ISAF World Sailing Championships Perth
Well I have just returned from coaching at the ISAF World Sailing Championships at Perth, Australia, and it was certainly an interesting regatta and overall a very positive one with so many learning...
View ArticleMiami Olympic Classes regatta
Lijia Xu has just returned from her second World Cup victory in Miami in the Laser Radial class (to add to her win at the first event in Melbourne) to make it two out of two in the series. Xu who is...
View ArticleAfter the Olympics
Well it is over a month since the Olympic Medal race took place for the Radial class. A day which I will surely remember for the rest of my life. I have just returned from a well deserved holiday,...
View ArticleJon Emmett wins the Masters European Championships
Well this year due to my involvement with the Olympics I was unable to attend any World Championships, however I hope to make amends by attending two in 2013: the Radial Worlds at the end of...
View Article2012 Rolex World Sailor of the Year
Well the Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards last week now seem a very long time ago. It is always a very tough award but especially so in an Olympic year. I really do not think that there could...
View Article2012 wrap up
Well what a year 2012 was. An Olympic Gold medal and World Sailor of the Year for Lijia Xu. For me it was both an honour and a privilege working with such a talented and hard working individual.
View ArticleLooking forward to 2013
Well I have had a big break from full time coaching; everyone needs some down time even if it is just to reflect on what the next step is. I feel I want to be fully equipped before returning to the...
View ArticleBack in the UK
I am now back in the UK to race at the Radial Qualifier in Hayling Island to hopefully secure myself a place for the Radial World Championship. The good thing about the UKLA qualifier system is it is...
View ArticleHyeres 2013
The day before the Qualifier I go and see Stuart Offer of SOS Therapy, who not only releases my muscles but then proceeds to tape me back together using Rock tape. My shoulder is now feeling much...
View ArticleThe Dutch Masters
Well I qualified for the 2013 World Championship, and having been unable to take part in 2012 due to my Olympic commitments I am very keen to attend!
View ArticleDisappointment at the Europeans
The Radial Europeans was my first major event of 2009 and after finishing third in 2008 just three points off winning the event I felt it was unfinished business.
View ArticleThe Radial World Championships
STRAIGHT after the prize giving at the Radial Nationals (in Paignton) I headed back to Weymouth to drop off the boats and see my girlfriend, May, before driving to my parents’ house in East Grinstead...
View ArticleIreland
Well now the UK Qualifier season has ended we are into the training season. I am the training officer for the UK Laser Class Association as I feel that it is important to put something back into the...
View ArticleEnding the season on a high
IT was nice to end the season on a high with a win at the Radial Inlands at Rutland where 104 sailors competed in the light winds.
View ArticleLondon Boatshow 2010
Well unfortunately the weather really didn’t help the turn out for the London Boat Show. When the news says, “Don’t travel unless you have to,” they really ought to say, “but you have to go to the...
View ArticleTaekwondo
At the end of last year I tore my hamstring which was possibly the most painful experience of my life. I had to take six weeks out of training and it took a full three months to return to complete...
View ArticleJon Emmett Qualifies for the World Championships
There are six Radial Qualifier events a year to decide who goes to the World and European Championships. These events are called Qualifiers because they qualify you to go to the international events....
View ArticleThe Europa Cups
It always amazes me how few of the Brits do the Europa Cup series. The first event of the year in Hyeres had over 280 Radials taking part (plus 99 Standards and 137 4.7s), yet there were fewer than 6...
View ArticleIntroducing Jon Emmett
I first really started sailing Lasers (Standard rig – the Radial fleet was very small and non-existent at Qualifiers at this stage) in 1993 and made it into the Youth Squad in 1994. I remember...
View ArticleThe North Sea Regatta
The first day of racing things started well enough with a short delay to the start whilst the 83 Radials were sorted into four groups for the event, with each group racing a different group every day....
View ArticleThe Radial World Championships
My preparation for the Radial Worlds in Largs was all held in light winds. In fact the last major event I did was the Dutch Europa cup where we managed to complete only three races in four days, and...
View ArticleThe Youth Olympics
This week sees the start of the Youth Olympic games with the sailing being held at the National Sailing Centre Singapore. Sailing has been an Olympic sport since 1900 so it makes sense that there is...
View ArticleSailing fitness - part one
After a brief chat to a First Aid first responder, and much to my embarrassment, they immediately sent for an ambulance and put me in the back and asked to me describe the pain which I said was 6/7 but...
