Can you remember the cold and damp days of spring? Me neither! I’m still living the memory of the summer heat, blue skies and perfect winds. In my last newsletter I remember writing “As the height of summer fast approaches the thought of sailing in sea breezes and warm waters around the south coast is very inviting” … well it actually happened. Summer officially kicked off on the final day of Women on Water at HISC on Friday 5th July 2013. A stunning sailing day for everyone afloat and the start of something very special. Jamie Allen & Louis Wright sailing ‘Red Hot Chilli Pepper’ pictured above teamed up together for RS Feva coaching in July … read on for more news from this summer.
Wind through your hair
Women on Water (WOW) at Hayling Island Sailing Club staged its annual 3 day training course between 3rd – 5th July 2013. Twelve enthusiastic women from HISC took part in the training programme using the superb fleet of RS Ventures. Coaching on the programme this year ranged from novice sailors to up-and-coming race helms & crews. A variety of winds from light force 2 to gusty force 4/5 conditions were enjoyed over the 3 days producing very exciting sailing including some close racing. Second year attending the WOW course Alex Taylor added “My sailing improved so much, as did my confidence. I was literally beaming from ear to ear as I left the club on the Friday!”
Itchenor Mirror Training
Mirror Class Training Week at Itchenor Sailing Club is so popular it runs over two consecutive weeks in July every year. For the first time Melvyn Cooper took the reigns as RYA Senior Instructor to oversee this year’s training programme. Working with an enthusiastic team of sixteen team leaders, instructors and assistants sailors the course attracted twenty Mirrors (forty children) in each week. The 5 day course covered a range of sailing & racing skills for both helm and crew. Beginners learned the first steps of tacking through to teamwork and sailing close-hauled & reaching by the end of the week. The Intermediate group developed boat handling race skills including spinnaker work, racing rules and winning a start. One of the highlights of the week for everyone was sailing the Mirrors to East Head pictured above and enjoying a picnic and playing games on the stunning beach in amazing weather – lucky people!
Grown-ups time!
It’s time for the grown-ups to get out on the water this autumn. After this amazing summer what better way to consolidate your essential sailing skills and learn some new ones along the way with a lesson from MCS. Mid-week lessons in September and October are much quieter on the water and it’s a great time to feel confident without the distractions of other boats. Tailor made one to one coaching can make all the difference to learning from scratch, focusing on specific skills or following up a previous lesson. Keep in touch with Melvyn Cooper Sailing by email or by phoning 01243 370884 for advice this autumn.
Champagne Sailing
Experienced RS Tera helms Jamie Allen & Louis Wright sailed together for their first time in the RS Feva at HISC. Melvyn Cooper Sailing coaching focused on RS Feva boat handling skills and introduced teamwork & communication for flying the asymmetric spinnaker efficiently. Essential two-handed racing skills developed with roll tacking, upwind close-hauled techniques and downwind spinnaker gybes, producing a well-rehearsed team ready to race at the end of day two.
Langstone Junior Week
Langstone Sailing Club staged its third Junior & Youth RYA Training Week between 5th – 9th August 2013. The club became an RYA Recognised Training Centre (RTC) in 2011 providing RYA dinghy sailing courses to Junior and adult members. Melvyn Cooper RYA Senior Instructor together with an experienced team of RYA Instructors, RYA Assistant Instructors and dedicated parents & helpers contributed to making this a successful training week. Mike Jessett Rear Commodore Sailing said; “This is by far the most popular training week we’ve enjoyed at Langstone SC. Twenty-four club Junior & Youth members signed up for RYA Stage 1 – 4 & RYA Start Racing and it continues to grow every year”
Coaching calendar
It’s easy to find an available date for a sailing lesson with Melvyn Cooper Sailing. To book simply open Melvyn’s calendar and find a convenient day(s) from your diary. If it’s completely blank on the date then feel free to choose a full day, morning or afternoon lesson.
Finally when you are ready drop an email to Melvyn with your requested date(s) and MCS will confirm the dates for you. Prices of lessons and timings can be viewed here on the website. Contact Melvyn if you need further advice with lessons or boats.