Bude school children try out water sports thanks to Sport England

Thanks to Bude Junior School securing a bid from Sport England, over 110 Year 6 pupils and pupils from Budehaven Community School have had the opportunity to try their hand at sailing and windsurfing at Tamar Lake.  A family fun day was also held at the lake to promote water sports.

As a result, many of the Year 6 pupils went on to attend After School Clubs overseen by Mrs Walter from Budehaven School and Mr Aldis from Stratton Primary School. There, they had the opportunity to develop their sailing and windsurfing skills and gain RYA competence awards.

Nathan Pollard who attended Marhamchurch Primary School was one of the pupils who successfully completed his RYA Stage 1 in sailing. He now goes to Budehaven Community School and is working towards completing Stage 2 in this term's After School Club. Over the summer he put his new skills to the test. 

Nathan said: "Every Sunday during the summer holiday at Upper Tamar Lake I sailed in the Peter Pocock Memorial Trophy competition.  I made some new friends and met many people.  Each week we faced different weather conditions and each race was different. 

We used all the things we had learned at the After School Club like steering the boat and how to rig it.  One week we got towed by the safety boat to the other side of the lake where it was calmer because it was so windy at the pontoon. 

All who entered the competition are now members of the Upper Tamar Lake Sailing Club so I will be sailing with them on Sundays.   It was great fun and I really enjoyed it – especially winning!"