RMYS

The AWKR begins in less than 10 days and it is looking like a competitive year. With 16 boats entered with crews from far away as NSW, TAS and SA, it really is an Australian competition. Boats at RMYS will be joined by boats from RYCV and RBYC for some exciting on water action.

 

A NSW crew from CYCA will be racing on a J24 in preparation for a competition in August in Manhattan, New York that RMYS will also be attending. The Regatta is conducted on J24s and consists of invited Yacht Clubs from around the world.

 

As always, in preparation for the AWKR RMYS hosted a Sailing Lecture Series over the last 4 weeks and these concluded last night. The standard of speakers was high including an Olympic sailor, VIS coaches and an International Judge!

 

The first speaker for the series was Sarah Ogilvie (previously Blanck), who advised on pre-regatta preparation and strategy. Sarah is best known for her Olympic campaigns in 2004 and 2008 in the Laser Radial. It was a great start to the lecture series having a sailor of such high calibre to share their knowledge. Sarah’s reminded the crowd to keep it simple and give yourself enough time to get on the water before the race to assess the conditions. 

 

Mark Tonner-Joyce’s lecture was Sail trim in light winds. Mark is a State Coach with VIS and proved to those present why he is such a successful and popular coach. Mark got the crowd involved with the help of the crew from ‘Take Five’ demonstrating crew positions during the race and how to move across the deck. Mark reminded us that ‘set and forget’ is not a good way to trim downwind and that you probably have half a tonne of body weight on board your yacht - and that you should use it.

 

Johnny Rodgers presented the important topic of Downwind tactics. Johnny Rodgers showed why he was the VIS Coach of the Year in 2009 with a lecture that had everyone involved from start to finish.  He gave us insight into how hard the sailors at the VIS train to become the best and that the best way to check the day’s forecast is to go outside your house at 4.30am and look up at the sky.  It didn’t matter whether you had been sailing for 6 weeks or 6 years, everyone learnt something new.

 

Last night wrapped up the lecture series with Paul Pascoe’s talk on how to survive a protest.  Paul Pascoe is an International Judge and has worked at the last four Olympics doing IT work. He is currently working on the 2012 London Olympic Games results and news systems.  Paul advised what is needed to go into a protest to give you the best chance of winning, which included reading the rule book before going in.

 

During the lectures $1,247 was raised for the Cancer Council.    We would like to thank our sponsors who contributed to the lecture raffles -  Skydive the beach Melbourne, Palais Theatre, ANCA, Fernwood Fitness St Kilda, Sapore, Rina Reiss Recovery Centre, Lovely Sparrow and Co, Body Care Injury Management, and Aura and Body Centre.  We will continue to run raffles during the Regatta. There are some great prizes on offer including - skydiving, paddle boarding, kite surfing, dinner vouchers, cooking lessons, jewellery and gym memberships, just to name a few.

 

The AWKR will be hosted by RMYS over the Queen’s Birthday weekend, from the 9-11^th of June, and it  is shaping up to be a great event.   So come down and enjoy the atmosphere, we hope to see you there.