
http://picasaweb.google.com/lulhamrobinson/WinterSquadPoole31Jan2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCKPkyq7ip57LtQE#5568521986886014754
The weekend of 29th / 30th January 2011 saw the second MCA Winter Squad training event taking place at The Poole Yacht Club.
With the temperatures down at just 1 deg C on Saturday, and a 14 knot breeze, the sailors excelled under local coach Nicky Macgregor, who had them performing a whole raft of boat handling exercises that the crews had specifically requested practice time on, and which kept them all warm, leaving those on shore to experience the wind chill factor present that day.
Sunday dawned with sun, blue sky and a 12 knot breeze to compliment the balmy 3 deg C temperature, and only a short time was required to de-ice the previous days wet ropes before setting off for some more boat handling exercises, such as rudderless sailing, in the morning followed by a mini race series in the afternoon. Sailing conditions proved perfect for the training on Sunday leaving the crews looking forward to their next MCA Winter Squad Training event at Carsington SC on March 12th / 13th.
credit and thanks must be given to Kate Watkins for her unstinting efforts in arranging and getting this event off the ground. Our thanks go to The Poole Yacht Club for hosting the event, to Chris Atherton and the RYA for providing and funding the coaching support, and to Nicky Macgregor for agreeing to coach the event.
If there are any other Mirror sailors who want to join the training group please contact the UK Mirror Class Association secretary Peter Robinson. The current Winter Squad range in age from 10 to 17 years old, and would welcome any new crews wishing to join in the training with them.