ILCA Women's Coaching event at Queen Mary Sailing Club
by Suzie Munnery 12 Mar 12:00 NZDT
8 March 2025
ILCA Women's Coaching event at Queen Mary © Lotte Johnson /
www.lottejohnson.com
The sun came out for 24 ILCA sailors on International Women's Day as the ILCA Women's Coaching Programme returned to Queen Mary on Saturday 8th March. Happily QM gave everyone complementary sunglasses to cope with the glare!
Coaching was led by Ellie Cumpsty and Georgina Povall supported by Bryony Sharpen and Lauren Attwell.
The team welcomed sailors with no racing experience through to club champions but picture postcard conditions allowed George & Ellie to focus the day on 'speed and control' and set clear paths and targets for individual sailors. The morning session was punctuated by whoops and hollers as boat speeds rose. One-on-one feedback on the water ensured everyone got the attention they needed.
With a brief respite for paella in the sunshine, we embarked on the afternoon with George's mantra, "if you can still walk you're not working hard enough," ringing in our ears. And to prove the point we were lucky enough to be joined by Coté Poncell the Chilean Paris 2024 Olympian who demonstrated that downwind sailing in 8-10 knots is full on aerobic exercise.
The coaches debrief highlighting positives and attainable goals for everyone was followed by a relaxed Q&A with Coté highlighting the benefits of consistent training both on and off the water.
Everyone was invited to race at QM on Sunday amongst a fleet of 27 in champagne conditions. I decided to race at Lyttleton securing a second place, an instant improvement and proof that coaching really works!
Once again I was surprised and thrilled by the difference an all female environment makes - openness and curiosity to the fore with an immediate camaraderie - which helps everyone to progress.
ILCA Women's Coaching events are being planned across the country whilst Wildwind, a class sponsor, have picked up the batten and will be hosting a Women's ILCA Clinic in May before Ellie runs a session at King George SC.
This event sold out within days so do keep an eye on the ILCA Calendar to get booked into future sessions.
Huge thanks must go to the coaches, Queen Mary SC, the volunteers who helped pull 24 boats up and down and the programme sponsors Wildwind and SailingFast.