Welcome to the Weta (Boat not Bug!)

by Jodie Bakewell-White

Also a new-comer to Sailing... Have a Go! is the Weta Trimaran.

Thanks to funding from the Halberg Trust, we are excited to incorporate a Weta into each of our three trailers.The versatility of the New Zealand designed Weta will allow us to more easily include children with a disability to give them a taste of on-water excitement and freedom.

“Each unit will also have a specially adapted chair, with joystick controls for steering, that can be easily fitted into the main hull to allow those with a more challenging disability to steer the boat themselves,” explains Gerry Booth.

Some old-hands and some in-experienced sailors, both able-bodied and with disabilities, tried out the new boats at an informal fun day held at Yachting New Zealand in Westhaven earlier this month.

Last season just under 3,000 children from 116 schools around the country took part in Sailing... Have a Go!

The programme runs through until end of term on the 20th of December and then kicks off again at the beginning of February for Term 1 2011.

For more information email gerry@yachtingnz.org.nz