After the sport was almost wiped out by Hurricane Ivan, the Cayman Islands Sailing Club (CISC) started a major programme designed to rebuild sailing on the Islands. CISC now provides structured training programmes for both children and adults across a range of levels, from beginners who do not yet know a tack from a bowline to more experienced sailors looking to fine-tune their racing skills.

Their Learn to Sail and Learn to Race programmes are offered to young people after school and on weekends. The emphasis is both on the fun aspects of sailing and the more serious side such as skill progression and seamanship. Students achieve recognised certification as they progress through the various skill levels.

The CISC is optimistic that the programme can help youngsters to develop into possible future Olympic sailors and follow in the footsteps of those Caymanians who have proudly represented the country at the Games in the past. As part of this aim CISC will look to build a youth racing team able to travel to international events.

The training is open to anyone, both members and non-members of the sailing club.

Children are encouraged to participate in after-school programmes with the hope that a number of local schools will re-establish sailing lessons as part of their Physical Education curriculum, as happened before Hurricane Ivan.

Throughout the school holidays CISC are also running a number of summer sailing camps. During the camps children who have never sailed before learn the basics of the sport, while those with some experience are coached in more advanced sailing skills.

Heading the training is CISC's Director of Sailing, Michael Weber. Mike has been teaching sailing since 1994 and is certified as an Instructor Evaluator with the Canadian Yachting Association.

Following the success of the 2005 summer camp Mike was offered a full-time job with CISC and took up the challenge saying, "I would find it enormously satisfying to be able to rebuild a sailing programme that was so cruelly wiped out by Hurricane Ivan."

On the first day of the two-week camp the children are introduced to the facilities and taught to rig the boats they will be sailing. Safety drills are vital to the training with newcomers starting the day learning how to deal with a capsized boat. Once on the water they will be accompanied by up to three safety boats and a student to instructor ratio that never exceeds eight to one. On the latest camp Mike was joined by instructors Garth Griffiths, Sarah Cuff. Kia Mafee and Amy Stanton who were assisted by Stuart Jennings to make sure the four advanced students and 13 beginners were in good hands.

Mike Weber says, "This year we are teaching skills needed to produce competitive sailors. While there obviously has to be a fun element, CISC is interested in developing athletes who will stay in the sport."

He added, "We are using state of the art boats. The safest, most modern designs specifically built for teaching people to sail."

The next camp takes place from 21 August to 1 September and is suitable for 5-11 year olds. For more information contact the Cayman Islands Sailing Club at sailing@candw.ky or visit their website www.sailing.ky