“Ellie’s love for the water started at a very young age, and ever since that first sail on her daddy’s boat she hasn’t stopped wanting to get on the water,” explains Ellie’s mum, Ali.
“Having access to this sport has helped Ellie develop in her young years her communication skills with other peers, but also how to socialise and create her friendship group at school too. The freedom being on the water gives our young six-year-old is second to none. She also enjoys the benefits of being outdoors – rather than inside looking at electronic gadgets!
“Whilst having this freedom so young could scare many parents, Ellie attends swimming lessons every weekend and has done since the early age of 18 months old. She has a lot of water confidence, mainly because of the swimming lessons she has, but also the fact that we are teaching her how to be confident in the sea and also on Grafham Water!
“She is never alone on any stretches of water, we are always with her. But the fact she is now sailing Silly Billy almost on her own excites her for her future years, she is already setting her sights on a Topper as her next boat!
“The freedom Sailing has given her will never be a negative – this is a great way to spend time as a family too.”
The RYA OnBoard programme offers children between 8-18 opportunities to try sailing and windsurfing through their local club or centre in a safe, fun and structured environment. Launched in 2005, the programme has helped introduce nearly 1,000,000 young people across the country to sailing and windsurfing.
As well as getting fresh air and exercise, children’s sailing and windsurfing offer a wide range of invaluable life skills, from problem solving to confidence and teamwork.
Find out more about RYA OnBoard or get started at a recognised club or centre near you.
