Photo: CYA Event Coach Rob Douglas engages the Opti fleet in agility activities on Thursday at CYA Sail West
Sunday:
98 Boats entered the two days of racing on Lake Wabamun, with most fleets seeing 6 races.
The fleets were strong!
- 31 Lasers
- 23 Laser Radials
- 8 Laser 4.7s
- 21 Optimist Dinghies
- 10 Opti Green Sailors
- 3 29ers
- 2 International 14s
Saturday Report:
Watch the West Wind Blow!
Sail West Started off with superb sailing conditions today in Alberta at Wabamun Sailing Club. Racing began with winds close to 15knots and by mid afternoon at our peak we had a sustained 23knots of wind with at least two recorded gusts of 28knots. The water was mainly choppy, but frequent short rollers came down both courses.
The Echo Course started off on time with thirty Optimists, and eight Laser 4.7’s battling it out in building winds. After three races in the morning, sailors headed ashore for a well deserved lunch break. Sailors on Echo course ranged in age from 6 to 15 years old. After lunch we got right back at it with ever increasing winds. The Green Optimist fleet held their own, but moved their course in shore where local Alberta pros, Peter MacDougall and Kelsey Stroppel, had a lot of fun coaching them in winds as high as 22 knots! Great Job Green Fleeters! The Championship Opti fleet continued to race three more races before heading in to cheers from parents and they came ashore with ear to ear grins. Over the whole day, sailors pushed each other to perform, especially at the start with the fleets getting more and more aggressive, showing a huge improvement in their starting skills.
The Whiskey Course held racing for Lasers, Radials, 29ers, and International 14’s. Each fleet raced six races over the day in challenging wind conditions. Winds oscillated for most of the day until race 5 when it persistently shifted to the right causing some problems for some sailors. The physical fitness needed to perform was evident. One coach commented that today will be a day to remember when looking to motivate sailors through winter fitness. After racing, sailors got a chance to see themselves in a video debrief in the club loft. Everything from boat speed to strategy was discussed, a special thanks to Olympic Coach, Kevin Black for providing his very current and expert point of view on Laser and Radial technique.
We are looking forward to tomorrow, hoping to wake up without sore muscles and to have the same great wind! Thanks Wabamun Sailng Club, Alberta Sailing, and CYA.
Rob Douglas, CYA Event Coach
Thursday Report:
CYA SAIL WEST with U17 Western Sailing Championships is underway!
Day 1 training delivered light air and a delay to afternoon on-water activities. CYA Event Coach Rob Douglas is delivering captivating coaching to all participants - on land and on-water, and optimizing the expertise of provincial and class specialty coaches visiting the Wabamun Sailing Club near Edmonton, Alberta. Over 53 boats are on the water here, with Sailors and Coaches in attendance from BC, SK, MB and host province Alberta!
Sailors aren't the only recipients of prime development training! Coaches are mixing it up to share best practices and Official development is abundant - a Club Judge Seminar is being directed by Event co-Chief Judges Lorne Chapman and David Cramb. IRO and local Peter van Muyden continues to guide developing Race Management Officers who are tending to the two days of racing starting Saturday.
Event Chair Frank Kortbeek and the host organizing commitee is to be commended for encompassing CYA's on-line registration service - brought into place just this year to start the CYA's tracking of Canadian sailing athletes.
