Kestrel Training Day - Marconi Sailing Club

Report
29th August

8 Kestrels attended a hastily arranged training day at Marconi Sailing Club on Saturday 29th August and enjoyed some fabulous sailing conditions.

After a short briefing the fleet got onto the water for starting practice. The deliberately short start line was set time and again with different bias so that crews could practice port and starboard end starts. Added to the mix was the complication of tide. After a few chaotic but fun attempts the fleet really got into the swing of things with all boats having their moments of glory on the very short windward/leeward course.

The fleet then followed the RIB, line astern. Rounding up to close hauled we did tacking on the whistle, beating up towards Osea Island in a glorious force 3 followed by a session gybing back down the Blackwater.

Following afternoon refreshments the fleet assembled for some shore based advice on gybing with the spinnaker. Before putting the new techniques into practice it was more start line fun due to popular demand! The tide was now pushing boats over the start line….and in some cases into the RIB (I won’t mention the guilty party but for the sake of argument let’s call him Kev)!

In just an afternoon it was great to see real improvements in boat handling and the confidence in many of the boats…..evidenced by excellent performances in the Marconi Open Meeting on the following Sunday and Monday.

Thanks to everyone involved in organising the event, especially Bryan from Marconi for driving the RIB and to my wife Naomi for expertly waving flags and taking some great photos!

Following positive feedback from the event it is hoped that the Association will be running further training next year.

Dusty.