31 Aug 2023
Development Clinic Qingdao, China Day 4 & 5
On the fourth day of the 420 coaches and sailor’s clinic in Qingdao, China, we were lucky and had a sunny day, with a nice northerly wind. So, trying to balance the schedule, we took advantage and did a good session afloat in the morning, practicing mark rounding techniques, tacks and gybes with spinnaker. There were a few capsizes during the session with the wind blowing a bit hard for the beginners. The group then came ashore for a lunch break and went afloat again in the afternoon for the same exercises.
On the fifth and last day of the 420 clinic we spent part of the morning with a session about boat tuning in the classroom and then went to the boat park to see how each change to the tuning affects the mast and sails. After the lunch break, we went afloat for general exercises. Once back ashore, the closing ceremony of the clinic took place, where certificates were awarded to all the participants of the clinic and commemorative plaques were given by the president of the I420CA, to the Chinese Yachting Association, to the Qingdao Marine Sports School and to the head coach Nikos Drougkas.
Overall it was a very successful clinic and we hope that the 420 Class will soon have a big fleet in China.
