Well I guess it is now well overdue for my first blog of 2017, which I write shortly after returning to the UK from my new job in Lawgkawi, Malaysia where I am now working as Technical Director. I have always been interested in training, especially fitness/injury prevention, rules and psychology. As a Coach I probably spend more days on the water than off in a typical year.

As a Coach you can at any time help only a limited number of sailors. Indeed when on the Olympic circuit I usually work with only 1 or 2 sailors (co-incidentally both the number of free seats in my transporter van and the number of free spaces on my triple trailer), So by taking a Director’s job I have a great opportunity to help a huge number of sailors: Indeed a whole country.

Over the next few weeks I will be thinking about the most important aspects of sailing and featuring these in my blog. After all you see everything in hindsight with 20/20 vision and by working with the grass roots up I hope to provide a clear pathway to high performance. This means a logical progression which sailors, coaches and managers are aware of and instilling good habits from the word go.