A fantastic collaboration between the UK RS Aero Class Association and the Estonian RS Aero Class Association brought top-level coaching to Estonia ahead of the Toila Regatta, with UK RS Aero sailor and coach Sam Blaker travelling to Toila Sadam to work with the country's exciting young talent.
The two-day coaching camp took place in classic Baltic conditions, with medium breezes and big rolling waves providing the perfect setting for learning and development on the water. The challenging conditions tested sailors' boat handling and tactical skills, while also delivering plenty of exhilarating downwind surfing.
Day one focused on the RS Tera fleet, with sailors working on starts, mark roundings, boat handling and racecraft. Day two saw the attention switch to the RS Aero fleet as preparations stepped up for the upcoming Toila Regatta.
The learning continued ashore, where Sam delivered sessions on rig and sail setup, boat tuning, control settings, race preparation and strategy. Sailors had the opportunity to ask questions, compare setups and gain valuable insight into the small changes that can make a big difference on the racecourse.
One of the biggest surprises for Sam was the level of sailing on display.
"The standard was much higher than I expected," he commented afterwards, praising both the talent and enthusiasm throughout the camp.
With the coaching flowing directly into the Toila Regatta weekend, sailors had the perfect opportunity to put their new skills into practice immediately.
Looking ahead to the RS Games, the experience and confidence gained from this international coaching collaboration could prove invaluable as Estonia's sailors prepare to take on some of the strongest RS fleets from across Europe.
