BKA Training and Locations

The first weekend of training is the ‘Squad induction’, which will take place on the 3/4th November 2017 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:

• Match Racing - crew work, boat handling and how to overtake - Weymouth
• Symmetric spinnaker handling - working as a team, boat handling - London
• 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.

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
3/4 November	Port Solent	First 40
8/9 December	Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy	Elliott
19/20 January	Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy	Elliott
26/27 January	Queen Mary Sailing Club, West London	J/80
16/17 February	Port Solent	First 40
23/24 February	Queen Mary Sailing Club, West London	J/80
2/3 March	Port Solent	First 40
9/10 March	Shepards Wharf, Cowes	J/70
30/31 March	Shepards Wharf, Cowes	J/70

At the Squad Induction weekend (3/4^th November 2018) we will ask you for your availability for the above weekends and confirm places to each weekend as soon as possible after that weekend. NB. sailors will only do one of the sessions at each venue.

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.

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.