420 class have fun on a windy weekend at the Datchet Flyer and Oxford coaching
by Jennie Clark 10 Dec 2018 01:42 PST
8-9 December 2018
The 420 class had an exhilarating weekend on the 8th and 9th December with sailors revelling in the windy conditions which prevailed.
The Datchet Flyer had an overall entry of 82 and at the end of day one 420 sailors were holding 1st, 2nd and 3rd places, having shown their mastery of
windy conditions with some expert kite handling. With a non-discardable double points pursuit race forming Sunday's racing it was all to play for. Meg Ferguson & Ellie Driver finished 2nd overall, with Oliver Dowson-McGill & Szymon Matyjaszczuk in fourth place and Harry & James George 8th overall.
Meanwhile at Oxford SC class coach Tim Rush was putting another group of sailors through their paces, assisted by Jess Lavery and with parents helping on the RIBS and on shore. The conditions on Saturday were pretty brutal but the fleet launched and had a fantastic session on the water focusing on technique and set up for the conditions, with some great boat handling by the more experienced helms and crews and a lot of learning about the 420 in heavy weather for those who are new to the class. There were some very tired sailors at the end of an exhilarating day.
Sunday saw slightly less breeze and with sunshine to brighten the day the coaching team had another cracking day on the water working on starting, upwind
sailing and windward mark decision making. The next coaching session will be announced shortly.