Sailing Academy launches Optimist dinghies
Recently, The Hutchins School Sailing Academy launched a new initiative to promote sailing in the Junior School.
Through the generosity of our wonderful benefactor, the late Neil Thomas (’40) and his partner Joy Anderson, we have been able to purchase two fibreglass Optimist sailing dinghies. These were aptly named “Tommo” and “Joy”. Two boys in the Junior School will be given a one year scholarship which provides them with the use of the boat, coaching, race entry, and membership to the Sandy Bay Sailing Club.
This is a wonderful platform that is focused on developing sailors at grassroots level and making them into lifelong sailors. It was great to have past and current State Optimist Champions Sam King (Year 12) and Edward Broadby (Year 6) to help launch the boats and to have Neil Thomas Scholarship holders, past and present, together to pass on their knowledge to the next generation of Hutchins Sailors!