The View from the Training Expert

WE TALKED TO JON CURTIS, SEA VIEW YACHT CLUBS SAILING DIRECTOR, AND THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE SST TRAINING PROGRAMMES

TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED SAILING?
I first got into sailing at the age of 15 with an organisation called the Norfolk Schools Sailing Association, who gave lessons on the Norfolk Broads for a very cheap price, to allow
people who couldnt really afford to do it to go sailing. After a period teaching at the UK Sailing Association, I worked at a variety of yacht clubs, at each of which we tried to get young people into sailing for the first time.

DO YOU NEED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TEACHING CHILDREN FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS WHO MAY NEVER HAVE SAILED BEFORE?
Its no different. With any teaching, to get the message through, it has to be fun. That way children will learn. The only real difference is probably the childrens expectations when they come along. For the school children, it is often a totally new experience. Some dont really know what a boat is, or any of the terminology: its like learning a foreign language.

WHAT CHANGES DO YOU SEE IN THE CHILDREN AS THEY LEARN?
I see changes in their confidence, the way they interact and begin to work as teams. The focus improves dramatically from the sheer excitement at the beginning of the course, running around on the beach before theyve even stepped in a boat. You can tell through the kind of questions they start to ask. Its brilliant when the children actually start to teach each other, as their confidence grows.

HOW DO YOU GAUGE HOW SUCCESSFUL YOUVE BEEN
WITH A GROUP OF CHILDREN?
Were most pleased with the children who have put their heart and soul into it. Its lovely to see them enjoying the outdoors. For many local children, amazingly, they havent spent much (if any) time on or by the water, so they learn to appreciate both the dangers and excitement that sailing can bring. Thats what really gives us a kick!

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE CHILDREN CARRY ON THEIR SAILING BEYOND THE TEACHING SST DELIVERS?
Id love it if they came back, and developed their competitive spirit. Thats where you really improve your sailing: when you have the motivation to get good enough to beat somebody
else! And that spirit is definitely there among the 10-year-olds that we teach!