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At school, I was a grade-A student - maths, geography, physics, many subjects. Revision? Not me. I wondered what all the fuss was about. It all came very easily.

At 43, I lament not having had the opportunity to learn to sail in childhood - when I had a sponge for a memory, abundant energy, loads of time and little sense of danger. I watch the cadet kids on Sunday mornings with considerable envy. Sailing is for them what academia was for me: easy, fun, safe, encouraged, supported, accessible.

I first had the opportunity to sail when I was a mid-twenties university student in northern England. Since then, on and off, I’ve surged forth in an effort to learn the finer art of racing. Now, with an overloaded memory, far less playtime and an acute sense of the danger that comes with the sport, it’s quite an effort! What I yearned for was a 'cadet-type' training programme tailored for mature, experienced sailors like me keen to improve their racing skill.

There are, of course, sail training programs available for adults, but they didn’t go quite as far as I wanted. I needed to get my hands dirty, be allowed to make mistakes, think for myself, be encouraged and supported in a safe but challenging environment.

I decided to put together a concept for a training programme that would specifically meet my needs. (Now I know that this is termed a ‘learner lead’ programme where the priorities are identified by the student and the programme tailored to suit.) The idea was enthusiastically supported by the Women’s Elliott Regatta organising committee and became the official training programme for the event. The course sold out within a few days of publishing it. Although it was not exclusive to women entering the regatta, it was certainly driven by them. Fifteen of the eighteen participants were female; ten went on to compete in the regatta. Obviously, I wasn't a lone female adult desiring this type of learning.

The choice of coach was critical. Mark Tonner-Joyce had all the right credentials. A professional coach and educator, Mark has undertaken Olympic campaigns in the Laser class, and still races Lasers and Etchells. I’d seen him in action at a two-day programme at Sandringham Yacht Club and was impressed with his natural ability to impart his considerable knowledge. His delivery was professional and motivating and he had a good sense of his audience, pitching at just the right level for the intelligent mature student. That was exactly what was needed.

“There is enormous focus on youth in the sport today and if you’ve not had the benefit of that entry pathway the sport can appear inaccessible to many who

Not all participants on the programme fitted that mould, but many, like me, did. What we all shared without a doubt was a common understanding of the need for the type of structured training that the sailing youth benefits from.

“You’ve got an excellent group of ‘30’somethings’ at the ‘train to train’ level of development who share a similar enthusiasm for skills learning and having fun” adds Mark. “With effective training disciplines, such mature age learners can get in the game faster.”

Train to train? What’s that I hear you ask? Mark explains, “there is a significant research pointing to the stages of athlete development: Fundamentals, Train to train, Train to compete, Train to win, Train to retire. All up, the research suggests around 10,000 hours are required to develop excellence! So if we conclude that development is ‘process like’ then we must be able to innovate the process to speed development and achieve learning outcomes faster.” Thank goodness for that. Finding 10,000 spare hours may be tricky!

The Elliotts Training Programme was split into six sessions, one session every two weeks. Four of the sessions were with Mark, each carefully structured with a specific training objective and drills designed to develop, refine and test skills.

The other sessions were for our own practice - an opportunity for us to get those hands dirty and experiment with what we'd learned. The format worked very well and, despite the terrible winter weather reducing the time we’d planned to spend on the water, we all came out with much improved knowledge and skill.

As well as the programme objectives, there were other real learning benefits: putting boats in and out of the water, crane operation, handling a boat under sail in the marina, assessing the weather conditions for yourself, organising a team - all important aspects in becoming a well-rounded sailor.

Feedback from the course participants was very positive and the sense of achievement significant. When asked about the most valuable learning outcomes - race thinking and preparation, developing a plan and knowing how to apply it, understanding course layout in relation to the wind and land effects, and building confidence came out on top. As well as that, it was heaps of fun and great for cross-club and women’s networking.

