The BKA will comprise of a national squad, with each sailor tailoring their own programme depending upon their experience and future aspirations.
60 successful applicants,
looking to join the BKA squad for their first year, will be invited and
required to attend a Selection Weekend on the 7th/8th
November 2020 at Port Solent, Portsmouth.
The weekend will be a chance for the coaching team to assess and review their
sailing skills, to discuss your specific goals for the programme and personal
performance on and off the water.
Following the selection weekend sailors
will be invited to join the 2nd year BKA Squad sailors, making a
total number of 60 squad sailors.
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, on these
dates:
-
5/6th December 2020 - Symmetric spinnaker handling - working
as a team, boat handling – London (QMSC)
-
23/24th January 2021 - Match Racing - crew work, boat
handling and how to overtake - Weymouth
- 20/21st February 2021 - Inshore Yacht Racing - bigger teams,
basic navigation, boat speed – Port Solent/Portsmouth
-
27/28th March 2021 - High performance asymmetric - decision
making at speed, acceleration - Cowes
An additional 'Offshore' module will be available for a limited number
of sailors, at an additional cost.
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.
Online learning and remote coaching: In addition to the training
weekends there will be several webinars throughout the winter, aimed at looking
in more detail at topics picked by the sailors.
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
Communication:
Once you have been selected for the squad and confirmed your 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:
Please be aware that accommodation and food is not included for the
training weekends. We hope
to be able to provide accommodation on-board for the selection and inshore
weekends, however this will depend upon government COVID-19 guidelines in place
when the events take place.
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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