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Since 2024, Yicheng School in Haigang District, Qinhuangdao, has been developing a maritime education program for its students. The project, carried out in collaboration with the Hebei Maritime Bureau and local sailing organizations, combines water safety, an introduction to sailing, port culture, and sports. The stated goal is clear: to integrate the sea into the school curriculum, without limiting sailing to a mere recreational activity.
A maritime school for children of all ages
On January 8, 2024, Yicheng School and the Hebei Maritime Bureau launched a program described as a maritime school for young people. The first sessions focused on boating safety, wearing life jackets, what to do if you fall overboard, and the use of emergency equipment.
This approach speaks directly to boaters. Before hoisting a sail, you need to know how to stay safe on deck, understand the wind, follow safety guidelines, and be aware of the risks associated with being on the water.
A four-level progression
This training program consists of four components. The foundation is built on courses in maritime culture and safety for all students. The second level focuses on boating skills, with on-water practice and supervised exercises.
The third level is designed for the most motivated students and includes a competitive track. Finally, the fourth component links sailing to other disciplines: physics, geography, history, mechanics, and meteorology.
This approach gives meaning to the learning process. Sailing becomes a practical way to understand lift, the effects of the wind, currents, how to read a body of water, and decision-making on board.
Hands-on workshops to learn the right techniques
Students participate in a variety of activities: learning to tie nautical knots, wearing safety equipment, exploring navigation simulators, visiting port facilities, and going on group sailing trips.
On March 19, 2025, an activity organized in collaboration with the Hebei Maritime Bureau gave students the opportunity to visit a training center equipped with a large bridge simulator. They also had the chance to experience simulated ship navigation.
These workshops build a connection between the school, the harbor, and the sea. For a child, understanding what happens on a gangway, on a dock, or inside a sail is often more valuable than a long chapter recited in class.
The regatta as an extension of the course
The program goes beyond raising awareness. Several students have participated in dinghy sailing regattas?particularly in the Topper class?at the provincial and national levels. One eighth-grade student took first place at the Hebei Championship in the women?s Topper class. Another student took second place at the Meisha Cup, a national youth sailing competition.
These results show that the school does not limit itself to a one-time introduction to the sport. It has developed a program that spans the journey from discovery to competition, including training sessions, camps, and team selection.
A Maritime Culture in the Service of Education
Sailing is presented as a combination of knowledge, strength, and decision-making. The school emphasizes the ability to connect the body, mind, and knowledge. When sailing, every adjustment requires observation, anticipation, and decision-making. Students learn to move around on an unstable platform, take the wind into account, follow instructions, and cooperate with their crew.
This educational approach is also of interest to professionals in the boating industry. It demonstrates how school sailing programs can foster a sustainable maritime culture, train future sailors, and, perhaps, inspire careers in maritime professions.
In Qinhuangdao, Yicheng School uses sailing as a comprehensive educational tool. Safety, science, sports, port culture, and navigation all come together there in the same wake.