“I congratulate the organisers for their work, and the club for supporting this type of initiative. It’s a point of differentiation for Royals and one I encourage you to pursue. Thanks for your support and for having me involved”, concludes Mark.

Mark Tonner-Joyce is principal coach of StartToWin™. Mobile: 0407 827 466.

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Eight teams entered the Women’s Elliott Regatta this year. Unfortunately one dropped out a few days prior due to illness, leaving seven boats – a number that doesn’t split nicely into two groups. Nevertheless, with one group of four teams and one group of three, the competition began.

The teams included girls from clubs in Sandringham, Brighton, Elwood, St Kilda, Williamstown, Altona and Geelong. A true round-the-bay race.

The weather on Saturday was not kind. It started out very much on the cusp – would we or would we not sail? David LeRoy, Racing Director, decided on yes and so the first group of four rigged up and headed out in the 20 knot northerly.

It was clear that the skill bar had been raised this year. The ‘Geelong Girls’, winners of last year’s regatta, were challenged early in difficult conditions by Kari Righton and Connor Burdon-Bear. Connor, newcomer to the event but a very experienced sailor, went on to win the competition overall.

The wind didn’t back off, gusting above the mid-twenties for the second group’s first heat. The race, however, was not finished: sailing for the day was abandoned as the winds settled in at 27 to 30 knots.

Sunday was beautiful, starting as a perfect ‘Elliott’ day with 8-10 knots of breeze. Group two finally got underway, with another newcomer to the regatta Madeline Deppeler and her Flying Fifteen aunties Lisa and Amanda taking all five heat firsts.

The finals took place that same day, excitedly watched by all the other participants from the mothership Galaxy (thanks so much to Archie and the crew!). It was great racing to watch, with Connor, Madeline, Lucy Townson and Helen Mitchels competing for the accolade. By the third race, it was a battle between Connor and Madeline, with Madeline leading until the last beat, when Connor picked the wind and sneaked past to win the regatta. Barely a breath in it.

Although none of the participants from the training programme got a top three placing (first one was Helen in fourth), the coaching had most certainly paid off. “It was pleasing to see a noticeable improvement in the standard of racing from previous years – not just the winning teams but across the whole fleet”, commented Dave LeRoy after the racing had been completed.

Thank you to the sponsors: Barbecues Plus, Cartoon, Doyle Sails, Essensual, Hissyfit, Horner Recruitment, Interia Homewares, Living Doll, Oatley Wines, StartToWin, Western Plumbing Supplies, Williamstown News and Lotto, and Williamstown Skin Therapy; and all the wonderful volunteers (you know who you are!).

Women’s sailing events for the 2009/2010 season – get them in your diary!

Women in Sailing Challenge (WISC)

Sun 11 Oct, 8 Nov, 6 Dec, 7 Feb, 21 March, 11 April

SYC and RBYC

Lady Skippers Races

RBYC: Sun 31 Jan

RMYS: Sun 7 Feb

HBYC: Sun 14 Feb

NZ Women’s National Keelboat Championships

Fri 12-Sun 14 March

RAYC

Lady Skippers Short Course Series

Sat 22-Sun 23 May

RBYC

Australian Women’s Keelboat Regatta (AWKR)

Lecture Series: Wed 12, 19, 26 May, 2 June

Training Day: Sun 6 June

Regatta: Sat 12-Mon 14 June

RMYS

Women’s Elliott Regatta

September (dates tbc)

RYCV

Contact the clubs for more info:

RYCV: Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, www.rycv.yachting.org.au

HBYC: Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club; www.hbyc.asn.au

RMYS: Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron; www.rmys.com.au

RBYC: Royal Brighton Yacht Club; www.rbyc.org.au

SYC: Sandringham Yacht Club, www.syc.com.au

RAYC: Royal Akarana Yacht Club, NZ; www.rayc.org.nz

The Elliotts Training Programme

by Lennie Beattie