Walking the dog along the shores of Pittwater recently, I stumbled across a group of young boat builders hard at work inside Bayview Yacht Racing Association’s clubhouse. After chatting with programme coordinator Paul and learning more about what they were doing, I was genuinely impressed.
As a 10-year-old, I would have loved the opportunity to build my own sailing boat and then learn to sail it once completed. It’s a wonderful concept that combines practical skills, craftsmanship, teamwork and sailing in a way that’s becoming increasingly rare.
Of course, having a boat builder in the club helps. Having a member who can CNC-cut the timber panels helps too. Add in the support of sponsors and grant funding to keep costs manageable, and you have the ingredients for a truly special community programme.
This is the first year they have run the programme, but the plan is for BYRA to continue offering it in future years, with interest already proving significant. I, for one, would love to see this wonderful programme succeed and grow well into the future.
Introducing BYRA’s Youth Timber Boat Building Programme
Paul Chudleigh, BYRA Treasurer, Timber Boat Owner & Enthusiast
Many of us growing up in the 60’s and 70’s were introduced to sailing by building our own timber boats in our garages with our parents, offering an affordable entry point to the sport. Sadly, the skills we learnt through building and maintaining our boats have been largely lost to later generations with the availability of fibreglass moulded boats ready to go off the dealer’s floor. We also recognise that not everyone comes from a sailing family and not every family has the space at home to build a boat. In short, we recognise that times change and we need to change with them.
Enter the BYRA Youth Timber Boat Building program, designed as a pathway for young non-sailors into the sport. There is no programme fee. Yes, you read that correctly – all we ask is a commitment to join as a family for three years and to fully embrace the programme, which runs on Sundays throughout the winter. At the end of the programme, participants will have built their own boat, learned how to sail it, and, more importantly, made new friends and gained skills for life – parents as well!
The focus is on creating a genuine passion for sailing. The programme fosters teamwork, co-operation, responsibility and earned trust.
The boats we are building are Northbridge Juniors, an 8-foot-long scow design dinghy, much like a mini scow moth. Northbridge Juniors were originally designed by Frank Bethwaite in the early 1960s. Frank is well known in yachting circles, being involved in the design of the Tasar, Laser 2, and the 49er.
The Northbridge Junior is ideal for our programme, being a purpose-designed junior sailing dinghy. It is stable and practical for junior training, with forgiving handling, and the self-draining cockpit and low freeboard make recovery after a capsize much easier. The simple rig allows focus on sailing skills development. It is a perfect stepping stone into club sailing and racing and a perfect first boat.
The boats are relatively easy and quick to build. Construction is of 4mm Gaboon ply skins and frames, with Paulownia internal timbers. Internal frames come pre-cut using a CNC machine. Essentially, it’s like putting together a big model. The boats are light, with a hull weight of only 8 kg, making them readily transportable and easy for kids to move about on shore, yet still incredibly strong. Our Northbridge Juniors have also been slightly modified from the original design to allow for the addition of aluminium wing bars as the skippers get older, and before they move into larger boats.
The boat-building programme is led by our BYRA Rear Commodore, Shane Greaves, who is both a professional boat builder and Programme Manager of the Making Waves Foundation ‘Wright of Passage’ programme. Shane is also our AS-accredited sailing instructor.
Each programme participant is guided by Shane and a team of BYRA volunteers. We currently have seven boats being built by children aged between 6 and 13, but there is still limited opportunity for more participants to get involved.
The kids are not just spectators; they are actively involved in the building of their own boats with assistance from their parents. Each step and the use of all tools is demonstrated, then the kids take over. They know and respect that they have been trusted to use saws, chisels, planes, staple guns, multi-tools, etc., safely and correctly. While it was a little scary to watch them for the first time (!), they have all proved just how much they have listened to ensure they all stay safe.
Upon completion of their boat, they get to paint it in the colour of their choice, name it, and learn to sail it. Most importantly, they get to keep it as their own boat.
Getting to keep their own boats is an important part of the programme. From day one, each kid cut their frames from the pre-cut CNC sheet and wrote their name on each piece. This gave instant ownership. Each child understood that this was their boat, and their commitment to the build was instantaneous. The pride in what they are achieving is evident. It is a joy to watch, and the volunteers are thoroughly enjoying it.
This pathway provides a very affordable entry into sailing. The family membership also provides the whole family with access to BYRA, including SUPs, kayaks, and, more importantly, friendly peers they can enjoy their new water bound adventures with.
The programme commenced in mid-May and will run for 16 Sundays. However, the build time will be less than that, giving families the flexibility to miss some weeks for holidays or family commitments.
The build is taking place in our boatshed and adjacent Riddle Reserve at BYRA clubhouse, 1842 Pittwater Road, Bayview. People are welcome to stop by any time for a viewing (from a safe distance!).
The build has been made possible with the help of a grant through the NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant Programme and through funds raised through BYRA’s annual Peter Loft Marathon event. We also thank our sponsors, Resene Paints, Sector 7G Sailing Sails, and Aroona Masts.
I think there is nothing like the sense of achievement and pride that comes from building your own boat. Starting with sheets of plywood and lengths of timber and finishing with a beautifully presented, rigged boat – seeing it float for the first time is a special moment. There is no doubt that the effort and pride in the build means that these kids will respect their boats and look after them. We are really looking forward to our launch date, scheduled for Sunday 13th September.
About BYRA
Bayview Yacht Racing Association (BYRA) is a volunteer-run community sailing and aquatic club based in Bayview on the southern shores of Pittwater, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Established in 1949, the club has a proud history of producing World Champion Sailors, including Emmett Lazich, Mark Thorpe, Rob Brewer, Steve and Stuart Shimeld in Moths, and Brett Beyer in Lasers.
BYRA has the best water access in Pittwater! It has easy parking adjacent to our grassy rigging area, which fronts a wide, safe sandy beach for launching.
This also makes BYRA perfect for new sailors to safely and confidently hone their skills, and we offer an Australian Sailing accredited Learn-to-Sail Programme for children and adults. The programme runs each Sunday morning during the sailing season, with the next course commencing in October 2026. Check out our website for more details! We love welcoming new people to the club.
However, like many grassroots sailing clubs, BYRA has faced difficulties in recent years attracting and retaining young members due to competition from a broad range of other sporting activities. Drawing on our innovative culture, BYRA sought opportunities to offer something different to attract young people and their families to sailing.
For more information about BYRA, please visit our website: Home – Bayview Yacht Racing Association. Our Timber Boat Building Programme can be found at: Youth – Timber Boat Building Program Expression of Interest – Bayview Yacht Racing Association.
@BYRAsailingClub
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