Matt & Ben's Summer Sailing 2011 Blog
"Sorry we haven’t been able to keep you updated before now but we’ve been so busy sailing over the summer!
We started off at the end of July at Poole YC with 3 days of 420 training. Although light winds prevailed on all three days we were able to work on our techniques and routines which can be difficult to do in stronger breeze.
Our coach ,Matt Rainback, was brilliant and shared lots of detailed tips and information with us. He kept us out on the water for as long as possible each day so we had a great opportunity to really put into practice his theory input.
We test ran the new prototype Spinnaker and Jib which we had made and they worked really well. We certainly up to speed in the mini races which we did as part of the training.
Ben is now properly hooked on trapezing and we both enjoy the increase in speed in the 420 compared to our Mirror!
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| Sailing the 420 earlier in the year at Poole |
Next we went to Bassenthwaite week in the Lakes where the Lulham-Robinson team were coaching all week.
We had a great time racing our 420 against a huge range of dinghies and small keelboats, even though the winds were still lighter than we would have liked.
It was good to get some time on the water to put into practice the things which we had learned at Poole YC.
We even came home with some glassware prizes!
The week after, we managed to fit in some time at home to do some sailmaking for our customers as well as start to make a mainsail for our 420.
It was fun to help out at Otley Sailing Club Junior week for 3 days an meet up with people who we have seen every year since we were 5 and 7.
We helped out in teaching people how to fly spinnakers properly and also how to improve their basic boat handling.
However, swimming to the island and jumping off the diving board after sailing was the most important part of the day.
Junior week was immediately followed by travelling to Restronguet SC near Penzance to compete in the Mirror dinghy National Championship. We had a couple of days while dad was coaching to get familiar to our Mirror again after not sailing it for over a month.
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| Preparing for the Nationals |
For the majority of the event, we experienced light winds and very shifty conditions in the Carrick Roads. Only 8 out of 10 races were sailed due to the lack of wind. On the Lay-Day, There were different boats to have a go in such as: a 29er, Laser Radial & 4.2, a 420 and 3 Topaz 14s. We had a great time messing around in what ironically was some of the best wind all week! I even managed to terrify myself on a Dart 18!
We came 6th overall out of 78 boats which was a reasonable result although we think we could have done better. We came home with 4 trophies: Winner of race 7, Under 15 National Champions, Overall Winner of the Nationwide Series and we were presented with the Junior Mirror World Championship trophy which was finally tracked down.
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| With the Nationwide Travellers Trophy - Try fitting that in the car at the end of a busy week ! |
Back home now to finish building our 420 mainsail before we go back to school and get practicing in our 420 to try and get into the RYA Transitional Squad. We will need to compete in selectors between now and December when the 420 Transitional Squad will be selected. "
It sounds like the rest of the year will be just as busy.
It was good to see them out on the Tarn recently joining in the Junior Race Series demonstrating their skills at the beginning of September !
Good luck Boys for the rest of the season !!!
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