Transition week

With the ever changing landscape Covid brought us this summer, the UKLA found it had to work fast to continually adapt plans. The cancelled U21 Worlds in Weymouth gave way to an opportunity for the class to run an alternative event. With many sailors having transitioned into the class and across the classes over Lockdown, we felt that Transition Week could provide them with a good start into the class.

36 sailors signed up over all 3 classes and the week was split into morning training and afternoon racing. The idea was that the sailors put into practice what they had learnt in the mornings. The first three days of racing were for practice culminating with the final two days into a mini series.

A strong coaching team was provided which was led by James Hadden and supported by our Training Officer Tim Hulse. The sailors were allocated a coach for the week which allowed them to build a relationship with that coach in the hope that they would feel more comfortable to ask questions and engage effectively. The reality of the week was far more reaching than we hoped with all the sailors engaging with all of the coaches both on and off the water.

The weather for the week was kind, although the wind tended to drop for afternoon racing. The coaches explained that the sailors needed to prepare for all weather conditions and that they would maximise the opportunity to fine tune their light wind skills. the mornings started with a group briefing and a daily prize giving. Duncan West from the RYA came to talk to the sailors and parents to discuss the pathway and how the RYA can support these sailors. The week was a roaring success.

It is worth nothing that the coaching was not only aimed at the youth in the class, John Pitkethly, one of our 7 sailors fresh from the Nationals attended. He summed up his experience below.

“What a brilliant week to follow the Nationals! Anyone who wonders how the squad gets so fast can find out at this post Nationals training event. All day long coaches thought nothing of sitting down with us and explaining difficult concepts over and over again. The enthusiasm, passion and eloquence really pays off. It is difficult to access good coaching as an adult, so it is a joy to find the UKLA prepared to offer such an affordable solution. I’d recommend this week to anybody, of any ability who has the passion to improve and learn more”.

Congratulations go to all the sailors that participated, a particular mention to the winners of the race series;

ILCA 7 - Gordon Cogan Sivarajan

ILCA 6 - Tom Mitchell

ILCA 4 Boys - 1. Edwin Cross, 2. Archie Munro-Price and 3. Freddie Sunderland

ILCA 4 Girls - 1. Joanna Leake, 2. Kaitlyn Wyatt and 3. Eva Miller

Transition week will be back next summer, we look forward to welcoming you all.