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Archive for February, 2008
Mountain Yacht club – Dabchick Social/training weekend
The following report was written by Brad Bell from MYC. I have also updated the photo section.
Report: Gauteng/Limpopo Dabchick Training Weekend
A Dabchick training weekend was held at Mountain Yacht Club in Limpopo over the weekend of the 16th and 17th February 2008.
This event was organized by Mr Owen Baxter from the Dabchick Class Association, coached by Mr Ivan Gibbons, and supported by Aunty Daphne Kasselman from the NSA.
The training was attended by six Gauteng-based sailors, Gareth Baxter, Ryan Hadley, Angela Fraser, Warren Hadley, Dru Connold, and Gary Norton, and twelve Limpopo-based sailors, namely Doug and Timmy Elphinstone, Rain and Talon Patterson, Beki and Benji Bell, Neo Mathe, Rodney Stevens, Ayanda Buthelezi, Keegan Havermann, Tudor Wolff, and Ingrid Vaughan.
All the Limpopo sailors were sailing their Dabchicks 2-up so that as many youth as possible could benefit from the coaching.
The wet misty weather of the previous week cleared up for the weekend, with warm sunshine and steady breezes (which allowed occasional planing and the odd capsize) on both days.
On Saturday, Coach Ivan started with a few short windward-leeward races to assess the sailing levels of the Limpopo sailors, and then paired off each Limpopo team with a Gauteng “shepherd”.
Thereafter, the races continued around a standard triangular course, with each Gauteng “shepherd” sticking close to his/her partner and coaching them around the course by word and example.
This system of “peer partnering and coaching” worked fantastically. The Limpopo teams could benefit from continuous coaching input at all points throughout each race, not only from the typical 2 minutes or so when the coach boat pulls briefly alongside before moving on to the next boat.
Just as importantly, the Limpopo teams also benefited from watching the personal examples set by their “shepherds”, who were constantly demonstrating the technical sailing skills that the Limpopo teams needed to acquire or improve.
Everyone present noted how effectively Coach Ivan’s partnering system worked, with parents commenting on the visible improvements of the various crews literally on an hour-by-hour basis, e.g. “Look at how Red Devil’s pointing now. He couldn’t get that right in the last race”.
After lunch on Saturday, most of the Gauteng sailors took a Limpopo crew member on board their own Dabchicks, so that all the youth sailors could be on the water at the same time, and this method continued on Sunday morning as well.
On Sunday morning, Coach Ivan and Aunty Daphne had to leave early .Messrs Baxter and Connold filled the gap, moved the weather mark significantly further up, and ran another four races for the fleet.
All four races were won by girl teams, with girls taking the first three positions in the last race, the results of which were:-
(1) Angela Fraser (Gauteng) with Neo Mathe (Limpopo)
(2) Beki Bell (Limpopo) with Ayanda Buthelezi (Limpopo)
(3) Ingrid Vaughan (Limpopo) with Ryan Hadley (Gauteng)
A Dabchick training weekend was held at Mountain Yacht Club in Limpopo over the weekend of the 16th and 17th February 2008.
This event was organized by Mr Owen Baxter from the Dabchick Class Association, coached by Mr Ivan Gibbons, and supported by Aunty Daphne Kasselman from the NSA.
The training was attended by six Gauteng-based sailors, Gareth Baxter, Ryan Hadley, Angela Fraser, Warren Hadley, Dru Connold, and Gary Norton, and twelve Limpopo-based sailors, namely Doug and Timmy Elphinstone, Rain and Talon Patterson, Beki and Benji Bell, Neo Mathe, Rodney Stevens, Ayanda Buthelezi, Keegan Havermann, Tudor Wolff, and Ingrid Vaughan.
All the Limpopo sailors were sailing their Dabchicks 2-up so that as many youth as possible could benefit from the coaching.
The wet misty weather of the previous week cleared up for the weekend, with warm sunshine and steady breezes (which allowed occasional planing and the odd capsize) on both days.
