SCORES of youngsters have been hit by the sailing bug after going through the Bermuda Sailing Association's National Sailing Programme this summer which is just coming to a close today.

Deb Gravelle, the director of the programme, said they had 200 youngsters registered for this summer's programme which lasted for eights weeks. And they also added something new this summer ¿ a Discover the Islands programme where the kids would sail to an island, have lunch and sail back. Gravelle said that it made it far more interesting for the kids instead of sailing around buoys.

The summer programme involved Signature Sail Camps which were half days for three weeks for kids with any level of experience.

The Discover the Islands programme were full-day, one-week sessions for kids with at least a National Sailing Programme Level 1 or equivalent sailing experience. Students sailed to different destination each day, had lunch, swam and participated in other sailing-related activities before returning at the end of the day.

"Every day they chose a different destination ¿ they would sail there and back. It gave them a significant sailing experience and they spent more time on the water and the more you are on the water the more you can learn. And also each instructor could give each kid specialised instruction because they have plenty of time to do that."

Besides the main programme out of Darrell's Island, the National Sailing Programme was also run out of the east end with the Sea Cadets and for the first time this year have run one out of Spanish Point Boat Club.

"We had three instructors each with the east end and Spanish Point (programmes) and then at Darrell's we had about 10 instructors," she said.

The boats used ranged from the Optimist Pram, Sunfish, 420 and a new boat called the Open Bic. "It is a plastic cool looking boat and is the next step up from the Opti. It is racier looking and they are a lot of fun," Gravelle added.

While the ages for kids involved in the summer programme ranged from eight to 16 years old, Gravelle said: "We always gets lot of eight to 11 year olds but this year I was pleased to see we had a lot of 12 to 14 year olds ¿ more so than usual."

And while there were a lot of repeats in the programme this year, Gravelle said: "We averaged close to 50 percent of new kids every session."

Gravelle acknowledged that not all the kids were trying to be the next Peter Bromby but she was gratified that they were getting interested in sailing.

"Not all the kids will compete (in races) but that is normal. I think you will find that all the summer programmes will tell you same thing ¿ the kids are doing it to keep themselves busy in the summer. Most of the children who go on (to race) are the ones who are helping in the programme ¿ the junior assistants.

"The summer programme is really for kids who want to learn to sail. But we also do have kids who race. (Kids) from the RBYC, RHADC and Sandys Boat Club get together four times (in the summer) to race in the afternoon in our Grand Prix series.

"But we are always trying to find kids who want to sail. At the end of every session I hand out forms to the parents to say what is next."

As with everything, it is a matter of keeping the kids interested in sailing.

"We do not have a year-round programme ¿ instead we will direct them to the clubs if they want to stay in sailing."

And money which is granted to the programme is also used to help kids sustain their interest in sailing. "We financially support those who want to stay in the sailing programmes," said Gravelle adding that nearly all the kids today who learn to sail started through the programme. "Nearly everyone I have met who sails learned at White's Island," she said.

And then there is the Waterwise programme which is run in the spring and is for kids in M1.

This year the BSA had its sixth annual WaterWise programme and nearly 150 youngsters signed up.

The M1 students from eight schools across the island started with the dry-land sessions using the Opti Simulators on the school courts and fields. These sessions include seminars on points of sail and parts of the boat as well as practice sessions on boating skills.

This is a feeder programme into the Sloop Programme, which is targeted at M3 students and is put together by the same curriculum developer as the Sloop Programme.

To help keep the programme running ACE donated $8,000.

Then earlier this summer the youngsters put their new skills and knowledge to practice on the water.

And there have been a number of kids who have gone through the Waterwise programme who now represent Bermuda at various regattas overseas.