From dinghies to keels, Sooke residents are embracing the sport of sailing in a big way.

Although still considered a niche sport, sailing has captured the imagination of a growing number of men, women, and children.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e encouraged this year and we absolutely believe that there has been a growth in sailing over the last couple of years,B次元官网网址� said Rick Nickelchok, executive director of the .

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 exciting to see Sooke have such an active club. ItB次元官网网址檚 the local leadership that can get the excitement out in the community and provide opportunity for people to sail.B次元官网网址�

Gord Fulcher, president of the and Starlight Sailing Adventures, is an eyewitness to the sports growth since he moved here from Alberta nine years ago.

RELATED:

In 2010, Fulcher was often the only sailboat out in the Sooke basin or harbour. Fast track to today and local waters are brimming with sailboats and sailors.

B次元官网网址淧eople are sailing all the time now,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淪ooke is a beautiful places to sail. ThereB次元官网网址檚 always somewhere you can sail.B次元官网网址�

Fulcher began sailing in Sooke almost accidentally.

He was looking for a dingy to do crabbing, but found it was too expensive. Instead, he found a sailboat for $1,300 and returned to the sport he first learned growing up in Quebec along the St. Lawrence River.

Fulcher and others wanted more people in Sooke to take up the sport, and it wasnB次元官网网址檛 long before the Sooke Sailing Association was launched.

The group members decided back in 2012 that if they wanted to see growth they would need to get children involved, since then other organizations have also started including the Sooke Sailing Association and Starlight Sailing Association.

The Sooke Sailing Association caters to youth and this summer, in the first three weeks of July, will run a childrenB次元官网网址檚 sailing program.

Starlight Sailing Adventures cruises year-round with introduction to sailing trip for anyone that wants to try the sport or improve their skills, while the Sooke Sailing Co-op is an inexpensive way to learn to sail and find out if itB次元官网网址檚 something they would like to pursue.

RELATED:

For Fulcher, anytime he can get on the water, itB次元官网网址檚 a good day.

B次元官网网址淭he area is so beautiful. We have protected waters in the basin and you can pretty much sail anywhere in a sailboat,B次元官网网址� he says.

B次元官网网址淵esterday, I was out there and saw whales.B次元官网网址�

For more information on local sailing programs, please go online to or telephone 778-425-4030.

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
Like us on and follow us on