On Saturday, Coach Ivan started with a few short windward-leeward races to assess the sailing levels of the Limpopo sailors, and then paired off each Limpopo team with a Gauteng “shepherd”.
Thereafter, the races continued around a standard triangular course, with each Gauteng “shepherd” sticking close to his/her partner and coaching them around the course by word and example.
This system of “peer partnering and coaching” worked fantastically. The Limpopo teams could benefit from continuous coaching input at all points throughout each race, not only from the typical 2 minutes or so when the coach boat pulls briefly alongside before moving on to the next boat.
Just as importantly, the Limpopo teams also benefited from watching the personal examples set by their “shepherds”, who were constantly demonstrating the technical sailing skills that the Limpopo teams needed to acquire or improve.
Everyone present noted how effectively Coach Ivan’s partnering system worked, with parents commenting on the visible improvements of the various crews literally on an hour-by-hour basis, e.g. “Look at how Red Devil’s pointing now. He couldn’t get that right in the last race”.
After lunch on Saturday, most of the Gauteng sailors took a Limpopo crew member on board their own Dabchicks, so that all the youth sailors could be on the water at the same time, and this method continued on Sunday morning as well.
On Sunday morning, Coach Ivan and Aunty Daphne had to leave early .Messrs Baxter and Connold filled the gap, moved the weather mark significantly further up, and ran another four races for the fleet.
All four races were won by girl teams, with girls taking the first three positions in the last race, the results of which were:-
(1) Angela Fraser (Gauteng) with Neo Mathe (Limpopo)
(2) Beki Bell (Limpopo) with Ayanda Buthelezi (Limpopo)
(3) Ingrid Vaughan (Limpopo) with Ryan Hadley (Gauteng)
The Limpopo youth sailors gained a huge amount from the weekend – they improved their conceptual understanding of the art of sailing, they learned practical skills, and they grew in confidence as well.
And then, most importantly, they checked out the “hot and hunky” young men and women from Gauteng and decided that Dabchick sailing is COOL! And it is – far healthier than playstation and the mall.
A weekend of this nature never just happens, so many thanks are owed to all of the people who helped make it a reality. First and foremost, thanks must go to Owen Baxter, who conceived the original idea and demonstrated serious logistical commitment to getting sailors, parents, boats, equipment, and rubber ducks 400kms north to Limpopo.
Some of this was done at the last minutes, as when Owen generously made his rubber duck available for the weekend after learning a few days before the event that the MYC rescue/coaching boat had been damaged by vandals. In between coaching, he even took the parents of some of the Limpopo development sailors, such as Mrs Mathe and Mr and Mrs Buthelezi, out on the water to watch their children sailing close up so that they could get an idea of what sailing is all about.
Thanks also to Coach Ivan for his professional coaching systems and inputs, during which the Limpopo teams (and even occasionally a Gauteng team) demonstrated vast improvements.
Thanks, too, to Aunty Daphne Kasselman, from the NSA office, who came up herself with SA Sailing cards for the Limpopo Youth Sailors so that they can participate in the NSA Inter-Schools next month, colourful boat stickers, and prizes for every boy and girl youth sailor.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you to all parents who attended the weekend, making their time, vehicles, trailers, finances, catering skills, cameras, etc. available for their youth sailors. This programme couldn’t happen without the parents’ support and encouragement, so thanks for making it possible!
This type of training event was a “first” for Mountain Yacht Club, whose clubhouse, accommodation, parking area, and slipway were full of people, cars, trailers, and boats – a sight we haven’t seen for many years! It may have taken a lot of work from many people, but it was definitely worth it!
PS – Pictures to follow soon!
D 3381 for Sale
David Eastman’s boat is for sale.See boats for sale on the right.
Owen
Western Cape Dinghy Interschools
The Western Cape Dinghy Intershools took place over this weekend at the Imperial Yacht Club in Zandvlei. The first day was characterised by strong winds, while the second by light winds and rain.
Individually the Dabchick Class was won by James Stock of Wynberg Boys and the teams (2 per team) was won by a team from Bishops (who also won the overall high school competition) which included a Laser sailor sailing Dabchicks competitively for the first time.
