We came up with the stunning autumn weather. News and stories plus a competition preview to win an RYA Start To Race book in the next newsletter coming soon.
Daydream Sailing
Daydream Sailing in Chichester Harbour on a glorious summers day! That’s exactly what Stephen and June Bailey enjoyed in their Devon Yawl at Bosham SC. It was a perfect day to learn new skills and consolidate techniques expanding them to closer teamwork. Goose-winging the jib on the run added a new dimension to sailing downwind. Positive feedback from the helm to crew creates a greater understanding of roles in the boat. Announcing ready about and Lee-oh produces a calm and calculated tack through the wind and on to the new side. Accurate close-hauled sailing helps you sail places quickly. South westerly winds from Bosham means travelling to East Head for your picnic seems a long way upwind so pointing high and using the tell tales are a real asset for boat speed. We actually had a force 3 and warm winds for this day sailing passage! Now that’s what I call Daydream sailing.
Coaching at Bosham
Bosham Sailing Club race training programme coached by RYA Regional Club Coach Melvyn Cooper finished on a high note with the Personal Handicap fleet sailing in warm Force 3 October winds. The RYA coaching programme covered a variety of racing subjects focusing on Bosham sailing club’s local race area. Starting races is a big factor off the club’s static line and makes the difference to pulling away from the fleet after a good start. Suzanne Brown sailing her Tideway attended most of the training sessions and added “Even though I say it myself it has been noticeable the improvement with good starts. I have been 1st & 2nd across the line and leading for parts of the race crossing the finish line 2nd out of 15” Choosing the correct tidal channel and picking up wind shifts together with having a plan from the start really helps. Do you have a smart plan at the start?
Are you single?
Calling all single-handed sailors. Has it been hard work sailing this summer leaning out on your own often in windy and cool temperatures! Does this seem familiar? Help is at hand. Having a well practiced sitting out position together with a good hauling in the mainsheet technique improves upwind and downwind boat speed. Feet together, knees together, sit square keeps things need and tidy. Sit up, sit forward and look ahead. It called the loose Z shape. Pull in the mainsheet using your finger and thumb as the cleat (crab claw method) and not using the mainsheet jammer. Lean in to pull armfuls of mainsheet in and lean out using shoulders / upper body strength. Top Tip – Steering accurately using a bend in the elbow and at the tiller extension universal joint provides better control. Remember a straight arm and straight tiller extension reduces steering control All these techniques can be developed separately. Now you are looking much more in control in a force 4 gusting 5 chilly wind!
Asymmetric skills
Using the Asymmetric kite is great fun, especially for the crew. Its so easy to hoist and with a little practice just as easy to drop. Teamwork and timing all add up to perfecting asymmetric skills. Communication in the teamwork is vital. Play the spinnaker easing out constantly to make the edge curl at the top. Downwind gusts and the crew eases the spinnaker for helm to bear away. RS 200 sailors Chris, Jonathan and Nicola Murphy enjoyed an Asymmetric lesson. “Practicing with the kite was brilliant and we flew it whenever possible. It kept us much more stable and the gybing technique you taught us was fantastic, no more hope and pray not to be swimming, we were in total control. In Fed week one broad reach with the asymmetric up was just pure adrenalin. In the past we would have just capsized” The trick is centralising the tiller at the right moment in the gybe to stay upright. Teamwork, communication and a little know how is all you need. Its a great feeling to stay dry in a force 5! Please feel free to get in touch for an Asymmetric lesson in 2013.
Win this RYA Book
Look out for the next newsletter, its coming out on Thursday 29th November 2012. Don’t miss this one. There is a chance to win this superb book RYA Start To Race written by Jeremy Evans. Competition details to follow. Useful topics such as Starting, Racing upwind and downwind, Sail & Boat Trim together with sections on Rig Controls, Shifting Winds and Moving Tides make interesting reading.
RYA Powerboat Course
The RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate is a two day course mid week or weekends to suit your timetable. What is really good about this course is learning how to drive a RIB safely and with the confidence.The programme covers accurate steering at low and high speed. Launching and recovery, picking up a mooring, anchoring, leaving and coming alongside a pontoon and man over board. A small amount of useful chartwork and emergency procedure adds interest to gaining new skills. The course is aimed at complete beginners. Joanna Bell passed the RYA Powerboat level 2 course and was delighted. She added “It gave me so much confidence to know how to handle a club RIB. I had no past experience and it feels like I’ve achieved so much in 2 days!” If you are interested in attending an RYA Powerboat Level 2 course then please get in touch. Courses are staged at Hayling Island Sailing Club (RYA Recognised Training Centre) for members and Non members are very welcome.
Indoor race lessons
A shore based lesson on race tactics, tide and wind shifts might help your racing skills and knowledge this winter preparing for the 2013 season. Having a race plan before you leave the beach or slipway could make all the difference. Stephen Storey sailing a Merlin Rocket recalls “I took on board very seriously all your classroom racing tuition and will practice “The plan” regularly over the winter. It makes perfect sense” A lesson without wearing a wetsuit, how cool.