Junior Race Coaching *FIRST TIME RACING* Provisional
These coaching sessions are designed for sailors who have already developed a good footing in basic sailing skills. Sailors need to be competent to sail a triangular course (tacking and gybing) in most conditions and able to recover a capsize without assistance. The RYA Stage 3 certificate demonstrates this level of competence.
Unlike the RYA courses, these sessions are booked on a week by week basis. Sessions are only available to DRSC members, and are generally aimed towards children with access to their own boat. Depending on other activities at the club - a club boat may be available but please do not presume this. While it is not strictly necessary to sail a specific type of boat, these sessions are always better when there are several of the same class of boat sailing together. Please talk to us about the best options if you are thinking of buying a boat.
If you haven't sailed at one of these sessions before - we ask that you come to one of our "first time racing" sessions - this means we don't have new people turning up each week, and we can get on the water quicker.
Sessions will run MOST, but not all Saturdays (see below). Sessions will normally start at 2pm (rigged and ready) - with a briefing next to the garage. Sailors will Usually be on the water until around 4pm - but if the conditions are great we will stay out longer. (If the conditions are great we may also invite people to start earlier).
We will typically sail when there is enough wind to get moving and in conditions to gusts of 25-30mph depending on the experience, number of sailors and type of boats being sailed (Optimists are surprisingly capable in strong winds). If the weather is not suitable we may still meet to do some land activities.
Parental support: depending on conditions we may require a second adult on a RIB, and someone to help with launch and recovery/hold a radio ashore. We will be using the volunteer function on the website to ask volunteer for their help.
Experienced junior support: junior sailors who have been members of the RYA Regional Training Group and are over 14 years of age are welcome to come and help with a session. You will improve your sailing by explaining it to others and sailors will gain from your valuable experience
Important Dates:
We are not scheduling coaching sessions on Bank Holiday Weekends. If the weather is good, sailors and coaches are available we may reconsider this nearer the time.
We are planning to attend three of the North East Youth Travellers events as a team: Our own event at Derwent (21st May) plus South Shields (12th June) and Teesdale (9th July). We will obviously make decisions nearer the time driven by the weather. Sailors can of course attend all the events in the series, but we know a few Derwent sailors are planning to attend these three and therefore there will hopefully be a friendly face if it is your first time attending an open event.
In addition we hope to keep our record attendances at the RYA Region Junior Championships. This year's event moves to June and will be hosted at Ullswater. (18th - 19th June)
Optimists are our largest Junior Fleet - there are likely to be Derwent Sailors at the major Optimist Events. We are expecting a number of sailors to attend the IOCA National Championships in Largs (Late July/Early August). There will likely be sailors attending RS Feva Events and some of our Youth sailors at 29er and Laser Events. If you have an event you are working towards please let us know if we can help with any specific coaching exercises etc.
Last updated 11:48pm on 19 April 2024
