REMINDER: Hi Parents! We need your help. Some sailors are bringing their Ipads and other electronic devices to the Classroom and using them during our on land lessons. It is distracting not only them, but everyone around them. Of course, allowing them to bring these devices with them is up to you. If you do, please ask them not to use them during classes.
ALSO: Close-toed shoes must be worn! There are still some sailors that come in flip flops. Please find water shoes, boots, or sneakers to wear in the boat. Sailing can be tough on the feet, so please have them wear close toed shoes.
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Now to the fun part!
Hello everyone, Mercury Mentor coach Dae here!
The weather today was all over the place! In the morning, we had very very light wind. However, throughout the day, the wind picked up, making it to 13 knots by the 3 pm. Thankfully, the weather was much more permitting than yesterday and ended up with only one very brief rain shower.
The Merc Mentors spent our morning perfecting our steering skills. Since there was very little wind, this allowed each sailor to see how their subtle rudder movements can affect the boat. We also played a new game today called “Jump the Channel.” This game tests how far our sailors can jump and I must say that I am so surprised at each one’s athletic abilities! Most of them jumped even further than I could.
Coach Isa joined the Beginner Optis today to teach the sailors about different courses. These courses helped them practice their upwind sailing. The sailors also learned about starts and racing. They quickly got on their feet and perfected their boathandling, as they had to learn to stay upright in the wind.
The 420 Sailors learned starting sequences and practiced their starts in the morning’s light breeze. In the afternoon, not only did they practice starts, but also raced against each other in four fast-paced races in the heavy wind. Each sailor is just about Friday Night Fun Racing ready! 😉 However, many of the 420 Sailors did not wear close-toed shoes today. Please come in some tomorrow!
Today, Coach Sharon stepped in to coach the Green Fleet. Green Fleet worked on light wind and super light wind body position, since boathandling is the most crucial part of sailing in few knots. Through this, they were able to see how important that your movements in the boat are. They also practiced their upwind and downwind sailing in a hot dog course. In the afternoon, they practiced racing and starting using the proper body positions that they learned the morning.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Arthur and Sophia are coaching the The Opti World’s Team in preparation for World Championships in Antigua. Qualifying for the World Championships is a huge deal and is also a tough road. First, sailors have to qualify for Team Trials at a local or national event. This leads to the Team Trials regatta where the top 168 US Opti sailors go against each other to qualify for Worlds. The top FIVE from Team Trials qualify for Worlds! Coach Arthur and Sophia are leading three days of intensive team race training to prep for the World Championship with the Top five Opti sailors who make up the ‘Opti Worlds Team.’ This year, LYC had three of the top five Opti sailors in the country! The Opti World’s Team is training against other top sailors from LYC in the ocean to prepare. Wish them luck!
All in all, today was a successful day of sailing! Sailors practiced in light wind in the morning and adjust to the heavy wind this afternoon, so they will be regatta-ready. We will be looking forward to tomorrow!
