The Harp Young Sailors
The Optimist
The Optimist dinghy (or Oppie) is a wonderful boat for children to learn to sail. It has a single sail, can accommodate 1 or 2 children, is very stable, and is very difficult to capsize. Children from 8 years upwards can learn to sail the Oppie with the Harp Young Sailors (HYS).
Getting Children Started
There are number of ways of getting children sailing. Below are some suggestions, but whichever option you choose please be aware of the safety issues and ensure that your child is always in a safe environment – for sailing this usually means having safety boat cover provided by trained individuals. Wembley Sailing Club works with the Harp Young Sailors (HYS) to provide youth training during the warmer months. Places are restricted as there are a limited number of instructors and youth boats. Demand for places is always high


In the first Instance
You are advised to contact children@wembleysailingclub.co.uk to check the current situation. It may be easier to place a child who can already sail. Advice can be given to parents who are competent sailors and wish to teach their child/children to sail.
Crewing for experienced sailors is a long established method way of learning to sail though it can be difficult making the right match.

Need to talk to someone?
For more information the Wembley Sailing Club web site provides details of the club committee members including the youth representative. Please email children(at)wembleysailingclub.co.uk with any queries and you will be passed to the person that can best assist you.
You could come and see what is provided and talk so someone during the training. You might want to put your child's name on the waiting list.
Want to help?
Children sailing requires a lot of parental and volunteer help. If you would like to get involved and can help with any of the following then please get in touch. Shore duties such as boat rigging training rescue boat driver, socials such as the BBQ
.

Harp Young Sailors (HYS)
Harp Young Sailors comprises instructors and trainees from three of the sailing clubs on the Welsh Harp Wembley SC, BTYC and Seahorse SC. The three clubs combined provide a variety of youth boats - Toppers, Lasers and Picos - which supplement the Wembley Sailing Club's 12 club Oppies to provide a comprehensive range of craft to suit all ages and experience.
We try to make sessions as interesting as possible for the children, by having picnic cruises, mini races and ball games on the water, followed by a tea, in the clubhouse or a picnic or BBQ on the grass..
The Oppie Club was the brainchild of Rob & Jeanette O'neill (pictured left) but they have been helped by Charmian, John, Jane, Judie, Liz. Tony and Jean plus a loyal band of helpers who turn out on every occasion to make each session a success.
The Children are given the responsibility for rigging the boats (the younger children helped by their parents)
From humble beginings it has developed into a thriving Sunday afternoon activity. The other clubs at the Harp have joined in to form the Harp Young Sailors, we now have Toppers, Cadets, Fireflies & Picos.

Beginners Club
The youth beginner group will be training on a Saturday morning to help accommodate the numbers whilst providing good quality coaching.
"The beginners club timings:
2008 Saturday Beginners Club Dates Click here

Intermediate and Advanced Group
"The intermediate and advanced sailors train on Sundays - from 1.30pm to 5pm.
Remember, boats will be allocated between 1.30 and 2.00pm, so you should sign on and be ready to rig boats at 1.30. Please do not arrive late, as it may leave you without a boat or a group to sail with
2008 Intermediate & Advanced Group click here.

HYS Safety
At all times children must wear buoyancy aids which are supplied by the club. Parents or Guardians must remain within the vicinity of the pontoons in order to take charge of their children when they come ashore. Safety boat cover is provided whilst children are on the water.


Wembley Sailing Club Children's Sailing
For those parents who find that Saturday morning is not convenient for them to take their children sailing, the club are running their own Sunday afternoon session, you can find out more by contacting children@wembleysailingclub.co.uk
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Colin Brockbank
children@wembleysailingclub.co.uk
or Jane Hill .........galley@wembleysailingclub.co.uk
Laser *GP14 *Firefly Merlin Rocket *RS200 *Oppie *Oppie1 *MRX*