The Boatshed
Variety Future Kids Program; Sailability
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In keeping with 100 years of tradition, Yachting Victoria has opened its new state of the art training facility – The Boatshed – at Albert Park Lake.
The Boatshed will host a number of programs ranging from Tackers (focused on introducing 7-11 year olds into sailing), to adult introductory courses, Friday afternoon fun for absolutely anyone interested, to power boat handling courses.
Variety the children’s charity provided funding for the Tackers program and are hugely excited by what YV is embarking on for the greater community.
“Variety is very proud to be in partnership with The Boatshed,” Variety CEO Norm Hutton said.
“Variety is not only about assisting disabled and disadvantaged children but also about improving the lives of these children by giving them the opportunity to enjoy many different life experiences such as a sailing program … without the support from Variety and The Boatshed, these children may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience such a fun and educational program,” Mr Hutton added.
Western suburbs based Laverton College grade 4 students were invited to the opening of The Boatshed and campus Principal Paul Jenkins struggled to contain his delight at the opportunity for his students to sail for the first time.
“Our kids are pretty disadvantaged, we often feed them and shower them – we only have two or three from the whole school who participate in sport outside of school hours,” Mr Jenkins said at Albert Park Lake.
“For our kids, it’s an opportunity they would never normally get …for two of the kids we have with us today, it was the first time they had ever been over the Westgate Bridge let alone in a sail boat, so it is a fantastic opportunity Variety and Yachting Victoria have given our kids. I’ll definitely bring them back to do it again,” he added.