This is what sailing is all about!... and makes the HYC Fruitbowl Regatta the best dinghy sailing training opportunity around.
The past two days supplied challenging conditions for all levels with 15 to 20 kt winds. Competition was extensive in all fleets with 25-420 entries; 53 Lasers and 45 Optis.
For the Lasers, the theory acquired in the structured coach sessions was first aplied during the first day was perfected the second . Coaches Rosie Chapman (Member, British Olympic Development Team, Nova Scotia Team Sailing Head Coach), Greg Clunies (The Ontario Quest for Gold Sailing Team), Lee Parkhill (The Canadian Sailing Team in Lasers) said that they saw massive improvement from the first to second day. Specifically the second day showed the fleet sailing as a tighter group effectively applying what they had learned. All competitors tried hard to improve what they had learned and no one dropped out. Notably improvement was shown for downwind boat handling with less "submarining' and starts that had the fleet together "on-line".
The Opti fleet was a diverse group that was broken down into smaller groups. The instruction led by coach Robin Blanchard (Head coach for the Quebec Sailing Team for several years, recently training coach and instructor at CYA Learning Facility) focussed on upwind and downwind boat handling and more specifically mark rounding. The mark rounding covered the rules applicable during crowded conditions.
We expect Saturday and Sunday conditions to be equally challenging, and we are anxious - especially our competitors - to get out and show what we can do with what has been learned and applied. This is the 2011 Hudson Yacht Club Mini Mont-Royal Fruitbowl Regatta and this is what sailing is all about -learning how to sail better under the most challenging conditions.
Welcome visiting clubs and good luck to all sailors!
Submitted by Hubert Bourque
