What to take to nationals

edit: oh, you said it's a Tera... that's simple then, take a smile and a positive attitude. Look out for any RS staff or association folks- they are there to help and very good at helping.

Ok, so I've done it, I've gone and entered my daughter into the tera nationals! Any ideas on what to take? Have no experience of large events so going to be a steep learning curve... She is nearly 10, brave but very small and light and only sailed on inland water apart from a couple of times in a feva with me in Cornwall, only doing the regatta fleet. Any ideas on ages of the other sailors also as I have heard people stay in teras til they are 16 in the pro fleet...all a bit scary, and that's just for me! Oh and now I see I've put this in the wrong topic..oops!

Edited by Eminoxon - 04 Jul 14 at 11:00pm

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Eminoxon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 13 Location: Bicester Online Status: Offline Posts: 32	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eminoxon Report Post Quote Reply Topic: What to take to nationals Posted: 04 Jul 14 at 10:58pm
	Ok, so I've done it, I've gone and entered my daughter into the tera nationals! Any ideas on what to take? Have no experience of large events so going to be a steep learning curve... She is nearly 10, brave but very small and light and only sailed on inland water apart from a couple of times in a feva with me in Cornwall, only doing the regatta fleet. Any ideas on ages of the other sailors also as I have heard people stay in teras til they are 16 in the pro fleet...all a bit scary, and that's just for me! Oh and now I see I've put this in the wrong topic..oops! Edited by Eminoxon - 04 Jul 14 at 11:00pm
	Newtothis RS feva 4624, share Rs200 1317, daughters RS tera 798 rs aero 1301

GarethT Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Apr 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote GarethT Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Jul 14 at 11:40pm
	First thing to understand is how long she could be on the water for and if there'll be a rib to keep food and drink on. If there is, get a really distinctive looking dry bag and name it very clearly. Making sure she's fed and watered is really important. Try and understand if there are any toileting arrangements out on the water. If not, encourage her to wee in her wetsuit. I've seen girls not drinking so they don't wee, and that's bad. Once her welfare is taken care of, have fun and learn lots.

fab100 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 11 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1005	Post Options Post Reply Quote fab100 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 12:28am
	Id suggest you take a spirit of adventure and fun, of "let's see what it's like to do this", no pressure, no blame, no guilt and unconditional love no matter what the outcome. Success is " can we do this again daddy?" Not the position on the results list. Moving to practical matters, somewhere nice to sleep is good. Events are tiring. Camping is a big risk, given our weather; and we all know that tired kids and a lack of sleep are not a happy mix. Putting on wet, cold sailing gear every day is no ones favourite thing either. Solving that issue is an unsung but wonderful shoreside support. As Billy Connolly says, there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes. So make sure she is equipped for a long day on the water. Warm, proper kit (inc good gloves, blistered hands hurt! And yes, they cost too much and she will lose them) water resistant sun screen (I recommend Banana Boat), nibbles and drinks. Talking of which, what goes in, must come out, and, practically speaking, a pee afloat is easier for us boys than girls. I don't have a solution for this need, perhaps someone else does? My favourite trick at events is still forgetting tallys. Make sure you understand the system and prompt daughter to get into the good habit of taking responsibility for her tally before going afloat and on getting back. Nudge and teach, rather than taking on the burden yourself. Enjoy it yourself too. There will be stressy, pressuring parents living vicariously thru their kids. Their's are likely to be the kids who give up this, the ultimate sport, as soon as they can. What a waste. On the other hand, the other group of parents could become your best friends for years to come. You need to enjoy it too! You do not need to turn up with a fully functional marine workshop. I was quite experienced by the time of my first nationals, still ended up in a boat breaking crash. No parental support was there for me, but the fleet took control unprompted and mended my boat completely off its own initiative. Tera's are more robust than plywood Mirrors 40 yrs ago too. Moving on to the packing front (which is probably what you were really asking), the usual comforts, so own pillow, cuddly toy, bedtime story books, game boys etc. If you are trailing, not roof racking, take a spare trailer wheel and brace (don't assume they are the same Diameter as car wheel nuts) On the boat front, I think burgees are essential, so are tell-tales on the sail. And she needs a waterproof count-down sailing watch. Enough for now, feels like I've just written another book chapter. Sorry.
	Great book for Club Sailors here

