Forceracing- Coaching and Racing in March + Video

by Andrew Brown on 5 Mar 2011
Forceracing's Andrew Brown reports their activities on the coaching and racing scene:

It has been a while since the last update; this summer is going great guns with yachting going ballistic in New Zealand! January and February have been busy times with the 470s.

470's:There has been a visiting British team out in New Zealand training and with the New Zealand sailors getting prepared for their Pre Olympic Selection Trial, and overseas campaigns. There is also the Junior Worlds January 2011 in Takapuna that some younger teams are gearing up for as well. There were 15 470’s for the nationals which has been the biggest fleet in quite a few years!

The 470 is in a funny predicament right now with many sailors having some time out after the Pre Olympic selection, waiting to see what the ISAF decision on classes will be for the 2016 Olympics. This decision is early this time around, being in May this year.

Youth:I have also been looking at the 420 and 29ers as their final selection regattas for the ISAF Youth Worlds are coming up in the next two weeks. After these final selections, the Yachting New Zealand youth camps commence for the youth sailors building up for overseas events. This is a great programme provided by YNZ for the sailors in Youth Classes.

Optimist:The Optimist scene in New Zealand is starting to step up more, with more action going on, reminding me more like how the successful nations in Asia are running their programmes. The main difference however is that; New Zealand is still more club and regionally based in their Opti programme, where Asian Countries have national team training throughout the year.



Forceracing Clinics: The coaching and Forceracing Clinics are being well attended for Open Fleet sailors, with some great comments coming from them and not to many negative comments!

These clinics are being ramped up heading towards the Worlds in New Zealand, with Forceracing being involved in an Optimist clinic in Croatia in July, as well as helping out with the Pre Worlds Clinic in late December in Napier.

Club Coaching: The Club coaching is also stepping up with Kohi Yacht Club enjoying their season of coaching!

Auckland clubs, through the foresight of David Gunn and Kim Rodgers at Murrays Bay Sailing Club have been having some stunning clinic days, with the next clinic being on the 12th of March at Wakatere. The afternoon session will have the same tides as what will be at the Nationals so a good time to get out there! To register for this upcoming clinic follow through to http://www.wakatere.org.nz/cms/index.php?option=com_seminar&Itemid=109!this_link.

*Close off for entering is the ninth of March at midday.

J SailsJ Sails have been going well this year, having won many of the regattas locally for the Optimists, and also winning the Worlds again this year; J Sails have won every worlds since 2005, except the 2007 worlds in which Chris Steele (NZL) broke the dominance with a North NZ radial!

At the very least it is awesome for NZL Optimist sailing to have a choice of sails and for all the sailmakers to be working hard on making the NZL fleet faster!

Forceracing has just finished writing a draft copy of a comprehensive tuning guide that can be http://www.forceracing.co.nz/files/tips-and-tricks-for-jsail.pdf!found_here

On my own sailing front I have been re-vigourised into the Moth after getting some new foils into the boat and getting the boat going well. I am paying more and more time with the boat to get it in tip top trim, as well as doing some sailing, so am really enjoying my moth sailing again which is fantastic!

There are some movements afoot in New Zealand to really kickstart the fleet, of 18 Moths in country and from what I can gather most of the background work is being covered off, so there might be some exciting things happening here soon!

Remember Forceracing is there for: Coaching (personal, Club, regional, class associations and national federations), campaign/equipment management, planning, Sailing – slotting into most roles that are needed. Forceracing are also in partnership with Meltemi Beachcats offering a sailing school with a difference – with muiltihulls and a Moth on offer to rent!

Check out www.forceracing.co.nz for more info.