ESSA's History

The ESSA webmaster has been pestering me to write an article about ESSA History and how it started. I suppose that I am the best person to answer that question but I don’t know the answer.

On a personal note my sailing experience started in the mid 1950s with occasional races in an Enterprise round the Goodwin Sands off the Kent Coast.

Allan Lanstein Nov 2004

Chapter 1 - Herts Young Mariners Base

Very shortly after it opened in 1964 I attended a CCPR Leaders course at HYMB in early 1965 so that I could get members of my Scout Troop (16th Southgate) interested in water activities. The cost of the facilities was a yearly subscription per group of £1.1s.0d (£1.05 in decimal currency) and each Scout was charged 1s.0d (5p) per visit and that included use of boat and all facilities, but camping was an extra 5p per night. We used this centre for some years and took members of other troops as well. Was this the start of ESSA??

Chapter 2 - Banbury Reservoir - Edmonton

In 1981 I found out that there was better sailing facilities at Banbury Reservoir and that the Scouts could gain RYA certificates and as a result we “moved” from Cheshunt. I say moved - it was very easy as we didn’t have any boats. The main centre was run by Lee Valley Regional Parks who had about five of the local Education Authorities running their own sailing facilities - these were Enfield; Haringey; Waltham Forest; Hackney/ILEA; and Newham.

Naturally we came under Enfield Council Education Department and we had Scout participants from the three districts in the Borough of Enfield, namely Enfield, Southgate and Edmonton, we met on one day at the weekend, a couple of evenings during the summer and we organised courses for the Scouts under the supervision of an RYA Senior Instructor supplied by the Council. Was this the start of ESSA? Lee Valley and the RYA gave us the unofficial name of Enfield - Scouts or Scouts - Enfield. and to this day any bill etc from the RYA are still addressed as Scouts, Enfield. The other day at the weekend and one evening were taken over by Enfield Sailing Association for teaching adults etc. During the weekdays the boats were used by groups from various Schools in the Borough.

Due to cutbacks in Education funding the Education Department then passed the sailing base over to Enfield College. The College in an attempt to save staffing costs organised an Instructor course for some School teachers, and leaders from both the Scouts and Enfield Sailing Association and then a Senior Instructor Course which I passed in 1986 hence we were able to run courses under our own steam. Was this the start of ESSA??

By the Autumn of 1991 Enfield College decided that sailing courses with the high instructor/pupil ration were not cost effective and hence decided to close the Enfield facility at Banbury with effect from 31st March 1992.

This set us a problem as to where to continue to sail and we decided to put in a bid to buy all the boats and equipment from Enfield Council. Because we were already a user group and that children from the Borough of Enfield would continue to get sailing instruction we negotiated a cut-price deal with the Council. With the help of a grant from Foundation for Sport and a loan from the Scout County of Greater London North we were able to continue at Banbury.

Now that we owned a considerable amount of assets (Boats and a Portacabin) the Committee prepared a draft Constitution, which was approved by County and the Charity Commissioners in 1993. We also decided to use the formal name of Enfield Scout Sailing Association and since then it has become better known as ESSA. Was this the start of ESSA?

Chapter 3 - Nazeing

In December 1994 we moved to Nazeing - this time the move wasn’t so easy as well had about 23 boats to move as well as the classroom and a store. The Contractor who moved the classroom found that it was heavier than usual and instead of lifting the building onto the lorry, the wheels on the far side of the crane lifted off the ground so he had to make another attempt with heavier lifting equipment.

Many of you will have no doubt seen the facts and figures which we have given in our annual report which indicate an increase in the number of participants for taster sessions or for casual sailing but only a limited increase in the total number of RYA awards gained and these have been virtually entirely in the lower levels. In my opinion the reason for this is two-fold.

a. reflecting the drop in the higher awards nationally which has led the RYA to review the syllabi. (The youth awards were revised
in January 2005).

b. The Scout Association latest training program, insists that all Scout Groups must have a balanced and varied program. (ie they are not supposed to concentrate on just water activities) and this makes it difficult for Troops and Units to fit general sail practice to retain their present skills as well as fitting the more advanced courses into the program.

Despite extensive advertising during the past three years we have had to cancel racing courses, first aid courses, advanced courses and powerboat courses. The only courses we haven’t cancelled have been the NSSA/RYA junior courses.

Chapter 4 - New Principal

In September 2004 the Trustees appointed a new Principal - Marion Caslake. I hope that Marion, and her team continue to provide Scouting with a Scout Sailing Centre that meets the requirements of the scouts from the County of Greater London North and adjoining Scout Counties.

History now continues from the Webmaster & team

Chapter 5 - Things are looking better!

During 2005, we purchased 3 new teaching boats, and got rid of all the old, and to be honest worn out boats, these being the Wayfarers, some of the older Toppers, Zephyrs, Comets, and a few other fibre glass boats.

We have seen increased numbers, especially those taking part in full RYA courses, which is always good news.

During the end of 2005 and during 2006 we have been running AI courses, with most of our helpers, now keen to progress on the ladder of teaching, has seen many of them taking part in the Assistant instructors (A.I) course, and becoming RYA Assistant Instructors.

Myself (Danny the poor old webmaster) has completed and passed the Full RYA Dinghy Instructors course, yes on the sea:-)

Hopefully in the next couple years, we should start to see some of our AI's become DI's.