Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

ILCA Women's Coaching event at Queen Mary Sailing Club

by Suzie Munnery 11 Mar 23:00 GMT 8 March 2025
ILCA Women's Coaching event at Queen Mary © Lotte Johnson / www.lottejohnson.com

The sun came out for 24 ILCA sailors on International Women's Day as the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme returned to Queen Mary on Saturday 8th March. Happily QM gave everyone complementary sunglasses to cope with the glare!

Coaching was led by Ellie Cumpsty and Georgina Povall supported by Bryony Sharpen and Lauren Attwell.

The team welcomed sailors with no racing experience through to club champions but picture postcard conditions allowed George & Ellie to focus the day on 'speed and control' and set clear paths and targets for individual sailors. The morning session was punctuated by whoops and hollers as boat speeds rose. One-on-one feedback on the water ensured everyone got the attention they needed.

With a brief respite for paella in the sunshine, we embarked on the afternoon with George's mantra, "if you can still walk you're not working hard enough," ringing in our ears. And to prove the point we were lucky enough to be joined by Coté Poncell the Chilean Paris 2024 Olympian who demonstrated that downwind sailing in 8-10 knots is full on aerobic exercise.

The coaches debrief highlighting positives and attainable goals for everyone was followed by a relaxed Q&A with Coté highlighting the benefits of consistent training both on and off the water.

Everyone was invited to race at QM on Sunday amongst a fleet of 27 in champagne conditions. I decided to race at Lyttleton securing a second place, an instant improvement and proof that coaching really works!

Once again I was surprised and thrilled by the difference an all female environment makes - openness and curiosity to the fore with an immediate camaraderie - which helps everyone to progress.

ILCA Women's Coaching events are being planned across the country whilst Wildwind, a class sponsor, have picked up the batten and will be hosting a Women's ILCA Clinic in May before Ellie runs a session at King George SC.

This event sold out within days so do keep an eye on the ILCA Calendar to get booked into future sessions.

Huge thanks must go to the coaches, Queen Mary SC, the volunteers who helped pull 24 boats up and down and the programme sponsors Wildwind and SailingFast.

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 on 14 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
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
Northern ILCA circuit at Rudyard Lake
Gritted teeth, hard hiking and several capsizes Rudyard Lake Sailing Club held the latest round of the Northern ILCA circuit with eleven ILCA sailors on Saturday 28th June. Posted on 3 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
2025 Suzuki ILCA Master Europeans overall
Jon Emmett and Orlando Gledhill are crowned champions at Hayling island The 2025 Suzuki ILCA Master European Championships concluded today in Hayling Island, Great Britain, after five days of competition and nine races held for both fleets. A strong wind was expected, but conditions turned out to be lighter than forecast. Posted on 20 Jun
2025 Suzuki ILCA Master Europeans day 3
Canadian sailor Maura Dewey has recovered the top ILCA 6 position With conditions very similar to the previous two days, the third day of racing at the 2025 Suzuki ILCA Master European Championships in Hayling Island concluded with two new races added to the score, bringing the total to six as scheduled. Posted on 19 Jun