Goal Setting Priorities –

Many of you will be in hibernation over winter, but with days starting to get more sunlight and the winds picking up, now is the time to start planning for the upcoming season.

Below is the 6-month campaign priority graph we are using at the SoPYC Academy, culminating in various Nationals in January, for our training squads.  The focus forms the basis and priorities of our syllabus.  Feel free to use it as a guide for your own goals.

Some key points:

Psychology

We know psychology and decision-making is imperative at regattas.  That is why it is ranked as the number one priority for events and gradually builds up from August.

Below is a link to Ash Barty’s mindset coach, which I highly recommend.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/ash-barty-sports-mentor-ben-crowe/13418314

Ben recommends:

  • Not worrying about things you cannot change, focus on those you can.
  • Have a good memory to refer to (your happiest childhood memory)
  • Know who you are before setting your goals.
  • Encourage children by letting them know how much you enjoy watching them play, sail, train,..

Boat Handling is an easy one to work on without boats around and before racing starts.  We suggest two peaks the priority of boat handling. One very early on as you can’t work on speed or racing without it.  A second focus closer to the racing events to sharpen up those skills.

Speed is the magic bullet everyone wants.  It influences your racing.  Sail selection and settings ideally are dialed in before racing, allowing you to fine-tune.  Get used to always sailing fast. Experiment with speed and height modes to obtain the best VMG.

Boatwork is always essential.  Try not to do boat work on Race Days before a race.  Fix everything before it breaks.  There are usually signs.

Fitness Now is the time to start if you have not.  Being at the correct weight, strong, agile, and injury-free will allow you to sail with good technique and think clearly.

Starting too get fit close to regattas, won’t give you the same benefit and will likely cause injury.

For August the Top Priorities are:

  1. Fitness
  2. Boat Handling

True Sport

This weeks Value is Show Respect  #SHOWRESPECT

Show respect for everyone involved in creating a sporting experience, both on the water and off.

Win with dignity and lose with grace.

Find the joy of sport and have a good time.

Keep a positive attitude and look to make a positive difference, on the water and in your community/club environment.

Women’s Keelboat Development

I had the pleasure of taking training for our Women’s Keelboat session on the weekend in a beautiful warm northerly wind around 15 knots.  We focused on trimming skills and listening to the sailors in the debrief they got the following out of the session:

  • Teamwork
  • Winch Technique
  • Vang Sheeting
  • Communications
  • Trimming Skills – Looking at Twist and how to achieve the desired changes

The focus was what to do when a gust hits. The stronger wind (True Wind – Red line) initially wants to heel a boat over, so sails need to be adjusted to allow the boat to go forward. This then builds speed (Green line) and the apparent wind and the resultant vector (Purple line) eventually moves forward and allowing a retrim on.

Using vang, backstay, cunningham in addition to sheeting, all play a role in initially adjusting to the gust hitting, and then the speed.

The converse of boats not adjusting their trim is heeling over, slowing down, and going sideways. NOT FAST

Always get speed first and height will come through lift on foils in the water.

Slow Boat Skills

After viewing a nameless S80 trying to avoid crashing into the RIB’s last week, 4 times, it reminded me of how sailing around the jetties and pens relies on very refined slow boat control skills in order to adapt quickly to the turbulent, disturbed wind so I thought it worth mentioning how to stop your boat and control it at slow speeds.

The key message, which applies to all-size boats, is if you are going to sail backwards or stop your boat, when close to head to wind, whichever side you push the boom is the way the bow will turn.

It is definitely a challenging skill and worth spending the time to practice in some clear space to make things easier and reduce avoidable collisions!

Have a Great Week

Denis :)