The first coaching day of 2009 will be held at Toddbrook SC in Whaley Bridge on Saturday 4th of April. The Toddbrook Enterprise open will be held on the following day. Contact Alison Payne for more information.
Photograph taken at last years coaching day
Coaching in 2008
Three coaching days were held in the NW in 2008.
- At Toddbrook on 5th of April with Mike Birch
- A junior training day at Winsford with Mike Birch on 19th of April
- At Elton on 4th of October with Peter Lawson and Olympic coach Paul Brotherton
. The junior training day was run with two aims in mind, (i) to get our young sailors used to sailing crewed boats, and (ii) to prepare them for the Junior 12 Hour Race. An additional hope was that the event would encourage some to take part in the Enterprise Youth Nationals at Barnt Green later in the year. The weather was awful, with a strong, cold easterly blowing. But all had such a great time, they were still going full bore when it came time to pack up. Mike Birch was again the truly wonderful coach. You can see what the participants thought of the day by reading Brianna Biggins' article below.
Youths coaching day at Winsford – 19th of April
We arrived at Winsford Flash Sailing Club, for our training day for the twelve hour race. It was a rainy and cold day, however; there was a lot of wind – almost too windy. Mike Birch, our instructor, who is a very talented sailor, helped us rig the boats and told us our course. When we went out onto the water, we were all in pairs, and started to follow the figure of eight course. We were being filmed as we all sailed along so we were able to see what we were doing right and wrong – to improve. Each of us got to have a go with Mike; it was now my turn. He made me feel a lot calmer and relaxed about how windy it was. He made it seem like a piece of cake or as he would say “you could get your chocolate biscuits out now.” He told us that; “sailing is for fun so enjoy it, don’t be afraid because you lose out when you are afraid, some make it into professionals who win the championship but not everyone.” One boat did go over on Saturday and unfortunately I was on that boat. Luckily no one got wet though and we got over the side then back into it very quickly. I know that everybody enjoyed the day and people are still coming up to me telling me how much fun it was.
Brianna Biggins
Chester S&CC
Mike Birch explains how to set up an Enterprise
Tommy Hall and Panny Downes keep the boat flat
Air flow over the sail with Mike
