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The arrival of the spring term signals not just the warm weather but the revival of a club that had been part of the GNS community for many years: the GNS Sailing Team.
This year, the GNS Sailing Team is led by Ms. Cindy Rogers, who has had experience sailing in the Caribbean with her family for more than two years. She shared her thoughts on bringing back the team.
“There were so many reasons I wanted to restart the GNS Sailing Team,” she said. “Initially, it was for selfish reasons. For a couple of years, our family lived on the water and were part of a wonderful sailing community, which I really missed. Starting a sailing team would get me back out there. Also, I have been the teacher sponsor for a school sailing team in the past and I loved to witness the students having so much fun out on the water. And, full disclosure, having kids at the middle and senior school played a role in the decision-making, as well. Then, when I heard that GNS had already had a sailing team in the past, with several students who went on to have successful sailing careers, I was determined to revive it. Not only that, we live in an ideal part of the world for it. In terms of Canadian sailing locations, does it get any better than this?”
When asked what she is hoping students will learn from this experience, Ms. Rogers said, “Of course the students will learn to sail or improve on existing sailing skills, but besides having fun, the biggest thing I hope the students get out of this is a sense of community and belonging. When you are out on the water, you feel vulnerable and at the mercy of the elements. The comforting thing is that everyone else is going through the same thing—trying to get the most speed out of the wind, to maximize the gusts, not to get knocked down or capsize, etc. I feel like those shared experiences create a sense of camaraderie and result in a mutual respect for one another. I can’t wait to be a part of that energy at our first regatta which is taking place at the beginning of next month.”
As long as there are interested sailors in the future, Ms. Rogers plans to continue running the team.
The team trains every Wednesday after school and on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, regardless of the weather. Opened to new and experienced sailors, the team is taught by qualified and experienced coaches, some of whom have been racing internationally for many years.
The training involves learning how to sail and race a one-design dinghy called 420s and culminates into two major regattas called the Discovery Cup (May 11) and the Championship Regatta (June 8). The regattas are fun learning opportunities for students to race against other schools in the Lower Vancouver Island region.
Currently, the team consists of six students, but are keen to welcome eight more students to continue building the strength of the roster. So, if you are interested in learning how to sail or simply want to enjoy the water, join by emailing Ms. Rogers at crogers@mygns.ca. No experience necessary! Fun times are guaranteed!
