SOS - It Just Gets Better Each Week

Well, so far we have had three of the four SOS Training Sessions and last Saturday the weather was just perrrrrrfect, well, once that darn sea mist cleared.  Twenty-five of us took part and, as usual, there were two levels:

Level 1 was Basic Sailing for those not long into this sailing business and Simon Clarke lead us, as Pete Downer couldn’t make it to this one.  Several Toppers and a couple of Topazes were given a beating/running exercise, including a gybe and, having been explained the theory, we were out there giving it our all.  Simon reckoned we were really getting the hang of it- he’s right you know.

 

Level 2 was for Developing Skills and each session has had a “Guest Trainer”.  The first one back in May was with Andy Dunnett who explained about using the controls on our boats to improve performance; the second session in June had Paul Davis taking us through getting a good start, and this July session we had Ken Potts explaining the importance of getting the laylines correct and taking the race marks as close as you can, taking into consideration the tides.  On the water there were Hobie 405’s, Lasers, Topazes and Toppers all practicing on a tight course, as the wind increased from a Force 3 to Force 4 – just brilliant; and we’re pretty sharp now.

 

To round the session off it was boats away and grab a hot-dog or burger – a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon; thanks to Simon, Ken, the two Rescue Boat Teams, the Beachmasters, and Tracy for doing the cooking – Team Gunfleet; the Most on the Coast!!