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22 November 2021

Port Nelson sponsors sailing experiences for local schools - media release from Nelson Yacht Club

Nelson Yacht Club Media Statement - 19th November 2021

In fantastic news, Port Nelson Limited has come on board to fully fund Kōkōkaha sailing experiences for selected low-decile schools in Nelson for a period of 3 years. Auckland Point School jumped at the opportunity to be the first school on board and they had a fantastic day on the water on Thursday 18th November. The club is working with other schools to schedule dates for Term 1 next year.

Port Nelson Chief Executive Hugh Morrison says, “As a Port we are proud to align our focus and support young people in our region with the opportunity to try sailing and learn about being safe on the water.”

Kōkōkaha

Kōkōkaha is an integrated unit of work available to schools and kura throughout New Zealand designed by Yachting New Zealand. The classroom-based learning experiences can be added to with a practical sailing experience, and Nelson Yacht Club is a YNZ approved provider. The club has been running schools sailing activity for many years, with an extensive fleet of training yachts and a fantastic team of experienced instructors.

Club Manager, Tim Fraser-Harris says, "Through YNZ's Kōkōkaha initiative, it is great that students get to explore what it means to be powered by the wind in the classroom, and then get to put it into action on the water at the club. To be able to offer these experiences free of charge to local schools is just fantastic, so we're hugely grateful to Port Nelson for their support!"

The team at the club is looking forward to a busy summer of school holiday programmes, which kicks off in December and continues through January. Sailing and windsurfing adventures to Haulashore Island and the Boulder Bank Lighthouse await! More details: https://www.nelsonyachtclub.org.nz/learn-to-sail/holiday-programmes/