Probably a good first step is to contact the Training Coordinator Dave Woodhead .
Broadly speaking, you are going to need some Mirror sailors, normally around 6 boats. If you don't have enough, maybe you can combine with sailors from neighbouring clubs ? You will also need the use of a room for briefing and de-briefing. The room nees to have a whiteboard and chairs as a minimum. A PC projector is useful if one is available. It's also useful if the galley is open or if there is a way of making hot drinks.
Calling all those with an interest in open training. Please email Dave Woodhead at
The first thought in my head when the alarm went off at 7:30am on the first day of my half term holiday was not ‘hooray’, especially as there was a thick frost and the temp gauge was still at 1oC! However, this particular day was to be not only my first visit to Beaver SC, but also my first ‘Frolic’ – a much talked about event amongst the juniors in the north. So, despite the hour and the temperature, I was reasonably keen to start my day. From a weather point of view, the day couldn’t have been better. Cloudless blue sky, plenty of sunshine and a fair wind – certainly enough to create some great sailing, even if it was a bit chilly.
Press Read More for the full report and pictures...
The RYA Mirror Zone Squads are groups of up to 8 helms and their crews who are selected by the RYA as beginning to show promise and talant racing Mirror dinghies. They attend training sessions in their Zone over the winter to improve their racing. Currently there are two squads, the RYA Mirror North Zone Squad and the RYA Mirror South Zone Squad. More details of the RYA Zone Squad Programme is available here.
Some funding for these sessions comes from Sport England via the RYA and the rest from the parents. The training sessions appear on our events list, needless to say, they are only open to members of the Zone Squad. Sailors have to be under 15, and ideally starting in a Zone squad aged 9-12 depending on the child. Normally sailors would spend one or two winters in a Zone Squad before progressing to the RYA Mirror National Junior Squad.
Zone Squads are the first step on the RYA pathway which leads from club sailing to the Olympic Sailing team. For more information on the Zone Squad system (Selection, Criteria, Events, Venues etc) please see the RYA website here.
The RYA would run more Mirror Zone Squads if sufficient sailors of the right calibre applied. For example, if 40 Mirrors applied for the South Zone squad, it's very likely that the RYA would run an additional Zone squad, either South West or South East, depending on where in the south of England sailors were based. This would benefit the sailors and their parents since training sessions would be closer to where they live.
The squads are coached by a top level coaches, appointed by the RYA. For winter 2011-2012, the RYA Mirror North Zone Squad head coach will be Dave Woodhead and the RYA Mirror South Zone Squad head coach will be Nicky Macgregor.
To get involved in the zone squads you need to:
2009 - 2010 South Zone Squad with their head coach Araon
The training Director is Peter Robinson. If you want to contact him, please click here.