Emirates Team New Zealand Youth Training Programme
Coaches Report
Saturday 19th September
SW 18-23 rising to gusts of 30 in the afternoon
Sunday 20th September
SW Fresh to Frightening
Another windy weekend on the Waitematā!
It’s that time of year when we often see strong breezes ranging from the south through to the west, and this weekend was no exception.
On Saturday morning, we headed out to run some mode drills. We started with upwind modes, using a rabbit start to get the boats lined up and settled. The breeze arrived a little stronger than expected, bringing some significant squalls with it, so the decision was made to switch to a harbour course.
The teams were flying kites, which required some excellent crew work in the bigger conditions. After completing one harbour course, we headed back in, with gusts of over 30 knots being recorded.
Sunday’s forecast was looking even windier, so the decision was made to stay ashore. Instead, we put the time to good use by giving the fleet of Elliott’s some love. This was followed by an informative weather presentation from Bob Still.
The session was incredibly interesting, and I think everyone learned a great deal about a range of weather related topics. It highlighted the importance of being aware of your surroundings and understanding how cloud formations and changing conditions can influence your race. A big thanks to Bob for giving up some time on his Sunday for us!
While it was a somewhat disappointing weekend from a sailing perspective, the weather is one thing you can’t control. Hopefully next weekend will bring some lighter breezes and more time on the water!
