Yachting in the spring breeze
(2012.05.10)

Hwaseong & Sea Grant Marine Academy operates yacht school until October

◇ Gyeonggi Sea Grant Business Team operates yacht school for students and the general public until October. ⓒ G-News Plus

Following in the wake of golfing and hiking, yachting has recently received greater attention, highlighted by practitioners who enjoy different outdoor activities. Although once considered by many to be a sport of the upper classes, yachting is enjoying increasing popularity as the cost of participation has lessened.

This yacht school has attracted public attention due to its reasonable pricing structure. The largest marina facility in the capital area, Hwaseong & Sea Grant Marine Academy (head instructor: Yu Heung-ju), operates a yacht school intended for both students and the general public. The school program offers three separate courses: dinghy yachting, kayaking and rafting, and cruiser yachting. A KRW 10,000 fee is charged to cover insurance and teaching materials, but the tuition itself is free.

The basis of yachting, a dinghy yacht has neither engine nor cabin and depends solely on wind power for movement. The dinghy yacht course is open to a maximum of 30 people each day aged 14 years or older.

The lessons cover sailing theory, including structure, terminology and propelling principles, and ground education about rigging to fit boat equipment with other components. Students are also taught what to do in the event of capsizing and how to change direction while sailing, among other skills.

A kayak is a canoe propelled by a double-bladed paddle. Kayakers sit with their legs stretched out in front of them and paddle the craft, alternating sides. Rafting consists in sailing in an inflatable raft on either a river or the sea, using paddles to generate movement.

The kayaking and rafting course is open to up to 40 people each day. Younger children under the age of eight can participate in the course if accompanied by a guardian. After learning about marine safety and theory (structure, terminology and knotting methods), students begin to practice actual kayaking or rafting.

Cruiser yachts are equipped with a cabin and a small sub-engine which is used for port entry and departure and emergency situations. The cruiser yacht is over 24-feet-long. The course is open to all ages and includes a one-hour sailing experience between Jeongok Harbor and Jebu Island after marine safety training. Fifteen people can attend the course, which runs from June to October, each day.

Further information on the yachting academy is available on the official website of the Gyeonggi Sea Grant Business Team.

Hong Gi-yeol (35) from Hwaseo-dong, Suwon, says, “I used to play golf, but since the day I discovered yachting at the Korea International Boat Show, I have been enjoying yachting much more.” He added, “Being on a boat and feeling the cool sea breeze alleviates the week’s stresses completely.”

The Korea International Boat Show will be held from May 30^th to June 3rd at Jeongok Harbor of Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. Not only domestic and international luxury boats and yachts, but also a wide variety of marine sports equipment, such as waterskiing, fishing and scuba diving gear, and various marina facilities are exhibited. Visitors can also see a Chamsuri Class Patrol Vessel (Korean warship).

Furthermore, marine leisure sports experience programs will be offered, including yachting, boarding and kayaking. The Korea International Boat Show is definitely a worthwhile destination for anyone interested in marine sports activities.

ⓒ G-News Plus News | Chun Gyeong-nam chun0403@kg21.net

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