5o5 Class training at Hayling Island Sailing Club
by Ben Iliffe 28 Apr 2016 06:21 EST
23-24 April 2016
People may have heard that there is a large and important regatta coming to Weymouth bay this summer, and they would be right.
The UK 5o5 class is gearing up for the worlds in style training together and aiming to be at the top of the podium come August.
The Class has engaged Colin (Ferret) Merrett as class coach, and it is proving to be a very successful strategy.
Colin's simple but astute observations are proving to be just what is needed by the fleet, helping those who are new to the class all the way up to the pros at the very top.
The value of a consistent approach and great team work are already paying off and were visible over the weekend.
The fleet started with three gate starts both days the gate was 16-20 secs long. This simulated a busy world's start and was perfect for those wishing to work on holding lane out the start.
We then split into two groups and when tuning this proved difficult in the Hayling northerly but none the less invaluable.
We then finished with tacking and Gybing on the whistle. This golden oldie of racing training is still as valuable as ever. Demonstrating the need for good boat handling in the 5o5, it's easy to lose half a boat length in a tack and easy to lose 50m's from a pour gybe. It all adds up quickly on a Championship race course.
Saturday night had its highlights, one of which was a simple enquiry into the number of Crabs the restaurant had, prompting the waitress to run off and the whole table to fall around in laughter.
For some of the fleet the next stop is La Baule, Hyeres and Garda, whilst others will be consolidating there learning in more humble surroundings Such as Whitstable on the 21-22nd of May for the second instalment of the UK Championship series. More Class training is planned. There will be a change in venue from that published on the Class website. Colin Merrett has kindly agreed to continue the fleet prepare and we are very grateful to him Thank you to P&B for the use of their RIB and The UK Class association for subsidising these events.
See you all at Whitstable if not before...