We interrupt our regular programming to bring you the latest organization to sign up for Summer Sailstice: Blue Peter – The Sailing School. Why does this merit special mention? Three reasons: First, it is a sailing school with a cool approach to youth development. Second, part of that cool approach is that most teaching is done aboard small, open boats. And third, the Blue Peter Sailing School operates out of Moreton Bay, Australia.
That last takes on special significance because, while the Summer Solstice (and Sailstice) weekend of June 20-21 marks the beginning of our summer. . . Down Under, it marks the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere winter. So extra kudos to our friends from Oz for being the first 2015 Sailstice participants south of the Equator.
Kids from all backgrounds learn much about life - and a thing or three about sailing - in Blue Peter’s programs.
Specifically, on June 20, Blue Peter – The Sailing School is hosting a Wooden and Traditional Boat Regatta. “Small sailing boats are welcome to join us in an island circumnavigation,” says co-founder Jono Goss. The island is Coochie Mudlo, which, though it sounds like something out of a Dr. Seuss story, is a real place. It’s located less than a mile offshore in the southern part of Moreton Bay, and, with beaches on three of its four sides, is a popular tourist destination.
The start and finish are off Coochie’s main beach. And since the whole island is only about 1.5 square miles in area, it should leave plenty of time after the finish to pull up on the sand for one final beach party before the arrival of Old Man Winter. At this writing, the weather forecasts didn’t reach that far into the future, but historically, temps in the area average a still-comfy 70 degrees around the Sailstice weekend.
Blue Peter is proud of their pioneering work involving the use of “little ships” for sail training and expedition use. None of their main six-boat fleet are longer than 19 feet. Goss worked closely with a local boatbuilder and designer to insure they are safe and seaworthy. The result of that collaboration yielded the Sienna, a full-keel, 19-footer that is beamy, stable, has lots of carrying capacity, lots of built-in flotation, and a lugsail yawl rig that is offers both versatility and "plenty of jobs to keep the 4-7 person crew busy."
The Scruffie boatbuilding company’s “Sienna” design was a collaborative effort between designer Derek Ellard and Blue Peter co-founder Jono Goss.
Youth curriculums at Blue Peter are wide and varied, and all are structured as much around giving young people a solid foundation for life as sail training. The most popular programs are the multi-day expeditions, during which the kids and instructors camp overnight on deserted beaches.
(The school offers many other programs – such as adult sailing, corporate team building, etc. - on many different vessels including large sailboats sourced from local charter companies. For more on the school, go to bluepeteraustralia.com)
Part of Blue Peter’s “fleet” in repose. The boat in foreground is a replica of Captain Cook’s longboat.
Even the school’s name was carefully chosen to reflect their mission. “Blue Peter” is a nickname for the international “P” signal. When raised aboard a ship in harbor, it has long meant: “all crew report on board as the vessel is about to proceed to sea.”
That’s an important part of Blue Peter - The Sailing School’s philosophy, writes Goss. “Rather than tell young people what to do, impel them into action by asking for their help.”
A very warm “Welcome Aboard!” – and a clink of very frosty libations - to Blue Peter, The Sailing School.
Blue Peter Sailing School’s teaching expeditions involve overnight camping on deserted beaches. Where do we sign up!?
