To find out what dinghy sailing was all about as part of the sports scholarship programme offered at Coventry University, Jamie Keenan (Strength and Conditioning Coach) and Kathryn Cook (Sports Psychologist) were invited to crew in Shustokes Thursday evening sailing series.

The race started with Jamie and Hannah in Well Dodgy to leeward of Kathryn and Stuart Hydon in Soak ‘n’ Fused, Hannah recognising that Stuart was bearing down on them powered up the boat and gained a boat lengths lead ahead but was unable to tack in enough water and lost the battle to the windward mark.  The fight was still on down the next leg and JK and HS were biting at the heels until both larks suffered the dreaded weed on the centre board!  Well Dodgy came off worse and fell behind Soak ‘n’ fused.  With the winds increasing to force 3-4 and with two white faced virgin crews (that had never been near a boat before), spinnakers were tentatively shown and both JK and KC proved they had skills and quickly mastered the art of flying the third sail.  HS forgetting what she told her crew for tacking meant a few near capsizes for the pair and finally went for a quick dip in the reservoir putting them back behind Cole and Rachel in the Stig. Chris and Ann proved that Dark Knight was enthralled by the increasing winds and beat Jim H in the Phantoom after losing time capsizing near the finish line.

Many thanks to both JK and KC for visiting Shustoke and taking part to experience the sport of dinghy sailing.  The final places were...in 4^th place Stuart and Kathryn and 11^th place Hannah and James.  Another race is required to put the scores right!