Ten Opti-Tackers gifted to RYCT Dinghy Group

by Peter Campbell on 4 Sep 2010 The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania’s annual Sail School got under way today with a record 151 participants and the launching of a fleet of ten Opti-Tackers training dinghies.

The robust little Opti-Tackers have each been donated by local marine and general businesses and rigged with colourful sails. They will complement the RYCT Dinghy Group’s other training dinghies, including Sabots, 420s and Pacers.

The ten sponsors, who were formally thanked by Commodore Graham Taplin and Dinghy Group chairman Tim Jones at a reception at the RYCT on Friday evening, are: Nick Rogers Motors, Huon Aquaculture, Kingborough Boat Club, Logan Group Insurance, Building Concepts, Muir Winches, Blythe Watchorn Builders, Metocean Services International, Tasmanian Bakeries and Peter Johnston Shipchandlers.

As the Commodore put it: 'Kids + boats = fun!' With the fun for those 151 youngsters (and several adults) beginning today.

Unfortunately, it was not a day for sailing, with rain and mist blanketing the River Derwent, but it was a good day for briefing the youngsters on the basics of sailing for the beginners through to lectures on racing rules and tactics for the advanced sailors.

The four-day Sail School coincides with the first four days of the Tasmanian school holidays, with 50 youngsters in the ‘beginners’ group, and advanced coaching extending to Lasers, Sabots, Mirrors, 470s, Flying 11s and International Cadets.

The next three days looks better for getting afloat and utilising the skills of three visiting coaches, two-times Olympic sailor Karyn Gojnich, ISAF Youth Sailing two-times gold medallist Gabrielle King and former dinghy champion Andrew Chapman, along with State coach Richard Scarr and several aspiring young local coaches.

With the Sabot national championships to be conducted by Wynyard Sailing Club on the north-west coast this summer, the Sabots form a big part of the RYCT Sail School.