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Wot no training for grown-ups?
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barclay174 View Drop Down
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Posts: 18 		Post Options Post Options   Quote barclay174 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Wot no training for grown-ups?
    Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 10:50am
As there isn't a category for 'training', I'm putting it in the 'choosing a boat' in the hope that it might get a decent readership - apologies!

Basically, my problem is that it just doesn't seem to be possible to get much in the way of regular training for adult sailors. I sail a Laser & enjoy club racing but feel (now that I've read & memorised every Laser book available) that I don't learn as much from it as I would from some decent training sessions. And my partner, who isn't up to club racing standard, would like some proper instruction to get there & then get better (he doesn't like losing).

My sailing club in London does all the RYA courses, but once you've got past that there's not much more than a some 'group coaching' - which involves sailing around in circles for two hours with a very occasional word from (as often as not) a windsurf instructor - & a few race training days over the winter that are frequently cancelled due to bad weather or lack of attendance. I thought regular private tuition might be the answer, but all they could offer me was one date two months ahead that I couldn't make.

This seems to be the case at the other sailing club near me, so I was starting to think it was normal. But my mum's recently joined a club in Dorset & they have loads of regular training sessions for women, Lasers etc with good, full-on instruction.

So, to cut a long ramble short, what I want to know is:

1. Why adult training seems to be so hard to find unless you go on holiday to Minorca or some such; and
2. If anyone can recommend me a sailing club either in London (preferably west) or around the Solent that does have good training for adults; or
3. If anyone has any suggestions about how to arrange regular private tuition.

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks
Lucy 
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alstorer View Drop Down
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Posts: 2899 		Post Options Post Options   Quote alstorer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 11:39am
There's a big training/coaching structure in place for kids, with central funding etc- aimed pretty much at the Olympic squads.
 
There is, obviously, no such structure for adults.
 
There's much less central funding for it therefore, and there's much less "shared knowledge" on coaching for adults- the coaching for kids won't translate well to adults.
 
There's also less demand- the vast majority of club sailors are content to turn up on a Sunday, pootle round two or three races and pack up again. They don't see training as something that could be fun itself. This makes sailing a pretty odd sport- though perhaps most sunday league footballers spend little time training compared to time spent "competing"- as for many sports the main focus for time is really training/practice rather than competition.
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Al
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JimC View Drop Down
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Posts: 6660 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 11:42am
Most class associations run adult training, but you will probably need to travel to another club to do it unless you can organise enogh people in the same class at your club to make it worthwhile having your class organise a session there. This level of training really has to be class based simply because the techniques vary so much between classes.
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catmandoo View Drop Down
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Posts: 545 		Post Options Post Options   Quote catmandoo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 12:35pm
Training for the kiddies is there because the rya encourage , support and nurture it, developing youngsters from oppies through to olympic boats , meanwhile decimating clubs , taking their percieved life blood away like the pied piper , with their offers of "squaddie jackets " those that dont  raise to the game , flounder and dissapear , , consequently clubs see great waves of youngsters coming into clubs , clubs spending all their time and effort nurturing them to be left with a handfull if VERy lucky at the end ,
All this to win some gold medals , which get forgotten about quick enough.
 
 
This process goes on and on , no one learns , our club riding the 3rd wave .
 
Club racing dies , adults stand around with bemused looks , if not carting junior around country at great expensense and detriment to more things than I care to list !!!
 
When will Clubs realise , to boost flagging memberships over the long term , adult sailing needs same level of nurturing , training , club boats , etc , once you hook an adult , its for life .
 
 
Sceptical me ???? Wink
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jeffers View Drop Down
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Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 1:27pm
This what we have had happening at Hunts over the last few years. Our centre principal was very big on getting adult partivipation up.
 
to this end courses and sessions were run where those less experienced could either get some RYA bits of paper under their belt or have more tailor coaching sessions with a more experienced sailor.
 
What you may need to do is take the bull by the horns and speak to your centre principal, there is fundind available from RYA RDO's specifically for adult training and coaching. We have had 2 coaching days that the RYA had contributed too where we have had high profile coaches come in for specific fleets.
 
It does come down to those wanting it speaking to the club and the club then organising it.
 
Other things you might wish to consider is doing a performance week/weekend at one of the UK based centres (Plas Menai in North Wales is one I have done). I got a lot out of it and I only really went to have a play in various assymetric boats while my other half learnt to sail.
 
the other thing that will seriously improve your sailing and understanding is to do an instructors course.
Paul
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Fraggle View Drop Down
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Posts: 220 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Fraggle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 1:35pm
Jon Emmett is the UKLA training officer and he organises training for all UKLA members http://www.jonemmettsailing.co.uk/index.php?page=laser_coaching.  This is for adults as well as youths.
 
It is mainly taken up by the youths but you wouldn't be the only adult on the courses that are offered.
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winging it View Drop Down
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Posts: 3958 		Post Options Post Options   Quote winging it Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 2:10pm
A touch of explanation: There are training courses for adults well beyond level 2, which is the most basic, the trouble is finding places that will run them.  Courses such as those above RYA Start Racing often don't happen because in fact the instructors at most clubs are not qualified to coach them - they do call for a relatively high level of expertise.

There are a lot of freelance coaches around, especially in the solent area.  Go to the RYA forum via their website and go to the section RYA people wanted/available.  Find someone who meets your needs or place your own ad.  An RYA coach is likely to have the insurance cover you need - check they have this.

At club level look for people who feel the same way as you do - there will be some - then get together and hire your own coach or use a club one - to run the sessions that you feel you want.  These don't have to be class specific.  At Hunts we have run lots of different kinds of adult training - race and general sailing technique - both for specific classes and for effectively a handicap fleet - and this has worked well.  Often it can be the only way of getting numbers up.

Another plan could be to get a group of local clubs to join together and run some training - this again helps get numbers up.  Your Regional Development Officer can help with this.  Get commitment from people in advance ie payment, so people keep turning up.

One more thing - becoming a race coach level 2 is relatively straight forward if you are a competent club racer, and typically costs very little.  You can then run your own coaching, from which you will learn a great deal, plus make lots of useful contacts with other coaches in the area.  Peer coaching can be extremely effective and enjoyable.

If all this fails get on the M11 and come and join us.  I am shortly going to be nagging Jeffers to provide some help with coaching here at Hunts!

Nessa
the same, but different...

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radixon View Drop Down
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Posts: 2407 		Post Options Post Options   Quote radixon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 5:48pm
I have been on two of the Laser training weekends and had a coach come and give 6 adults training. Both were very good and ratios are low.
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patj View Drop Down
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Posts: 642 		Post Options Post Options   Quote patj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 7:38pm
+1 for class training - we've learnt a lot from Lark class training sessions but time in boat is the best training.
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RS400atC View Drop Down
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Posts: 3011 		Post Options Post Options   Quote RS400atC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Oct 11 at 10:31pm
Originally posted by patj

+1 for class training - we've learnt a lot from Lark class training sessions but time in boat is the best training.

Ditto in the RS 400 and 600.
What it takes is for someone to get a group of trainees together, organise the facilities and work with the class to find the coach(es).
Most classes have coaches or potential coaches who can be organised to help you, but I think it has to be driven by the people who want it to happen.
In general, coaches don't go looking for weekends to organise, but they are there if you look for them.
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