.....BHYC SAIL TRAINING WEEK REPORT ... 
by Richard Coleman
What a pleasure it was to be part of this year's 2008 BHYC Sail Training Week!
Watching 89 keen young people and adults studying hard in their theory classes in the morning session and then seeing the great armada of boats with the 36 helpers and instructors hitting Bembridge bay in the afternoon – quite a sight!
The start of the week was a ‘baptism of fire' with the weather providing a challenging Force 4 with intermittent rain showers. But this did not deter the sailors who seemed to revel in the conditions and took shelter along the coast from Priory bay along Forelands beach almost to the lifeboat station. By midweek, the weather had settled and we all enjoyed a steady force 3 at the start of the day demising to a force 1 by the end of the sailing day. These varied conditions provided excellent learning conditions for all. By the end of the week, all groups looked like the ‘synchronised swimming teams' at the Beijing Olympics all after the Gold medal!
This year we introduced a ‘floating dock pontoon' in the bay, kindly provided by Chris Attrill, which really did transform our on-water ability in both training and safety function.
One of key elements we are now seeing is the continuity of sailing skills developing in our younger sailors who have participated in the ongoing training session throughout the year i.e. the Oppie and Hotshots sessions. It is the progressive development of skills we want to continue to develop this year. We have a RYA Racing Coach this week at BHYC to train 12 of our nominated ‘Hot Shots'. Garry Smart will update you on the success of this course next week.
There were a lot of course helpers and skilled instructors, which contributed to the overall success of the week. Jerry Summers & Chris Wilkinson have received their Senior Instructors qualification this year. In addition, eleven new Assistant Instructors earned their tickets this week thereby allowing them to develop as future dinghy instructors.
Charlea-May Preece, Rhianna Summers, Ollie Coleman, Charlie Howard, Tim Mitchell, Sam Ford-Moore, John Carter, Peter Hudson, John Garlick, Bryn Davies and Robin Lobb
This year's instructors, courses and winners were as follows:
• Garry Smart – Chief Instructor
• Roger Herbert - Level One Introduction to Sailing using Wayfarers 18 students – Winner Jake Morrow
• Jerry Summers - Level Two Course 14 students – Winner Joseph Norman
• Chris Wilkinson –Seamanship Course 15 students – Winner Zak Chiverton
• David Mitchell - Level 2 Adults Course 10 students – Winner Jane Holt
• Georgie Smith –Improvers Course 8 students
• Alex Nock and Chris Mead – Start Sailing Stage 1 & 2 with 24students
Overall winner and runner up across these two groups - Siobhan Quinn and James Wilshaw runner up
• Overall prize goes to Richard Jackson with Isabelle Jensen runner up.
Chris Rashley, our 2012 Olympic Sailing hopeful, attended the group's sessions inspiring the students about his 49er campaign and his sailing career path from a youngster at BHYC. Chris and his crew will be joining us later in the year to provide a demonstration of his sailing skills to all the club members.
The ‘on water support' was excellent with over 19 support boats in attendance. Many of these vessels were owned by club members who lent their boats and gave up their week's holiday to provide this essential function.
A big thank you goes to all helpers and instructors on the water. The more we can develop our own numbers the more qualified help we will gain over the coming years.
Other key support members who contributed massively to the event were Robin Lobb our Bosun who has worked throughout the year, let alone the week, to maintain and ensure every sailor has a seaworthy boat. Ray Hurst (Elvis to his friends) together with his young trainee – ‘Gordon Osborne', our Commodore as crew providing safety support.
The ‘on land radio' co-ordination headed by Roy Knight and Dicky Wirdnam in the Race office brought a new level of radio etiquette and precision to the Eastern Solent during the week.
Sara Smith, who co-ordinates the Training programme throughout the year, was liaising with groups and manning the administration onshore and, together with a massive effort from Garry Smart, gave us a great event.
The catering and bar staff provided us with great fare throughout the week.
Finally, a big thank you to Annabella Rogers who has worked hard again this year organising the event. Unfortunately Annabella took ill and could not attend the event itself. We all wish her well with her recovery and look forward to showing her the 300 ish photographs, taken by Richard Hounsfield in the coming weeks – Thank you from us all Annabella and we look forward to seeing you at the Club very soon !
Look out later this week for new sailing courses being planned – we want you all to keep up the sailing skills throughout the year – we still have 4 months of the year to go before the Christmas Turkey!
Richard Coleman
Training Centre Principal, BHYC
........................Click here for pictures of the adult beginner's course
.Click here for pictures of the Oppie course
Click here for pictures of the Wayfarers and 420s
Click here for pictures of the Picos and Toppers
