We had a successful Students and Newbies Day at BPP today with 10 students from Macleans and Waiuku Colleges plus children of ABC members having a go at blokart sailing. Numbers were boosted by brothers, sisters, and parents having their first sail. The 2 metre sails were perfect for the conditions. Experienced club members were only just in control with their 3 and 4 metre rigs.

Wind was N – NW between 5 and 18 knots which made life difficult and a few capsizes were inevitable, but all got up and running soon afterwards, and no scraped hands thanks to Ray’s advice to hold onto the handlebars at all times. We sailed only around the carpark.

Good to have Nutrigrain Nick back giving his family a blast around the park, one of them (probably 30kg) even in control with a 4m sail. (Nick – do you know sails come in other dimensions?). Bruce and Jenny made an appearance and put in a few laps despite recent surgeries and other concerns for the aged and infirm. Young Brian was also there but gave up sailing when the novices overtook him – or was it when he spied a few ladies (well Rosemary and Jenny) and started chatting them up? When will you be back from England Rosie?

Many thanks to ABC club members who helped out on the day and to others who lent their blokarts – we wouldn’t have these juniors coming through the ranks without your support.

Graham