5 Weekends of
Elite Skiff training at Rutland by Tom Wright
The musto skiff training has taken place
for the past five weekends. Each weekend brought something
different as we had wind conditions from 5knots to 30knots.
The training brought all different ability skiff sailors.
Over the past five weekends b14 and rs700 also attended.
Each weekend involved different training
exercises that had been cleverly design with a lot of
time and thought by Richard and Kit. The exercise was
then discussed with the race officers and mark layers.
The exercises went from basic start routines with a
quick race and a hook finish, to a compacted course
with several gates to pass through up and down wind.
The exercises brought great training, as many techniques
were practices. There was all different types of starting
exercise which focused on one major skill like holding
station for 3 minutes, winning the flag, winning the
committee boat and improving boat acceleration. Another
greatly designed course was the river race. This practiced
tacking and gybing but also great tactics to attack
and defend against other boat. However most sailors
struggled to find the river on a lake! The best of all
was the downwind blast!
Listening to all the sailors that took
part in the training everyone benefited:
“The best thing that I learnt was to be
able to get my head out the boat and look around more
(to avoid collisions!) Therefore my tactics improved
and my attacking and defending. I learnt not to just
look around see what’s going to happen but to look outside
of the course and place my self in better positions
to get the best advantage. This was improved by brilliant
training exercises and then plenty of race practice
on the Sunday. What a great 5 weeks”
“The biggest tip I picked up over the
weekend was trapezing; from heights of both adjusters
and 'handles' in various wind strengths to techniques
for both hooking on and off. It was very evident that
you have analysed your technique in great detail with
countless on the water hours so it is great that you
are willing to shortcut the learning curve of others
- more fun with less pain!”
“Thank you for the time and effort you
put in,
it has been an interesting 5 weeks
key comments
a) Keep the boat flat
b) practice then practice some more
The boat will sail itself when set up right and sailed
flat”
The weekends brought great debriefs with
experienced coaches thanks to the Video footage filmed
from the rib and of top of cat masts! (Another crazy
idea from Rich). Brilliant still photos captured by
our class photographer now on the website; www.photoblink.co.uk.
It was a great weekends with mini prizes
that were won. Last of all a big thanks to everyone
involved from Rutland sailing club, the race officers
and mark layers and of course Richard and Kit. What
a brilliant weekend looking forward to the next trainings.
Happy New Year sailors!
Dont
miss the excellent top tips sheet from the event >>>
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