'Discover Sailing' aims to broaden the scope to Clubs and crew

by Jeni Bone on 27 Aug 2013 This year's Try Sailing Day will be rebranded as 'Discover Sailing Day', to be held throughout NSW, Sunday 27 October.

According to the BIA's Domenic Genua, 'The renaming will allow us to broaden the sailing activities to include ‘Crewing Experience’ activities and club open days'.

'We have seen that opportunities exist beyond the program that we have been offering for 15 years now. We are still focused on getting people, especially kids to try sailing. Discover Sailing day, in line with Yachting Australia’s national activities, will encourage people to try sailing and experience what’s available at their local Clubs, to see the social side, sport side and leisure side.'

This expanded brief is part of a larger vision looking to create a Boating Week in NSW, preferably this year, but if not, 2014, continues Genua. 'We are currently looking for support and activation from industry.'

As he explains: 'The concept is that we engage whole series of industry sectors to invite the public to experience and better understand the boating lifestyle. We hope to include a try a trailer boat activity, paddle day, marina open day, club open days, water-ski experience activities, and the list goes on. It will be just prior summer, positioned as ‘a celebration of the start of the summer boating season’.'

The concept is still in its foetal stages, says Genua. 'The desire is there, but requires industry activation and take up. We want to engage all groups, from paddling to marinas, trailer boats and larger boat clubs to encourage them to have open days and regattas as part of Boating Week.'

Discover Sailing Day has been confirmed for Sunday 27 October, and will be managed by Yachting NSW. Details released later this week.

More at www.nsw.yachting.org.au