NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY

SLC hand over a cheque to the NSA during an ABS interview. From left to right: ABS Host Steve ‘Ibis’ Freeland, Carime, Skye,  NSA Instructor Kayon Guiste, ABS Co-Host Patrice Martin.

The NSA is pleased to announce it has six(6) sailing scholarships available for youths aged 14-18 to learn to sail at the NSA this summer.

The two-week course will take place weekdays, from August 14-25 and take students through three Royal Yachting Association Courses (RYA). At the end of the two weeks the sailors will be able to sail a dinghy independently, understand parts of the boats, sail a moderate course, tack, gybe and control the speed of the boat and be able to confidentially sail a boat without assistance.

The scholarships have been made available by an Antiguan and Barbudan family living overseas who have enjoyed bringing their daughters to sail each year over the last three years. The girls have each committed an annual contribution of 10% of the overall scholarship fund that they will obtain from their allowances or earnings and the additional will be funded by the parents. The three young women,  having spent time at the NSA and realised the impact sailing is having on many of the students and themselves, have decided to work towards forming a new non-profit committee to fund other young Antiguans and Barbudans to learn to sail, develop greater confidence in and outside of the water, and promote equity by giving back to their community and other students who may not have as much access as they have enjoyed.

The fund will be called Sea Learning Challenge (SLC) and using the initials of the three sisters Skye, Lola and Carime. Mothers Agnes Francis Adolphine, Tamara Montana, and Lisa Browne are supporting the young women in their mission and together they have donated US$2500 to fund the first year’s activities. Francis Adolphine remarked that “beyond building sailing capabilities, sailing is a great pathway to build water competence and confidence”. She further expressed excitement for the opportunities this could open for youth of Antigua and Barbuda in building a positive relationship with the ocean.  

Antiguans and Barbudans aged 14-18 wishing to apply for the scholarship can do so by filling out a form at www.nationalsailingacademy.org/scholarship  . RYA Courses  for children and adults are running weekly over the summer offering all levels of sailing for EC$350 per week. Parents and students can register at www.nationalsailingacademy.org/registration .