RORC Easter Challenge

March 30, 2012

This sunday, on April 1st, Harry will host a party for WINSOME. Shortly after her crew will fly to Southampton and head for Cowes. The RORC Easter Challenge, due to take place on the Solent over the first three days of the Easter Bank Holiday (6-8 April), will offer WINSOME and her crew the opportunity to jump start her 40th sailing anniversity.

As well as being the first fixture in the RORC’s UK racing calendar, the RORC Easter Challenge doubles as a start of season training event, with on the water coaches providing immediate advice followed by expert post-race video debriefs in the Events Centre in Cowes Yacht Haven. In fact the coaching element of the regatta is taken so seriously that the Racing Rules of Sailing are modified for the event permitting coaches or sailmakers to climb on board during racing if, for example, a crew requests some expert assistance with their sail trim or rig set-up.
Last year we were all ferrets of the ‘sailing couch’ Jim Saltonstall. This year the coaching is being spearheaded by Barry Dunning.  Every race day they will do their coaching out on the water, come back and then do a debrief, with video of the starting and answering any questions. This year they will even organise practice starts, have they been looking at the J22’s? A class which has a couple of restarts and black flags, adds to the excitement. Last year we missed judgement of the line, our last race in Cowes. Harry bought Floris a pair of glasses and fed him some fibres and proteins to make him grow another foot or so. Regretfully, Floris didn’t grow in height…….. Anyway, with more practice starts, more bang for Harry’s buck and practice for us. For us, we are looking forward to coming season. We will be sailing in the same configuration as last year, promising to say the least.

Aside from being the first RORC race of the year in the UK, plus the coaching opportunity, the long range forecast is also suggesting sun and a light to moderate breeze, so the RORC Easter Challenge is lining up to be a perfect way to ease into the sailing season. We will keep you posted!

Joost