Euroskiff Training Week at La Rochelle, France
by Richard Lowndes 31 Jul 2008 08:26 BST
20-25 July 2008
Eleven Musto Skiffs and three 29ers turned up at the Societe des Regates Rochelaises in La Rochelle for Euroskiff this year. Sailors had come from Spain, France, Belgium, England and as far afield as Scotland, but the lengthy journey was well worth the effort for the hot sunny weather and excellent wind conditions we were treated to. As most of us were inland sailors, the Atlantic waves offered plenty of excitment, though on some days the sea was flat as a pancake. There really was something for everyone.
Our coach, Yan, set some excellent courses, both long and short, so that we could all practise our starts, boat speed, upwind and downwind legs, mark roundings, and of course, our pitchpoling and capsizing . At the same time, the courses led us to some interesting places, and we were able to watch the start of the singlehanded Figaro race, both the 'Round the Cans' stage, and also the start of the first leg to Spain. We also sailed to Ile de Rai on the Thursday (an island just off La Rochelle). The sail over there was gentle, and we laid all the boats down on the sandy beach which surprised the sunbathers. As we picnicked the wind picked up and boats started flipping over! We had to pile pebbles on the mast tips to stop the boats getting too excited. By the time we had finished lunch the wind was blowing 7 'Stens' (1 Sten = 3 knots!) and the downwind sail back was suberb (for some) and terrifying (for others).
Evenings in La Rochelle were great fun. The old part of the town is beautiful and bustling. The food was good, and there were delicacies such as pig's entrail sausages and slabs of raw beef in olive oil. We all discovered a wonderful ice cream shop which seemed to have hundreds of flavours. We watched street performers climb up and over ladders that weren't leaning on anything, and fire jugglers surfing on wobby planks. All in all, the town has a laid back atmosphere and was a lovely setting for the week.
Friday was the only miserable day, and it drizzled and prepared us for home. More importantly, there was absolutely no wind, so rather than sailing, we were given a detailed demonstration of how to set up Musto and 29er sails for different wind conditions (by Richard and Kit Stenhouse) and a fascinating description of sail design and mechanics of fluids by Peter Heffel (Musto Skiff FRA 360), a sail designer for America's Cup boats. We then packed up the boats in the rain, putting the lighting boards on just as the rain stopped, before having a French-style BBQ at the club to finish off the week.
We must say thanks to Andre, a french catamaran and former RS700 sailor who randomly offered six of us his house to stay in when we arrived at the club asking where the nearest campsite was. Thanks to Tania for braving the scorching sun and choppy seas to get some some stunning photos, and to the SRR for hosting the event. Also thanks must go to Yan, our coach, who is a windsurfing instructor and cat sailor but who had never sailed a skiff before. He quickly learned how our boats behaved, and set appropriate courses which met our needs. He also had a go in Richard Stenhouse's Skiff, which didn't go so well until Richard leapt in and did some boat balancing. I think Yan enjoyed it after that! All in all it was a brilliant week and we would all recommend the event for next year.