Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

Tel: 01702 587 563

This is a taster of the session, a lot more has been covered. I plan to post more on YouTube step by step.

Dear Cadets and Parents,

Thames Estuary Yacht Club is organising their regular Open Junior Race.

Our Cadet Committee is strongly supporting the event, we believe that this would be a great opportunity to do something exciting, especially in the view of the great progress of our cadets regularly participating in Pico Racing.

This is rather a short notice, and at present we do not have much details. I approached the Club and will provide more information as soon as I can.

This event needs considerable planning and logistical effort . It would be very helpful to know, how many of you are keen to participate, so that we could make every possible effort to make this a great success. We will need to transport the boats there.

Cadets, this is going to be great fun, big event, meeting other cadets, showing what you learnt and seeing what you can learn from others. Do not be shy, you will love every minute of it. Talk to your friends, go for it.

Parents, we all need your support, more than ever.

I hope to hear from keen sailors and parents soon:

Andras

Andras Gal
Pico class captain

Dear Cadets and Parents,

We are doing the training with Nick tomorrow, as it was too windy today. We plan to meet at 15:30 just to change and rig and get going. Launch the boats at 16:30, before the club race. Lewis volunteered to escort us with his RIB. We did the classroom discussion this afternoon. We had 12 cadets on the theory session. Tomorrow the forecast suggests more pleasant wind. I hope you all could join in.

See you on the water:

Andras

Plan:

– Change, and rig the boats straight away
– We will set a triangular course on the water near club mark 3.
– Cadets leave beach at 16.30
– Sailors sail straight to the start line.
– Warm up: figure of 8 around the start line
– Tacking on the whistle towards the windward mark
– One lap of the course, concentrating on sail position/trim (include 5 essentials as appropriate). RIB is going to support sailors with advice.
– Three 2 lap races, small triangular course.
– De-briefing 18.15 – 18.30 Sail Training Room

Please, see our YouTube channel:
TBYCPicofleet
relevant videos:
start signals
figure of 8 course
triangular course
start practice

Dear Cadets and Parents,

Please come to Pico Race Training with Nick Alston and Andras Gal

24th of September, Saturday.

Meeting at 3 pm:
in the Sail Training Room, at the back of the club
(do not change, do not rig yet)

Discussion about the drills.
Changing and rigging.
going afloat at 4:30 pm

training, drills, mini practice races

Focus: sailing around the course, sail setting at different points of sailing.
Sailing fast.

De-briefing 18.15 – 18.30 Sail Training Room

I hope to see you all.

Andras
Andras Gal
Pico Class Captain

Please, see our YouTube channel:
TBYCPicofleet

Race officer: Scott Weller
(Sadly I have to work this weekend.)

Please, support Scott full heartedly, I am sure he would welcome help with the marks, boards, recording results, helping sailors to launch from the beach.

Start planned soon after 12:00 to avoid adverse tide

Proposed meeting on the slipway: 12:00
please, change and rig your boats on the beach

Briefing on the slipway 12:00
Triangular course. Please, all stay in the racing area to enable prompt starting

Please, see our YouTube channel:
TBYCPicofleet

Further events:

2 October 12:00 Sun Autumn 7 & 8

Pico Race Training planned for the
24 September, Saturday with Nick Alston and me
(start on the water planned for 16:30)

Andras Gal

Pico Class Captain

Debrief
Pico race: 10/09/2016 Saturday, start at 16:30

It was windy, onshore wind, big, rolling waves, wind around 20 miles/hour, but relatively steady. The weather was cloudy, but to my surprise eager cadets arrived and rigged. We had 6 boats signed up for racing.

On the briefing we planned 2 races, 2 laps each. I emphasised the recommended waiting area and start technique, which we discussed a few times previously (training with Nick, it is on YouTube as well). At the end we planned to do a drill, asking the boats to come and stop at our committee boat, Polly. I gave a hint that it is going to be worth paying a visit.

Continue Reading »

Dear Cadets and Parents,

Next Pico race is tomorrow, Saturday, on the 10th of September, Autumn 3 & 4
Any boat with cadets or adults is welcome.

Start at 16:30 on the water

I recommend that you plan to arrive between 15:30 – 16:00
please, change and rig your boats

Briefing on the beach at 16:20
Launching, follow the leader
Triangular course will be set little west off Piranha beach
offshore start line between pencil marks with red and green flags
Please, all stay in the racing area to enable prompt starting
wait on the right side close to the starboard pin of the start line (green flag)
2 laps, each race

Focus:
identify and wait at the starting area
visit me, come and stop at Polly (motorboat)

Please, see our YouTube channel: TBYCPicofleet

Triangular course
Starting
Start signals

See you on the water

Andras
Pico class captain

Next weekend the race is on the 18th of September, Sunday. I will not be there, sadly I have to work, but Scott very kindly agreed to organise the race. Start time is planned for 12:00 pm.

Next Pico race dates:

18 September   12:00 Sun    Autumn 5 & 6
2 October          12:00 Sun  Autumn 7 & 8

Pico Race Training planned for the  24 September, Saturday 16:30 with Nick Alston and me

Video – UK Cadet 2016 Class National Championship 2016

Here’s a glimpse at what it’s like to take part in the Cadet Class National Championship at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) which took place last week.

Ben Warrington GBR 8541 & Katy Lloyd GBR 9029 were part of the 50+ fleet last week. If you think your children would enjoy participating at this level with entrants from Belgium & the Netherlands contact Howard Warrington or myself and we would be delighted to tell you more about life in the Cadet Class – for children & adults.

Dear Cadets and Parents,

Next Pico race is on Bank Holiday Monday, 29th of August, 2016
Any boat with cadets or adults is welcome.

Start at 09:50 on the water

Proposed meeting in the dinghy park: 8:30 – 9:00
please, change and rig your boats

Briefing on the beach at 9:40
Launching, follow the leader to explore the course
Triangular course will be set little west off Piranha beach
offshore startline between pencil marks with red and green flags
Please, all stay in the racing area to enable prompt starting
wait on the right side close to the starboard pin of the start line (green flag)
2 laps, each race

Please, see our YouTube channel:
TBYCPicofleet

Triangular course
Starting
Start signals

See you on the water

Andras

Andras Gal
Pico class captain

Dear Cadets and Parents,

Start at 09:20 on the water
Proposed meeting in the dinghy park: 8:30 – 9:00
please, change and rig your boats first
Briefing on the beach at 9:10
Triangular course little west off Piranha beach,
committee boat start (Polly and pencil marks)
2 laps, each race
Please, see our YouTube channel for tutorials:
starting signals, starting tutorial and triangular course
TBYCPicofleet

See you on the water:

Andras