Schools and groups sailing at Snettisham
- By Elaine Bird
- 23 June 2021
- Snettisham
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Snettisham Beach Sailing Club is busier than ever this year.
"We’ve been surprised by how much people want to get out on the water this year, but perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised.
"After the last 15 months many people just want to get out and about and do stuff, and sailing is great stuff to do", says Mark Foley from the Club.
But what if you are a non-sailor? One answer is what the enterprising teachers at Howard Junior School Kings Lynn are doing. School Head Greg Hill is taking a group of 15 girls and boys to Snettisham Beach Sailing Club for a 6 week course for 2 hours every Tuesday afternoon for one of their regular PE lessons.
Mr Hill can only say that the kids love it, and their smiles speak for themselves. Mr Hill has an advantage in that his fellow Teacher Miss Leonor Andrews learnt to sail herself at Snettisham Beach during a summer Cadet Week in 2015.
Mr Hill says “The lessons get more technical as they progress to their Certificates of Achievement on completion of 6 weeks. It’s not just a Summer sport; the sailing programme will carry on next term into the Autumn. As a school, we are happy to allocate some of our budget to sailing; it’s a fabulous activity which our students possibly wouldn't get the opportunity to try otherwise.”
Leonor (Miss Andrews) knows that Snettisham Beach has a record of producing sailors who win British , European and world championships and get into National training squads. “ Will we see a portrait of a Champion sailor in the halls of Howard Junior in a few years’ time? If we light their enthusiasm, then there is a good chance we will!”
In a ‘normal’ year upwards of 200 attendees learn sailing at Snettisham Beach from school and local youth groups across West Norfolk. The club offers beginner and more advanced training for people of all ages. It is very flexible and can design a package to meet an organisation’s needs and budget. The club provide the boats, buoyancy aids and safety equipment and has a team of experienced instructors to run the sessions.
It isn’t just schools who are welcome though. Beavers, Scouts, Brownies, Guides and Sea Cadets have all been taught. If you have a particular aim or badge then please speak to the Club and they can help tailor a session or programme of sessions to meet your needs. Adults can also try it; sailing sessions have run for Rotary Clubs, Hunstanton Round Table, Hunstanton Ladies Circle, workplace groups and they’ve even helped to host some birthday parties, stag and hen events on the water too.
If you’d like to know more about your group of school students, scouts, guides or other groups setting up a series of sailing sessions at Snettisham then see www.snetbeach.co.uk/overview-2/school-group-sailing-activities
and contact the Chief Instructor James Trim courses.sbsc@gmail.com
If you’d like to know more about the Howard Junior School contact Headmaster Greg Hill head@howard-jun.norfolk.sch.uk