Dinghy News

RN Dinghy Racing Team prepare for 2010

In the shadow of Navy Command HQ and HMS Daring, the RN Dinghy Racing team brave icy winds in Portsmouth harbour to conduct some essential team boat training.

Following their successful and dominant performance at Inter-Service level in 2009, 15 members of the RN Dinghy Racing team took part in a two day session of race training on a crisp but cold January weekend. Using Laser 2000s kindly provided by the Royal Naval Sailing Centre at HMS Excellent, the team, consisting of sailors old and new, of all ranks and branches, carried out some intensive boat handling and tactical exercises under the guidance of coach Lt Hamish Walker.

Team Boat racing is a highly tactical sport, that depends much more on communication and close quarters manoeuvring than sheer boat speed; races can often resemble a close quarters battle from the age of “Nelson’s Navy” and success relies very much on the crew’s knowledge of the “rule of the road”.

This event marks the start of the 2010 season with a busy programme of events ahead, catering for all standards of RN and RM sailors, from complete beginners to those at Olympic standard. Whatever your ability, the RN Dinghy Team needs your help in supporting the many events this year. If you did some dinghy sailing at school, are an instructor, just want to pull on a rope or just want to get involved, you all have a part to play and there will be an event this year for you! Racing is a fantastic way of improving your skills and also a brilliant way getting to know a wider group of Sailors and Marines, in a very informal environment. An afternoon on the water can wipe away the stress of that week in the office, long watches at sea or the challenges of OST. Dinghy sailing is accessible, with several sailing centres around the UK. It helps to build teamwork, is a fun way of keeping fit, is great fun and is supported at the very highest levels of the Service.

So come and get involved.

The Holt Cup, is our first key event and is an inter-command competition that is held at BRNC Dartmouth, over the weekend of 6-7 March. During this event, novices and experts alike are pitted against each other in a weekend of team-boat Racing and you could be part of it, whether you are an experienced helm or just want to pull on a rope. Details can be found on the RNSA website at: www.rnsa.net/Dinghies/News.aspx or you can contact one of your local representatives detailed on the site or contact the PRO direct on peter(dot)gardiner171@mod(dot)uk who will put you in touch with your appropriate rep.

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