Please select your home edition
Edition
HKJ YY Leaderboard

Laser Youth Training at Weir Wood Sailing Club

by Jon Emmett 7 Dec 2017 20:22 GMT 1 December 2017
Laser Youth Training at Weir Wood © Lynne Graham-Trol

Nearly 20 young sailors travelled for the Laser winter training at Weir Wood Sailing Club, Forest Row, East Sussex, on December 1st, the 2nd one of the series. The Laser class trains actively throughout the winter which is why it is such a great class in which to improve your sailing.

This weekend the theme was boat balance, and coach Jon Emmett jumped into a Laser on shore to demonstrate tacking, with the sailors lifting the boat to not only see detailed hands and feet movements but also the amount of roll required. The practical on-the-water sessions looked at boat balance with sailors completing half a dozen races standing up with only the occasional falling in when they attempted hand stands. This was shown on facebook live and can still be viewed at the UKLA facebook page.

This time of year, the weather is extremely changeable so the theory covered was all about meteorology with the young sailors learning the important difference between stable/unstable vs consistent/shifty winds and lulls/gusts vs pressure differences, something that even many experienced sailors struggle with.

Even with the light winds which rarely peaked above 6 knots the sailors had a great time with each training session having distinct themes. The previous weekend’s theme on starting and short course racing was held on 11th November, with sailors doing a 2 minute dry capsize to mark the 11th hour of the 11th day. The theory for this weekend was rig setting with Emmett capsizing a boat onshore so sailors could have a bird’s eye view of the affect that sail controls had over sail shape. Training sessions finished with video debriefs.

You can see a short video of all the fun they had below. Training continues throughout the winter so please do come and get involved.

Weir Wood Youth Training

A fun day on the water.

Posted by UK Laser Class Association (UKLA) on Sunday, 12 November 2017

Related Articles

ILCAs at Notts County
With complementary watermelon for after-racing hydration A lovely warm and sunny day greeted 26 ILCA sailors at Notts County Sailing Club on 12th of July 2025. The wind was from a steady light south east breeze with occasional 14 mph gusts. Posted today at 6:09 pm
Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship preview
This year's regatta will be the largest of its kind ever hosted in Tallinn Tallinna Yacht Club brings one of the biggest sports events of the summer to Haven Kakumäe - 300 young sailors expected at the Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship, plus just as many supporters on shore! Posted on 11 Jul
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde overall
Favourable conditions on the final day for the 302 sailors from 32 countries The 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup GER concluded yesterday after four days of competition in Warnemünde, Germany. Favourable sailing conditions allowed all 302 sailors from 32 countries to enjoy the final two races in the ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes. Posted on 9 Jul
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde Day 3
Ole Schweckendiek leads ILCA 7 fleet into the final day The third and penultimate day of racing at the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup GER concluded yesterday in Warnemünde, Germany, with two new races completed by all fleets, except for the ILCA 6 silver group, which managed to complete only one. Posted on 8 Jul
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde Day 2
Sometimes there's only a second between triumph and a premature start Sometimes there's only a second between triumph and a premature start — a reality that many ILCA 7 sailors faced on the second day of the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup GER, held during the Warnemünder Woche. Posted on 7 Jul
Cambs Youth League at Ely Sailing Club
Breaking from the past few years' precedent, it was a breezy day! On Saturday 5 July, it was Ely's turn to host a round of the Cambs Youth League. The league is a collaboration between 5 local clubs to promote friendly sailing for cadets up to 19. Posted on 7 Jul
2025 EurILCA Europa Cup at Warnemünde Day 1
A total of 302 sailors from 32 countries are competing in the ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes The seventh regatta of the 2025 EurILCA Europa Cup Trophy kicked off yesterday in Warnemünde, Germany, with the first two races. A total of 302 sailors from 32 countries are competing in the ILCA 4, ILCA 6, and ILCA 7 classes. Posted on 6 Jul
ILCA UK Women's Regatta Weekend at Rutland
A stunning weekend for training, racing, yoga, a rules talk and friendship A stunning weekend of warm, sunny weather awaited 24 women and girls and their boats looking for training, racing, yoga, a rules talk and friendship. Posted on 4 Jul
ILCA UK Youth Series at Parkstone
45 sailors enjoy sparkling conditions in Poole Harbour Poole Harbour was at its best for the third round of the ILCA UK Youth Series hosted by Parkstone Yacht Club and sponsored by Harken. Posted on 2 Jul
Impressive results for the Performance Academy
At the 2025 ILCA 4 Youth Europeans in Poland Nine British sailors spent two weeks in Puck, Poland with the Performance Academy and ILCA UK for the ILCA 4 Youth European Championships, supported by Head Coach Charlie Linsell and Manager James Parker-Mowbray. Posted on 1 Jul