News
Laser Intensive Training Weeks 8 May, 15 May & 22 May
If you sail Lasers this one’s for you. We will be kicking off the 2021 season with three Laser Training weeks so if you want to get your season off to a flying start and blow away those winter cobwebs: why not join us? The coaching weeks are open to those with at least a season’s club racing under their belts with an enthusiasm to hone their skills. Numbers are limited to a maximum 12 sailors each week as this is the ideal number to really focus on those critical start lines and first beat of a race whilst allowing coaches to help with individual advice. With the mornings to focus on light wind technique the afternoon cross shore offers lively conditions to perfect those high wind gybes.
We start the week breaking down the different aspects of rigging, boat-handling and boat speed both upwind and downwind and move on to putting these into action on the race course. There are on water coaching sessions every morning and afternoon with each followed by an all important debrief. There will also be in-depth lectures and video feedback in the beachside bar, giving sailors a chance not only to learn from our coaches but also their peers. The small size of the groups provides us with an opportunity to record at the beginning of the week the aspects of your sailing that you would like to work on and personalise your training plan.
There’s always a buzz of excitement each April as Wildwind staff unwrap the brand new Lasers. We purchased 10 brand new boats for our shortened 2020 season and we’ll be refreshing these and adding a further 5 for summer 2021 - all ready waiting for you on the beach. Each course offers five days coaching with a race day to complete the week. Over the years our Laser training weeks have been so successful that this year we have put on an extra date.Laser* Training weeks May 8th, May 15th and May 22nd 2021.
*All rigs Standard, Radial, 4.7
We love Lasers and have been proud spoAnsors of the UK Laser Class Association for many years be it the Grand Prix Series or Master events and will continue to do so when everyone gets back to more normal sailing next year. With the Grand Prix we are keen to promote taking part rather than podium victory so every competitor gets a raffle ticket in a prize draw for a free Wildwind holiday: the winner can be seen with a wider grin than the series champion in the club bar… As one lucky winner Pete Young got in touch to say:
“Thank you and the team for sponsoring the Laser Masters in the first place, and secondly, for an outstanding holiday. The setup in Vassiliki is first class, the accommodation was spotless, the Lasers were maintained beautifully, and the food in the beach cafe was fantastic. The beach was also run in such a relaxed but safe manner.I will pass the word around my club and the Laser fleet. Thanks once again to the Wildwind team. Warm regards, Pete”
Lasers are a boat for all sizes, ages, sailing and fitness levels as they offer three rig sizes from the 4.7 and Radial to the mighty Standard sail for the big boys. There is unlikely to be a club in the UK that doesn’t have several in the boat park as the appeal of this one design hasn’t dimmed since launched as a beach boat 51 years ago. Yes, so many Olympians having spent time in one at some point in their sailing lives is inspiration indeed but its popularity is based on its accessibility with straight forward rigging and controls and a relatively dry cockpit.
With the Vassiliki flat water and world renown wind could there be a better place to try your hand on a foiling Laser?! Pilot squeals can be heard across the bay with our two Glidefree foiling kits that can also be used on either our Lasers or our RS Aeros. We are one of the few centres selected by the RYA to deliver their Foiling courses and as all RYA qualifications are included free in the price of your Wildwind holiday perhaps a second week will be needed to do one.
Take a peek at Marko breaking the 20 knot barrier on a foiling Laser
There were accolades indeed from Chris Gowers, Team GB Head Olympic coach and top Laser guru: “The staff at Wildwind are really special. Over the years that I've been running Laser training camps I've always been extremely impressed with just how much they put in to ensure their clients are totally satisfied with the Wildwind experience.”