RS Tera national coach Jonathan Lewis visited the Island on 14th & 15th November to run a training weekend for members of the Manx Youth Sailing Squad. Five squad members were recently invited to join the 2010 GBR RS Tera Squad, they will to represent Great Britian and the Isle of Man at the RS Tera World Championship next summer.
Manx sailors impressed RS coaches at the RS Tera National Championship in September when the Manx Youth Sailing Squad brought home the National Team Champions Trophy. Based on their performances at the Nationals the 2010 GBR RS Tera Squad will include Manx sailors Amie Shute (age 12), Izzy Sharpe (13), Hannah Howitt (14), James Kelly (13) and Greg Kelly (11).
The squad were due to attend training in the UK throughout the winter although owing to the logistical difficulties of travelling from the Island it was suggested that coach Jonathan Lewis came to Island to provide two intensive training sessions this winter. Squad members will travel to Draycote in March to attend a UK training session for the full GBR RS Tera Squad.
The Isle of Man Yacht Club was the venue for this training session and the Manx weather provided plenty of wind throughout the weekend. Despite the conditions the team were out on the water on both days. Every member of the Squad sailed superbly all weekend and demonstrated their ability in the strong winds and big waves. Jonathan spent most of the weekend working with the sailors to improve their technique, particularly downwind work, sailing in waves, boat setup and race tuning.
Jonathan Lewis made an excellent impression on the young sailors and each member of the team responded to him well. He even suggested in his final debrief of the weekend that “we could have a potential world champion here”.
The Manx Youth Sailing Squad was formed in 2008. The team has consistently produced good results at a national level. Training is given by local coaches Phil Hardisty, Don Edwards, Rob Cowell and Jenni Quillin. Boats and training facilities are provided by 7th Wave RYA Training Centre in Port Erin. The Manx Youth Sailing Squad is now actively seeking funding to support the team with their GBR Squad Training and RS Tera World Championship campaigns.