Scouts’ Water Day ‘quite a spectacle’

West Sussex Scouts organised the event on the River Adur, with the help of Shoreham Sailing Club, to give children experience of being on the water.

More than 90 children from all over the county took part and organisers said the event, on Saturday, June 14, had been a ‘tremendous success’.

Tom Smith from West Sussex Scouts RYA Sea School said: “Large numbers of onlookers and family watching from the water’s edge making it quite a spectacle. Highly-qualified instructors kept a close eye, teaching and encouraging our young people to keep them safe.

“It was an ideal day, with hoots of laughter and smiling faces from all the young people taking part.”

Mr Smith, a leader at 3rd/5th Lancing Sea Scout Group, said events were organised around canoeing, sailing and high-speed power boating, with craft provided by various Scout groups.

“Some enjoyed capsizing on purpose, much to the amusement of the onlookers,” he added.

“All had the oppertunity of steering high-speed RIBs, usually used for rescue duties. Anyone watching from Shoreham would have thought there was a Formula 1 race going on at sea.”

Shoreham Harbour was awash with sailing dinghies and open canoes, so Shoreham Port Authority kept a watching brief and provided information on ship movements.

The young sailors tucked into a barbecue lunch and chatted about their experiences.

Mr Smith said there was as much pleasure seen from the shore-based onlookers as those on the water and it was now hoped it would become an annual event to promote water activities to the young people.