Light winds on the Sunday
A Laser sailor works out the Dabchick…
The winning school – Bishops Diocesan College
Detailed results will follow.
Mountain Yacht club – Dabchick Territory
Mountain yacht club is based at Ebenhezer Dam between Polokwane and Tzaneen. This is really a beautiful part of the country with beautiful mountains and forests.
MYC has been actively promoting youth sailing and development with Dabchicks and 09 er’s. They have recently purchased their 5th Dabbie and are wanting to start travelling to away regattas. They intend sending some teams to the NVL interschools for a start.
On the 16th & 17th February 10 dabchick sailors intend travelling to MYC from Gauteng to share some of our experience and spend time getting to know each other. We will be staying on farm nearby which is owned by one of our sailors parents. Their 5 & 10 its almost a Provincial !
Regards
Owen
Nationals 2008 – Wriggleswade
I have written to the Regatta organisors and for your information I have copied the correspondence below.Please let me have any comments below.
From: baer@global.co.za [mailto:baer@global.co.za]
Sent: 31 January 2008 09:51 AM
To: Baxter, Owen
Subject: Youth Nationals – December 2008
Hi Owen
Thank you for your 2 e-mails.
We look forward to working with you on the planning of the Youth Nationals.
We take note of your requests and will attempt to fulfill your requirements as fully as possible.
In the EC we usually make each class responsible for their own costs.
Entry fees then cover rescue and bridge boat fuel, refreshments for bridge and rescue crew, T shirts, prizes etc.
In this way we ensure that classes get a fair deal according to the numbers that support the regatta.
There is no reason why Dabchicks cannot have their own course and own rescue.
We will however probably need assistance from parents to assist with bringing any boats available to use as rescue boats.
You need to tell us your infrastructural requirements (buoys, number of rescue boats etc)so that we can see what is available here and work with you in making sure we give sailors a good sailing regatta.
Hope this answers your concerns.
Regards
Glynis Baer
Regatta Secretary
Youth Nationals 2008
From: Baxter, Owen [mailto:OBaxter@fnb.co.za]
Sent: 30 January 2008 01:15 PM
To: baer@global.co.za
Cc: rob@dischem.co.za
Subject: Youth Nationals – December 2008
Dear Ronnie,
Our Telephone conversation refers.
The Dabchick class would like to hold our National championship event at the Youth Nationals at Wriggleswade in December. As there is no class rep. in your area, I would be grateful if you would communicate the arrangements, affecting Dabchicks, through me.
As discussed on the Telephone, we have no issues, or interest in the other classes taking part, or whether theirs is a selection regatta or whatever. What concerns us that the event, which was always been our National event, is not hijacked at our expense.
On behalf of the class I would appreciate your assurance that:
- As in the past you will afford us a dedicated Dabchick course, with no interference from other classes who may be participating.
- That sufficient rescue will be available on our track.
- Time in your schedule of events for our AGM
- Time allocated for Provincial Team racing. At the last 2 nationals only NVL and WP contested the Team racing, so it is not a time consuming event.
- An indication of the cost structure so that we may ensure that our sailors receive a fair deal. In this respect I refer more to prizes handouts etc. I do realize that the cost of staging these events has escalated.
- Indication of what assistance we can offer in helping to ensure the success of the Regatta.
Based on the numbers at the 2007 Nationals I think I can safely say that we could expect around 30 entries. If our numbers were to fall below 15 (Which was the Laser turnout out Theewaterskloof) I would acknowledge that our class had no mandate to expect preferential treatment. I would be prepared to negotiate the course issue along these lines in need. I would not like to see this matter evolve into something which is not in the interests of Youth sailing.
I would appreciate your response, to the above, asap so that I can take it up with our members.
Best regards, and I am looking forward to a well organized and enjoyable Nationals, which I know the Eastern Cape can & will deliver.
Owen
Owen Baxter
Chairman DASA
011-759-2476 or 083 236 7518
