RS Feva Training at Bewl Valley Sailing Club
by Bill Tucker 10 Mar 2008 11:06 GMT
8-9 March 2008
27 Fevas defy the forecast for training at Bewl Valley © Martin Orton
27 Fevas defied the forecast for a brilliant weekend of training at Bewl Valley. The National & Transition Squads joined the Southeast Zone Squad for an epic day's hard sailing on the Saturday and perfect training weather on Sunday. Average winds on Saturday were over the 20 knot mark with plenty of very powerful gusts. As per the attached photo of Alexandra & Stephanie in perfect balance and going like the clappers the youngsters are clearly getting to grips with heavy weather technique.
Sunday was more moderate giving the chance to practice everything from the timing in the roll tack to the gybe-drop which is of course a major tactical weapon in assymetric sailing - if you can get the technique sorted! A great day finished with 4 races and all 27 teams sailing together. Bolly and Matt showed great form and got severe pressure at the front from the Alex/Hamish and Tim/Chris partnerships. With good competition for places throughout the proper racing in the Grand Prix series is eagerly awaited.
There is one more National/Transition squad weekend which will come at Hayling Island SC in the middle of May, just 2 weeks before the Feva Nationals over the second May Bank holiday. That should also be a great motivational weekend given that Hayling Island SC will be shared with the second RYA Olympic Classes Spring Regatta. Plenty of stars on show there then - and they won't all be sailing the olympic classes!