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Clive Evans View Drop Down
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Joined: 18 Feb 13
Location: Sydney
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Posts: 46 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Clive Evans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Getting better?
    Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 9:48am
My first forum post!

I've been thinking about this for a while and thought I'd get some people's opinions

If you're in the Olympic / development squad you get coaching from elite coaches

If you're beginning to race, clubs or class associations can provide coaching to get you entering club racing or your first open meeting

But what about if you are in the middle? What do open meeting sailors do to improve?

I'm 32 been sailing since I was 11, I've done plenty of opens, winning some, and flirted with the top 10 at my nationals recently but getting better is tricky!

I know there's no magic answer but has anyone ever managed to make the transition from 'also ran' to the sharp end?

Is it paying for a coach? Getting fitter? My starts have always been the worst part of my sailing would 3-4 big fleet nationals a year in different but similar classes be better than sticking with 1 class but only getting big starts once in a blue moon?

What would you do?
Spiral 816
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SoggyBadger View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Oct 10
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Posts: 552 		Post Options Post Options   Quote SoggyBadger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 11:13am
Improving your starts is bound to help.
Best wishes from deep in the woods

SB

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Clive Evans View Drop Down
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Posts: 46 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Clive Evans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 11:39am
Yes that would be start but how to? There's 50 plus boats on a start line, no book can tell you how to get out first. I thought the more you do the easier it gets might be a tactic? Hence multiple classes
Spiral 816
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pondmonkey View Drop Down
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Posts: 2202 		Post Options Post Options   Quote pondmonkey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 11:46am
Not sure what class you're sailing, but I've always found class training days give a massive boost to my understanding of the boat specifics as well as sharpening up a few basic skills too. 
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Ian29937 View Drop Down
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Posts: 409 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Ian29937 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 12:10pm
Originally posted by pondmonkey

Not sure what class you're sailing, but I've always found class training days give a massive boost to my understanding of the boat specifics as well as sharpening up a few basic skills too. 
 
I agree, we always try to run different levels of coaching in the 700's, certainly covering the beginners but also looking at the intermediate level and above.
 
Ian
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Clive Evans View Drop Down
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Posts: 46 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Clive Evans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 12:36pm
Hi thanks for the replies, I used to sail a solo in the uk and currently a spiral in Sydney which is laser like

I know association training sessions can be helpful, solos used to run training days (still do) but they are geared towards intermediate levels in my experience

So do the 700's run training attended by guys in say 10-15 at your nationals (see you had 30 plus at nationals)
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Daniel Holman View Drop Down
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Posts: 997 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Daniel Holman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 12:56pm
You are the most important sailing coach you'll ever know. A few tips - spend as much time as poss sailing IN  A FOCUSSED MANNER with guys who are better than you. Also, break your sailing down into its constituent blocks and assess yourself fairly continuously. Any weak area can be assessed and strategies found to improve - there is a lot of literature out there!
Using a coach is something not many people do and even a couple of days a year are cheaper than say, a sail. For this to be worthwhile, it is good to have a fairly decent idea of what you want looked at. Its fair to say that a fresh set of eyes can often bring about really useful changes.
Also, a technique is relatively easy to learn, a skill is a technique that can be performed under pressure (i.e usually under pressure, generally people revert to old/bad/familar techniques and habits) so learning a technique is only a part of the way to improving your skills.
Strike a good balance between training and racing - some skills can only be improved by one or the other.
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Ian29937 View Drop Down
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Posts: 409 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Ian29937 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 12:57pm
Originally posted by Clive Evans

Hi thanks for the replies, I used to sail a solo in the uk and currently a spiral in Sydney which is laser like

I know association training sessions can be helpful, solos used to run training days (still do) but they are geared towards intermediate levels in my experience

So do the 700's run training attended by guys in say 10-15 at your nationals (see you had 30 plus at nationals)
 
Yes, is the simple answer.  We often bring in either one of the top guys to run a session or buy in a coach, after the day before the Nationals.  People like Harvey Hilary (Olympic 49er coach) or Pete Barton (RS800, etc) have run excellent sessions in the past.
 
I think most class associations will do similar, particularly if you let them know you are interested.
 
Cheers
 
Ian
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gordon1277 View Drop Down
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Posts: 665 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gordon1277 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 1:05pm
Hi
Does anybody know the approx cost of a coach for the day.
And would that include his own Rib.
Cheers
Gordon
Gordon
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RichTea View Drop Down
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Posts: 207 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RichTea Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb 13 at 4:19pm
Not every coach has their own rib, most use the centre boats.

PM Jon Emmett, he is a Laser coach.
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