Local Area Training
The ultimate goal of the Class Area Training Policy is to establish and maintain a strong Optimist Racing Flotilla
within reach of every school age child in the UK and Lymington Optimist Flotilla aims to provide a complete programme of social,
training and racing events, to enable young sailors to make the transition from beginner, to club sailor, to circuit sailor and on...
Waiting for the start of a practice race
With assistance from IOCA(UK), through its Area Representatives, there are Lymington Optimist Flotilla organizes both Coached Opens and Local Area Training. The Coached Opens aim to
introduce sailors to the sport of Optimist racing in an informal and controlled environment and give parents an insight into the benefits and challenges of Optimist racing. The
Coached Opens are either one or two-day weekend events and are usually held between April and September. Entry is limited, with priority given to members of Lymington Flotilla members and other neighbouring clubs.
IOCA provides the lead coach, who will supervise all on-the-water activity, often making use of a number of youth coaches and the sailors will usually be coached in groups. They will be introduced to the basics of
racing and will normally complete a number of on-the-water exercises before taking part in some informal racing.
Area Training encourages club sailors and those new to Optimist racing, to visit other clubs in their area, and to meet other local Optimist sailors. The aim is to
provide a coherent winter training programme for non-squad sailors in preparation for the start of the Open Meeting season and the Inland Championships held in May each year and
to introduce informal racing in an un-intimidating environment and provide an informal local traveller series.
Area training starts after the End of Season event and runs over the six months period leading up to the Inland Championships. There may typically be an area training day or weekend
every 3rd or 4th week from October to April, with a 5 or 6 week break at Christmas.
There will be training exercises as well as practice races and the events are likely to have a particular training theme (sailing in tide, team racing, starting tactics etc.). There may be one race
which may count towards a traveller series.
Lunch break at local area training in Lymington
Land drill at open training before venturing on the river
Local area training in small groups
