FINN - Dinghy Academy goes from strength to strength - Part 2 – growth and encouragement

Not only is the Dinghy Academy serving as a fantastic training base to a number of established sailors, it is also acting as a staging post for young sailors taking their first steps in the Finn, somewhere they can learn the ropes, get the best advice, and plan a campaign of substance and direction.     Since early 2013 more than 50 sailors, ranging from juniors up to Grand Masters have made use of the facilities and the coaching and training opportunities on offer. Head Coach, Luca Devoti is ardent that the Academy is there for everyone and encourages Masters to train there as much as he does young sailors. The Swiss and Russian Masters are already frequenting the centre on a regular basis.

However he recognises that the future of the class lies with its youth and attracting new blood into the fleet. Together with the Finn Class through the FIDeS (Finn International Development Support) programme he actively seeks out sailors to join the programme, for example Laser sailors who have grown too big, and emerging talents from developing nations. Over the past two years the Academy has helped sailors from many nations developing sailing from Africa, the Caribbean and South America.

Santiago Falasca (ARG) is currently receiving FIDeS funding to train in Valencia. “I came here last year when I began in the Finn. I have improved a lot and sometimes I am already catching the guys who have done many Olympic campaigns. So I am feeling very confident and very good about the future. I think this year is going to be a breakthrough year, a very important year to change and improve and break through to the professional sailors. Hopefully by Takapuna [the Finn Gold Cup, the second Olympic qualifier] I will be fully prepared and will make some good races and have good regatta.”

“I have improved my free pumping a lot. Last year it wasn’t a good thing for me but I have improved. Also I am now up to 96 kg – last year I was 85 kg – so I feel much more confident in the strong winds, and I have still have very good upwind speed in the light. I still need to improve my downwind in light winds, but I think with this training all year in Valencia I will manage that.”

Falasca talked about using Valencia as his base, ”I think it is probably the best place to learn everything. We are always sailing with the top guys of the Finn class. We have a gym here, we have a top coach coming all the time to give us advice. We have every aspect of the training covered. Coaching on the water, coaching in the gym and physiotherapy. Everything is covered. Of course having a coach that has a silver medal in the Finn is also very positive. He knows a lot about how to sail the Finn and about the materials we need to improve our sailing.”