ILCA Women's Coaching Programme Returns to Queen Mary Sailing Club
by Jonathan Stirling 23 Oct 07:29 PDT
ILCA Women's Coaching Programme Returns to Queen Mary © Ellie Cumpsty
Just a year ago, Queen Mary Sailing Club partnered with ILCA UK to launch the Women's Coaching Programme with the ambition to get more women into the Class and help female sailors to take their racing to the next level.
After a year taking ILCA Women's Coaching events from Weymouth to Vassiliki, ILCA returned to Queen Mary to deliver a day building confidence through technique in an all-female coaching environment under Ellie Cumpsty, who has led the coaching since the beginning, and Jess Perkins.
Conditions built through the day from 8knots to 17 knots - the perfect scenario for sailors to adopt new techniques and test them in stronger breezes. Ellie's theme for the day was 'body position and movement around the boat' - fundamentals that sound simple but require technical precision, confidence and timing.
Angie perfectly captured this challenge: "My key takeaway was honestly - to be more confident! I never thought I could sail in 17 knots, and it was so much fun flying down on the reach! Key lesson: not to doubt myself or my ability, just go for it."
Technical Mastery Through Inventive Drills
The coaching wasn't about telling sailors what to do - it was about making them feel it. Ellie and Jess deployed an arsenal of creative exercises that had sailors quite literally thinking outside the boat.
"The day was really useful for learning where to position my feet," enthused Tamsin. "I learned three different ways - which I then learned how to use sufficiently in a race. It really improved my speed and my posture."
The techniques covered ranged from the foundations to the finer points. Candela discovered that "keeping feet together upwind lengthens the body to the max for hiking - can't waste an inch when you are 5'4"." Lucy focused on "locking into the boat and the positioning of my legs, shoulder past hip and grab rail hiking. And of course, bum walking!"
Ellen worked on the dynamic aspect: "Hike out with shoulders outside of hips, hinge at the hips with the gusts then bum walk back in during the lulls, aiming to get that locked in feeling with legs straight against the deck."
But perhaps the most memorable moments came from Ellie's more theatrical coaching methods. Sailors found themselves sailing standing up, balancing on one leg in arabesques while heading upwind, and performing other acrobatic feats that simultaneously tested balance, confidence, and commitment!
"I even managed to hike towards the end of the first session thanks to the tips given," said Aylin, who was sailing an ILCA for the first time. "I will always remember shoulders outside of hips!"
Proactive Sailing
Beyond body position, the coaching emphasised anticipation and responsiveness. Mhairi highlighted "looking upwind to see what conditions you're coming into so that you can get into the right position, trying to be more proactive with body position really."
Maria's takeaway focused on power management: "Kicker tension for upwind sailing. I learnt that it needs to be a LOT, and yes, arm strength exercises are needed."
Paula summed up her learning simply but powerfully: "Dynamic shoulders."
Ali appreciated "the level of technical detail re the strap, foot placement, bum walks. Thank you also to the 'ground crew' who supported us all with boats in and out of the water and split pins/masts etc. Very patient and kind."
"Overall more confidence," reflected Ali, adding confidently, "I will be back."
The day concluded with fun races that Daisy called "a cool way to finish training," where sailors demonstrated their newly honed skills - and yes, some of those one-legged arabesques.
Helping Hands
Ellie Tapper from Queen Mary SC helped familiarise sailors with their charter boats so they were all rigged and ready on time and not a minute of coaching time was wasted "She was such a cheerleader too!" enthused Candela.
Volunteers Phil and Richard pitched in to launch and recover 13 boats up and down Queen Mary's steep sides: with the water unusually low, they knew they'd had a proper workout by the end of the day.
Sailingfast supplied a selection of kit that sailors could use to upgrade and make it easy to apply what Ellie and Jess were telling them: an 8:1 downhaul really does make a difference in 17 knots!
Ellie & Jess finished the day handing out Sailingfast water bottles and Wildwind vouchers to some very happy sailors.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
ILCA plan to expand the Women's Coaching Programme in 2026 partnering with Clubs to broaden reach across the country. Plans for 2026 include a return to Queen Mary in March, two weeks of Women's Coaching at Wildwind in April and May, and sessions at proven venues including the Andrew Simpson Performance Academy at WPNSA, King George SC and Parkstone YC.
Additions to the roster already include a two day coaching event at Plas Heli, the Welsh National Sailing Centre, with Sarah McGovern, the RYA Cymru Wales Performance Manager and member of the RYA Female Futures Group.
All dates and details will be published on the ilca.uk website. Any clubs interested in being part of Programme should email
Learning together
As the day drew to a close and sailors shared their reflections, a common theme emerged beyond the technical takeaways: the power of the all-female 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," Ellie has said of the Programme.
The WhatsApp group buzzed with gratitude as participants reflected on their day. "Thank you Ellie and Jess for a fantastic day!" "You all were very supportive." "I LOVED IT." The enthusiasm was palpable, the progress measurable, the community undeniable.
From its launch at Queen Mary SC in October 2024 to this triumphant return, the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme has created a space where women can push their limits, support each other, and discover they're capable of far more than they imagined - whether that's hiking harder, sailing faster, or yes, standing on one leg in 15 knots.
The ILCA Women's Coaching Programme is sponsored by SailingFast and Wildwind, with grateful thanks to Queen Mary Sailing Club for their partnership in creating and supporting the programme. For more information and to book future events, visit ilca.uk