The BKA will comprise of a national squad, with each sailor tailoring their own programme depending upon their experience and future aspirations.
The first weekend of training is the ‘Squad induction’, which will take place on the 9/10th November 2019 at the Port Solent, Portsmouth. This weekend will be a chance to discuss your specific aims and requirements with the coaches. It is also a chance for the coaches to assess and review your sailing skills.
All sailors from the BKA should develop some ability in all positions on a boat. Sailors will want to focus on specific areas to help them move in the direction which they are motivated in. To balance both of these goals, the ‘crew positions’ will be simplified into three areas: Foredeck, Trimmer and Afterguard.
- Foredeck includes: Bow, Mast and Pit.
- Trimmer includes: Pit, Spinnaker Trim, Jib Trim and Main Trim.
- Afterguard includes: Main Trim, Helm and Navigation/Tactics.
Individual modules
Each Sailor will be given training in the following areas:
- Symmetric spinnaker handling - working as a team, boat handling - London
- Match Racing - crew work, boat handling and how to overtake - Weymouth
- Inshore Yacht Racing - bigger teams, basic navigation, boat speed - Portsmouth
- High performance asymmetric - decision making at speed, acceleration - Cowes
Coaches will be aiming to tailor the weekend sessions to your requirements so it is important to let them know what you want to work on in advance.
An additional 'Offshore' module will be available for some sailors, at an additional cost.
Specialist modules
As well as individual modules driving the weekend, there will be ‘shore side’ modules to round off their knowledge about practical keelboat sailing. These may include, but will not be limited to:
- Boat electronics
- Diesel engines
- GRP and alloys
- Rigging, ropes and hardware
- Navigation basics
- Toolbox’s and quick fixes
- Sail making and repairs
Training dates and venues:
| Date |
Venue |
Boats |
| 9/10 November 2019 |
Squad Induction weekend (Port Solent) |
First 40 |
| 14/15 December 2019 |
Symmetric spinnaker handling. (Queen Mary Sailing Club, West London)
|
J/80 |
| 25/26 January 2020 |
Match Racing Training. (Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy) |
Elliott |
| 15/16 February 2020 |
Inshore Yacht Racing (Port Solent) |
First 40 |
| 14/15 March 2020 |
Offshore (Hamble) **additional fees apply** |
|
| 28/29 March 2020 |
High Performance Asymmetric (Shepards Wharf, Cowes) |
J/70 |
At the Squad Induction weekend (9/10th November 2019) we will ask you for your availability for the above weekends and confirm places to each weekend as soon as possible after that weekend.
Communication:
Once you have been selected for the squad and confirmed yur place, you will be added to a WhatsApp group and a private facebook group for all squad communications. Although emails will go to squad sailors, many last minute changes/updates will only be circulated on the facebook group and in WhatsApp.
Venues:
We will be working with the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy in Portland. The Royal Thames Yacht Club and Queen Mary Sailing Club in Staines, West London. Sunsail in Port Solent. The Royal Thames Yacht Club at Shepards Wharf Marina in Cowes.
Accommodation:
Accommodation is only provided at the Squad induction weekend and the Inshore weekend, where sailors can stay on the First 40s at Port Solent. For all other events, sailors must source their own accommodation.
Key events next year:
Will be dependent upon the squad sailors’ ambitions, but may include: Rolex Fastnet, Cowes Week, Scottish Series, Commodores Cup, World Sailing Nations Cup, Eurosaf Match Racing Championships.
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