Asymmetric Training Trilogy

The final asymmetric training day

On Thursday 1st Oct 09, Windguru - the sailors friend, forecast 22kts for the following Saturday (The training day) Great!!..

By Friday the forecast was for 22kts gusting 43Kts.

This really isn’t the sort of wind you need for training. However, after copious cups of coffee, Gareth gave us a couple of hours discussing techniques, tactics and rules. As always his words of wisdom were well received especially by the K6 guys who were in preparation for their Open meeting. Interestingly the majority of them decided not to sail in the ever increasing winds because of the potential for boat damage. The rest of the gathered sailors never really considered launching as the wind was well over the forecast 22Kts.

We now all know the principles for good starts, fast beats, using the bends and oscillations and where to go when heading from the windward to the leeward mark. We now have a clear understanding of the rules particularly as we approach leeward mark. Bring on the racing!!

Sometimes it is hard to sit around the sailing club with 25Kts + blowing without going for a sail.

 Eventually the temptation got the better of a couple of us, so Chris and Martin in their K6 GBR 200 and Pete with Chris on RS 800 954 launched into 27Kts after lunch. The K6 appeared to cope with the testing conditions only getting laid flat a couple of time. The RS 800 had a more interesting, but on reflection an expected outcome, having flown downwind with the inevitable wipe-out the jib tore, on return, Chris took a flier off the racks to finally finish off the already tired mainsail. Day over.

To finish off, some of us gathered with partners at the Red Lion Hognaston.

Whilst we didn’t get loads of sailing, we did get some valuable hints for improving techniques and had an excellent social.

Watch the asymmetric/fast fleet notice board for next years plans.

 

And after all the excitement there is still time to put your feet up and have a nice cup of tea chez Shaw . Click here

 

Asymmmetric Training Day II – July 4th

On the 4th of July those with one sided spinnakers decided to have the second training session of the year - To mark the 200 and something anniversary of England getting kicked out of the USA ? – No, just coincidence!

The recipe for the day was perfect – decent wind building steadily over the day, sunshine (more of which later), 13 keen sailors in 12 boats and a top notch coach (and team, thanks Sarah & Sue).  The roster of boats was 8 RS700s, MPS, RS800, Vareo, Int Canoe (AC) plus Gareth Caldwell (from here on known as Coach – 4th July and all that) and team in a rib.

The day kicked off as is traditional, with Tea and bacon – however we were interrupted when Coach made us think about how to approach the windward mark – after getting our collected wisdom he showed the DVD Higher Faster – a subtle way of saying nice try but this is why these guys are faster than you – from there it was on to the water to practice.

A short W/L course was set – easy first time around, then we were told to tack or gybe twice on each leg, this increases until at 5 tacks or gybes  it was a case of not getting settled between each manoeuvre but finish one, start the next – capsizes started to happen.

This was followed by a downwind slalom – follow my leader (that was the plan I thought – what a competitive fleet, soon trying to squeeze past each other in an effort to impress Coach)  - now you could not really choose when to Gybe – more swimming for most! – Each time we rounded the Rib Coach had words of encouragement – thanks Gaz.

In the lead up to lunch, Coach decided to take us to the bottom of the lake and “tack on my command” was the instruction issued – off we went to the other end of the lake – now Gybe on my command – I am told it looked impressive – synchronised gybes, very pretty – and so to shore to recover.

The afternoon started with paired racing – 2 laps of our W/L course against a sailor of matched ability (I might be flattering myself here) – for this I will give you a commentary of my own race with Shaun.  Shaun was port boat, I was starboard and as such the race was on once I had passed his transom – close racing to the windward mark, I rounded first and as I healed the boat to squeeze the speed out during the bear away I did something we had not discussed as a tactic – I fell out of the back – Shaun was in the lead, he sailed around me laughing and then joined me for a swim.  Boats righted ( I was in the lead again – I have had more capsize practice I guess) – things went well until the final downwind leg, still in the lead I went for the final gybe that would bring me home victorious – I hadn’t factored in the gusts following me down the lake – swimming again – as I climbed onto the dagger board and looked around it was like skittles – not really sure who won in the end but we were both smiling.

No offence Coach, but the rest of the afternoon on the water was a bit of a blur – finally we were offered the invitation to “just sail around for a while having fun” – everyone to a man made for shore and cake – Coach had worked us hard on the water – now for the video review which was accompanied with the to be expected cat calls.  It was clear that everyone had learned lots – even the good guys did not escape the critical eye of Coach.

Cheers Gaz – I think you got good feedback on the day and I would like to share that with the readers – the general consensus was that it was the best day of training that everyone had experienced.

Finally and in homage to the US of A the evening was brought to a close with a BBQ with an English twist – cooking under an umbrella in the rain.

The next Asymmetric training session is arranged for the beginning of October – I would encourage anyone with an asymmetric to come along and learn.

Training Plan 2009 – Open to all Asymmetrics

Dedicated Non-professional Asymmetric training (volunteers welcome) with Video debrief
Hone those skills or learn new ones.
Gybe better, tack faster
Start on time in pole position or just enjoy some gentle competition

For more information come and see us on the beach, water or bar…

Useful Links

Association: http://www.rs-association.com/

Demo boat Contact: Association

Racing circuit/events: http://www.rs-association.com/

The boat: http://uk.youtube.com/

October 2009