals to participate in School Holiday or weekend programs. The objective of the Tackers program is to attract a significantly increased number of primary school age children to sailing, especially those who would not otherwise participate.

Further details of Tackers and Schools Sailing can be found at:

Australian Sailing Discover Sailing website: https://www.discoversailing.org.au/tackers/

and also at The Boatshed Primary School page: https://www.theboatshed.net.au/schools/primary-school-sailing/

The success of the Australian Sailing Tackers and schools programs, based in Portland Harbour, is evidenced by the last three years of exceptionally positive feedback and growing demand for both programs. The School Holiday Tackers in Portland is already attracting bookings from outside this region to fit in with family summer holidays.

How It Works Now:

To date the instructors, Opti dinghies, life jackets and other necessary items of equipment have been transported to Portland from the Australian Sailing base at The Boatshed, at Albert Park, Melbourne. Portland Yacht Club has had the opportunity to offer a local program when there has been a gap in the Melbourne calendar. Due to high demand in Melbourne, any further increase in these junior sailing opportunities under this arrangement in Portland is very limited.

Staffing of these programs is by qualified Australian Sailing instructors. To date these coaches have travelled from Melbourne. The training, recruitment and staffing would continue to be managed by Australian Sailing’s The Boatshed, at Albert Park. There is also the opportunity for locals to obtain the necessary qualification from Australian Sailing to become instructors. The promotion, booking and transporting of the trailer to other sites in our region would be managed from PYC in close co-ordination with The Boatshed, at Albert Park.

How It Would Work:

Australian Sailing’s Tackers program meets the registration and eligibility requirements for funding through Sporting Schools grants. With over 40 primary schools of varying sizes, within a radius that could practically participate we confidently predict a full calendar for the first and last terms of the school year. The Tackers Sporting Schools program comprises 10 hours with max 24 students and a maximum of two programs per week.

Participant Reach

Through a variety of sailing opportunities including, but not limited to the below programs, we confidently predict that approximately 900, 7-12year-old children from the western districts of Victoria could participate in the activity of sailing.

·      Tackers Sporting Schools

·      Individually tailored school programs

·      After school programs

·      School holiday programs

Budget:

Boats $2850 x12 $34,200

Trailer $20,000

Life Jackets $100 x30 $3,000

Instructor boats x2 $13,000

Outboard motor x2 $7,000

TOTAL: $77,200

Recognition Opportunities:

Recognition opportunities are available for donors contributing $3,000 or more, where we would be delighted to name one of the new boats after you or your family.

Conclusion:

It could be said that this investment is not about saving lives when people are in trouble in the water but saving lives by ensuring they are safer on the water. 

Few community investments will offer the return on capital in terms of engagement of young people in outdoor activity, gaining confidence, building self-esteem and learning safety skills around water. A common response from parents of first time ‘Tackers’ participants is that they have been astounded by how quickly their child has acquired the skills and confidence to sail around an enclosed waterway, considering they had never stepped in a boat prior.  

Through our fundraising partnership with the Sports Foundation, donations to this project are tax deductible. Please show your support by donating today.