Is the Cat Clinic for me?

[Andrew Hannah]

I was in half a mind to write directly to Brian Phipps, but I felt others would be interested.

Has anybody been to the Cat Clinic? If so, is it aimed at Sprint sailors of modest ability, like me? There doesn't seem to be a link from our association website, and I wonder whether it would be possible to have more information.

For example, is it necessary to take your own boat? Where is the clinic, and is there a nearby railway station etc?

[Gabriel]

Hi Andrew,

when I was in the UK last year I stopped off at Windsport and had a couple of days there. They have a range of boats and the 15 I sailed seemed in good condition.

I'm not sure about the best way to get there as I was staying with family who live nearby. You should be able to get info from their site: http://www.windsport.co.uk and I'm sure Brian will be posting a reply with info for you.

I'd really recommend getting some coaching from Brian, regardless of your level he'll be able to give you some valuable instruction. I've had about 5 or 6 lessons over the last few years as he comes to HK quite often and I just wish he was able to come over more often!

Gabriel

[Martin Searle]

Andrew,

There is a link too Windsport from the Suppliers page btw.

My info is a bit out of date:

I went there for one of their old 5 day RYA courses in 1994 and found it really useful. I had a couple of interesting experiences on a Dart 18 since it was a windy week including a windward capsize when my crew (a Dutch Ballet Dancer who was on the same course) decided that they could trapeeze on a run . Also sailed 15's for a time and tried a light wind capsize and recovery (boy was that hard!).

We didn't have Brian coaching but had one of the then stalwarts of the 15 fleet 'Tippy Tommy', but Brian was around to offer advice and we had a nice meal at the Pandora Inn on the last day during which we were presented with our RYA certificates my second level 3 certifcate in my case having previously done it in dinghies.

Mylor is a nice place and we stayed at this rather nice B&B just down the road. The lanes are a bit narrow. Falmouth was a good place for eateries. I persuaded my folks it would be a good idea to come along (and do the driving since I didn't fancy doing it my 1.0 Nova) but they had a nice time looking around the sights of Cornwall.

Ironically at the 15 Nationals at Saundersfoot that year I beat my instructor in one race where the wind failed at the end of the race leaving everyone struggling to make the finish line.

Martin S.

[Brian Phipps]

Is the Windsport Cat Clinic for you??
Hi Brian Phipps from the Cat Clinic.
The Cat Clinic has been teaching , training and coaching performance off the beach catamaran sailing since the early 90's. The style of training and variety of courses has adapted over the period as the catamaran market has developed and changed direction but we at the Cat Clinic still offer the same wide range of catamaran training support.
a) Never sailed before but want to start sailing cats? Good skills in basic cat instruction.
b) Sailing cats but want to improve, may be club racer or starting to race.
c) Been sailing a cat for sometime and need some in-put to raise your game and review what you do and why.
d)Looking for high level coaching may be with a regatta campain in mind

All this and more is deliverd by the Cat Clinic team who operate across all catamaran sailing levels. You can bring your own boat, or use a Cat Clinic boat, visit us or we will visit your club or group. The sailing waters around Windsport are some of the best, which is why we have been identified as one of the 2012 Olympic training venues (sadley without a multihull included)
Hope that helps , if you want to raise your game you are welcome to come and see us www.windsport.co.uk 01326 376191
thx Brian Windsport.

[Andrew Hannah]

Thanks Brian for this. I have sent an e-mail to you for details.

[Bob Carter]

Hi Andrew,
An alternative is for a group of you at your Club to club together and pay for Brian to come to your Club and do a weekend training session. Shanklin did this earlier this year and they were pleased with the session. There was some positive comments on this forum from some of them.
A further alternative is the Association could organize a training event with Brian as the trainer at some neutral club. It would be a bit more expensive than our usual course which is run by volunteers (particularly Nick & Ray Gall) who give their time freely.
For a Club of your size (26 or so Sprint 15s) I would have thought that the Club organizing a course with Brian themselves would be best.
Cheers
Bob
PS I think the Dart 18s had Brian run their course at Mylor Harbour this year.

[Frank]

Hi Andrew, Don’t know much about the Cat Clinic but I most definitely would not recommend the Dog Clinic due to the fact that Mrs Grub Guru took our pet Labrador there recently. On his return home to say he was less than chipper would have been an understatement and as for his treatment, let’s just say that he was missing bodily parts as named on Bob’s old boat ( 1945 ) !!