TRANSPARENT COACHING 5

by Pam

The last coaching session was just before the Nationals with Luigi. Everyone else had to cancel. Doug asked a question about Mussolini and Luigi's impassioned answer took us through dinner and turned into a very interesting history lesson about Italy. I've never heard Luigi talk so much. Sailing was back burnered. It was a nice change.

Tonight, Doug was planning to cancel but the emails were buzzing around and everyone was planning to go to WRBC so Doug went down but I had a project at work that kept me away. I suggested he take a long tiller extension and walk them through tacking. Amber and Catherine have both converted to a longer hiking stick and both are struggling. It's amazing how a few extra inches can get tangled in your life jacket, shorts, shirt, main sheet, etc. Anyone who's made the switch knows the feeling. So, Doug took his hiking bench down to show them proper hiking technique and also used that to demonstrate tacking with a long extension. They all took turns walking through the technique.

They also spent some time talking about starts and how to determine the favored end of the line and where to start. Luigi brought dinner and some wine from Italy. WRBC is a good place to be on Wednesday nights. There seems to be a little Italian culture thrown in from time to time. I understand it was a very productive evening. Thanks for dinner Luigi and thanks guys for saving some for Doug to bring home.