National Discover Sailing Day overall

by Harry Fisher on 30 Oct 2015 National Discover Sailing Day – Those of us that come from sailing families may take it for granted when we think about how we first got interested in the sport.

However there are many people around Australia that are interested in sailing and want to get involved but are having trouble looking for an avenue to gain that accessibility.

The National Discover Sailing Day was held on Sunday, October 25, and it gave a lot of people around the country their first taste of the sport and the lifestyle that comes with it.

Prior to the day itself there were more than 300 online registrations in South Australia at the eight participating clubs with the exact numbers predicted to double with 'walk-ins' on the day.

The Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron recorded the highest number of registrations prior to the day with 145 people committing online in advance.

Yachting South Australia development manager Ian Leeson said the Discover Sailing Day was a national initiative however it was an opportunity for local clubs in South Australia to showcase the sport and gain new participants.

'The Discover Sailing day is more than a one-off experience, it is the first step on the pathway towards regular participation for many people,' he said.

'The key for clubs to really take advantage of the day is to have other activities scheduled that those who participate in can sign up to in the future, as well as ongoing communication to those who are interested in taking the next step.'

Mr Leeson said Yachting South Australia handled all of the local advertising and promotion of the event, which meant clubs were able to deliver the introductory day at zero cost to both the club and the participants.

Yachting Australia outlined three key aims for the Discover Sailing Day in an attempt to bridge the accessibility gap that has held sailing back from being brought to a greater number of new participants over the years.

The key aims are based around introduction and understanding, showcasing and engagement and also delivering the message that clubs across the country are actively seeking new members.

Mr Leeson said sailing was often a sport that was perceived to be exclusive and only for those who were able to afford their own boats, however that was not the case and the sport was actually very accessible.

'Some people perceive sailing to be a bastion of the rich, but this is far from the truth,' he said.

'So many of our best known and loved sailors came from everyday backgrounds and discovered a passion for the sport through local clubs.'

'Our aim is to deliver a strong message to Australian families that our sailing clubs are welcoming, and have trained people, facilities and boats to help them in their first steps in the sport.'

Eight clubs across South Australia, from both metropolitan and regional areas and both keel boat and dinghy clubs, got involved in Discover Sailing Day this year and were able to put more than 300 people on the water for the first time.

Mr Leeson said the day was extremely flexible as well with participants able to go for a sail with an experienced sailor, have a look around club facilities and also find out about upcoming programs that would allow them to participate further in the sport.