The 405 class association met at Notts County Sailing Club on the 5th and 6th of April for its final winter training session.

6 boats on Saturday and 7 on Sunday were joined by coaches Chris Wright (Class President) and Nick Hollis. Two boats from the club sailed the week- end, 329 Lizzie Hubbard & Aimée Coghill and 324 Patrick Ford & Ella Hubbard also sailing was Anastasia Logan.

We had some strange winds with mixed weather ranging from sun to snow - well it was the winter training series. Saturday saw a briefing followed by some sailing in heavy winds lots of trapezing and spinnakers and fewer capsizes than at the start of the winter training. We had lunch thanks to the Rachael & Simon McEvoy and the Wayfairer Association. The afternoon saw us racing and using new GPS equipment so we were able to see the routes we had sailed and the best course and tactics we need to use when racing. The evening briefing was followed by a meal at the Unicorn Hotel in Gunthorpe where we all had a great time.

Sunday morning was a bright and early start that saw us sailing without rudders and also backwards sailing - deliberately. We came off the water and had lunch whilst the morning pursuit race took place. We then back out and practiced starting and some short races before we entered the afternoon handicap race. The Romano twins from Oxford won the race but in second place was Lizzie & me with Patrick & Ella third.

A big thanks to all who took part and helped with the week-end and the club for hosting the event.

Aimée Coghill