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TopTip2020 #46 - Self Training - by Liina Kolk, EST
' Self Training
Do not fear to train alone and become a good friend with your RS Aero.
Of course, sailing and training are the most enjoyable when done with friends and inspiring competitors. Sometimes, however, you find on a good training day that a friend needs to be again on his grandmother's dog's birthday for the third time this month(!), or your work schedule does not allow you to participate in a club training or regatta. Then don't despair, just try training alone safely. Doing some training alone lets you set your own agenda without distraction and concentrate 100% on your own performance and boat handling skills. As always set a goal for the session and later when back onshore analyse your day (keeping a sailing journal helps).
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Liina Kolk of Estonia is a keen supporter of our RS Aero Championships achieving podium positions in recent RS Aero 5 World and European Championships. Sailing in the eastern Baltic from the RS Sailors Estonia base, the 1980 Olympic venue in Tallinn, sometimes it is necessary to consider how you can best have a productive session alone when your friends are not available;
Do not fear to train alone and become a good friend with your RS Aero.
Of course, sailing and training are the most enjoyable when done with friends and inspiring competitors. Sometimes, however, you find on a good training day that a friend needs to be again on his grandmother's dog's birthday for the third time this month(!), or your work schedule does not allow you to participate in a club training or regatta. Then don't despair, just try training alone safely. Doing some training alone lets you set your own agenda without distraction and concentrate 100% on your own performance and boat handling skills. As always set a goal for the session and later when back onshore analyse your day (keeping a sailing journal helps).
Here are some ideas of what to do while on the water alone;
- For example you can use a stationary buoy or navigational mark for starting exercises like decelerating, holding the position, and accelerating.
- Use the same buoy as windward or leeward mark to practice rounding.
- Improve your tacking and gybing skills. Manoeuvres do not have to be picture perfect, but must be efficient and automatic and so they do not inhibit in the implementation of tactical plans.
- Also use alone time to practice 720 penalty turns.
- Sail longer upwind beats to get the feeling of boat speed and develop sailing-specific endurance.
- Enjoy long downwind sessions to learn how to use waves to your advantage.
- In a lighter wind, try to steer the boat without using the rudder (raise the rudder blade or centralise with bungee and steer with moving your body weight around in the boat) and so on.
All mentioned exercises improve your boat handling skills and let you feel more confident the next time sailing with a bigger group.
Liina Kolk, EST '
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14/05/2020 19:17:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4678
