FOUR youngsters from Cornwall have enjoyed an exhilarating sail with Falmouth-based sailor Sam Goodchild on his 33-feet racing yacht Vasco de Gama this week.

Sam, who recently finished 8th in class in the Fastnet race and broke the British record in this year’s Solitaire du Figaro back in June, sailed down to Falmouth from Plymouth to take the children out on the water as part of the activities of the newly-formed Sailing Academy at Royal Cornwall Yacht Club.

Freya Hocking, Nicole Ames, Morwenna Pound and Morgan Usoro joined him, alongside the RCYC’s Abi Cook, who acted as first mate.

The goal of the scheme is to get more youngsters involved in sailing, as Sam explained:

“I think it’s a big shame how accessible sailing is,” he said.

“It’s not like football where you know it’s this much a week to go and play a game with people your own age. With sailing there’s no recognised path to help you to get into it, to give you that opportunity - maybe in a summer club or something, but it’s not like cricket or rugby when it’s a weekly thing.

“That’s what the Academy’s trying to do, to let people know that anyone can come down and give sailing a go. They don’t have to pay any money, they don’t need to spend loads of money on kit, they don’t need to own their own boat, they don’t need to have a wealthy parent to drive them around the country.”

“I didn’t think it was going to be as much fun as it was,” said youngster Morgan Usoro. “It was great to get to do everything I wanted to do on the boat. I live near Falmouth and I didn’t know there was anything like this available for me until today.”

Peter Collett, Commodore of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, said the event was just the beginning for the brand new academy.

“Many members of this club have enjoyed a lifetime of sailing, so we want to do as much as we can to make this an experience and a choice for more young people in Cornwall,” he said.

“With help from our sponsor, RCYC member David Colgan of LillyFreya Wealth Management, this event is just the start of a programme that will see the club give real sailing experiences to an increasing number of children from all backgrounds.

“We’re delighted that Sam has given his time to take these youngsters out on his yacht and provided them with a really exciting taste of life on the water.”