RS Tera North Squad Training at Ripon Sailing Club
by Jennie Clark 22 Feb 2016 10:24 GMT
20-21 February 2016
RS Tera North Squad at Ripon © Julie Tomkinson
The RS Tera North Squad enjoyed a brilliant weekend of coaching at Ripon SC on 20 and 21 February. With coaches anxiously watching the forecast in the run up to the weekend there was some question about how much on the water time the squad could safely have but in the end nearly the whole of the weekend was spent afloat with some fantastic sailing by this very talented group of young helms.
The squad is nearly 30 strong this year with some of most experienced helms enjoying what is probably going to be their last season in the class (judging by their height!) and reveling in the windy conditions which have prevailed for the coaching weekends. At the other end of the scale some of younger helms have come to the coaching to learn the basics with lots of work on starting on time, and sailing that all important first beat. Some of these younger sailors are very small and they and their parents are becoming adept at putting reefs in quickly! Ripon's waters are ideally suited for this sort of coaching with high quality clubhouse facilities, a fantastic galley service provided by the team from Advent Catering and plenty of space to split the groups up on the water.
Head Coach for this weekend was Bernard Clark and he was supported by Graeme Rowe, Julie Tomkinson, Georgie McKenzie and Katy Phillips. The groups split to take account of experience and plenty of video footage was shot giving great material for the feedback sessions. A pizza evening on Saturday night gave everyone the chance to relax and enjoy time off the water together.
Whilst the water might have looked calm on arrival on Sunday by the time the fleet were going afloat it was a different story and the wind continued to pick up throughout the day. The older sailors were all desperate to get out and play in the windy conditions, whilst the younger sailors were keen to try out the North Squad's favourite squad game – bin bag racing! Both groups had their wishes fulfilled and those on the shore were just amazed by how well both groups did.
Our final winter session will be at Windermere School in March, and the squad will then concentrate on getting on with the business of racing and competing in the various regional and National events scheduled for the year. A contingent will head off to Spain for the Worlds and a larger group are intending to take part in the Nationals at Plas Heli. With that in mind a summer squad weekend has been scheduled to allow the helms to get some training on the waters there. It's all good for the future of RS Tera sailing in the far from grim North!