kneewrecker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote kneewrecker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 8:34am
	The first thing you need is a VW T5 Sportline. Don't make the mistake of having this converted to a camper van, it's purely for spares and accessories. As Fab100 says, hotels are the way forward on the accommodation front. Country lodges are available too, because let's be honest, Weymouth town is a bit of a dump. The next step is the RIB- you need something functional as well as fun. So a good working area in the front is essential. A spray screen is a good idea. It can be quite cold when you get out there at 6am for the morning's wind shift tracking. Expensive binoculars are a must have accessory, as is a long distance lens and high end SLR camera. You will be judged by the other fathers if you are trying to use an iPhone to capture the moment. It's like arriving to pony club and forgetting the Range Rover.... just don't do it. I believe if you negotiate with Jessops you should get a stylish set of mini-bins for She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed. Don't expect her to actually take the lens cap off, they are purely for swank value. Check that the strap of said mini-bins is not 'too thick'.... otherwise it won't sit properly in the upturned collar of the Joules rugby shirt. Finally you need to drop an octave. I know, I know, fathers of daughters don't bellow very often. But you need to prep yourself appropriately. Remember you are giving up a week's precious annual leave to participate in this event, the least she could do is go out there and get a top ten result and pick up a sponsor or two on the way. If you pressure her right she'll get into a regional squad. Don't worry about the psychological damage in the short term, once she's made the squad the RYA have a veritable army of sports shrinks to fix her later, even if it's been at the expense of her education. Enjoy.... edit: oh, you said it's a Tera... that's simple then, take a smile and a positive attitude. Look out for any RS staff or association folks- they are there to help and very good at helping. Remember 'winning' is just finishing a race and reward it with ice cream. Take it from me, finishing more races equals a better series results.... just like in a club series. The last nationals I did, I came over half way up the fleet- purely by finishing every race. Once you've both seen that actually she's done alright, she could well be inspired enough to want to do it again... or at least go back for the ice cream and the new friends she's made.

iiitick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 04 Jun 14 Location: gb Online Status: Offline Posts: 478	Post Options Post Reply Quote iiitick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 9:36am
	Actually these events have other advantages. You will need powerful binoculars (mine are sexy camo ones given to me by a wealthy child who gave up birdwatching for a life of general dissolution) not to watch boats but to sort out the Joule wearing young mothers keeping a lonely vigil while hubby is tied up in the City. Ah, those happy NSSA days of years ago.......

Bootscooter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 15 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1094	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bootscooter Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 11:30am
	Lots of good advice here - the most important thing is to ensure that your child enjoys the experience. The toilet thing is a big issue - it's far better for your young 'in to be peeing lots (and not smelling) because of a plentiful liquid intake than to be dehydrated than invariably having to "pee marmalade" (and stinking) by not drinking enough. You need to stress that peeing in a wetsuit is sadly necessary when you're on the water all day, and that EVERYONE is doing it (even those that insist they don't). Simple things like greeting her with "Did you enjoy that?" rather than "How did you do?" when she comes off the water make a difference to how she'll feel about the experience. Give her plenty of time to socialise - this is a big part of the regatta experience and will help her settle, be comfortable and and enable her to learn without being taught. Set achievable targets - for a first event aim at starting all the races, the next event could be to finish them all. Later you can set target of focussing on tacking, or being close to the start line. NEVER use a result or position as a target, as these are out of the hands of your young sailor - work on the individual processes. Enjoy it! Edited by Bootscooter - 05 Jul 14 at 11:41am

Eminoxon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 13 Location: Bicester Online Status: Offline Posts: 32	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eminoxon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 11:40am
	Ha Ha I'm actually the mum wearing joules clothing!! Thanks for the replies. I have a feeling we will be camping but will try and glamp it up a bit with air beds etc, totally agree about the good nights sleep. Weeing will be a problem, especially if she wears her drysuit, depends on the weather. How long do they stay out for? are races 1hr each and back to back? will definitely get a snack bag and there is absolutely no pressure, really good idea of rs to do the regatta fleet, only 20 boats for newbies who have never done it before with coaching between races to boot! binoculars is a great idea, hadnt thought of that. Im very excited for her, she is so keen but obviously wary of starts and marks with other boats around.. she is the only tera sailor at our (very small) club and so has little competition. so i take it not to worry about spares for the boat? is there likely to be an rs tent or something selling supplies/
	Newtothis RS feva 4624, share Rs200 1317, daughters RS tera 798 rs aero 1301

Eminoxon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 12 Jun 13 Location: Bicester Online Status: Offline Posts: 32	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eminoxon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 11:41am
	oh yes, and what are tallies??
	Newtothis RS feva 4624, share Rs200 1317, daughters RS tera 798 rs aero 1301

maxibuddah Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1760	Post Options Post Reply Quote maxibuddah Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 11:51am
	Tallies are a system for making sure that everyone is off the water safely. Normally you take something like a wristband off the tallie board before you go afloat. On your return you need to put it back. That way the shore people know that everyone is ashore, or if not to start looking for them. If t don't take it before going afloat they may assume that you are not sailing and therefore not count you in the results If you forget there will be reminders and sometimes a donation to the rnli or the like.
	Everything I say is my opinion, honest

kneewrecker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote kneewrecker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jul 14 at 11:52am
	RS are on hand to help out and always carry spares- you'll also find other parents will lend you stuff if you're in need due to breakages. The regatta fleet is a long standing idea- my first Oppy nationals was in the regatta fleet in 1990. It's a great introduction. I think if you go in with an open approach, and don't be afraid to ask questions, then you'll find most other parents are thoroughly lovely and helpful. Tallies can take the form of token (like a pet disc) or a rubber festival band with a unique number on it, the competitors takes it and puts in either on or off the board a bit like signing on. The key is that you must tally off- put the number back or whatever they choose to do- this is the final safety check for the organisers to ensure all the boats are accounted for and off the water. It's pretty sacrosanct, and worth making sure you and your daughter get your head around this at the briefing above all else. Oh yes, buy some expensive wellies.... you know what women are like about judging each other by footwear choice.