7/23/2012

Shields Clinic

Andrew Kerr

Chicago Fleet #3

© Andrew Kerr
 

I have just come back from a great weekend in Chicago with Shields fleet # 3, I ran a two day on the water and in the classroom clinic for the fleet and we had great sailing conditions on both days. The first day we met up at Chicago YC and went over a power point presentation in the classroom of sail trim, sail shape and tuning , a big thank you to Chuck Allen and Will Welles of North sails one design Rhode Island for providing the pictures and tuning info.

North Clinich with Andrew Kerr and the Chigado Fleet 3
We took time to go over boat speed, boat to boat to boat tuning and set up for all conditions, then the fleet head out and did two good races as part of the Chicago YC Belmont Circle series in 5 to 12 knots of wind. On the water I was able to get lots of good video with commentary and still pictures of teams sailing in both pre start tuning and in the races as well as  coaching the teams before and in between races. I was ably assisted by on the coach boat by Russ Burke of Chicago YC on both days, Russ is head of the Chicago YC race committee and very knowledgeable of race management   he was tremendous help and great company. Afterward we headed back to the club and debriefed the video and had a good question and answer session to wrap up the day.

On Sunday we met in the morning and reviewed video of starts, downwind sail trim and had a lot of excellent questions and interaction, later in the morning we headed out to a perfect day of sailing – the wind was light but steady from 155 degrees and a short course was set up where we did many starts, short course racing, leeward mark drills and tuning and boat handling.  Afterward we wrapped up a great weekend with video review and debrief and lots of great group interaction, the fleet really enjoyed the weekend and said they learnt a lot and were looking forward to the rest of the season.  I would like to thank the Chicago YC for being terrific hosts, Kristen Martincic and Russ Burke for all there help on and off the water and the fleet for their great hospitality and friendship.