Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

Will Smith zaps bugs at Hollingworth OnBoard Laser Bug Day

by Alan Henderson 10 Jul 2009 06:47 PDT 4 July 2009
The fleet start a race at Hollingworth Lake during the OnBoard Laser Bug Day © Adam McGovern / RYA

Hollywood action hero Will Smith is famous for saving the Earth from nasty aliens, notably on the 4th July, Independence Day. At Hollingworth Lake on 4th July, his nine year old namesake was in action on the water, and he zapped a big swarm of bugs just as effectively as the famous movie star.

Will Smith was just one of 43 youngsters who took part in the OnBoard Laser Bug Day. All the kids had been introduced to sailing by their six local OnBoard sailing clubs, and this event gave them all the chance to try out racing for the first time. The youngsters came from Hollingworth Lake SC, the Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre, Burwain SC, Salford Junior SC, Glossop SC, and Astbury Sailsports. The weather was sunny with an ideal force 2 to 3 wind.

The event was kindly sponsored by Laser Performance, who brought along a big fleet of 30 Laser Bug dinghies for the kids to race. The youngsters ranged from age 7 up to 17. Organiser for the RYA, Adam McGovern, gave them a mix of games and race training in the morning, then three short races in the afternoon. The youngsters were racing in three groups in the afternoon, a Bug Race group, a Bug Standard group, and a Mirror (another type of boat) racing group.

Adam McGovern said, “The kids got to choose which group they wanted to be part of in the afternoon, and this went down fantastically with the kids, who were eager to show what they could do.”

Winners were Anna Bett, 12, in the Bug Race group, Rob Kinsella and Max Webb in the Mirror group, and local Will Smith, 9, in the Bug Standard group.

Adam McGovern said, “It was fantastic to see so many youngsters out racing on the water. Will was really happy to win his first sailing event, and wished his Dad similar luck the following day at a big sailing open meeting.”

Run by sailing’s National Governing Body, the RYA, OnBoard is a highly successful industry supported grass roots programme which seeks to make sailing easier to get into for young people. Over a ten year period the programme aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting over 10% of them into regular participants. So far it’s nicely on track.

For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit the RYA’s website www.rya.org.uk or the OnBoard website www.ruob.co.uk

Related Articles

From ORC to DH: The XR 41 Delivers Again
All eyes were on the new XR 41 during the Maior Regatta in Kiel All eyes were on the new XR 41 during the Maior Regatta in Kiel, where she convincingly won under ORC. The boat has proven her versatility by taking on Denmark's Fyn Cup — and winning again. Posted today at 9:07 am
GWA Wingfoil World Cup Tarifa 2025 overall
Big upsets mark changing of the guard in Tarifa The GWA returned to the iconic location of Tarifa this July for the sixth consecutive year, delivering four days of thrilling Surf-Freestyle action. A total of 17 women and 28 men registered for this second Surf-Freestyle stop of the 2025 season. Posted today at 3:49 am
Kieler Woche Day 9
Hosts without Sailing Grand Slam medals, but leading in five classes The final six medals in the mixed classes of the Olympic Sailing Grand Slam (SGS) at Kieler Woche will be awarded on Sunday (June 29) without any German contenders. Posted today at 3:23 am
29th Superyacht Cup Palma overall
Rose produces historic conclusion to a spectacular event History was made at the Superyacht Cup Palma today when the 24m Wally yacht Rose became the first ever three-time winner of the iconic event, remarkably completing the achievement over three successive years on the Bay of Palma. Posted on 28 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 overall
Team Nika's golden wheels get shinier While the penultimate day of racing at the 44Cup Marstand was cancelled due to excess wind, today conditions off the paradise Swedish island for the final three races were still boisterous from the lumpy residual sea state after Friday's gale. Posted on 28 Jun
Registration open for SORC Sailor's Choice Race
This is the first race in the 2025-2026 Islands in the Stream Series The Notice of Race is posted and registration is now open for the 2025 SORC Sailor's Choice Race! This is the first race in the 2025-2026 Islands in the Stream Series. Posted on 28 Jun
J/70 Mixed-Plus Worlds at Lake Garda Day 3
Yupi extends its lead, To Nessa climbs on to podium: all eyes on the grand finale in Torbole A busy day full of tactical challenges wrapped up in Torbole Saturday, where the first-ever J/70 Mixed-Plus World Championship continues at full speed. Posted on 28 Jun
Switch Class Captivates Foiling Week 2025
Dickinson and Schultheis Edge Out Narrow Victories The Switch Class brought the fireworks to Foiling Week 2025 — and it came down to the wire. After four days of sun, speed, and suspense on Lake Garda, the newest class on the foiling scene delivered a debut to remember. Posted on 28 Jun
First-ever ORC North American champions crowned
Fox, Zammermoos and Teamwork win at Block Island Race Week 2025 After completing the full schedule of races - 9 in the ORC 1 class and 10 in the ORC 2 and 3 classes - three new ORC North American Champion teams have been crowned on Friday at the Storm Trysail Club's 31st biennial Block Island Race Week. Posted on 28 Jun
31st Block Island Race Week Day 5
IHG Hotels and Resorts Race Day concludes the event Block Island Race Week's final tent party was abuzz with anticipation and excitement Friday evening, as sailors and spectators awaited the announcement of cumulative awards for the regatta's 60th anniversary. Posted on 27 Jun
Mackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMZhik 2024 DecemberVaikobi 2024 December