Team Trains with Coach Betsy Alison for Four Days at WYC in Cold, Wet Conditions

Team Captain Hook completed a 4-day training session with Paralympic Coach Betsy Alison at the Wayzata Yacht club on Lake Minnetonka.  For three of the four days, temperatures were in the 40s, a cold rain persisted, and winds blew in the high teens, gusting to 20 mph.  Finally, on Sunday, the sun came out and temperatures soared to near 60, while the wind continued to blow in the teens.

David Burdette, Mike Hersey and helmsman Bert Foster train on Lake Minnetonka.

Crew members Mike Hersey (Hyannis, MA) and David Burdette (Baltimore, MA) and Coach Betsy Alison (Newport, RI) arrived on Thursday afternoon, so the team could compete in the Wayzata Yacht Club regular Thursday night race.  The team, racing in 2-sail Paralympic format, had a successful race against the rest of the Sonar fleet using spinnakers, finishing 4th out of 11 boats.

Training sessions were held on Friday morning, Friday afternoon, Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning, with 3 to 5 boats from WYC Sonar Fleet 5 participating in each session.  Coach Betsy Alison put on an outstanding training event where all teams improved with her help.

In 2 weeks, the team will travel to England to represent America in 2 IFDS World Cup events.  First, the Sail for Gold Regatta in early June.  Then, in early July, the Disabled World Championship.  Both events are hosted by the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, which will be the venue for Olympic and Paralympic sailing competition at the 2012 Games.

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