Have a Go Sailing (Kokokaha - Powered by Wind)

Have a Go Sailing (Kokokaha - Powered by Wind)
 
Volvo Sailing – Have a Go Sailing programme for schools started in 2006, living the dream of Sir Peter Blake that all children should get the chance to go sailing.  In 2021 this was renamed Kōkōkaha – Powered by Wind.
 
Have a Go Sailing / Kōkōkaha provides students to get out on the water and experience sailing over a full day.
 
Up to 30 students can participate in each sailing experience day, which are facilitated by Yachting New Zealand qualified instructor (Kaiako). All the boats and safety equipment are provided, as are permission slips and RAMs forms that all participating schools and students are required to complete..
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During the sailing experience the students get out on the water and feel the power of the wind. This includes participation in a series of hands on activities to familiarise them with some of the technologies used in sailing and get an introduction to safer boating practices including personal skills such as taking responsibility for themselves while also looking after others. 
 
For example, a big part of Have a Go Sailing is about not saying “I can’t” but working out how they can, the list comprises: -
 
I can …..
•             capsize and right an Optimist,
•             get back in an Optimist without help,
•             put on and check a PFD,
•             steer straight and turn around
•             do Titanic sailing,
•             sail solo,
•             float relaxed in deep water,
•             go under an upturned Optimist,
•             name five sailboat parts (draw and label below),
•             tie a figure of eight knot,
•             identify and manage sailing hazards (sun, wind, clouds, rocks, water, animals, my boat, other boats, etc).
 
St Johns Rotary (supported by sponsorship from Orakei Marina) sponsors and organises students from low-decile primary schools in our area to participate over a couple of weeks in May each year. The number of schools participating started in about 2011 with two schools but now can be as many as 12 schools depending on the year / school commitments but the available number of places for students is always filled no matter the number schools participating.  St Johns Rotary members are present at each of the sailing days and assist the instructors as directed.
 
Available reports are at:
 
2011-2014 (unavailable)
2017 (unavailable)
2020 (Cancelled due to Covid)
 
Page Stories
Have A Go Sailing Program
Posted by Kevin Kevany
The St Johns Rotary Club and Yachting New Zealand have broadened their relationship recently to cooperate in the ‘Have-a-Go’ project, which seeks to expose youngsters from schools in the Glendowie and Glen Innes suburbs, currently, to the challenges and thrills of yachting.
 
Rotarian Gary Key, one of the initiators of the scholarship, adds: “’Have-a-Go’ was introduced last year to students from St Pius School, and this year will include Glendowie College, Glen Taylor School(4 th year of participation), Stonefields School(4th year) St Pius   (2 nd year), and Point England School.
 
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Guest Speaker Danika ‘Have A Go’ Sailing Programme
Danika presented on Kohimarama’s youth yacht club dedicated to introducing young people to sailing, and training them to love and excel at the sport. This all started in 2006 from Peter Blake’s legacy that every child should have the opportunity to learn to sail. The Team New Zealand 2000 trust provided the original funding to get the programme started, and the Lion Foundation continued to help as the programme evolve.  In 2013, Volvo Cars New Zealand came on board as the naming rights sponsor in support of youth sailing.
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Have A Go! Sailing Program with Glen Innes
Our "Have A Go!" Sailing Program continues with Glen Innes School and we have been fortunate to have Gavin Gilmer assisting us deliver this amazing program. Here is an account of the day with Glen Innes School by Gavin.
 
The group was supported by Aimie (one of their teachers)throughout the two days , however the principal Jono and the deputy were there on the first day. The training was conducted by Reuben from Yachting NZ.
 
The kids were very apprehensive and cautious of the water but after Reuben told them about the importance of wearing life jackets they felt more confident . They were taught about the basic parts of the Oppie and showed how to rig them. This was also tested on the second day to see what they remembered.
They were paired up into two kids an Oppie and instructed on three particular sail settings and basic wind direction
After sailing in the shelter of the marina they were showed how to right the yachts after capsizing them.This exercise soon became a favourite as they (students)requested to do this on the second day as well.
Venturing into the channel was daunting as the water was a lot rougher , but many of them wanted to do it again on the second day.
 
