RS Feva International Training Camp - Fun and learning

by Bill Tucker on 3 Apr 2012 RS Feva first International Training Camp is being held at L'Estartit, Spain from 1st to 4th April 2012. The RS Fevas are enjoying training on the Costa Brava.

Day one: With 22 boats from five countries and top coaches from each of them fun and learning should be assured. Our Spanish hosts have been absolutely first rate. Couldn't recommend them any higher.

The Costa Brava did indeed, as promised, lay out the red carpet for the chilled rigging, sorting, going for a sail and getting to everyone and the place. Not a cloud and a decent sea breeze that kicked in rather fitfully at first but that by 1pm was a very nice 12-14kts. The white horses came out for a little canter rather than a full blooded thunderous gallop. Sailors and their families trickled in throughout the day. Families at home can follow progress on the blog.

The coaches made the most of the day effectively being the resorts first day of the season. They unerringly headed for the coffee and croissant shop that had their brand new machines and staff that couldn’t yet work them. They managed four freebie cups of coffee due to things like forgetting to heat the milk, having the milk explode in the hrhrhrhrh heater part of the process etc. The coaches were well made up by that – never seen them look so happy of a morning.

The brand new charter RS Fevas were fairly quickly readied and the kids, well mostly the lads, became keen on seeing if they transform their starter six packs in bronzed versions thereof. But at least six British boats and two Dutch went out for a glamour sail with the seabreeze. A beautiful way to relax into sailing mode.

Then after a rigging chat by the coaches and welcome soft drinks and nibbles it was time to copy the Spanish. An evening in the local restaurants with the Real Madrid and Barcelona matches on in the background – well as much background as it can be with a 4ft x 3ft screen! Lucky the route home is simples – to the end of the beach, turn right and it’s at the fourth crossroads on the left. I think I’ll leave the still fairly fairly chilled hotel pool to the braver of the kids!

So – breakfast, a couple of late arrivals and a planned 11pm start today. No point in trying to start much before the sea breeze kicks in is there? Start time will be assessed each evening for the next day depending on the forecast… Bliss.

Day two: A perfect summers day. Lazy start, no reason not to as the forecast was for no wind but sun, so the seabreeze wasn’t due until 12.30 or so. A couple of short sessions on the beach, a bit of early lunch and launch into the building breeze. A perfect start having been achieved the adults all hit lovely tavernas (is that what they are called in Spain?) in a variety of bays and coves along the RS Feva Association website