Werribee South-based sailing instructor Oscar Henderson wants more children in the west to wave their fears goodbye and give the sport a go.
Mr Henderson said the saililng marries mental strategy and physical endurance – which makes it a great choice for those who may not have excelled or enjoyed other more mainstream sports.
“I think the best part of sailing is the sense of adventure involved, the self-discovery and independence people gain,” he said
“On the boat, you are subjected to the forces of nature and you have to learn to work with the elements out there.
“It’s given me great experiences and life-long friends. I’ve made friends all around the country, you can go really anywhere really in the world and sail.”
He said that the sport is also a fun way to build water confidence in kids, especially if they are not used to swimming or participating in activities on major bodies of water.
“The biggest things is just water confidence and people being scared of the wildlife in the water.
“Australia is quite an aquatic county in terms of a lot of the major cities being coastal, so there is a lot of water involvement in our lives.”
The western coast of Port Phillip Bay might be the place to start learning to sail.
“Places like Wyndham Harbour are really good because they are in a closed marina so you wont get the swells then you can develop your skills and confidence, gradually going further out on the bay,” he said.
“The best way to get your kids involved is to just go to a local yacht club and ask if they have a learn to sail program.”
