THE  Soldiers Point Marina Sailing School is a collaboration brought to the community of Port Stephens by passionate sailor Graham Oborn, The Real Futures Foundation, and Soldiers Point Marina.

Each year students at Tomaree High School and St Philip’s Christian College have the opportunity to participate in learn to sail programs for free.

The programs teach students about navigation, steering and the art of sailing.
Students participating in the sailing school learn more than just sailing skills, with self-discipline and self-sufficiency key life skills that are also learnt.

Soldiers Point Marina provides the boats, and students are fortunate enough to learn from experienced sailors like Graham Oborn.

Soldiers Point Marina hosts the sailing school, as well as storing and maintaining the fleet of  sailing craft including three Lasers, eight Training Sailing Dinghies (Optimists), and a Topper Dinghy.

Guided by Graham Oborn and a team of  fully qualified instructors, Tomaree High and St Philip’s schools students are able to learn to sail on the Port Stephens waterway.

Previous students from the school are now competing in state and national regattas.

Graham Oborn told News Of The Area that “St Philip’s Christian College is supportive of the program which is funded by Soldiers Point Marina and The Real Futures Foundation.”

This week the Sailing School Instructor presented certificates of achievement to students at St Philip’s Christian College who participated in a regatta earlier this year.

 

By Marian SAMPSON