15 points after 14 races

Originally posted by TonyL   most middle/back of the fleet types seem happy to stay there!

Is that because their is no route out or that they just like sailing badly?

I am sure most people like to do better at things and progress ... why not help them to do that through pro coaching?

Rick

We operate sucessful fleet training in our club which is usually the people who are at the front coaching those who are at the middle/back of the fleet.

Occasionally one class may get a 'rock star' in for a day. This usually involves a fee payable to them but is sometimes subsidised by the class association. We have a very sucessful Enterprise training day which is open to all members of the Enterprise Class and is hosted by none other than Mike McNamara.

Basically in my experience clubs do tend to organise their own training. The difference between most sailing clubs in the UK is that they are run as 'not for profit' where as golf clubs are definitely commercial enterpises and use the 'pro on site' as a marketing tool to get more money from those who want to improve.

The class training definitely works at my club with the whole fleet closing up and becoming very competitive (means I have to work harder and improve myself). Class association organised training is also good such as the Fireball training which occurs at the start of the season and is hosted by Adam Bowers and a variety of rock stars from the front of the fleet. So I guess the training is there if you want it, you just have to know where to look!

Just my opinion. For what it is worth I would not want to pay a huge amount for a pro training when I can go to an open and get the same information for the price of a few pints (most guys at the front are only too happy to talk).

Paul

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by TonyL most middle/back of the fleet types seem happy to stay there! Nothing wrong with just turning up to race with your mates on a Sunday without taking it very seriously you know... If you're evenly matched with all your mates and you go and get a whole lot of training so that you beat them easily will you actually have more fun? Sure if your ambition is to get as good as you can, compete at the top in Champs etc get all the training you can, but its not the only way to have fun, and maybe the other way is more relaxing...

True, just seems taining is not that common.

We run tow pro traing camps with Mark Rushall for the Musto Skiffs and the top guys are always keen to help.

I guess it just depends on your attitude to your sport.

Rick

Originally posted by Guest#260 It is great that people are prepared to do this type of thing but why dosn't every club have a club pro.

Probably because many clubs (well the smaller ones certainly) don't have the finances in place to support paid staff. My club has 150 members and turns over around £20k per annum. Couldn't pay much for a pro coach!

That's why we amble along doing club level training, with the front of the fleet guys doing club racing coach and trying to bring along the middle/back of the fleet guys. And we still send the kids on the old blue and white badge weeks, or whatever they're called now.

Originally posted by Guest#260 Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd Originally posted by Guest#260 It is great that people are prepared to do this type of thing but why dosn't every club have a club pro. Because the skills that count the most are class-specific. I think running coaching sessions is part of the role of the class association and quite a few do it.  I disagree; usually the things people struggle with are general. As for the issue with funds; people pay £40 for a 30 minute golf lesson; would you pay that for 1:1 sailing coaching? I am not talking about the club funding training but the individual. Rick

 

Anyone wants any cat coaching I'll do it.  Done a little at Grafham for free for a guy who was getting to grips with his kite.  Both out together yomping up and down the lake working on speed, tack and gybe's etc. 

It just takes time and it's not a full time job as most people are working.  It's much more difficult to nip off to the sailing club for an hour vs down to the golf club for an hours lesson / time on the driving range.....