Felpham SC cadets enjoy winter

Roger Belton, Senior Dinghy Instructor at Felpham SC, takes up the story:

For some we just stop exercising, for others we lose contact with our sailing buddies for five or six months, and others, keen and impervious to the cold just carry on sailing. For a large number though the wet suits are washed, dried and put away in a place where strangely they seem to shrink and become a bit tight when we try them on for the first time in the spring.

In these challenging times having fun, being with friends, and enjoying social interaction is just as important (if not more important) as going sailing. The young people at Felpham Sailing Club have been getting out enjoying life with a full social programme organised by the four Cadet Captains, Josie, Emily, Fin and Sebastian.

Josie says: “I really enjoy organising events for our cadets as you can see them building relationships right in front of you. As much as sailing is important, it’s just as important to have a group of friends around you who you can have fun with - and this is exactly what I’m trying to do. This is especially important as over the past year or two we’ve had a lot of new cadets join and the Covid restrictions have stopped them from developing these bonds.”

Emily adds: “I like being a Cadet Captain so I can help bring the youth at the club together throughout the whole year not just during the sailing season. I love planning activities for everyone to enjoy and seeing friendships form.”

Since the end of the sailing season they have organised an "Inflatables evening" at Chichester Water Park, a Halloween party, a "try SUPping and windsurfing day” at the Andrew Simpson centre, and an evening out ice skating at the pop up rink in Bognor Regis. Coming soon is a trip to Selsey Lifeboat Station for a guided hands on tour of the RNLI station and their impressive rescue fleet.

Sophie (12) says: “I love all the events the Cadet Captains have run this year, especially the Halloween Party, where we all got to dress up.”

“It was so fun and very nice to see everyone.” adds Matilda (11). “Everyone is really friendly and kind, and I hope we’ll go skating every year.”

These young people are making sure that they live life to the full, and show us that it's not all about training, sailing & racing. When the season opens in 2022 they will have nurtured their friendships and will be raring to go sailing once more. Well done to the Cadet Captains for getting together and organising such great fun events for all of the youngsters to enjoy.

Felpham SC is a British Youth Sailing Recognised Club, RYA Training Centre and RYA OnBoard Centre.