ISA Topper Squad Policy document click to download  

ISA Squad Topper Training 2011/2012

As the frost glistens in the early morning our thoughts turn to winter training.
Winter training is now an essential part of many sailors preparation for the summer event season and happens at Club, Association and National level.

Weekend 1

The first ISA Squad weekend consisted of  three days of training held over the Halloween weekend in Carrickfergus. Lead coach Barry MCartan assisted by Oliver Loughhead and Tiffany Brien let the squad get to know each other before pushing them hard in the 20 knots of wind and waves in Belfast Lough.

The focus of the weekend was on Boat Handling, specifically mark roundings and Tacks, using the controls and settings. Unfortunately it was just too windy to go sailing on the Monday but the sailors watched video’s of themselves making mistakes (and hopefully learning from them !) before returning home happy to start the trick or treating.

Weekend 2

Last weekend the ISA National Topper Squad congregated in Howth Co. Dublin for their second Winter training session this year. This time in Howth the focus was on Gybes, Downwind transitions, Upwind body & technique and Pumping technique. Weather conditions were light on the Saturday but the wind built steadily on the Sunday to nearly 20 knots. It was unseasonably mild for this time of year making training conditions very pleasant. Barry was assisted in Howth by Ben Scanlon and all the sailors agreed that the training was hugely successful.

Howth proved a popular venue as its central to Dublin and on the “Northern” side of the city for those travelling from Northern Ireland.

The squad are now on their Christmas break and training will resume in January.

Squad members with assistant coach Ben Scanlon (left) and lead coach Barry McCartan (2nd from the left)