North West Area Training
Open Coaching Events 2017/18
Each year we organise an Open Coaching programme for the region's Topper sailors. Open Coaching is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills alongside other Topper sailors. It aims to increase sailors’ skills, confidence and enjoyment in Topper sailing. The coaching will focus on racing skills and racing practice, but will also cover fitness, diet and nutrition.
Open Coaching Dates 2017/18
| Date | Club | Head Coach | Focus of Training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat. 02nd December | Hollingworth Lake SC | Curtis Mearns | Boat Setup & Boat Handling |
| Sat. 27th January | Leigh & Lowton SC | Curtis Mearns | Boat Handling |
| Sat. 17th February | Elton SC | Curtis Mearns | Basics of Starting |
| Sat. 17th March | Hollingworth Lake SC | Curtis Mearns | Boat Setup & Boat Handling |
| Sat. 14th April | Bolton SC | Curtis Mearns | Tactics & "Big Picture Thinking" |
| 29th, 30th & 31st May | Leigh & Lowton SC | TBC |
Boat set up, boat handling and boat speed |
| Sat. 6th October | Pennine SC | Curtis Mearns |
RYA North Zone Squad Indicator Training |
An email with details of each coaching day will be sent out a few weeks ahead of the date for that event. The coaching events can be entered via the ITCA (GBR) websites Event Entry system Early entry is greatly appreciated, as this allows us to get the best coach to sailor ration for the day which we consider to be 1 : 6.
Provided there are sufficient numbers, sailors will be divided into groups of similar ability for part of the day's training. This helps the less experienced sailors work on one set of goals, while the more experienced sailors may work on slightly different goals.
The specific objectives for each coaching day are based on the RYA's Start Racing programme. Examples include mark rounding, starting technique, boat handling, wind strategy, boat on boat tactics, together with specialist techniques for setting up a topper in various conditions. As well as briefing and on-the-water training, we usually include coaching games and some friendly racing to help practice what has been learnt.
Our Open Coaching days normally start at 09:30am and finish around 4:30pm, depending on the light and conditions. Sailors are asked to have their boats rigged and be in the training room for 09:30am, but are requested not to change into sailing gear until they are asked to do so by the coaches. It is essential that all sailors wear appropriate clothing to keep them warm when wet, as it can be cold during the winter months.
Training at Your Local Club
If there are sufficient sailors at your local club, the Area can arrange for an experienced topper coach to provide a day's coaching.
RYA Topper North Zone
This is training organised by the RYA and usually consists of a squad of 12 to 18 boats that training over 6 weekends from November through to May. The squad is selected over a short series of race and training events during September and is open to sailors under the age of 14 years old on 31st December. More details about RYA squads can be found here
The North Zone Squad training events for 2017/18 are listed below:
Land Day 05th November Leeds Trinity University
ZS1 18/19 November Pennine Sailing Club
ZS2 9/10 December Leigh & Lowton Sailing Club
ZS3 3/4 February West Kirby Sailing Club
ZS4 10/11 March Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club
ZS5 21/22 April South Shields Sailing Club
ZS6 26/27/28 May Pwllheli Joint Camp
For more information contact:
Mark Platt
Mobile: 07967 679670
