A review of our Fall and Winter training program and a look into the preparation for the 2023 Racing Season – by Ian Barrows & Hans Henken.

It’s been a busy few months for us as we’ve been training hard in Miami, Florida in anticipation for the start of the US Olympic Trials in January at the West Marine Miami US Open and in February at the Clearwater US Open. We’ve been fortunate to have access to both the US Sailing Center in Coconut Grove and Miami Yacht Club in order to prepare, and we’ve been making the most of every opportunity to get on the water.

Over the past three months, we’ve been focusing on a variety of areas as we look to fine-tune our performance and get ready for the trials. In October, we trained with the current 49er World Champion crew, Floris van der Werken, and it was a truly invaluable experience for our team. Not only did we get the chance to sail with one of the best in the world, but we were also able to learn from his expertise and insights into the sport.

Working with Floris helped to change our attitude towards training, as we were able to see firsthand the level of dedication and commitment required to succeed at the highest levels of the 49er class. His advice helped us to refocus our minds on what it takes to get better, and we came away from the experience with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. Read on