Dinghy sailing in bigger winds

On 5 Oct, 17:47, Robert Paynter <robert.payn....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:

> Stephen's sons are young, a typical cadet crew is an 18
> year old with a 12 year old crew,

Christ, you're not far off your peak at 18 why would you be interested
in sailing something as agricultural and pedestrian as a cadet? All
the younger members at any club I've ever sailed at have been in
'normal' boats years before that.
 >> Stay informed about: Dinghy sailing in bigger winds 

On 8 Oct, 09:58, toad <toad_oftoadh....TakeThisOut@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> On 5 Oct, 17:47, Robert Paynter <robert.payn....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Stephen's sons are young, a typical cadet crew is an 18
> > year old with a 12 year old crew,
>
> Christ, you're not far off your peak at 18 why would you be interested
> in sailing something as agricultural and pedestrian as a cadet? All
> the younger members at any club I've ever sailed at have been in
> 'normal' boats years before that.

Dear Chaps/chapesses

A factual kink to straighten out first. The Cadet Class is age
limited to 18 (as in 17 years and 364 days).

Helms range in age from 11 to 17 and crews normally from 7 to 12.
Transition to helming is normally about 12.

The Cadet is a pathway boat for the RYA, who want to see good helms
moving onwards and upwards at about 15. From Cadets, that might
typically (but not exclusively) be to 420's leading on to 470's in
later years. Some cadets don't move on to other boats until age
considerations kick in at 17. Current thinking is to equalise the
roles of helm and crew, where crewing in past years has tended to be
the Incredible Hulk at the back and an amoeba at the front.

IMHO, the Cadet is a brilliant boat because it is a child-size
Wayfarer for all practical considerations. The Cadet has all the
controls of the bigger boat and if they can learn how to handle a
cadet, they can apply the lessons to bigger boats.

So to say, the spinnaker is not a lot bigger than the bottom half of a
bikini, I grant, but the power/weight ratio is about spot on for the
sailors in it, it seems.

The class magazine is not a source of training reading. Quite a lot
of chat goes on between the sailors, usually from the ones who are
less knowledgeable. There are good trainers and coaches but some
aspects remain steeped in mystery, just the same, due to time and the
pressures of a lot of individual wants. Hence my appeal for your
guidance, which came through in abundance.

Can't thank you enough. Can anyone suggest any specific training
exercises to try out?

Best wishes and regards to all
Stephen Page
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