2006/2007
Well 2006 has been a hell of a year again, with good results from all British boats in Hungary Worlds and Promotional regattas. Again the team of Rhodes and Putt took on the responsibility of the promotionals and again the results look good again. As we move into another intense training through the winter, Corky has decided to take on the role of Head Coach for the South & South West Cadet Zone Squad, but also become a full time coach. Throughout the winter of 2006 I have worked with cadets, 420s, mirrors and many more including yacht racing. The future looks bright for Corker Coaching and Whatacorker Industries, with the new arrival of my own online shop www.whatacorkershop.net which is increasing in size and products available.
2005/20062005 / 2006 have been hectic years so far with coaching in various different venues and all different levels of ability. Cath and I took the responsibility of the South / South West Cadet Zone squad, while also providing the main support for the British Promotional cadets in Spain at the Cadet Worlds 2005. The results from this regatta speak for themselves with British boats holding the top 14 places. Cath and my background support for Adam Bowers and his team, again showed how World Class are sailors are securing Gold and Silver medals while the rest of the team all finished in the top 12.
STARTING COACHINGAfter realising that I was the pups nuts ... I started coaching while I was sailing the 420 with coaching the Cadet National Squad. During University I worked for 3 months at Minorca Sailing as an Advanced Racing Coach with key focuses on Asymmetric dinghies.
The combination of coaching and competing in the RS800 really took place in 2002, with time being spent with the Cadet National Squad and various other classes and squads.
2003 lead onto more National Squad work and then into the Cadet World team assistant role to James Ward (Wardy). With great success in these events (2nd Cadet Worlds 2003, Dominated Flanders Youth Regatta) we coached together this set the ball rolling.
With continued amounts of National Squad work in 2004, Corky took the role of South Zone Mirror coach to expand his coaching knowledge. With assistance from Matt Burge, we provided the springboard for 4 boats to make the transition to the National squad.
During these times I focused on providing as much Open Training for both the Mirrors and Cadets, to improve the levels of all the sailors not just the ones in these selected squads.
Combining forces with other coaches such as Cath Putt, Sam Carter, Adam Bowers, Matt Burge and many more, we have managed to increase the overall level of youth sailing in multiple classes.
PROGRESSIONAs my fine self grew older n older, ...I made the transition into the 420 class, where my crew Nick Hutton and I competed against other top youth sailors such as Paul Cambell James & Alex Cherry. (Some well known names you may recognise)
In our first year of the 420 there was a steep learning curve, but we made huge leaps to secure a world team place in just a few months of sailing the boat.
The same year we finished 5th in our first 420 British National Championships. Our success continued in the 420 with another world team and European Championship Team placement the following year.
EARLY SAILING LIFEI competed in my first world championship in 93 in Belgium. From then on the combination of the Rhodes brothers combined to continue our success and take us to 3 more world championships with a 2nd place scoring high on our rankings. From there on it was up to me to helm my way to the front of the fleet, which I did to take me to 3 more world championships, making 7 consecutive world championships in total.
Started sailing at an early age...then the progressed into sailing cadets in 92, but my main racing didn't start until 93. Ian Williams was the first to take me under his wing and train me fully as an ace cadet crew, but also with support from the other Exmouth sailors such as Stevie Morrison, Jo Glandfield and many more top names in today's sailing.