With a high-wind forecast, no one could have expected all 170 entries to follow through with the trip to today’s Grafham Grand Prix, but the 145 that got out of bed early to brave the conditions would be rewarded with a spectacular day’s handicap racing. The average wind strength might have been in the late teens to early 20s, but it was the severity of the gusts - up to 35 knots - that provided the real test. There were capsizes aplenty although, amazingly, no broken masts.
America's Cup veteran Terry Hutchinson says that opposites may not necessarily attract, but putting different personalities together was still a vital part of creating a Quantum Racing team that was strong enough to dominate the European TP52 circuit in its heyday...
Strong winds have been the theme of the 2012/13 season of the GJW Direct SailJuice Winter Series, and strong winds is what the current pre-entry of more than 160 boats are likely to experience this weekend at Rutland Water. It’s the 20th anniversary of the John Merricks Tiger Trophy, the annual winter handicap event held in memory of the Olympic silver medallist who won the inaugural event at his home club, and who was renowned as a speed demon in strong winds.... 
For the Oman Sail campaign for the Tour Voile, skipper Rob Greenhalgh was tasked with training up three inexperienced Omani sailors as part of the crew. Using this Excel spreadsheet, Rob got his sailors into top form in the shortest time. To get the Omanis up to scratch in every aspect of their jobs on board, Greenhalgh divided every routine, every manoeuvre - both inshore and offshore - into the tiniest detail. Now you can benefit from Rob's experience and apply it to your own sailing. For anyone looking to organise complex manoeuvres between a crew, this document is gold dust.
