Sun’s out, boats out as scores try sailing at Shropshire club
A record number of people took to the water to have a go at sailing in the blazing Bank Holiday sun.
Shropshire Sailing Club, based at Whitemere, near Ellesmere, hosted the annual Royal Yachting Association’s Push The Boat Out scheme over the weekend Bank Holiday.
Rear Commodore Chris Cater said the event broke visitor records.
“It was such a fabulous day and the weather was spot on,” he said.
“We had 264 visitors which is probably double what we have had in the past.
“We took 158 of them sailing on the day and for many of them it was their first time.
“We signed quite a few of them up as members and others decided to sign up to a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) training course so it was hugely successful.”
New research commissioned by the RYA shows that a quarter of people have never tried an outdoor pursuit, yet two in four want to be more active, and nearly a third want to get more fresh air.
Push the Boat Out gives people the opportunity to try sailing, and other water sports, for free in May.
Mr Cater said: “We took a bit of a gamble this year and held it a week earlier than we usually do. With it being bank holiday we wondered how it would effect visitor numbers.
“But in retrospect, because it is a short bank holiday, people don’t necessarily go away. I think people saw that it was nice and sunny and thought let’s get out and do something.
"Sailing is so weather dependent. If it’s too windy, or of course not windy enough, it can be absolutely disastrous so we were very lucky.”
All kit and safety equipment is provided at Push The Boat Out events, all prospective sailors had to bring was a pair of old trainers.
“Normally we get a few people in the morning then the majority come later on in the day,” Mr Cater said.
“But this year we actually opened the doors early because people were queueing to get in. There was a mad rush and then a second round of people at about 1pm.
“Our instructors took the visitors out and sailed them around the lake. If they then fancied it, they could certainly take the helm and try that out.
“We were still taking people out sailing at 4pm.”
After an afternoon of sailing, visitors were treated to afternoon tea provided by the club. Mr Cater added: “Each year we have always increased the number of visitors but we have never had anything quite like this. I think we had about 170 last year.
“But this year people brought picnics along and sat in the sunshine so it was just lovely.”
Almost 400 venues across the UK are inviting people to Push The Boat Out this May.
More than 22,000 people regularly go along to their local sailing club every month across the Midlands, sailing small sailboats or windsurfing on the region’s reservoirs, lakes and rivers, while last year a whopping 32,000 people ‘pushed the boat out’ at over 500 sailing and windsurfing taster sessions throughout the UK.
Telford Sailing Club is hosting their Push the Boat Out day between 11am and 4pm this Saturday.
