11 new instructors at Kielder Water Sailing Club

KWSC Instructors (l to r) Ed Brooks (Dinghy Instructor), John Scullion (Power boat Instructor), Oliver Brooks (Dinghy Instructor) © Nicola Bell

Following a gruelling training and assessment process, 11 members of Kielder Water Sailing Club have qualified as instructors in dinghy sailing, windsurfing and power boating. Some of them have already delivered their first courses and the rest will do so as the season progresses.

Brian Coates is now a Senior Windsurfing Instructor, so the windsurfing side of the club's activities can be further developed. Brian said "The course was four days long and ran from nine in the morning until nine every night. We had five or six hours windsurfing every day with the rest being classroom work and presentations, most of which we had to research and prepare before the course and then present ourselves. Each of us had to take the lead in getting the group to work together to improve our own windsurfing and coaching techniques. Consequently I learnt a great deal and actually enjoyed it - but it was exhausting and stressful!"

Vicky Fleming, Graham Thumwood, Adrian Langford, Oliver Brooks and Ed Brooks have qualified as Dinghy Instructors and they will provide extra capacity to deliver more dinghy training to children and adults at the club. Oliver and Ed, currently oppressed by A level revision, said "As well as using our skills at Kielder, we will be able to use our Dinghy Instructor qualifications in our gap year planning and future job prospects."

Having patrol crews on duty is an essential aspect of safety when racing, and Nicky Coates, John Scullion, Richard Rhodes, David Matthews and Chris Lawrence are now qualified as Powerboat Instructors. They can train members in the safe use of power boats.

Steve Gibbon, KWSC Principal and RYA Coach/Assessor, said "I am delighted we have extended our training capability across all three disciplines at Kielder Water Sailing Club and pleased for all those involved in gaining their new qualifications. We struggle every year to keep up with the demand, such is the popularity of Kielder as a watersports venue, and this new intake of Instructors in Powerboating, Windsurfing and Dinghy Sailing will double overall the current team size, allowing us to do more and help with the club's growth."

If anyone is interested in being trained in any of these disciplines they can find out more at our web site where there are also contact details and we would welcome anyone interested in our sport.