~ Sailing with local kids ~
By Lisa Davis-Burnett
One, two, pull! One, two, pull! With determination, the hands held tightly to the ropes and the backs strained to heave up the huge mainsail of the Wylde Swan. It’s one of the tall ships parading along the route of the 38th Heineken Regatta. But these weren’t seasoned sailors; they were youths from the island, a group from the Mont des Accords College on the French side, as well as some kids from the Dutch side who’d heard about the chance to sail on a big boat.
Wylde Swan is a big boat! She began in 1920 as a “herring hunter” bringing the fresh catch from the North Atlantic to market as quickly as possible. She is now an educational vessel, a sleek ship known as a schooner, and students can come along voyages across the Atlantic and beyond, learning about sailing and the ocean as well as their regular school lessons.
A new group of 17 students, ages 14 to 16, arrives from Holland this weekend to begin their next adventure. “The students mostly come from the Netherlands,” said Captain Faust. “But they can come from anywhere, even from St. Maarten!” Most of the students are sponsored at least in part, as the price can be a little high, but by seeking sponsors, they gain additional experience that will benefit them in the long run, he explained.
But the first day of the Regatta was all about these island youngsters who were finding out about sailing for the first time! They had to learn the names of the sails and how to coil a line of rope. A few even had the chance to steer the 62-metre long vessel. The crew was patient and clear, allowing them to explore all the safe places on the boat and draw on the deck in coloured chalk. As we neared Marigot Bay to drop anchor, a young and squeaky voice came over the loudspeaker with a giggle, “We have arrived!”
Want more information? Check out http://www.wyldeswan.com/ or email Jan Roosens at Caribbean Sail Training – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
