Where to get Race Coaching for Adults

Originally posted by zippyRN

   Rather than post this on the double hander thread ... the Salcombe Solo Fleet is quite self sufficient and has a wide range of abilities.  Whilst we have an excellent class captain, plenty of the front runners help in motivating the fleet.  We have always recognised that if the front of the fleet swan off into the distance, the back of the fleet will become disenchanted.  
As a result over the years we have run "self help" training weekends, as well as hired in top coaches (Mark Rushall vvvvgood, Jim Hunt vvvgood), run tuning weekends (Charlie Cumbley vvvvgood, Jim Hunt vvvgood) and Rules weekends (Chris Atkins vvvvgood).

Whilst the training has been Solo specific and paid for by the fleet, we have also seconded our coaches to the Cadet classes for a Saturday morning session, which has been inspiring.

There is a very open relationship between the front and back of the fleet, everyone knows that they can chat with anyone to get advice on how to set the boat up, how to sail it aand how to sail around our harbour.

The effect is that a number of our fleet members have closed up with the front of the fleet when racing, and our drop out rate is negligable.  We regularly get between 15 and 30 Solos club racing.

The above has been acheived by self help, rather than any RYA initiative.

The club also runs a ladies that launch session on a Tuesday for all types of boat, the effect is that we now have a significant number of ladies sailing Lasers, Solos and Streakers.

The RYA have supported this later initiative in terms of helping obtain grants from Sport England for our fleet of Club Boats.

The RYA were also extremely helpful with regard to us obtaining Inspired Facilities Grants for our Changing Rooms.

I strongly believe that in any other sport we would expect coaching facilities, but coaching is not readily available in our sport, we tend to do all of our practice while racing.  

Tim Kerrison identified this as one of the areas that could be improved in the traditional approach to cycle racing, in Bradley Wiggins book he stated that traditionally cyclists turned up to the early events of the year and expected to work their way to fitness whilst Matthew Syed points to the need for 10,000 of purposeful practice in his excellent book Bounce.

Maybe posters could use this thread to share their experiences of coaching, and point toward good "pay for the day" coaches that can be brought in to improve the overal experience.