IF THERE is nothing quite like messing about in boats for an old hand, think how exciting it is for children to get out on the water for the first time.

Thanks to the Chesil Trust, more than 2,000 youngsters from all over Dorset have had the chance to sample sailing over the past few years.

In sessions costing just £5, pupils from state primary schools have been given a taste of dinghy sailing at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

Coached by instructors from Sail Laser, who also supply the craft, the children spend mornings or afternoons mastering the briny, learning the rudiments of sailing and maybe being bitten by a bug that will eventually take them to a competitive level.

Chris Knight, the business manager at WPNSA, said: “Bizarrely, Dorset is renowned for being bad at sailing. We have the big competitions here and Olympians aside, the people who come for them are from other parts of Britain and from Europe.

“Dorset has a very good relationship with the sea, but a lot of it is through fishing and marine industries instead of sailing.

“We hope that with the Sail for £5 scheme we can redress that balance – and it has been more than doubling year on year.”

He added: “The key to its success is funding, and the Chesil Trust is doing a marvellous job here.”

Two groups of pupils taking part in the sailing scheme this week were from years five and six at Sticklands School in Evershot and Thornford School near Sherborne.

Squeezed into their wetsuits and cushioned from any unpleasant eventualities by life jackets and helmets, the children cluster round their instructors and listen, by and large intently, as the mechanics of dinghy sailing is explained.

After a talk, they take it in turns to sit in their dinghies in pairs – one at the tiller, one holding the ropes – and are towed around the landing area by puffing instructors, learning the art of steering and how to avoid getting the sail wrapped around their heads.

This is followed by a dry demonstration of capsize survival and then they are on the water.

After one or two false starts and at least one crunching meeting with a pontoon, they look confident and proficient as they skim the waves, gulls and the year’s first terns veering away from their exited shrieks and calls.

“I did this last year and loved it,” said Jonathan Greenwood from Sticklands School, who was sailing with his friend Charlie Oldfield.

“I was so excited about coming back this year, I couldn’t wait. What we really want to do is capsize!”

Less keen on the capsizing option, were Abigail Marsh and Martha Solloway from Thornford School.

It was the first time they had taken part in the scheme and both were adamant it was much more fun than sitting in a classroom.

They children started off by sailing between two buoys but then followed the lead taken by an instructor and headed off for the far end of the harbour, shepherded by a fleet of instructors in motor boats who called instructions, rounded up stragglers and those heading to the Portland Harbour breakwater.

Unfortunately for Jonathan and Charlie from Sticklands, their vessel remained upright but they still looked extremely pleased with their day.

“The only downside of it all,” said Charlie, rather solemnly, “is that I have absolutely no idea how I am going to be able to get out of my wetsuit.”