County's young sailors learn tactical team racing skills
Derbyshire Youth Sailing members have been learning tactical team racing skills, with a training session at Burton Sailing Club.
Most dinghy racing sailing is about being the fastest boat of the fleet around a race course, but with team racing distinctly different tactics are needed to ensure that more of your own team are ahead of your opponents' team.
Taking part in the training were a number of young sailors who hope to go on and represent their county at National School Sailing Association team racing events, and they were coached by ex-DYS sailor Tom Harlow and the 2007 Derbyshire Team Racing captain James Hadden.
The day started with a classroom session, before 11 eager sailors took to the water in Topper dinghies racing in teams of three boats.
After a quick lunch stop the sailors returned to the water to practice pre-start manoeuvres, the start itself and the Mark Trap, before competing in more races.
Tom said: "I'm really pleased with how quickly the sailors picked up on the differences between fleet and team racing.
"Thinking about your team mates is so different to thinking about your boat speed that it is often difficult to realise that winning a team race is not about getting just yourself across the line as quickly as possible."
The first Derbyshire Youth Sailing series event for 2008 is to be held at Trent Valley Sailing Club on Saturday, April 5.
Derbyshire Youth Sailing brings together youth sailors aged up to 18 who are from ten Derbyshire Sailing Clubs.
DYS stages a series of ten racing sailing events between April and October as well as other special events and training all year round and at venues throughout Derbyshire.
Pic used with thanks to Charles Saunders.