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by Richard Pye
Over the Spring and Summer period I offered to deliver race coaching to members of the Draycote RS Aero fleet should there be demand. To my relief the offer was well supported and during 2025 coaching was provided on a 1-2-1 basis for 9 members of the fleet over 13 days.
The principle of 1-2-1 coaching was to get dedicated, sailor specific and targeted tuition to cover areas both the sailor felt they wanted to improve upon, as well as opportunities to improve that were spotted during the course of the day.
Each session would start the week before, with a digital exchange of views on areas the sailor and I felt they could gain most from a day’s coaching. The day itself would typically start with a quick on shore briefing where it’s easier to explain what exercises we were going to practice, as well as discuss some of the more technical aspects that may be covered.
The on-the-water sessions were typically 60-90 minutes in the morning, with a lunch break followed by a second on-water session. Finally, in the days following the session a relatively in-depth analysis of the day’s coaching was delivered digitally of areas that were covered, ways to improve, and aspects that were already going well.
Each sailor was considered individually, and the needs of each training day were wildly different, sometimes to match the experience of the individual, but also to match the conditions on the day.
We covered topics as wide ranging as being able to launch and stay confident in wind strengths stronger than the sailor felt they could possibly manage prior – which has definitely brought instant reward. This involved stabilising the boat using control lines, boat trim and sail setting.
Another day it could be start line tactics and boat handling – or wind shift recognition, how to maximise gains, and sail the fleet and not the boat closest to you.
Feedback from many has been consistent. Having started racing either following on from a training course, or moving from crewing to helming sometimes years before, they have never had coaching since. Some, what may seem simple pointers, such as boat/sail setting adjustments or tactical suggestions, have at times been described as game changers to the understanding of those receiving the training.
Should the club RS Aero fleet be receptive, I have every intention to again offer the 1-2-1 race coaching in 2026.
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