As the sails come down and the summer draws to a close, we’re reflecting on what has been a very rewarding summer at Guernsey Sailing Trust. From afterschool adventures and Activities Week to week-long sailing courses and drop-in sessions, it’s been a season full of learning, confidence, and fun on the water.
Afterschool Sailing Clubs
Our summer was introduced with a range of Afterschool Sailing Clubs. With dedicated Pond, Sea, and Secondary School sessions, dozens of children enjoyed a consistent opportunity to build their sailing skills in a safe and supportive environment.
In addition to weekly clubs we also have multiple scouts and social groups down. With over 20 groups down our summer term evenings were some of the busiest yet! For many, these clubs have been the starting point of a sailing journey that extends into our summer courses.
Activities Week
A highlight of early summer was welcoming local schools for Activities Week. Over 40 students swapped the classroom for the open water, learning teamwork, communication, and resilience through sailing. These fun filled days were blessed with good weather and set us up with a fantastic start to the summer.
Summer Week Courses – The Heart of Our Season
Our week-long courses (Monday to Thursday) formed the core of the summer, bringing together hundreds of young sailors to learn, grow, and explore.
We ran courses for all ages and levels, with 300 places filled with sailors across the weeks:
Oppies on the Pond – A gentle introduction for our youngest sailors on the Pond. These are our largest courses with a whopping 46% of our sailors being on the pond! It was great to see the young sailors develop and interest in the sport and many of them return of one or even two more weeks!
Oppies on the Sea – The next stage from the Pond, developing our more experienced sailors to practice their skills on the sea. Returning pond sailors came back to start their sea adventure! We were fortunate that the weather let most of these sessions take place on the sea and allow so much needed confidence to build.
Beginner & Improver Dinghies – Our day long courses are always filled with excitement and this year was no different. We had some fantastic sailors beginning and returning to sail this year and we amazingly had the chance to have a sail away, to places like Herm and Fermain for every week of the summer! An exciting opportunity to push the boundaries of these sailors.
Day Sailing, Spinnakers & Seamanship – These advanced modules are for the most ambitious of young sailors. Our busiest weeks are when these course are being run. The Day Sailors had opportunities to sail away to exciting lunch locations, a memorable lunch was at Bordeaux Harbour where the sailors saw the Guernsey Tide in full swing. Spinnaker Sailing took place in a windy week that really got to show off the full power of the kites. We ran two Seamanship courses over the summer which are the perfect course to test sailors skills and decision making. On the final day of the summer the seamanship crew showcased their skills winning a race in the Hawk 20 Keelboat, beating several instructor in the other boats!
Multifun Weeks – A fun-filled mix of sailing, powerboating, and games, multifun is our most popular course. A week centred around learning to have fun safety in the water. Whether in it was raft building on the pond or driving a powerboat these exciting weeks ended with elation and sense of comradery.
Instructor Training – The summer was also a chance to train our instructors, we had three new cohorts trained with us this year. In April we had four new Powerboat Instructors and then we started the summer with a Dinghy Instructor Course. This course in the first week of the summer saw five new Dinghy Instructors trained up to then be able to spend the summer running course. The penultimate week of the summer saw an Assistant Instructor course where six young sailors where introduced into the art of teaching and assist those learning to sail. Three of our instructors were also successful on their trip to Jersey to complete their Senior Instructor Qualification.
These week-long courses are where we see the biggest growth in confidence and skill, with sailors leaving at the end of each week proud of how far they’ve come.
Wildlife on the Water
One of the most magical parts of sailing around Guernsey is sharing the sea with incredible wildlife. This summer, our sailors spotted Seals, Dolphins and Puffins, turning sailing lessons into unforgettable encounters with nature.
Moments like these remind us why protecting our marine environment is so important, and they add an extra sparkle to every session on the water.
Instructor Championship – Ending Summer with a Splash
On the final day of our summer programme, it was time for the instructors to swap teaching for racing in the annual Instructor Championship. This fun and light-hearted event gave the team a chance to let off steam while parents and young sailors cheered them on from the shore. A brilliant way to close out an action-packed season!
Thank You
This summer wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of our incredible instructors, volunteers, supportive parents, and — most importantly — the amazing young sailors who joined us.
2025 showed us once again that sailing isn’t just about boats and wind; it’s about confidence, resilience, teamwork, and lifelong memories.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the Autumn Term, we’re excited to keep the momentum going with afterschool clubs, powerboat course and School Group. Still plenty of time to create some memories before the weather turns.
