Children in Falmouth can enjoy summer holiday sailing lessons thanks to a new initiative from the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club working in partnership with Falmouth Harbour.
Up to three new dinghies will soon be available for the RCYC's Junior Sailing sessions, which are open to non-members for a small fee.
The extra boats will be jointly funded.
Falmouth Harbour Commissioners have made a donation as a part of their 150th anniversary celebrations, and the Yacht Club is giving part of the location fee paid for hosting global news channel CNN during the G7 summit.
Commodore Sarah Hancock says the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club shares a vision with the Harbour Commissioners, with both organisations keen to offer affordable access to sailing to local youngsters.
Sarah said: "This aspect of the Club has grown from a small start into something very special.
"It’s been lovely to see the boys and girls enjoying themselves on the water and watching their confidence grow.
"The new dinghies will mean there’s room for more children to join in."
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So far this year, between fifteen and twenty children have helmed themselves out on the water under the careful supervision of RCYC volunteers like Melody Hitchens, who said: "We don’t really have age limits, we just adapt the activity to suit the child.
"As long as they can sit in a boat, are happy to go out with a stranger while their parents stay on shore, and can follow basic instructions, we can pretty much take anyone."
Miles Carden CEO Falmouth Harbour, said: "We are really excited to support this initiative which will get more young people who live in Falmouth onto our Harbour waters.
"There is no better way to celebrate our 150th anniversary and invest in the future."
The children have been out in rain, wind and sunshine, although a couple of classes were cancelled because of poor weather.
Organisers have also said careful Covid precautions are in place.
Now the schools have broken up, there are three more sessions planned over the next weeks, with the first on Sunday, August 1, 11-1pm.
Additional sessions are planned for Saturday August 21, 4.30-6.30, and Saturday September 18, from 3.30-5.30pm.
Anyone interested in a place for their child can find out more by emailing Melody Hitchens at sailing@royalcornwallyachtclub.org
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