Making Waves at Waiake: Long Bay Primary Takes the Helm
Long Bay Primary School has been participating in the Waterwise programme at Waiake Beach since its inception. Waterwise provides our Year 6 students with the opportunity to learn to sail an optimist, paddle a kayak, and feel more comfortable and confident in, on and around the water.
Having the opportunity to participate in Waterwise is always on the top of our list of “what were the great things you enjoyed about being in Year 6?” when we reflect at the end of the school year.
As part of the experience we introduce our students to the key skills they need to have to be a successful sailor. It turns out that sailing tends to be a bit like drumming. You need to be confident that one hand is busy doing something while the other is doing something else. The challenge is to do both at the same time and ensure you do not get wet if you capsize - or a sore head if you do not duck in time! The first sessions of the year are usually filled with apprehension, however it only takes a few weeks for the inner Sir Peter Blake, Jo Aleh, Peter Burling or Barbara Kendall to shine through.
If you walk or drive past Waiake Beach on a Thursday during Term 1 or 4 of the school year, cast a glance towards the water and you will see Long Bay Primary students sailing up a storm - and best of all, loving every moment.
This article originally appeared in Focus on Community in May 2025
