Windsurf – July 2019

126 JULY 2019

The RYA explain why

windsurfing helps develop

positive character traits.

W

hy do you windsurf?

Well, the most common

answer is that it’s lots of

fun! But what makes it so fun, par-

ticularly for young people? Is it the

fact that whilst on the water you

are often for the first time at the

control of uncontrollable elements

like the wind and the tide? Is it be-

ing in control of your course, speed

and destination and being relatively

free to roam where you want? Or

maybe it’s just being outside with

friends, messing about on the

water! Whatever the reason, it’s not

only really good fun, but also helps

young people to develop and get

on in life. As well as positively im-

pacting physical and mental health,

outdoor activities like windsurfing

can aid character development in

young people.

“There is an almost universal

consensus that character as well as

exam results, has a significant role

to play in shaping young people’s

life chances, and these character

‘skills’ are much sought after by

employers too,” explains Professor

Bill Lucas, Director of the Centre

for Real-World Learning and Pro-

fessor of Learning at the University

of Winchester, who has worked

with the RYA in developing their

OnBoard programme.

“When youngsters start making

connections between sailing and

their real lives in two or three areas,

then these traits develop, start to

transfer more naturally and instinc-

tively, and become embedded in a

person’s character.”

Determined to succeed

14-year-old Clay Yelland, is the eld-

est of three mad keen windsurfing

siblings and in 2017 was awarded a

Bic Techno board and sail through

OnBoard’s partnership with the

John Merricks Sailing Trust.

“It all started when I saw a bunch

of people windsurfing and I asked

my mum if I could try it. I loved it

straight away, but it wasn’t as easy as

I thought it was going to be and it

took time to get everything right –

you’ve just got to keep practising,”

explains Clay.

“You’ve got to be really determined,

but it always pays off, even when it’s

freezing and I just want to come in

and have a hot chocolate, I stay out

because I know it will help me improve.

People think I’m completely mad

when it’s pouring down with rain

and super windy, but at the end

of the day I really enjoy it. The

windsurfing community is friendly,

kind and helpful, and although I

sail alone I feel part of a team. I’ve

made loads of friends, we go out

and compete against each other, but

when we come back in we’re all just

really good friends. Windsurfing

has taught me that, no matter how

many mistakes you make, you can

always learn from them.”

Besides competing in the UK racing

circuit, Clay’s windsurfing is taking

him all over the world. This year

he will be going to the European

Championships in Israel in August

and the World Championships in

Cadiz, Spain in October.

Lifelong impact

“When I think about experiences

I’ve had of being determined in

adulthood, so much of that comes

from on the water experiences when

I was younger, even when it was

cold and wet, I still went out and

did it,” explains RYA OnBoard Op-

erations Officer, Hannah Cockle.

“Which are the experiences you tell

stories about? The nice, comfort-

able easy ones or the difficult,

uncomfortable ones? Once I was

windsurfing in the snow; it was

freezing, windy and we were only

out there for about 15 minutes. But

I’ve told that story so many times;

how funny it was, how hardcore

we thought we were, the bond and

the camaraderie it builds with your

mates. Those are the experiences

I’ve learned most from.

“Let’s be honest, windsurfing can be

difficult to learn and there will be

difficult times. But that’s the same

as life, whether at school, university

or in adulthood. Knowing you can

stick with something and come out

the other side positively is a massive

skill any youngster can take forward

into the rest of their lives and it’s so

encouraging to see OnBoarders like

Clay go on and succeed.”

Get OnBoard!

The RYA OnBoard programme

was relaunched in 2017 with a

new focus on the broader learning

benefits of sailing and windsurfing.

It is open to anyone aged 8-18 and

offers the opportunity to try out

sailing and windsurfing in a safe,

structured and fun environment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RYA

ONBOARD AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

VISIT WWW.RYA.ORG.UK/ONBOARD.

BENEFITS OF WINDSURFING FOR KIDS

Words & Photos RYA

RYA KNOWLEDGE