Weymouth sailor and coach John Emmett blogs for the Dorset Echo
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Jon Emmett »
Spain
Posted on 8:25am Friday 16th October 2009
I drove down to Portsmouth to catch the 24 hour ferry from the UK to Santander Spain. It seemed funny that I was going from England to Spain but everything on the ferry was French (it was run by Brittany ferries).
Jon Emmett »
Sailing fitness
Posted on 10:20am Saturday 19th September 2009
Two years to the day (19th September) I elected to have two prolapsed discs removed from my neck (and the three vertebrae in my neck fused). This forced me to take over six months out of sailing but I felt it was my only option if I wanted to continue professional sailing.
Jon Emmett »
The Byte CII World Championships
Posted on 9:13pm Friday 28th August 2009
When I first landed in Canada (Montreal airport) I thought I was in France (everyone was speaking French and all the signs seemed to be in French!) However upon leaving the airport, I thought I was back in Japan as it was so hot and humid, especially considering it was late evening.
Jon Emmett »
The Radial World Championships
Posted on 6:47pm Saturday 22nd August 2009
STRAIGHT after the prize giving at the Radial Nationals (in Paignton) I headed back to Weymouth to drop off the boats and see my girlfriend, May, before driving to my parents’ house in East Grinstead (near London).
Jon Emmett »
The Radial Nationals
Posted on 1:41pm Tuesday 18th August 2009
Well my aim after the Europeans was to have a textbook regatta at the Nationals. However it was not to be. There were fewer than a hundred entries for Paignton, many sailors absent due to the timing (being so close to the Europeans and the Worlds), but as the defending Champion I decided I really ought to do it, and with the winds in Japan usually below 12 knots I decided practice was more important than rest (especially after making so many silly mistakes at the Europeans).
Jon Emmett »
Disappointment at the Europeans
Posted on 7:55am Saturday 18th July 2009
The Radial Europeans was my first major event of 2009 and after finishing third in 2008 just three points off winning the event I felt it was unfinished business.
Jon Emmett »
Catamarans at the Olympics?
Posted on 1:58pm Thursday 9th July 2009
It may seem strange after Team Alinghi just launched a giant 90 foot Catamaran (Alinghi 5) to defend the 33rd America’s Cup while at present there is no Catamaran class set to race in the 2012 Olympics (one could well argue that there should be two events, one for Men and one for Women, like other disciplines…)
Jon Emmett »
Neil Pryde
Posted on 8:50am Monday 15th June 2009
I am absolutely delighted to announce a new sponsor, Neil Pryde. It has been a difficult season for me so far which started with a leaky boat which I finally managed to sort out ready for the Holland Europa Cup.
Jon Emmett »
Ten years at the top.
Posted on 5:00pm Wednesday 13th May 2009
I initially changed from the Laser standard rig to the Radial after an especially windy European Championships in Cascais, Portugal.
Jon Emmett »
The choices we make
Posted on 6:16pm Tuesday 7th April 2009
I initially got into water sports through a youth organisation called the Nautical Training Corps (NTC) where I did every outdoor activity imaginable. As well as sailing I particularly enjoyed kayaking and I was a good paddler.
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