Fabulous ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at King George Sailing Club with SailingFast and Wildwind
by Sajni Shah 20 May 2025 02:28 PDT
17-18 May 2025
ILCA Women's Coaching Weekend at King George SC with SailingFast and Wildwind © Lotte Johnson /
www.lottejohnson.com
King George Sailing Club played host to an ILCA Women's Coaching Programme on 17th/18th May, welcoming sixteen female sailors from as far away as Lancashire and East Anglia ranging from 14 year olds to, err, ladies of a certain age, all excited to learn together.
The programme is open to women new to ILCA, new to racing and experienced club racers. Ellie Cumpsty of British Sailing led the coaching supported by her sister Freya Cumpsty, immediately creating a relaxed, fun and positive atmosphere with everyone happy to contribute.
Prep Matters
Ahead of the morning briefing, we needed to be 'rigged not changed'. Many of us were in hire boats: programme sponsor SailingFast provided us with top level kit (e.g. 8:1 downhauls) to ensure we could put the coaches' directions into action. Ellie, Freya and the team from ILCA were super helpful ensuring we were comfortable and could get maximum time on the water.
Coaching Top Tips
Ellie's theme for the weekend was powerful body positioning and we all had to think about examples ahead of the session. Rather than simply talking about where to sit in the boat, Ellie and Freya honed in on posture - how to hold yourself to maximise strength and agility when manoeuvring, hiking, or reacting quickly during a race.
Top tips included:
- Engage your core: Keep your centre solid and let your arms and legs respond from a stable base.
- Use your eyes: Anticipate manoeuvres with your head before your body follows.
- Stay dynamic: Adjust with every gust.
On the Water - Drills, Challenges, and Laughter
The morning was dedicated to drills designed to build both technique and muscle memory. From high-energy 'follow the leader' exercises, to rapid-fire tacking and gybing drills that tested everyone's stamina, the water buzzed with activity and determination.
The standout activity of the morning was riverbank racing, which forced sailors to tack upwind into a narrowing funnel of space. It was a masterclass in precision and pressure handling - and more than a few boats discovered just how little room you actually need to complete a clean tack (or how easy it is to mess one up under pressure!).
After a well-earned lunch and another round of coaching tips on transitions (swapping hands after tacking), gybe angles (trying to sail by the lee), wind awareness (looking out for shifts - speed changes, telltales flitting, sails luffing, burgee direction and other boat angles) and control settings, the sailors returned to the water for a final flurry of manoeuvres.
The afternoon's focus was on 360 turns. The appropriately named gut-buster exercise blended fun with fatigue - by the end, everyone had aching arms and grinning faces.
Ellie commented "This programme is rapidly building a community of female sailors who all support each other and encourage progression, building confidence and self-belief. Saturday was a great day on the water: the sun and the wind helped but mainly it was the camaraderie amongst the women that created such a great learning environment. It is an honour to be able to support the group and open the door for women of all ages and experience levels to unlock their potential and get more out of their sailing."
Sunday Pursuit Race
As a bonus, attendees were invited to join KGSC's Sunday Pursuit Race the following morning. The club's warm welcome extended to detailed course guidance and shared tips from regular racers, making even newcomers feel at home.
The race started promisingly with decent wind, allowing early starters to stretch out and test their new skills. The course featured two beats, demanding tactical thinking - staying centre but hunting out patches of breeze was key. Downwind, a sneaky gust from behind mixed things up, reshuffling the order.
As the race progressed, the wind softened, making the final 20 minutes especially challenging. Boats worked hard to avoid holes in the breeze, with a few nail-biting moments as positions hung in the balance. As the finish line loomed, the wind all but disappeared, turning the final leg into a nail-biting drift that gave everyone - regardless of skill level - a chance at glory.
Reflections
All in all, it was a weekend that captured the essence of what makes the sailing community so special: expert coaching, shared learning, and a love of being on the water. Whether participants came away with improved technique, new friends, or just the satisfaction of trying something new, the smiles at the end said it all.
What's next?
The ILCA Women's Coaching Programme is going to Weymouth on 31st May hosted by the Andrew Simpson Performance Academy with Olympic Coach Georgina Povall and Molly Sacker from the British Sailing Team. Some of the KGSC crew are booked for this too.
Rutland Water are hosting the ILCA Women's Regatta over the weekend of June 28th/29th with overnight camping, bbq and yoga to get everyone set for Sunday's races.
Georgina is then taking the programme to Stokes Bay SC on 26th July and bookings are now open.
Have a look at the ILCA website to book these and keep an eye out for other events being scheduled.
Finally, big thanks must go to programme sponsors SailingFast and Wildwind for supporting women's sailing; Sarah Bolton and the whole team at KGSC for their hospitality. And of course, Ellie and Freya for their generosity and enthusiasm.