Ambition Racing Coaching Programme Update.
Bell Lawrie Scottish Series 2008
Ambition Racing Update:
November 11th, and the Garmin Hamble Winter Series, brought to a close the first phase of the ‘Ambition Racing’ coaching programme. With the focus now changing from sailing development to logistical planning for the Portimao Global Ocean Challenge, it is a good time to reflect on Victoria and Jeremy’s progress so far.
The objectives for the first part of the programme were:
- To get as much time on the water as possible and establish a clear base level of performance boat handling.
- To develop the skills that will transfer easily onto their Express 40.
- To gain an insight into a ‘winning & training’ mindset.
My initial planning outlined a ‘development’ period reinforcing and establishing the basics in various single and double handed, asymmetric dinghies. This ‘training to train’ phase has led to Victoria and Jeremy understanding the importance of ‘focussed training’, setting out on each session with specific tasks and specific outcomes. The last month has seen a transition from the dinghies into an asymmetric keelboat keeping the focus on sensitivity and feel as we started to move up in scale towards their class 40 yacht.
The rapid progress they have made is a reflection of what can be achieved with vision and desire, the support of a structured coaching programme and determined, focussed application in following that programme through. In the 80 days between the first day on water (25th August) to the end of the first stage (11th November), 27 days have been spent in structured training, 1 in 3 days has been training. A remarkable ratio for individuals in full time employment and testament to their determination and commitment to their goal. Of this time, 21 days have been spent in structured ‘on water’ training with each session achieving specific tasks. This development culmanated in two days racing at the Garmin Hamble Winter series.
Unfortunately, racing was cancelled for our first outing due to 30+ knots of wind, but it did give us a great days heavy weather sailing. Our second outing was much more successful. A score line of 2nd, 2nd, 2nd was more flattering on paper as the reality was that only two boats had made it onto the racetrack in the sports boat class. However, choosing to sail 3 up, rather than with the normal 5 crew left us short of hands and more drastically, short of ballast. Because of this, we knew we would not be competitive and had very different objectives to the results sheet. The objective for Victoria and Jeremy was to put their sailing skills under pressure through the intensity of competition. For them it was about recognising the levels of focus required to be competitive, to deal with the starts and the decision making required around a race course. These elements truly reflected Victoria and Jeremy’s development over an intensive 2 ½ months as they showed great composure including a well executed port tack start to cross ahead in the final race and short handed boat and spinnaker handling to match the majority of the fully crewed boats in tough, windy conditions.
Clear vision, effective coaching and determined application have combined to give Ambition Racing a strong foundation and greatly accelerated development. Their attention now turns to logistical preparation and auxillary training through the winter months in preparation for the delivery of ‘Beautiful Ambition’ arriving in April and a full summer sailing programme before their departure around the world on September 20th.
Click here for more details about Ambition Racing
How is your planning?
How are your plans for the next sailing season shaping up? What is your planning based upon? Remember that now is a good time to be listening to your crew’s thoughts about the highs and lows of the season and consider their thoughts as you plan your 2008 calendar. Listen to them as you reflect, review and plan for next season; keep your crew motivated, remember you cannot compete without them!
The ski season starts.
My ski season started early October with the BASI Trainers conference in Hintertux. A week with the training body skiing and discussing updates to the BASI qualifications we deliver and assess, biomechanics, skill acquisition and British Ski Team updates provided a stimulating start to the season. However the key aspect I returned with was the importance of session structure and session planning, which has relevance in any coaching situation. The success of the ‘Ambition Racing’ programme to date is proof of the powerful combination of structure and planning of a programme with individual application to the sessions.
Bell Lawrie Scottish Series 2008
Once again I will be coaching a crew on the Beneteau 40.7 ‘North Star’ for Bell Lawrie Scottish Series. This year, 3 days intensive coaching will help us get up to speed before the first race on 23rd May.
Contact Richard Smith at North Star Yachting if you want to join the crew
Benefits to your company
Consider JDCLCoaching and our ‘Elite Team Performance days’ to enhance any sailing orientated training or entertainment programme you are planning. This programme differentiates itself from other corporate sailing events through utilising proven coaching principles to providing genuine opportunities for individual development on the water. The structure and content also provides simple and easy analogies for many aspects of corporate life – strategy planning and execution, individual responsibilities and interaction, monitoring and maximising performance.
Please contact me for more information