From starting offshore sailers to online training experts

The first Corona measures are now slowly but surely being lifted. The first sailboats are going back on the water, so the countdown until we can train again as ROST II at the Ker46 VanUden. Important training months have been lost for many sailors, from young to older, in any Class. With ROST II we tried to learn as much as possible about the boat, sailing, about and from each other during this period when we couldn't sail. As a starting team, where we just got to know each other at the end of 2019, it was important to at least stay in touch. Several team members came up with creative and fun alternative ideas to keep improving our team:

“At the end of February, after a lot of work on the boat, it was finally time to go sailing. Quite early in the season, but deliberately planned so as to be able to train with the new team. The first matches were already planned in April. Before the Corona measures were in force, we were able to make a few more training days. Some of the team members had never sailed a really big boat before. That is why we changed positions on board a lot during these training sessions. Everyone has tried multiple tasks. We received clear explanations from Gerd-Jan and Jaap, but you also received tips and tricks from the people who had done your task before. That is why it was noticeable every training session that things were getting better and that the team was already getting attuned to each other. Doing odd jobs in the winter also contributed to this because there was a common goal, namely to get the boat perfectly in order to start sailing as quickly as possible. When we couldn't train because of a storm (which was quite common at the beginning of this year), we often decided to go to the boat and do the last few chores. The boat is now dry again, but is completely ready when we can sail again.” - Merle

“When it turned out that we could no longer sail on the boat for the time being, I asked the group to exercise online together twice a week. Since then I have made a program every Monday and Thursday with simple, sailing-specific sports exercises that everyone can do at home. Femke has now taken over the Thursday training with a cardio program. Occasionally we would come up with a physical challenge, such as balancing on your head for a minute or a handstand, which provided good entertainment for the team. These virtual sports sessions led to a large number of new initiatives, as a result of which ROST I and ROST II now come together every Wednesday in a zoom meeting to exchange knowledge and experience through Q&A sessions, competition analyzes and meteo lessons. In one of the first zoom sessions, we sailed a virtual sailing race, with ROST I taking us through what they had to do on their job during the different maneuvers of the race. This way we can still form a picture of how things are going on the Ker46 during a competition. All these initiatives come from a very clear credo: 'Standstill is regression'.”

- Bouwe

“For a while now, we have been scheduling cardio on Thursdays. It is important in this time not only to do strength training, but also to train cardio, especially now that everyone is at home a lot. The cardio exercises are a good alternative to running or cycling. The exercises are to Spanish Zumba music, and the training lasts an hour in total. Now and then Gerd-Jan's children also participate, who really enjoy "dancing". Because of this we will be fit enough when we are allowed to sail again. Let's hope that is allowed again soon, because that boat has to get off dry land!" - Femke

“On a Tuesday in May we were able to borrow a number of SUP boards. This allowed us to go on the water together 1,5 meters away from each other, despite the Corona. This was a fun and safe way to do a sporting activity together. Whether it was really sporty is doubtful, because at the end of the day everyone had a wet suit. For Pieter it was the first time on a SUP board, but luckily he was a very natural talent. Gerd-Jan showed that he is at home in many markets by using his many years of skateboarding experience to do an Ollie over a tree trunk with the SUP! It was a super fun and enjoyable afternoon with the team. Good for team building!” - Lars

“During the intelligent lockdown, it was decided to return the boat, which was actually just in the water after our winter maintenance, from Scheveningen to Hellevoetsluis. In Hellevoetsluis, the boat could be taken out of the water and stored on the side. In this way, the quality of the winter maintenance carried out is maintained longer and better. There were still a few small jobs open, such as sanding and applying antifouling under the stamps. After consultation with the yard, it was decided that we could work on the boat with a maximum of three people at the same time 1.5 meters away. We have gratefully made use of this. Many of the team regarded this as a nice day outside, after a long period of sitting inside. The end result of this is that the boat is now completely ready, and when the rules relax we can sail again. The boat is in top shape and ready to go.” - Pieter

To ensure that our sailing skills remain in order, a day of Laser sailing has been planned. The K.R.&Z.V. has a number of Lasers on the Kralingse Plas for Members, which can be rented for a small fee. We have used this as a team. Because everyone sails in their own Laser, 1.5 meters can be kept neatly. With this nice sailing weather it is of course great pleasure to float over the lake in a boat. But in the end, nothing beats sailing on the Ker46.

- Laurien

So it turns out that despite Corona, there are a lot of creative solutions to stay in touch with each other and water sports. Sailors keep busy with the wind, weather and water or in short with sails, even if the boat is standing still for a while. We hope everyone gets through this difficult time well, and keeps moving. Hopefully we'll see each other again soon on the water!