Master mariner passing on skills to would-be sailors

Helping boaties in distress is a key part of Paul Appleby’s busy day job and
now he’s aiming to better prepare the next wave of yachties coming through.

In conjunction with the Motueka Yacht & Cruising Club, the Tasman District deputy harbourmaster has launched a learn-to-sail programme for eight to 12-year-old children.

“Basically, I was born and raised on the water as my Dad was a skipper on the Auckland tug boats. So I grew up hanging around his ankles,” recalls Paul.

“I didn’t learn to sail until I was a teenager, and my first boat was a sailing dinghy my dad built for me on my 13th birthday. It was awesome, but then my brother and sister sunk it.”

But that didn’t diminish Paul’s passion which took him ocean racing all around the world.

“I have had some amazing opportunities with my sailing career, met some super talented people and now it is all about giving back,” declares Paul who left Auckland nine years ago for a change of pace.

After five years skippering the Mapua ferry, he took on his harbourmaster’s role based at Port Motueka, essentially next door to the Motueka Yacht & Cruising Club.

He saw a need to instruct primary school children and found club commodore Ken Eccles was thinking along the same lines.

“There are so many people teaching children how to race that we thought let’s do a grassroots course. Teach them safety, competence and get them confident on the water first.”'

Within two weeks they had five sponsors and bought Sailqube dinghies which the club now owns.

They put up posters advertising the sailing school with the plan to attract a dozen children, two classes of six for one three-hour session at weekends.
Paul was swamped, fielding up to 50 calls.

The first classes, with10 volunteer coaches also on board, began last month with most of the young participants never having been on a boat before.

“So, if we can get the boys and girls to have fun and be safe on the water, that’s a win for me.”

As part of learning the ropes, a novice sailor has to be able to tie a bow line.

“I sent them away with homework and every student came back knowing how to tie a bow. The next step was a figure eight.”