rs400 train

RS 400 training

RS400 “Self help” Training day – Saturday 7th May

There club was a hive of activity on Saturday – partly the lure of Pauline’s famous breakfasts’ but also many sailors were taking to the water to hone-up their skills with selected dinghies. Near the club house were 36 youngsters in Oppies & Toppers venturing out in “Saturday Club” . The Enterprise fleet were hosting a training event attracting several new members and the RS400’s were plotting how they might take even more trophies at next year’s dinner dance!

15 RS400 sailors could be found huddled around 7 boats on the foreshore with tape measures & rig gauges – tuning up the rigs and swapping tips on how to control mast bend with various boat controls. The format encouraged crews & helms to swap around the fleet – this prompted the ladies to apply “lip stick” in order to attract the fleet hot shots. Once boats were highly tuned & crews suitably attired in their best sailing gear we ventured towards the far end of the lake in a fickle light breeze. A short windward – leeward course was set to test out these asymmetric high performance dinghies. The wind decided to die away completely at 12.30 so the training squad headed for shore to compare notes on tips learnt with new “partners” in different fleet boats and watch RS instruction video’s streamed via the club’s web link.

After lunch & now suitably motivated, several RS400’s decided to join 18 others who took part in Saturday racing. The first race saw Hester Duncan & Lindsey Ogden crossing the line ahead of the other boats demonstrating – “girl power”. In the second race James Hopkinson secured the winners gun with John Parr showing he knows how to make a boat go from the front as well as the back of a 400 – however he expressed a distinct preference for the spacious aft quarter.

Despite the limited breeze, the participants in the RS400 “self help” training day all came away with several “top tips” and ideas on how to move –up the fleet. In the evening the Enterprises had organised a family BBQ and games event, they kindly invited some of the RS400’s to join –in and we promptly started winning the prizes !

Below the crews union!