Royal Cork Optimist Winter Training Programme continues in full flight

Some sailors think there is a “season” for sailing – but not our hardy Optimists.  Our trials group sailed their last session of 2017 on 9/10 December, and had a few weeks off before the turkey and ham.  Immediately after Santa, early on the morning of the 27th December, a group of 6 joined hordes of holidaymakers going through Dublin airport.  Heading for Alicante, they spend six days under the watchful eyes of Michal Gryglewski on the water and Ger Venner off it, they got some tremendous quality training in. Their days started with a fitness workout, blending cardio training and some strength & conditioning on the beach. Then, they fuelled up and headed afloat for 6 hours each day in sunny conditions with great breeze. They were sailing out of the Real Club Náutico de Torrevieja, where they also met up with some Polish and Spanish sailors. All agreed it was worth the 0500 start to get the Aircoach to Dublin!

The crew all returned on the 3rd of January and after a rest day, joined in our training here in the Royal Cork where the rest of the trials programme sailors were champing at the bit to get going.  Another 3 days of training were put down before everyone had to go back to work or school.

The run in to trials began in earnest this weekend, where we also welcomed the ISA Squad to the Royal Cork and we had over 20 of the top optimists training on the Curlane Bank. Conditions were not at all Alicante-like, with strong gusts and a biting NW breeze providing stretching sailing weather. Baltimore Spring Training Week is of course on the week of the mid-term, with the usual pilgrimage west from all parts of Ireland.

Our trials coaching Programme,with Peter McCann and Eoin Lyden supporting Michal, continues right through to Easter, and our non-trials programme restarts at the end of February – it won’t be long before we are all back on the road to the first event of 2018.