Fresh training initiative

North U Regatta Services comes on board for RORC Easter Challenge

The RORC's annual Easter Challenge is well known as a training regatta where the RRSes are amended to allow competing crews to receive valuable coaching advice while they are racing. The coaching team as ever is headed by guru Jim Saltonstall, but will this year be augmented by the support of North U. Regatta Services.

North U. Regatta Service provides coaching and performance analysis at select events worldwide and will be present at the event in Cowes.

The North U. team is led by Chuck Allen and Andreas Josenhans, who are both highly experienced sailing performance analysts based in the USA. The Regatta Services program includes on-the-water coaching tailored to sail trim and speed, followed by performance analysis debriefs in Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre.

"AJ (Andreas Josenhans) and I use photos and aerial footage using a 'drone' to analyse what happened on the race course," says Chuck Allen. "We can help teams to get the most out of their sail package and find the debrief sessions sparks great discussion between sailors. It's an opportunity for all competitors to up their game and improve their performance."

RORC CEO Eddie Warden Owen believes that the North Sails initiative is a great addition to the coaching that makes the RORC Easter Challenge such a special event: "Jim Saltonstall and his coaching team provide a great service to the boats who want to improve their all-round performance and the addition of the North U. Regatta Services team, with their photographic analysis of sail shape and attention to what makes a boat go fast, will enhance what is already a unique and popular event in the UK."

All competitors will be invited to attend the pre-sailing weather related informal chats and post race debrief sessions in Cowes.