Junior sailing at Itchenor Sailing Club goes far beyond training and racing
by Itchenor Sailing Club 29 Oct 14:56 GMT
Itchenor SC 25/26 Transit Committee: Anoushka, Theodora, Bertie, Lucy, Saskia, Edie, Lucinda and George © Seb Jemmet
Junior sailing at Itchenor Sailing Club goes far beyond training and racing. Each September, a group of lower-sixth sailors and DIs step up to join the Transit Committee, ISC's youth leadership team. While some have sailed together for years, progressing from Mirrors and Fevas to 420s and Lasers, others are newer members. They come from different schools, but they all have the same goal: to give back to ISC and the local community.
Ask them why they joined, and you'll often hear a similar answer: they're eager to pass on to younger sailors the mentorship and the camaraderie they've enjoyed at the club. In monthly meetings, Committee members share creative ideas to help bring sailors of all ages together. Their initiatives range from socials and team racing to sailing adventures, including this year's expedition to the Isle of Wight.
The 2025/2026 Committee packed in a full year of activities. Trading their wetsuits for elf costumes, they hosted a Gingerbread Decorating Party, then donned bunny ears and hid oodles of Easter eggs for the youngest sailors. In the heat of summer, they hosted water balloon fights and swimming games for the older juniors in Chichester Harbour.
The Transit Committee does more than just make sailing fun. The older sailors set an example for younger members and highlight the rewards that come from taking on leadership roles, making a long-term commitment to a sport and building strong friendships through teamwork. Hearing younger sailors excitedly talk about wanting to join the Transit Committee themselves is one of the best ways to measure the team's success.
The Committee's positive impact extends beyond ISC, and even beyond sailing. Each year, the Committee supports a local charity, and this year they selected Turning Tides, a West Sussex organisation that supports those at risk of homelessness.
Bringing their race-day spirit to fundraising, they hosted a bake sale, merchandise sales, and games, all culminating in a grand raffle at the Junior Fortnight Sailing Competition. By turning ticket sales into a friendly club-wide rivalry, they got peers, parents, grandparents, and staff chasing the winning numbers.
In the end, the 25/26 Transit Committee raised £2,149 for Turning Tides, united the Itchenor community and forged friendships that will endure beyond their racing days.