The Apia Yacht Club had its first Sailing Open Day for this year on Saturday with members converging on the Mulinuu waterfront amid calls by the club for more aspiring local sailors to join.

The fleet captain of the Apia Yacht Club, 26-year-old Aloma Black who has been sailing since she was eight years of age, said she was elated seeing people take up an interest in the sport and hopes that more people can join the club.

As the fleet captain, she is in charge of looking after the boats throughout the year and organises the sailing days for the club.

“This is our open where we open up sailing to invite all our friends, family, and the general public to experience sailing and see what it’s like and potentially have them join us," Ms. Black said. 

"Every year we host this event for people to learn something about sailing. Sailing takes place every Saturday and the time changes depending on the tide. I encourage everyone to come down and take it up because it’s fun. 

"It teaches you about water confidence and safety, and this is also carrying on the tradition of our ancestors who were voyagers that sailed across the seas."

There are currently two sailors on Olympic pathways, one is Eroni Leilua who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and is going to be representing Samoa in the next one. The club's female laser sailor Vaimooia Ripley will also be representing Samoa in her first Olympic appearance.

The smallest boat you can sail at the Yacht Club is the Optimist which is usually for young beginners and then the much bigger boats for adults.

Apia Yacht Club Commodore Seiuli Ian Black, who has been running the yacht club for over 20 years, said Saturday's event was an absolute success and its main objective was to introduce local children to the sport. 

“We reach out to schools and also open up to anybody who wants to try this. The perception has always been that sailing was for wealthy people and we want to bury that completely by bringing in more local members," Seiuli said. 

This year marks the 87^th year of the yacht club's existence with it becoming more family-oriented with sailing programs for all ages.