Session 3 @ Hollingworth - This Weekend!

Hi Everyone

Hope you're all looking forward to this weekend, the forecast looks for a fun session. I'm going to be match racing at Queen Mary, so the session will be run by Alex Beach. He run the North Zone Squad for a few years.

We've now moved from the 'Core Skills' phase of our coaching program, to the 'Preparation' phase, so we're really focusing on racing manoeuvres and tactics.

The session will start at 10am on the Saturday morning as normal, rigged and ready. You'll be going straight out on the water looking at <b>mark roundings</b> - how to do them perfectly, and the rules involved when turning the corners of the course.

In the afternoon the session will concentrate on scenarios <b>when boats meet</b>. This will involve communication in the boat of whether to tack or duck, how to tack in underneath someone or over the top of them, and lots of covering exercises. This involves lots of tacking, so think back to your routines and responsibilities.

Sunday morning will start with some <b>PT</b>, Alex will give you the details of what time to arrive. Then you'll be going onto the water to do lots of <b>starting practice</b>, with an emphasis on the rules.

Sunday afternoon will be reserved for <b>what you want to do</b>. Most of you were at Datchet I believe, so think of something you want to practice and you'll have a chance to here. And to end, a bit of <b>fleet racing</b>.


Have a good weekend everyone. Remember your <b>folders</b>, your <b>PT kit</b> and your <b>rule books</b>.


Rob.

Our session should nicely cover one of Martin Smethers' (the new MCA Judge) general critisms of the fleet from Datchet.

He said:

"There was one area where there appeared to be a lack of understanding of a rule. This is to do with rule 18.2 – Giving room at marks. This was noticeable at the leeward mark, when boats were taking a very wide course, and then turning in towards the mark. They were approaching it shouting to others that they had no water, when in fact, they did. As soon as you turn towards the mark, your stern swings round and you then give water to almost every boat on that leg of the course."

If you're unsure what he means, have a look at the accompanying diagram (link off the home page) or ask Alex on Saturday morning.

Rob.