View ArticleSailing fitness - part two
Well it is now over two months since I broke my arm falling off my bike. The main reason for my getting a bike was so that I did not have to spend so much time on a stationary bike at the gym which is...
View ArticleSailing fitness - part three
Nearly four months has passed since I broke my elbow. The actual bone was appropriately named Radial head. The nurse said I did a really good job of it (breaking the thickest part of the thickest bone...
View ArticleChristmas in Croatia
The Europa Cup series has always been a stable part of my campaign for the Worlds. As I spend a lot of my time coaching, I take the opportunity to race wherever and whenever I can. The Europa Cup...
View ArticleBe Your Own Sailing Coach is now on facebook
Why not join nearly 4000 facebook fans of Be Your Own Sailing Coach?
View ArticleNew Year in Cornwall
Well I had a super holiday… It was great that both Burn Park and the Clowance Estate had health centres which did massage. So I actually came back in better shape than when I went! I even finally...
View ArticleRigging
I have recently been working with professional rigger Gareth Griffiths (www.thenottinghillriggingco.com) on updating the Laser rope systems. Many of the current systems in common use are woefully...
View ArticleGoals
In order to be successful in life (not just in sailing) you need to set goals. After all, failing to plan is planning to fail. Goal setting will be a key part of my coaching when I work with Olympic...
View ArticleBoat developments and Crew fuel
I have just returned from the Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace which really marks the start of the UK sailing season and is a great place to see all the latest developments. I was on the Laser...
View ArticlePreparing for the season
Well the season has now well and truly started even if no one remembered to tell the wind. My broken elbow no longer stops me sailing although it does make some pretty horrible noises. I guess it...
View ArticleChampionship preparation
Failing to plan is planning to fail. My key regatta this year is the Radial World Championships in La Rochelle from July 16th to 23rd . I have just returned from the French Europa cup also held in La...
View ArticleRigging update
I was recently asked by Leonardo Ferrante from Argentina about the length of ropes to use for his new Laser. Now rigging the boat correctly is very important which ever class you sail but things are...
View ArticleJoin the Be Your Own Sailing Coach group on facebook
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View ArticleJoin the Be Your Own Sailing Coach group on facebook
Join the discussion, become a member of the Be Your Own Sailing Coach group on facebook: www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8224433030
View ArticleSail for Gold
What better way to see how you would perform in Weymouth in the summer than racing in Weymouth during the summer! It is therefore no surprise that for many federations the performance at this year’s...
View ArticleBe Your Own Sailing Coach nearly reaches 4000 fans of facebook
"Like" Be Your Own Sailing Coach on facebook to hear the special announcement on reaching 4000 fans...
View ArticleOlympic test event
The Olympic test event was certainly that, a testing event for Sailors and Coaches alike.
View ArticleOff to China...
Well I spent most of the UK Radial Nationals trying to get a Chinese Visa and there were some very early mornings writing letters, booking flights and other administration duties, but it was worth it...
View ArticleSail Melbourne
They say that you can experience all four seasons in one day in Melbourne and that was certainly true.
View ArticleLijia Xu returns
So for Sail for Gold we were finally properly prepared and this showed in the results, with Lily and Eko taking 1st and 2nd place in the first five races and securing Gold and Silver overall with a...
View ArticleA new beginning
Well I have now finished working for the Chinese Yachting Association and as I look back I see a whole host of achievements: Seeing Lijia Xu (Lily) standing on top of the podium to collect her Olympic...
View ArticleNever say NEVER again
Lijia Xu has now retired, and as the ISAF conference draws to a close so does another year. Despite saying that I would never work for the Chinese again I decided to go and coach Lily for her final...
View ArticleWow what a year!
Well I was a little embarrassed when I realised that the last time I wrote a blog I was wondering what 2014 might bring! The year has certainly flown by and whilst I miss coaching the Chinese girls...
View ArticleTen years at the top.
I initially changed from the Laser standard rig to the Radial after an especially windy European Championships in Cascais, Portugal.
View ArticleNeil Pryde
I am absolutely delighted to announce a new sponsor, Neil Pryde. It has been a difficult season for me so far which started with a leaky boat which I finally managed to sort out ready for the Holland...
View ArticleCatamarans at the Olympics?
It may seem strange after Team Alinghi just launched a giant 90 foot Catamaran (Alinghi 5) to defend the 33rd America’s Cup while at present there is no Catamaran class set to race in the 2012 Olympics...
View ArticleProgress
Well I now feel I am making excellent progress. I am now 300% stronger than I was after my injury and up to 70% of the strength before my injury.
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