HISC Get Racing Club proves hugely successful in getting participants

by Sarah Johnson on 11 Oct 2014 The HISC Get Racing Club, launched in April 2014, concluded its on-the-water events for the 2014 season with a final session on Saturday October 3rd 2014.

Over the course of the year the HISC Get Racing Club initiative has enabled 200 sailors to get on the water to learn key racing techniques, improve their confidence and gain valuable racing skills and experience. The initiative has been hailed a resounding success and has provided adult members at the club with a unique opportunity to learn from highly experienced volunteer ‘racing mentors’ in a fun and learning environment and all for no cost.

An average of 20 sailors have attended each of the 10 events with around 10-12 boats taking part in each session. The boats have been a mixture of HISC owned RS Ventures (which have been made available for use free-of-charge) and member owned boats including Wayfarers, RS 200’s, RS Q’bas, Lasers and Solos.

The events have been fantastically supported by a dedicated group of nearly 30 volunteer HISC ‘racing mentors’, including Olympic medalists, who have given up their time and invaluable experience to coach participants both on and off the water on selected Saturdays throughout the season.

From the very first event, which took place under inauspicious conditions in April 2014 (storms clouds and a huge force seven squall!) to the final event which took place in October, again with an un-inviting forecast, the initiative has grown from strength to strength and successfully bridged the gap between getting less experienced members on the water and learning to race in a fun and informal format.

HISC club member and sailing coach, Melvyn Cooper has been the inspiration and founder of the highly successful initiative and has been a constant driving force throughout the season organizing dates, arranging mentors, encouraging participants and overseeing the 10 events. Melvyn’s vision for the initiative was to encourage a wide cross section of HISC members who currently don’t race to have a go, learn some new skills and experience racing for the first time with a group of like-minded sailors.

Over the season the Get Racing Club has covered a range of racing skills including racing flags and signals, start line techniques and timings, use of outhauls, downhauls and kickers, helming skills, teamwork and heavy weather sailing. The format for each session has included an on-shore briefing, three or four short, quick back-to-back races with on-the-water coaching and encouragement from the racing mentors and a post event shore briefing. The improvement in the GRC participants racing skills and ability has been very impressive and rewarding over the season, with the group progressing from nervous, tentative races at the start to competitive, close racing with polished starts and the confidence to sail in all weathers by the end of the summer.

Get Racing Club founder, Melvyn Cooper noted, 'I’m so delighted by the success of the Get Racing Club initiative for both the HISC participants and the club mentors. It’s been fantastic to see so many people getting involved with this initiative over the season; sailors taking part in GRC events have met other members for the first time and sailed together in the club RS Ventures; it’s become a very sociable event! We look forward to developing the initiative further and getting more participants involved next season.'

Having taken part in most of the season’s Get Racing Club events, participant Tony Sanders reflected, 'For someone like me, the Get Racing Club initiative provides me with the opportunity to really take my sailing to the level that will allow me to race, thank you to everyone and the Club for all their efforts.'

Another GRC participant, Mark Down commented, 'Thank you so much for a great afternoon; the best team event I have attended since joining HISC - much more fun learning about racing with a like group of people. A big thank you!'

Commenting on the success of the initiative, Nick Peters, HISC Flag Officer, said, 'I’m so delighted with the success of this new ‘club within a club’ which has enabled a group of enthusiastic members to get out on the water and learn new skills. This has been a great opportunity for people to improve their sailing ability through light hearted, but nevertheless competitive, race formats. An additional positive spin-off has been the dedication of the HISC ‘racing mentors’ who have all been exceptional in giving their time and invaluable experience, and who have all, I know, really enjoyed the experience themselves.'

Enthusiastic GRC ‘race mentor’ and event organizer, Andy Partington said, 'It has been great to see people improving with each race as they gained confidence and took on board some of the tips and techniques being suggested by the team of on-water helpers. We have had a wide variety of boats and abilities over the season, but one common theme, lots of fun and smiles which has been very rewarding!'

Plans are afoot to keep the momentum and enthusiasm of the Get Racing Club going over the winter with the organization of some winter shore-based social/workshop. The idea is to look at some more advanced racing skills including sail settings, boat on boat tactics, course bias and line bias. In addition a GRC season closing party is being planned to thank the large team of mentors and to celebrate the tremendous achievements of the Get Racing Club participants.