Guest Blog by West Lancs Yacht Club
We were thrilled to welcome more than 80 Year 5 and 6 pupils from Larkfield Primary School in Southport for three special Sailing Experience Days in May and June.
Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Marine Lake in the heart of the town, the days were filled with excitement, teamwork, and new discoveries. For many of the children, it was their first time on the water — but nerves were quickly replaced by laughter, learning, and a sense of adventure.
Our team of dedicated volunteers were just as enthusiastic, sharing their knowledge and passion for sailing. Teachers, too, got involved, donning buoyancy aids and joining the pupils on the boats for an unforgettable hands-on experience.
Larkfield’s school motto, “Enjoy, Learn, Succeed,” was clearly brought to life on the water. Every child stepped out of their comfort zone, picked up new skills, and, most importantly, had a lot of fun doing it.
This new partnership with Larkfield Primary School is part of our wider schools outreach programme – ‘West Lancs Kids – Powering Up!’ and builds on the success of our ongoing partnership with Norwood School, which began in 2024, and continues in July this year with another group of 90 children. The programme has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the RYA Sunsail “Funding the Future” initiative, Trinity House, the Liverpool Marine Engineers’ & Naval Architects’ Guild, and the proceeds from the WLYC 24 Hour Race raffle sponsored by Marine Supplies Direct and their chandlery suppliers. Their funding has helped us provide vital training and equipment to open up the world of sailing to more and more young people in our local community.
Every child taking part can also join our OnBoard programme, with three Saturday sailing sessions open to junior non-members who are interested in taking the opportunity further. Each session costs only £5 and can be booked with the WLYC Membership Secretary via email membershipsecretary.wlyc@gmail.com or the website wlyc.org.uk , where parents can also find details of how to join our sailing family.
We’re already looking forward to welcoming Larkfield Primary School back next year — if the smiles and stories from this year’s visits are anything to go by, we’re in for more fantastic memories!
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
