There was a good turn out for the 3rd Northern Open Feva training at Beaver Sailing Club this weekend with sailors coming from as far as Edinburgh and the Isle of Man – the Scottish contingent even camped out in tents!!!
After the briefing, everyone got rigged and ready and blasted out to meet Dave on the start line to be put through their paces.
It was not long before some masts got stuck in the lovely Beaver mud and the sailors realized how shallow it was when they went swimming whilst gybing in the 40 knot gusts.
Following a hearty lunch provided by the very welcoming club, the sailors gathered in the training room for more top tips from Dave before going out again in slightly lighter conditions for another session on downwind techniques and starting practice.
Sunday morning’s conditions initially appeared lighter than forecasted, but it was not long before the 45 knot gusts arrived. Undaunted by Saturday’s conditions, all the sailors excitedly set off to the start line with the word “transit” still ringing in their ears from the day before!
Clearly whatever Dave had explained appeared to have sunk in as the starts were better and all fought hard up the beat to the windward mark where they nearly took off downwind with their kites up. One local club RS200 sailor commented that he had never seen a feva go that fast before and he used to have one!!!
Following another excellent lunch provided by the Beaver galley, the hardy sailors went out for a final full-on session of short races and it was clear by the end of it that everyone had learnt a great deal from the weekend and were happy gybing downwind in 45 knots.
Thanks go to Beaver Sailing club for use of the excellent training facility and to the parents that helped make the weekend run so smoothly.
The next open training event is at Ullswater Yacht club on the 25 March.