Itchenor Sailing Club gets ready for the new season
by Rachel Soothill 3 Mar 2015 07:03 GMT
3 March 2015
As boats are receiving their final coats of varnish and stand ready to be rigged, this coming weekend members of Itchenor Sailing Club will be immersed in a comprehensive programme of training to prepare for the new season that begins at the end of March. The activities ashore and afloat are designed to enhance the sailors' racing skills and also their expertise to support the upcoming sailing season.
Racing at Itchenor is always competitive whether in one of the classic keel boat or dinghy fleets; but there is always room for improvement. To that end the Club has attracted a number of top sailing experts to lead key elements of the weekend. A session by Harvey Hillary, RYA Head of Performance and Innovation, will focus sailors on areas where they can fine tune their techniques and identify where they can make marginal gains. Local sail maker Dick Batt, an International and National champion in many different classes, will discuss sail choice and tuning. To maintain the quality of its race management, the Club's race officers will be coached by a highly experienced team headed up by International and Olympic race officer, Peter Taylor.
On the water support boat drivers and crews will be put through their paces with sessions of practical exercises. Charles Hyatt, Itchenor's Commodore comments, "Delivering a sailing programme in 2015 with over 100 days of racing for multiple classes demands a strong team of members ready and willing to support the sailors. The Ready to Race weekend is designed to ensure that everyone who sails at Itchenor enjoys a first class experience."
On Saturday evening following the intensive sessions on and off the water, members will relax over supper and listen to a fascinating talk by Rear Admiral John Lippiett CBE who will share his passion for the restoration and preservation of the Mary Rose. John is the chief executive of the Mary Rose Trust.
Itchenor Sailing Club invites prospective new members and members of other sailing clubs to come along and join the Ready to Race programme by calling 01243 512400. The club has just launched a new member promotion ahead of the Ready to Race Weekend which they hope will be of interest to people considering joining the Club.