Top Sailor Delivers Coaching to Sailors at Berwick Sailing Club
Sailors of the Laser class dinghy at Berwick Sailing Club were treated to a specialist coaching day at the club on Sunday. The club is part of the 'Activate you Lasers scheme' which is an RYA initiative aimed at supporting clubs to develop their Laser class, encouraging as many Laser sailors to sail as regularly as possible. As part of this, the club is undertaking a number of initiatives to encourage greater participation in the Laser dinghy and sailing as a whole at the club, such as, purchasing more equipment, social events, Laser fleet notice boards etc.
Richard Benson, the RYA's Regional Club Coach who competes at the top level of the Laser sailing circuit, took Berwick's Laser sailors through a whole range of techniques to improve their starting and speed around the course. The course started on land looking at how to improve boat set-up and then progressed onto the water to develop upwind and downwind technical skills. Richard gave coaching on water and video-recorded each sailor so as to give specific feedback when back at the clubhouse. Richard was impressed by the sailing conditions at Berwick where there is the option of estuary sailing as well as sailing in the Spittal Bay area. All participants from experienced to novices came away from the course having learned something. The day was entirely funded through the generous support of the RYA, The UK Laser Association, Laser Performance and Sport England.
One of the clubs 'Activated' Laser sailors "really enjoyed Richard's passion about sailing and his enthusiasm was very apparent. His skill as a coach was impressive. We all learnt an incredible amount in one day session. Richard's video feedback sessions were extremely useful. Many thanks for organising this very successful day."
For more information on sailing visit our sailing/windsurfing pages.
