Water sports at Eastbourne College

College teacher and OE Robyn Cooke (Nugent 2003-08) spent her time at the College rowing and thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity which was new to her. Following on from this, Robyn learnt to sail in her late teens, although she always wished she had had the opportunity to do so earlier. From there she moved across and focused on windsurfing, subsequently becoming an instructor and spending several years teaching windsurfing abroad.

In recent years Robyn has learnt to wing foil and has enjoyed many weeks SUP (Stand Up Paddle) surfing down in Cornwall. She takes every opportunity available to her to get out on the water both in her own free time and when accompanying College pupils to Buzz Active. Robyn says, 'I have found participating in watersports to be of huge benefit to both my physical and mental health. It is the perfect antidote during times of stress and anxiety, and I am passionate about expanding water sports at the College.' Robyn writes:

At Eastbourne we are passionate about making the most of the access we have to the sea, both in terms of its enjoyment and the huge benefit it has to the emotional wellbeing of our pupils. We have several keen windsurfers, sailors, wingers, and paddle boarders who spend both the Michaelmas and summer terms honing their skills. Back in the autumn Bradley Mackelden (OA 1999-2009, Craig 2009-14), founder of Be-Rad Watersports, delivered a five-week paddle boarding programme to our pupils and we were fortunate enough to run the majority of these sessions on the sea just a few hundred metres from the school.

In sailing we compete against Bede’s and On board (Buzz Active’s local team) which have been thoroughly enjoyable; however, it would be great to find more schools and clubs locally to compete against. There was also a highly successful surf trip to Fuerteventura through 'Schools go surfing' in February, which combined surfing lessons with local culture. We hope to return next February.

As Head of Sailing and Windsurfing, Robyn has a vision to see water sports at Eastbourne grow and become an even more integral part of school life. If you would like to find out more or are able to support and grow this vision, then please contact Robyn.