Chernobyl youngsters all OnBoard at Horning Sailing Club

The Chernobyl youngsters with their RYA OnBoard certificates © Mike Haigh

10 schoolchildren from Chernobyl enjoyed sailing taster sessions as part of the RYA's OnBoard scheme at Horning Sailing Club (HSC) on 23 September.

The event was organised by HSC's vice president Rodney Storey through the Watton Rotary Club and the Friends of Chernobyl Children.

RYA sailing development officer Holly Hancock said: "As the children apprehensively crossed the bridge to the Island, they must have wondered what lay in store for them, several having never set foot on a boat before. For the 9 and 10 years olds, the aim of the day was to give them a different experience, and to teach them the basics of sailing, all whilst having fun."

Although language might have been a barrier with the young people speaking very little English, with the help of translators and lots of lively gestures, it was not a problem. They were paired up with pupils from Hoveton St John and Broadland High School, all of whom sail at Horning's Training Centre, who learnt about a different part of the world and even some Russian language!

After gaining confidence in dinghies, a paddle around the island provided the opportunity to get to grips with steering before the sails went up. Before long, they were controlling the boats and sailing across the river in the near perfect conditions.

After a superb lunch provided by volunteers from the club, some of the children sailed on larger keelboats, then had a play with a remote-controlled boat. After a few more hours fun, and lots of cries of 'again, again!' the children were eventually persuaded to come off the water, and were presented with certificates and goody bags to take home.

Holly summed up the day: "In what must be a world away from their everyday lives, living in the red danger zone near Belarus, which still suffers from the fallout of the nuclear reactor, the young people were given the chance to enjoy the beautiful Broads environment, learn a new skill, meet new friends and have great fun.

"HSC hopes to make this an annual event, and all the volunteers are already looking forward to seeing the youngsters in 2015. It was a really great day, and all the volunteers commented on how rewarding it was to be involved - I think it's made a real difference to them too."

HSC is an RYA Champion Club, an RYA OnBoard centre, and was an RYA Club of the Year finalist in 2014. For more information about the club visit www.horningsc.co.uk

Over a ten year period the RYA OnBoard scheme has introduced 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK and converted 10% of them into regular participants.

For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit www.rya.org.uk/go/onboard

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