In August 2020 when we were emerging from lockdown, I started sailing a 29er (called Brenda) with my crew Madie. We were both completely new to sailing a 29er, hadn’t sailed together before, or sailed a skiff, or used a trapeze. However, we had aspirations of getting to grips with Brenda before joining the Allen Grand Prix series so that we could watch and learn from other 29er sailors. You might have read on my previous blog “RS Feva to 29er” about our coaching session and experience in our first Grand Prix event. Unfortunately following promising beginnings COVID put pay to more training and events.
The good news is that as the restrictions have waxed and waned, we have taken the opportunities where permitted to get out on the water. We took Brenda to Bewl Water Reservoir where there aren’t the challenges of waves and shore break which stops us launching and sailing safety on the sea in winter. COVID meant that we couldn’t receive any coaching, but we tried to improve our skills through video analysis of our sailing and watching far more accomplished sailors on You Tube. But we had a lot to learn and if our capsizes weren’t as much fun, we would have needed to spend more time reminding ourselves of Thomas Edison words “Failure is the most important ingredient for success”
We recently decided to try swapping roles, I tried going out on the wire and Madie took the helm. This gives us a better understanding of each other roles, but also plays to our individual attributes and weight difference. We have considered the idea of a permanent role change; however, it feels like we are going backwards with our progression with Brenda, but will taking some steps backwards for a while mean we eventually go further forwards and pay dividends in the end? We’ll have to wait and see.
We recently towed Brenda back to Pevensey Bay sailing club for the summer season and are looking forward to getting more practice and racing.
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