The Taipa Sailing Club is appealing to the local community to support a fundraising venture being held early next month to help a young up-and-coming sailor buy a new boat.
Currently sailing a boat he bought several years ago for $350, Kailash Clearwater is saving hard for a new Laser Radial - estimated to cost somewhere in the vicinity of $4000 - in order to take his competitive sailing to another level.
The 15-year-old had already raised $2000 himself through tree-cutting work and doing chores for neighbours etc, when the TSC committee decided unanimously to get on board and help him achieve his goal.
Taking part in a working bee on a recent Saturday morning, maintaining boats ready for the upcoming Learn to Sail programme, Kailash - named after a Tibetan mountain - said he felt at home on the water, and was just as happy being out on the waves alone as with/ against others.
Living proof the local sailing club was continuing to produce new generation sailors, the Year 10 Taipa Area School student has also been turning heads within the wider community for some time.
He gratefully acknowledged others for their encouragement, the first name being mentioned that of TSC stalwart, Schelle Hatherley Greene who, in turn, was obviously a big fan. She unhesitatingly described Kailash as the "most tenacious sailor you could ever meet".
Club commodore Darrel 'Dribs' Hopkins was another impressed with the development of the young vice club captain since taking up the sport in 2008.
"Since he has started to learn to sail, he's really progressed, particularly in the last couple of years. Now he's competing with the big guys, pushing us and even beating us from time to time," said Dribs.
The proof was in the pudding out on the water on a Saturday afternoon earlier this month, with Kailiash out amongst a group contesting their respective classes in the penultimate leg of the domestic winter series. He buzzed confidently around the course in the ideal wind conditions present, in his element as it were, while older salts like Dribs Hopkins and former commodore Dean Lutze put on their usual show of shenanigans cleverly designed to help beginners coming through the ranks to relax.
The Oceanic Fundraiser to help Kailash Clearwater purchase a new Laser radial boat will take place at the Earth House, 1307 Oruru Road, on Saturday, November 9. The event begins at 6, with dinner from 6.30pm followed by a silent auction and live original music. Tickets cost $20 and can be obtained from Donna Murray 408-5533, (027) 479-8811 and/ or daringdonna@xtra.co.nz.
Other upcoming Taipa Sailing Club events include the hosting of the annual 2013 Total Span Far North Championships this Saturday and Sunday, November 2-3. The following Saturday, November 9 (the same night as the fundraiser), the club commences its Learn to Sail programme running for seven weeks until December 21.