This summer while most children were enjoying their school vacation or preparing to celebrate carnival, over 40 local and foreign children participated in a fun filled seamanship educational program at the Grenada Yacht Club. The Grenada Yacht Club along with the St. George’s Community Seamanship Project teamed up to sponsor a special program. The goals were to provide students with a wide range of topics to enhance their seamanship skills which included classroom and practical sailing classes. The Grenadian children were joined by others from 12 different countries including Canada, the U.S.A. and the U.K.
The curriculum consisted of lessons in emergencies at sea, marlin spike, ship’s configuration, seamanship, sailing, swimming, map reading and navigation, drug awareness and the importance of being drug free, identification of narcotics and other dangerous drugs and a host of other maritime related subjects. Time was also spent on emphasizing the importance of protecting the environment and finally setting career goals. On scheduled days provision was also made to teach students how to swim who were previously unable to do so. These sessions were held on Grand Anse Beach.
The commitment and hunger for knowledge as displayed by this special group of children was amazing. The practical sailing program consisted of all students sharing 10 sailboats. The majority of students exhibited enthusiasm especially became vocal when the sailing period was to begin. They took rotating turns sailing solo or sometimes teaming up to train other students. The sailing continued daily from 10 AM – 3:30 PM. By the end of the 2nd week only 3 boats were operable. Upon learning the status of the failed boats half a dozen members of the Grenada Yacht Club generously responded by donating their time, tools and materials to repair the boats. At the beginning of the third week the Lagoon was populated with as many as 10 boats proudly and cheerfully sailing in every direction. Two motorized safety skiffs with trained personnel were always on hand to monitor the students on the water.
The closing ceremony was held on the 4th August 2015. A total of forty junior sailors were presented with certificates of participation. The program served to empower students to be self-confident not only in Seamanship but also in other areas of life. This was evident at the closing ceremony when a young lady, Rayne Ernst officiated as the Master of ceremonies in the presence of her family and peers. At this ceremony the juniors where given the opportunity to enroll in the weekly Saturday sailing classes at the Grenada Yacht Club.
Certificates of appreciation were also presented to the following:
• The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF)
• National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA)
• Reginald Baird US Coast Guard Captain (retired)
• Dexter Charles of the Grenada Citizen Band Club
• The Nature Conservancy
• Grenada Fisheries
In addition Spice Island Marina and Grenada Marine were also awarded for maintenance on the Optimist Dinghies. Budget Marine also contributed to the program. The program was organized and produced by James Benoit, Vice Commodore of the Grenada Yacht Club and Sameem Rahaman, Program Coordinator of the St. George’s Community Seamanship Project. They were assisted by three sailing coaches Rees Evans, Kevin Banfield and Noah Bullen.
