Junior Open Day......Last Saturday saw a first for the club, the first ever junior section open day. This was a chance to open the club gates to the local community and show off what we have to offer to the potential young sailors of Christchurch. With high expectations on our shoulders, the JCT and our team of 23 volunteers (who we can not thank enough!) set out on a mission. A well-placed bribe to the Met Office, secured a day of sunshine and light (albeit shifty) winds. This helped bring the public to us, and from 09:30 onwards -we had the public queuing at the door- the rest was simply non-stop until our last session at 16:30. Even with a team of 23, we were somewhat overwhelmed! However, this did not dissuade anyone- we carried on and the whole day was one slick operation! After being registered by Mel and Heather, children as young as 7 made their way to the slipway where they would be changed into buoyancy aids and helmets, ready to go sailing for the first time! The club dinghies were on display too, with our coaches running through land drills and parts of the boat. We even had our very own Paul Rayner on a knotting station for a rope working run-through! When it was time to sail the sailors were towed out to the clay pool, for a quick brief from the coaching team. Minutes later, they were reaching back and forth between our team (both in escort boats and braving the waist-deep water!). There were smiles all-round and those present on the day have described the atmosphere of the club as "Buzzing" and "Electric" With the skills, enthusiasm, and expertise of our volunteers, we were able to offer this experience to just over 150 young sailors in Christchurch and the surrounding area. This event marks a day that many of those children will remember as their first experience on the water. It is a privilege for my team and I to have been a part of this. We would like to thank the club for supporting us to make this event possible and please stay tuned for more junior updates. Ricki Harris, Junior Core Team Leader | 
