Update from Artemis Offshore Academy Performance Director, John Thorn on week two of this years Development Squad training in La Grande Motte [27th January 2011]:
Last week was the second week of training in 2011, which saw all four Academy Figaro boats launched back into the water. The refit team has done a great job in antifouling and fairing the hulls, which had taken a few knocks since Cowes Week last year. They are now all looking great and back in the water, ready for some practical training.
The refit team has moved to Port Camargue for the re-fit of Figaro 37 to use the Groupe Bel tent where French sailor Kito de Pavant prepared his current Barcelona World Race entry. The port staff and Groupe Bel staff in Port Camargue have been most helpful in loaning us the essential tent for the re-fit and making it easy for us to move the boat from where we lifted it to the tent itself. Even this was pretty touch and go as you can see from the photo because of the height. In the end we had to put the smallest wheels we had on the cradle and take off the deck winches to get it in!
This option was really our last resort as it has been very difficult to find a shed to complete the work in either La Grande Motte or Port Carmargue. If we had to do it all over again I think we would seriously think twice about using our winter home for a major refit.
Another addition to the fleet is our coaching RIB. This now means that we can help the Centre D’Entrainment coaches on the water, as well as giving us a degree of independence should we want to do our own thing from time to time.
The French sailors are still concentrating on shore based physical and boat training, alongside the Adrena preparation. However, now that the Academy has its boats back in the water we are going to go afloat for some boat handling and maneuvers training this week.
French lessons are also continuing with much more of a focus on understanding essential broadcast weather forecasts, radio transmissions of positions and fleet reporting.
Last weekend Nick Cherry, Nick Houchin and Sam Goodchild went to Marseilles to take part in a match racing event whilst the other squad members competed in the local sailing club regatta.
Finally the selection date for the award of the scholarship boat has now been set for the 29th March. Exciting times ahead!
