Topper RYA Eastern area zone squad (day 1)
Around 20 boats arrived at Grafham Water for the Eastern Area training sponsored by Volvo.
As we unpacked our boats the wind did not look very promising, as there was not a breath of wind on the lake. Sam our main instructor (former cadet world champion) decided to do some dry land work, as there would be no point in going out sailing. To start with we went out side and were taught to warm up, followed by a jog round the dingy park (which was unexpected). Immediately after the run we were told the importance of warming down. After this we went inside for a review talk on tactics and what side of the beat to go on in different wind and venues. Then it was back outside, for a sail setting session. It was emphasised that calibration was greatly important, as its better to be aware of what's around you and your position, than stargazing into your mainsail. This may sound stupid but many top sailors forget to breathe downwind in heavy weather, they just sit their with their face screwed up like the Grinch. Now if you don't breathe your body and brain will not be working to its full potential. During lunch I and some other people calibrated and taped up their boats. As the wind has slowly started to increase over lunch, it was decided to launch our boats with no great enthusiasm commented later on by the instructors. We sailed a series of 'Triangular' and Windward Leeward' courses. This was an opportunity to put into practice what we had learnt earlier. Later on we were later on finding ourselves practising starts, some very doggy ones too, port tack flyers encouraged! A short exercise of follow the leader, followed by tack and gybe on the whistle. By the end of the day a good steady light breeze had set in giving us a quality race to finish on. To finish off we went in for a debrief on our sailing and correcting mistakes we had learnt today.