Half way into the sailing season and it’s just past the longest day; who can possibly complain about the amazing warm winds and sunshine in flaming June. Roll on July and August for more of the same I say! It’s been a busy season of teaching so far with Youth Training Week and single-handed training for RS Tera & Optimist at HISC, Chichester Scow coached racing at Bosham SC, and not forgetting the hugely popular Get Racing Club.
Read on for more details ….
Youth Training Week
Youth Training Week 2014 is staged at Hayling Island Sailing Club over the Summer half-term school holiday and as predicted, sold out after only 2 hours of opening its doors for bookings. Eighty children enjoyed a variety of instruction and race coaching in three classes of boat – RS Tera, Optimist and RS Feva. RYA certificates ranging from Stage 1, 2 and 3 and RYA Start racing were awarded at the end of the week. It was a great week of developing sailing skills and enjoying lots of fun on the water.
Scow race coaching
The Chichester Scow fleet at Bosham Sailing Club has just completed a series of club race coaching run by Melvyn Cooper. A variety of subjects such as race preparation skills, starting, tide tactics and mark rounding techniques were covered in the series. On the final race Scow competitors were greeted with a steady force 2-3 breeze and a challenging ebbing tide which saw nip and tuck place changes throughout the fleet. Melisa Disney added “I enjoyed the coaching so much that I would have happily done another race, despite the fast falling tide; I felt that I sailed my boat faster, was better focused and learnt many valuable lessons from ‘start line’ tactics to rounding the buoys as effectively as possible.”
Sailing development
Specialising in Youth RS Tera, Optimist, Mirror and RS Feva boat handling skills including race coaching techniques, it’s a great time to take advantage of summer school holidays, long warm days and sea breezes. Try a one-to-one day session or team up with a friend and share a day. A little coaching to help improve your sailing skills can make all the difference and often makes a marked turning point in sailing development. Maggie Knottenbelt said “My son Will is talk of the town since he won the Optimist Junior Regatta and your name is on everybody’s lips as a result.”
Improving sailing skills
There is always something new to learn each time we go sailing. Weather it’s improving close-hauled techniques, understanding how to use our best friends the tell tells, leeward mark rounding or hiking out with confidence. RS 200 sailor Paul Knight commented “Already my family have commented how confident I am compared to the past”
Try something new today and get in touch for a lesson in your boat.
Get Racing Club wins!
Get Racing Club is a big hit with HISC members this year. Launched in April 2014 this new racing initiative for adults and over 15’s has enjoyed nearly 30 sailors twice a month competing in their own boats and club RS Ventures. Racing comes in the form of 3 short back-to-back races with a briefing and debriefing with coaching on the water. First time racer Tony Sanders commented “It’s allowed me to get out on the water and try racing for the first time and it’s brilliant – a fantastic initiative and I recommend everyone to have a go.”