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Sailing...Have A Go!
St John's Club Member Gary Key is delighted to announce that discussions with Orakei Marina have "successfully" concluded.  They have agreed to make a "significant" donation to support the "Have A Go" Sailing Program. 
 
The Rotary Club of St John's extends sincere thanks to Orakei Marina and also to the Chenery Trust for their ongoing support of the superb "Have A Go" sailing program.
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'Have a Go' Sailing Programme

The fabulous 'Have A Go' sailing programme had a total of 250 students (mainly Polynesian children) from 12 schools participate from 1-17 May. The Programme Instructors Maria and Justin spoke about the fantastic three weeks inspiring the kids to give sailing "a go". They both said the Programme encouraged the students to try really hard - even through a few tears - with a focus on fitness and nutrition and advised how they pushed participants out of their comfort zone, using a very apt quote from an elite Olympian 'you are tougher than you think you are'.    

Maria said she started sailing as an 8 year old in Argentina and Justin has been sailing for about 50 years commencing as a 4 year old! He is very accomplished in lake and around the world sailing. They are both passionate about the benefits and opportunities in sailing.

Next year we hope to see the programme expand the participation from currently 12 schools to 20 schools. Grateful thanks is extended to Gary Key for the coordination of this event.

Justin, Gavin, Maria and Gary.

More "Have a Go Sailing" Thank yous
Thank yous are still being received from schools and pupils in our district who had the opportunity of participating in what has become a great sponsored programme by St. Johns Rotary.  Below are excerpts from Thank you letters the Club received from Glen Taylor School;
 
"Dear St Johns Rotary, 
I am writing to thank you for your sponsorship of the "Have a go" Sailing day for 20 Glen Taylor School students.  The students who participated in this fantastic day are still talking about their time on the water. To give our students a sailing experience is Just wonderful, as many would never have an opportunity like this. We would love to be considered for this awesome occasion should it he available again! 
Kind regards. 
Johanna Wrack Deputy Principal" 
 
"Thank you for the people that taught us how to sail. Thank you for taking us sailing. It made us so happy. We had so much fun with you and the people who worked for sailing NZ. It was lots of fun sailing and we thank you so much.  Sione"
 
"I enjoyed learning how to Sail.  I also enjoyed swimming in the ocean, and learning all Sorts of new things!  What I found challenging was grabbing the toys in the water without tipping our boat.  I would love to do it again but unfortunately I can't because I'm moving.  But I would like other people to give it a go, and have a chance of experiencing it. 
Te Morehu"
 
"THANK YOU MARIA AND YOUR GROUP FOR TEACHING US HOW TO SAIL 
I LEARNT HEAPS AND IT WAS VERY FUN.  MY FAVORITE PART WAS WHEN WE WERE FLIPPING OVER THE BOATS.  IT WAS LOADS OF FUN AND SOMEDAY I WANT TO GO SAILING AGAIN.  
I WENT HOME AND TOLD MY MUM AND DAD EVERYTHING THEN I SAID CAN WE GO SAILING ONE DAY.  MY DAD SAID NO BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK THE BOAT!  I SAID IT WAS EASY BECAUSE I KNOW.  THEN HE SAID HE WOULD THINK ABOUT IT! 
CATHERINE"
 
"Thank you St Johns Rotary for having us to sail with you guys.  My friends and I had lots of fun. My name is Louis - the guy that got left alone in the water floating, without my pal, and holding the boat!  It was fun when I was driving the boat and sailing the boat and it was fun when I went on the SPEEDBOAT.  It was so cool because I have never ever been in a SPEEDBOAT.  It was cool when we went to save people from drowning and sinking like a trained professional LIFEGUARD.  Thank you for taking us for a sailing session.  I hope we see you guys again and have some more fun! Louis"
 
 
 
Have a Go Sailing
Its May!   That must mean the St. Johns Rotary sponsored, New Zealand Yachting programme, "Have a Go Sailing", is now under way.  
 
Conditions were near perfect for the first week of Have a Go Sailing for 2019; mainly cloudless skies, flat water and a gentle southerly making Okahu Bay a great location for new sailors.

First up were 18 sailors (years 5 & 6) from Panmure Bridge School who were treated to two days sailing.  Day one started by heading west under the shelter of the Orakei Marina before venturing into more wind in Mechanics Bay. 
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