By Colin Thompson

Sailing Correspondent

The man responsible for developing the curriculum for the Bermuda Schools WaterWise programme has condemned the theft of a dinghy used to train young sailors.

Gus Miller, the veteran Finn sailor, Olympic sailing coach and educator, said the theft — from West End Sail Boat Club last Thursday night — is a blow to the efforts of many who have been trying to establish a youth sailing programme.

The Optimist dinghy was borrowed from The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club for the use of Sandys Middle School students enrolled in the WaterWise programme.

Mr Miller said he hopes whoever stole the boat “realises their error” and returns it.

“Gladwin Lambert and Jamie Harvey among others at the community West End Sail Boat Club had been trying for decades to establish a good children’s sailing programme,” Mr Miller said.

“The Islandwide Bermuda Schools WaterWise community came together to make the Sandys Secondary Middle School WaterWise at West End Sail Boat Club happen. Gear was loaned by East End Mini Yacht Club, St George’s Sea Cadets, Royal Bermuda Yacht Club, Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club, Sandys Boat Club and H2O Watersports along with charitable donations from the Bermuda Security Group and the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. Some additional help came from the America’s Cup Community Outreach.

“After all that struggle, good will and effort it was disappointing to have someone steal an Opti that was not theirs, probably to use as a punt. They forgot two things: ‘Do not do to someone what you would not have them do to you’ and ‘what goes around comes around’.

“There are also those in the community who will recognise the boat in a heartbeat. Let’s hope someone realises their error and returns the children’s boat to West End Sail Boat Club.”

Meanwhile, Police have launched an investigation into the theft of the youth development sail boat removed from the West End Sail Boat Club, located next to the lodging where team members of America’s Cup challenger Artemis Racing are presently staying, on Watford Island in Somerset.

WaterWise is a school-based programme that has integrated science, technology, engineering and maths to help youngsters in their intellectual, emotional, social and physical growth.

The school’s entire academic curriculum is woven seamlessly into the ten WaterWise teaching segments that includes learning the discipline of the sea, while sailing in the single-handed Optimist dinghy.