Final thoughts
A couple of weekends ago Learn to Race concluded for this summer season. I would like to congratulate all our LTR sailors for their continued participation, and in the spirit of the course I hope you all have been reflecting on your own personal journey, whether you were at camp, training or enjoying adventures with friends!
It has been my intention to help you all find your footing in the sport through this course, and I hope you are at least beginning to appreciate all there is out there to discover and enjoy in sailing.
I now bring you all back to the main point I made on zoom at the start of the course: that racing is about revelling in overcoming personal challenges (with a healthy mindset) and sharing this with a community (At FBYC, these are the sailors you race against). Mastering these elements brings a real buzz to the sport that I have enjoyed sharing with you all this season.
When it comes to mindset, I used terms such as persistence, resilience, bravery, critical reflection and self belief. All our LTR kids have had challenges this season where their ability to draw on these traits have been tested. Please take some time to remember when or where this may have been for you, and talk to your parents about what you did, and how it made you feel, good or bad. I hope most of you will be proud of the way you have applied these traits to your sailing - I certainly am proud of what I’ve seen achieved by all of you this season.
When it comes to community, I mentioned that sharing the experience, play and community itself is equally what racing is about. The LTR camp, the fun had at Nationals, and the Clarks Beach adventure sail come to mind for me. Was there a time when you were glad to share an experience with your fellow sailors, either on the racetrack or just messing about? I hope both parents and kids have all experienced and learned the value of sharing your sailing experience with others this season.
In LTR this season you have all been in this process of experiencing, reflecting and learning. To be a dinghy sailor for life, you need only master this process and value sharing in it with your community. A desire to improve your technique, learn the intricacies of the sport, and make better decisions soon follows, and I am already seeing this in our kids. Keep going, and I am eager to see what next season holds…
I appreciate all the support I have received this season and thank all the families for supporting what I teach by buying boats, turning up and volunteering. You rock!
What’s Next?
WINTER SAILING
We continue to sail on days in our winter calendar.
Note the format during winter is more ‘casual’. Coaches may be available and there might be RIB cover, however it is up to members to step up and make it happen, and we will not be rostering. I will pop down for a sail with you every now and then.
So other than being wary of the conditions and not taking any risks in challenging conditions (although it you have RIB cover, go nuts!), I encourage you all to continue to practice at least once a month if you are joining us next summer.
I also encourage parents, in the spirit of FBYC, to maybe take some time to bake something for our sailors, or get MOSS qualified (info will appear in newsletter) and join us on the water in order to support the community.
The primary means for communication will be through our club WhatsApp which you can join here. We will also continue to send updates through our newsletter.
Boat upgrades
As all of you know, winter is a good time to consider if it is the right time to move into a new boat. Bodyweight is often the go-to metric to decide, however there are many other factors (such as boredom, whether you are lanky or vertically challenged, personal needs/goals, group size and friends) to consider that are equally as important. It’s best to just give me a call to discuss your options.
For those who are looking for a boat after talking through the options, I have set up a WhatsApp group where we will post good deals we find online, as well as allow members to advertise their gear. Feel free to advertise your boat if you are selling - Graduated KLTS families are joining the group too.
Next Summer
Just a heads up - We are expecting around 30 boats to be in LTR next season. In order to cope, and to be able to provide good coaching, we will likely have to split the group by class and operate over a few days, including after-school sessions.
If you are intending to do LTR next summer, please let me know. Once I know the shape of our groups I will then put work into organising a new format that covers all your needs as best as possible.
There are still plenty of opportunities for us to enjoy being a whole group, including camp, club racing, attending regattas, adventure sails and social events and so on. Without COVID in the way, we should also have 3 more months of sailing to enjoy with plenty of time to relax, learn and have fun.
HAPPY TO TALK ANYTIME
I am always helping people find a place in the Club where they can make the most of the opportunities we have on offer. The best thing is to just get in touch and have a yarn. 022 533 1906 on mob or whatsapp, or hamish318@gmail.com.
Thanks for your participation this year!
Hamish on behalf of the rest of the FBYC coaching team