Don't forget that next w/e we have the Sport Relief Mile Challenge during the all squads session at HISC- all participating boats to sign up and bring £10 minimum (feel free to bring more!!!).

An excellent report by Oli Cutbill & Cam Stewart on last w/e training. With luck they can organise for a camera to permanently follow Robert Masterman!

"Day 1 brought out the competitive element within all the sailors as a series of three races took place in the Hayling Bay. Winds were far from perfect but allowed for some interesting and tactical racing. Robert Masterman took the first of a long list of swims to the hilarity of all concerned! During the racing, Emily Peters with crew Alice Masterman performed exceptionally well under pressure to take an emphatic race victory, and their consistency was rewarded with first place in the series.

The afternoon then brought heavier winds and more sunshine, which then presented the sailors with an opportunity for high speeds and exhilarating reaches across the harbour. The day was rounded off by a debrief that involved various amusing and impressive video footage consisting of both Fevas and disabled trapezing experts!

Day 2 dawned significantly windier then Day 1, with wind speeds peaking at around 25 knots. On the water, the sailors were split into two groups; one group gaining confidence reaching in heavy winds, and another practising downwind kite work. Despite various altercations that were had with the effervescent waves (Robert Masterman featuring heavily once again!) the morning was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The confidence shown by the sailors in the morning allowed a course to be set and three races to be run. Robert Masterman and Suzie Peters performed spectacularly and secured first place after three very consistent races. Emily Peters/Alice Masterman and the brotherly duo of Will and Piers Nichols finished second.

Overall the weekend was a great success with all gaining great confidence in windy conditions, and we looks forward to seeing everyone in 2 weeks time where we believe that there will be over 70 boats and 140 people training at Hayling which should be great fun for all."

SZS enjoying balmy conditions for some pre Big Get Together preparation.

Here's the big stare into the distance! "The lake was last seen over there..."

Starting? I suppose you get what the NZS did last w/e at Draycote with Andy Walsh...

The focus for the penultimate North feza zone squad W/e was Starting tactics and 1st beat strategy.  The guys rattled through around 40 starts over the weekend, practicing different approaches to the line, checking for line bias and making a race plan ready to tell their coach for each start.  For the final afternoon session the sailors could pick any exercises they wanted to work on, and they picked starting!!! along pressure boat handling.  Racing against 60 other boats in HISC in two weekends time, probably had a lot to do with their decision!

A remarkably quick turnaround on the speed freak front. In 2007 James Lavery and Hamish Ellis claimed a 50 meter speed of 15.87 kts in between HISC and Emsworth. Can anyone top that?? William and Luke still lead in the proper junior category given that James is an adult!

WHilst I was reminiscing yesterday about the dinghy show (and I was proud by the way about the youngsters on the stand - they did extremely well!) the NZS 7 SZS were hard at work. I clear forgot to mention of course that the Chichester Habour lot at HISC were also being put through their paces. Now I happen to know from standing on a rugby touchline in Chichester that today was not only sunny. It was definitely fairly breezy too and that breeze was well chilly. Now I don't suppose th\t the temperature really stopped any Feva sailors (from any of the 3 squads out today) from strutting their stuff. I know it didn't stop the fun down at HISC cos William & Luke from Bough Beech and in the SZS had a GPS on board. That GPS logged these two at 10.6kts. The question is does anybody else have a GPS assessed Feva at a speed greater than 10.6kts???

The dinghy show at Alexandra Palace was excellent today. Couldn't quite work out how come our car only had two adults in it on the way up. Oh yes, remember now. Stacks of the younger versions had decided to come up by train. After an easy hassle free trip those from the Emsworth area got there some four hours later. Another success there then. The show was crammed with people from all over. It seemed just like any other squad w/e really! Jon P was up to his normal tricks with people arriving to buy a shackle and leaving with an entire new boat! Oh la la! The weather seemed outstanding and I only hope our keen RYA zone squadders had a great time too. Only 2 weeks to the Great Gathering at HISC!

The wind had moderated a little bit when this video was shot of the fleet running back to the club for reheating and lunch. Still get a good idea of balance and speed - like hunting in a pack, total control and keeping the bow up. Beautiful technique by every one of them. Gorgeous. Just smell the adrenaline and get high on it!

I hooted when I saw it. Couldn't believe my eyes. Before first launch on Sunday morning at Grafham there were sailors in batches doing vigorous warm ups before going afloat. I've never seen such keen physical jerks from the sailors before. No surpise I suppose with windchill of -4 or -5. The really surprising thing though was that they did it of their own bats without a coach telling them to do so.

Anyway, here is a gentle scene of down wind work from the Saturday and Ed doing his best to remain cool.