Many thanks for making the Ladies Laser Training Weekend a success

6:33 AM Wed 28 Sep 2011 GMT

'The girls on the water' PSA Media Click Here to view large photo

The PSA Ladies Laser Training Day held at South Lake Maquarie Amateur Sailing Club was a huge success for the organisers and the participants.

We look forward to having more events like this in the future.

A big thankyou goes to:
YNSW
NSW & ACT Laser Class Association
Michael Mills and PSA
SLMASC Members
Sunshine Laser Squad
Coaches, Gabrielle King and Alex South

See below for some great feedback from the girls who participated on the day.

Hi Laura,

I know this is a bit late, but I just wanted to say thank you for organising a great sailing experience for my daughter Sarah the other weekend on Lake Macquarie. Unfortunately, she could only go on 1 day due to other sailing commitments at her own sailing club RPAYC, but she had a blast. She went in not sure if she wanted to sail a laser in the future (when she ages out of the Opti) and came home convinced that the 4.7 is the next boat for her.

What a fabulous opportunity for all the female sailors. We would be very interested in any other future opportunities and we are planning on buying her a laser sometime in early 2012.

Thanks again,
Amy Beavan
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Hi Laura

I just wanted to say thank you to yourself, Alex and Gaby for a simply wonderful and instructive weekend . I was one of 20 fortunate women to undertake a Laser training weekend on the 17 and 18 September 2011. You and your group of instructors spared no effort to ensure success, fun and a feeling of accomplishment.

Everything was thought of, from Laser Australia ensuring that their van was on site with of course Michael ( Millsy ) Mills and Chris Caldecoat the GM in attendance, to the BBQ superbly organised on the Saturday post sailing.
The weather was glorious and the support of the Sunshine Amateur Sailing Club was amazing. The younger members of the club were available to help us all. Thanks to Scott and Joel for their patience and assistance, they were backed up by all the younger members of the Club.

The course assisted all aspiring and current Laser sailors. I for one have very little experience at all. I learnt so much during that weekend. Now, I am ready for formal sailing lessons at my own club, Wangi. I hopefully will be joining the younger set as they learn to sail and at 56 years of age am really looking forward to being competent crew very soon. The weekend was very well organised. The instruction was exceptional, the hands on instruction was outstanding and the level of expertise was what we would expect from the Australian champions who coached us.
What really stood out was the care, interest and the fact that these ladies gave their time voluntarily to help us all.

To anyone who reads this, if you have the opportunity to have a weekend such as this do it... If you are already a Laser sailor, you will still learn, like me with a minimal skill base, absolutely do this and if you crew yachts or sail something else, take the opportunity. You will learn valuable skills, meet some great people and create some good memories.

Once again, to all, thank you.
Marilynne Pross-Vale
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Dear Laura,

Thank you for a wonderful weekend of sailing. Your preparation, presentation, and facilitation was faultless.

From the three page intinery and personal introductions, through classroom theory and actual sailing on the water, I couldn't help but notice how engaged the 'girls' were. From fifty-something Marilynne who will now embark on Learn-To-Sail lessons, to the teenage Kimberley, Alison, Ashley, Sam and Kate, who were just buzzing from the experience.

Such engagement is a credit to you, Gabrielle and Alex because you are not just olympic and world class sailors, and as such, fabulous role models for the girls, but charming and knowledgable coaches willing to share that knowledge and experience to help other 'young ladies' become high achieving Laser sailors.

In her five years of competitive sailing, it is the best sail training class that Kate has attended.

Thank you again,
Glenys MacDonald
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Hi Laura,

Kimberley had a fantastic weekend and really enjoyed her sailing and learning. So thank you for helping to build her confidence in her own sailing ability.

We also wanted you to know we are interested in her attending the emerging talent squad by YNSW if you felt that she was suited to the expectations and criteria that YNSW set for this program.

Again, many thanks. Can't wait to see her take these skills to our home club at Wangi ready for her new season of sailing on her own boat. She was very excited to tell the story about her brilliant start and win on the second day of the weekend. Great to see her babble about it. :)

Kind Regards,
Michelle Russell
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Hi Laura,
Thankyou, the weekend was great experience in a laser, I learnt a lot from all the coaches and it was lots of fun.
I look forward to doing more laser sailing in the future, and hope to see you at some regattas.

Thanks again,
Sam Gray
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Laura

I would just like to say thankyou for a fantastic weekend last weekend. The location and weather were just perfect, I learnt so much and it has really inspired me to keep sailing.
Gabriella and Alex were great they were so enthusiastic and explained everything so simply.

Please please please run another one soon. It was invaluable.
Once again thankyou

Beth Marcer
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Hi Laura,

Sorry it took me so long to get this to you but I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for a great weekend last week. I really enjoyed myself thanks to the hard work from you, Alex, Gabe, PSA and the South Lake Macquarie Amateur SC. I saw there were lots of photos taken - could I please get a copy of some of them? (at least the ones of me)

Please let me know if you're planning on running another one of these in the future as I'd love to be involved again.

Thanks again,
Dani Pascoe