WIND 2007
The Third Annual WIND Clinic hosted by The Sailing Foundation and The Columbia Gorge Racing Association was a smashing success! Thanks in large measure to organizer and developer Jan Visser, almost 50% more youth sailors than in preceding years spent three days sailing in BIG winds on warm fresh water. Coaches Brett Davis (US Youth Single Handed Champion, Collegiate All-American Harvard, Laser North American and Laser Midwinters East Champion, 5 time member US Sailing Team, 3rd at US Olympic Laser Trials) and Mike Visser (Sears Cup Champion, CISA Dave Perry Sportsmanship Award, Rolex Youth Champs Sportsmanship Award, US Men's Mallory Cup), accompanying Brett and Mike, Ben Glass (recently arrived coach from St. Francis YC’s junior program, Youth Worlds coach 29ers and Olympic Trials coach 49ers) were clearly in their element as they led the group in many exercises to improve their boat handling and sailing speed in strong wind situations.
Most attendees took advantage of the camping facilities right at the clinic site, alongside the Columbia River. After enrollment on Wednesday morning, the coaches kept the class active with calisthenics, chalk talks, rigging tips, and on-the-water practice. Late afternoon videos reviewed the day’s events and paved the way for some detailed instruction on improvement techniques. Sumptuous meals prepared by WIND staff kept the group properly stoked with calories and ready for the evening activities of additional sailing or movies on the side of the building at the sailors’ camp site.
On one day, the wind was so strong - 33.6 kts – that prudence dictated that the group practice near shore on a closely-set series of slalom marks, one boat a time, with the remainder of the fleet resting up for their moment of challenge in the gusts. The participating sailors then chose a format of two coaches at a time to compete on this slalom course with winning places determined by time on the clock. It really gave the kids the opportunity to see excellent mark roundings in bigger breezes with no capsize. Several sailors singled out this exercise as one of the most valuable.
By the end of the three-day clinic, virtually everybody felt much more comfortable in the windy, wavy conditions and was primed to stick around for the weekend regatta. Most clinic sailors sailed in the regatta and continued their learning experience in the heavy air.
Stay tuned for the next WIND event in 2008—scheduled to occur at Cascade Locks on the Columbia Gorge in July, 2008.
Click here for the regatta results. Click here for some great action photos of the event.
Thanks to West Coast Sailing in Portland, as well as Johnny's Deli and Char-Burger, for their support of our event!
