From Killian at Fingal Windsurfing:

Operation: Grow Windsurfer Population 2010!!

Hi all hope all are well !!

Its time for all windsurfers to come together & look at OUR sport for the growth of Windsurfing in Ireland. The past few years has seen a decreasing amount of new people getting into this sport & although all of us still love our windsurfing, unfortunately there isnít the same level of new comers following behind us. So we all know what this means, and the implications it has for the sport in years to come. None of us want to see our beloved sport be a dying breed, so its time for all of us to get involved and get our numbers growing again!!!
Think back to when you learnt to windsurf.... Most of us learnt with family or friends or else we were brought to the local school / shop for lessons. Now, think again....when was the last time you taught someone or introduced a friend to the sport???
Ok so firstly ñ it isnít as easy to teach a mate or family member as it used to be, the days when we were back lifting heavy triangular sailing onto massive boards are no longer: but this type of gear was ideal all round gear, & we could easily teach our friends& families the basic windsurfing skills. Now with all the fantastic improvements & gear advancement things it ainít so easy - who has gear that they can actually bring a friend out on?! When was the last time you brought a friend / family member to the sport??
So on this note......Weíre calling all Shops.....Schools...forums ..... groups... everyone... everywhere in our sport, this year lets try bring back windsurfing. Lets build a brilliant social scene again where people were sailing regularly. Letís encourage new people to the sport. Letís build our Windsurfing population in Ireland!!
Our plan is, and weíre asking you all to do the same, try and get new people to the sport & make it accessible to all!!
Fingal Sailing School together with Wind and Wave are going to bring everyone together for windsurfing fun and encourage new people to the sport. Throughout the coming weeks & months weíll be sending you details of ideas, events & offers to help us all do this. As always we welcome any comments and suggestions that help us to achieve OPERATION GROW WINDSURFER POPULATION 2010...
We invite you, your friends & families all to join in . . . .

To get the ball rolling, we are offering everyone who forwards this mail & copies info@fingalsailingschool.com <mailto:info@fingalsailingschool.com> a Ä10 voucher to be used in shop or school (just make sure we can see your name on the email!!)

Then, to all of your friends / family who receives your email we will knock Ä10 OFF one of our TRY IT sessions here in Fingal Sailing School. Just book into 1 of our TRY IT SESSIONS and the voucher can be used. Try it sessions are ONLY Ä20 which means for as little as Ä10 you can be on the water with all the equipment supplied. And bingo, we will hopefully get new people on the water ñ we cant make it any easier than that!!

Thats all for now, lets starts working together and get this growing!
Paddys day event details to follow this week.

Thanks all and remember PAY IT FORWARD and lets get more people on the water
KILLIAN
Fingal Sailing School & Wind & Wave, Malahide.

Then repeat for dinghy sailing!

Gordon

Oh god, Gordon, you are so right. The worst thing about it is not the decline of the dinghy fleets but the fact that no one in charge is doing any thing about it.

When the RDS boat show rekindled the dinghy section I though that might have been a catalyst, regrettably no.

The ISA had its conference but it never came up. The whole conference should have been devoted to it.

Hi All,

Thanks everyone for your replies & ideas following our OPERATION GROW WINDSURFER POPULATION IN IRELAND proposal went out.
We all seem to be on the same page & wanna keep our beloved sport growing.
As promised, below are details of our Paddys day event weíre running next week. Weíre keeping it in line with the Pay it foward idea, & are offering all sessions free of charge. All we ask is that you let us know what sessions you or your friends are interested in, so we can get an idea of numbers and make it a fun, well organised day.
Please bring mates & family that will enjoy it & will get out on the water. Its still pretty chilly out in the estuary so our advice is come prepared.
Wind & Wave shop stock gloves & booties should you require any!!

So here are the plans for our native festive day of fun.....


Kick off 11am till dusk!!
The aim is for everyone to get on the water & have a go at one or all of the following:

WINDSURFING SAILING KAYAKING CANOEING SUPing

Weíre running sessions for activity throughout the day ñ all you need to do is let us know your preferred session time, weíll put your name down & you show up!! All sessions are FREE OF CHARGE.
Each session will have its own instructor, but if you know what your at, then your more than welcome to join in with us all!!

Session times & themes are as follows:

- Sup sessions: give it a go & see what all the fuss is about!! Brilliant for building your balance & a great buzz on the water! 12.30 ñ 1.30 & 2.30 ñ 3.30

- Sea Kayaking: gona head off about the estuary & out to open waters!! : 11.30 ñ 12.30 & 3.30 ñ 4.30

- Canoeing every try candian style canoes fun for three people per canoe !!! 11.30 ñ 12.30 & 3.30 ñ 4.30

- Windsurfing for all levels: beginner advanced boards for anyone who wants to give it a go or try a different board! 12.30 ñ 1.30 & 2.30 ñ 3.30

- GPS speed wall ñ best times hit throughout the day. Put your name down for GPS & weíll give you a time slot

- FUN Slalom series: put your name down for Gold, Silver or Bronze heats. Kick off is 1.30pm

- Sailing: never tried it before? have a free sail if you know how ?? If not join in any of our instructional sessions and give SAILING A GO ñ you might like it!! 11.30 ñ 12.30 & 1.30 ñ 2.30


Weíll have cheap BBQ on running throughout the afternoon & tuk shop open all day! And as the evening draws in we invite ye all to hang out on the deck (BYOB / Wine) have a go at the Guitar & finish our Paddys day off with a bit of fun!!

Paddys day event day is open to ALL ñ bring your mates, family or anyone you think will enjoy the day.

We wanna get see some new faces on the water & start seeing our watersports population grow big time for 2010!!

Book your session times by emailing us at info@fingalsailingschool.com <mailto:info@fingalsailingschool.com> . Let us know asap so we can do our best to put you in your preferred time slot, if thereís huge demand for certain times then weíll put you into the next available time slot.



Cheers

Wind & Wave / Fingal Sailing School