A great day on and off the water

Instructors, coaches and others involved in delivering training spent a great day on and off the water at Rockley Watersports for the SW Regional Training Day 2023. 

The day focused on making training a great experience for participants through a person-centred approach. The onshore break-out sessions in the morning showed that while the group already had an understanding of this approach, there was still lots to learn and, most especially, share with each other.

It was a very windy day, so the on-water dinghy sessions took place in two large groups, rather than the planned five small groups, in order to get as much as possible from the challenging conditions. One participant commented: “It was great to get a reminder of how short, sharp sessions are impactful - we fitted four sessions into the afternoon. We should do more of this style at the club.”

The wingsurfing group included a good mix of ages, and both men and women, and while they started off looking very unstable in the wind, they were soon planing very effectively. Meanwhile, the powerboaters had fun managing displacement boats in the wind. They learned some top tips about spending more time on the water during Powerboat Level 2 courses. If you would like to know more about this, the RYA SW team would love to visit your club and help out with some instructor support – contact RDO Rob Howlett. 

Another participant said afterwards: “I have already encompassed the suggestions made into our paperwork and delivery syllabus. Always good to have a perspective that makes us think about what we are delivering and how to change for the better.”

Thanks go to all the trainers who delivered on the day, as well as to Rockley Watersports for hosting and keeping everyone supplied with tea, biscuits, doughnuts and cake as well as a lovely hot lunch!