Write-Up

RS Aero Winter Squad Coaching Round 3
at Draycote Water, 23/24th January
by Paul Robson

After the sudden snap of winter we arrived on Saturday morning to mist and a lack of wind. However, Draycote didn't disappoint and by 11am there was glorious blue skies, a warm 10mph breeze and 13 RS Aeros lining up on the beach.

After a briefing in the classroom about the weekend’s focus on starting and upwind, including analysing GPS data from the Oxford Blue, it was out to the boats where guest coach Matt Thursfield (Chelmarsh) and Paul Robson (Reading) chatted about key rigging tips. On the water the youths in the ‘5’ rigs showed the adults in the ‘7’ rigs that no matter how hard they tried, the 5 rig was just as fast, provided you spotted the line or course bias. Throughout the day sailors were reminded 'Kicker is King' and 'Flat is Fast' and sailing styles were changed from heeled boats pinching the wind to flat boats spilling wind in gusts.

Day 2 focused on boat handling skills, improving tacking and gybing to ensure that body weight and sail controls were used to steer the boat instead of the rudder, allowing speed to be maintained. The weekend finished with some great racing in 15mph winds and long planing reaches allowing everyone to put the weekend’s knowledge into practice and those that sailed too fast gained a few penalty turns!

Matt Thursfield enjoyed assisting the squad, commenting “I thought the weekend was great, I love seeing sailors progress in such a short length of time to become so much faster around the racecourse.”

Those that have joined our Winter Coaching have had first sight of the RS Aero Tuning Guide...for everyone else you will have to wait a few more days. The next coaching weekend is at Northampton SC on 13/14th Feb before the Winter squad finishes at Hayling on 12/13th March.

Again, applications to join in are welcome from Youth sailors, RS Tera/Aero sailor’s. parents, local RS Aero sailors and visitors. Please contact the RS Aero Youth Co-ordinator, Peter Atkin, on [email protected] .

Video links;
Tiller cam; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO_6GEtVvok
Mast head cam; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9a2Rg_lQgHg

Results