Twelve pupils from Dunedin's Rudolf Steiner school in Maia were at Back Beach, at Port Chalmers, to try their hand at sailing.
The event was part of Yachting New Zealand's "Volvo Sailing ... Have a Go!'' programme, which provides introductory sailing experience to 3500 school-aged children each year.
Yachting New Zealand regional support officer Graeme Wall said the sessions were a chance to introduce children, and their parents, to the sport and the yacht club environment.
"It's not teaching them to be America's Cup sailors straight away ... it's just to give them a bit of confidence and show them what they can do,'' he said.
At yesterday's session 11- to 13-year-old pupils took to Otago Harbour in a fleet of Optimists in a steady breeze, helped by instructors and parents on inflatable runabouts.
Mr Wall said the children enjoyed the experience and the sense of adventure, even capsizing.
The programme is sponsored by Volvo and the Lion Foundation, and run nationally each summer.
