Students from seven South Ayrshire Council schools took part in an annual sailing adventure, which started this year from Rhu Marina near Helensburgh on Tuesday 27 June.

The students took on the day to day running of a 42 feet long Gibsea yacht called “Deya” and were instructed by crew from the Clyde Sailing Trust how to hoist sails, tie knots, take the helm, steer and tack the yacht.  They were involved in the navigation of the yacht, working out a course to steer using sea charts, a Global Positioning System and had to record the yachts hourly position and log it and also document weather reports.

Six students from each participating school spent four days sailing the west coast of Scotland.  Queen Margaret Academy students were the first group to depart, sailing down the Clyde via the Kyle of Bute, through the Crinan Canal to the remote and rugged west coast finishing at Dunstaffnage Marina near Oban.

Dustaffnage Marina was the yachts home port for a change over of students from different schools every four days with them being transported by minibus from South Ayrshire

The sailing programme is designed to offer adventure sailing experiences to build on teamwork, confidence and self-esteem and social inclusion for groups of P7 to S1 students.

The Convener of the Council’s Lifelong Learning committee, Councillor Pam Paterson said:  “The young people have had a great adventure and have been learning to sail whilst away.  They have learned many new skills one of the most important being  working as part of a team.  I am sure that this experience will have boosted their confidence and self-esteem and given them something to remember for years to come.

“During the sixteen day adventure the weather was hot and sunny, which made the experience all the better for the students and staff to see the west coast of Scotland at its best.”

The students sailed to remote islands and sea lochs around Mull, Ardnamurchan and Loch Linnhe giving them the opportunity to observe and record the scenery and marine life.

Bottlenose dolphins, porpoises and sharks in their natural habitat were seen by the young sailors who recorded and documented the adventure by taking photographs, videoing, painting and sketching the remote rugged land, seascapes and marine life.  Every night they recorded in their diaries what they saw and did that day.

One group from Muirhead Community School in Troon had the rare opportunity to witness a school of bottlenose dolphins in Tobermory Bay playing, feeding, jumping and diving around the yacht.  It was all captured on video and along with all the other schools sailing experiences will be made into a short film.

As part of the trip the children were participating in the Discovery Award of the John Muir Trust.  The John Muir Award aims to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to discover, enjoy and conserve the planets wild places, and to increase and enhance awareness of wild places, as well as encourage people to take responsibility for the environment.  The children will be presented with their award when they return to school after the summer break.

The participating schools were Queen Margaret Academy, Muirhead Community School, Ayr Academy, Gardenrose Primary, Cairn Primary, St Cuthberts and Kincaidston Youth Café children who were all involved in this unique programme.

The Council supported the sailing programme in partnership with other organisations including Hillhouse Quarry, the Clyde Sail Training Trust and Portway Charter.

For each excited group of children this was their first chance to sail and discover the west coast of Scotland.  They anchored in small secluded bays around Mull and went on shore to explore the coastline, returning to the yacht to paint and sketch what they saw.  It is hoped that an exhibition of all the artwork, video and photographs will be put on public display some time next term.