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Sailing Club Spotlight Sunderland sailing Club

DOZENS of sailors took to the waves to mark the centenary of a Wearside yacht club. Members of Sunderland Yacht Club, in Roker, marked its 100th anniversary with an “impressive spectacle” involving 25 boats. Teenager Luke McGill, an instructor at the club and RNLI crewmember, also carried the Olympic torch on board the lead craft as the procession made its way up the River Wear. Alan Dixon, commodore of the club, said: “The day went really well. The weather could have been better for the public, although it was cracking for sailing, but we were given a great reception. “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and we were really proud of Luke.” Mr Dixon said the River Wear was one of the earliest sailing centres. In 1837, it featured the first of the borough races, which included all water-based craft and preceded the formation of the first yacht club on the river in 1856. After a decline in membership, a new club was formed in 1905, the Sunderland Motor Boat and Yacht Club, which changed its name to the Sunderland Yacht Club in 1912. Sailing stopped at the club during the First World War, but was formally started again in 1935. It then opened its first clubhouse at the North Dock. After relocations and redevelopment, the club settled at its current site at Old North Pier. Luke, 18, from Fuwell, said he was “proud and privileged” to carry the torch. “While it is me, physically, carrying the torch in the relay, I was there to represent all of the volunteers who do such great work for the RNLI, yacht club, and the Royal Yachting Association,” said the St Aidan’s School sixth-form student.

Sailing Club Spotlight Herne Bay Sailing Club

FOR the third year running Herne Bay Sailing Club hosted a group of deaf and hearing impaired youngsters for an open day in aid of the National Deaf Children's Society. Also involved were Me2, an organisation that encourages hearing impaired kids to participate in sport. . Although the wind was too strong for sailing, organisers Claire and Nathan Hudson insured a fun-packed day was had by the 30-strong group of youngsters. Bay club members volunteered to help out and there was food, hospitality and a wonderful day of thrills with some of the children venturing out in kayaks and, later when the wind had increased, in the club's safety boats. As the wind dropped off a little in the afternoon Clive Woodward took parties of children and staff out sailing in his 16 foot Devon Dabber to cruise the surf. THERE were classic sailing conditions for Whitstable Yacht Club's annual championships. Scheduled to run over three days and six races, and with a forecast of brisk Easterlies, it was always going to be the fittest and fastest that would triumph. The weather lived up to the forecast with a strong breeze and big waves on both Saturday and Sunday, but unfortunately too much wind on Monday prevented a grandstand finish. That meant the championship was decided over four races which gave Dick Ledger and Tom Bruton (F18 catamaran)a clear win with two first places and a fourth. In rough conditions which led to a number of capsizes, their performance in the fastest boat on the water was outstanding. Throughout the fleet there was some amazing sailing, especially from the cadets in their Toppers, a class won by Dryston Harnett. Also battling through the wind and waves, offering a gutsy performance in tough conditions, was first lady Donna Hender in her Wanderer. The sailing was followed by a Diamond Jubilee street party. Result: 1 Dick Ledger & Tom Bruton (F18), 2 Phil & Karen Emery (Merlin Rocket), 3 Tudor Owen & crews (505), 4 Charles Campion (Laser), 5 Matt French (Laser Radial), 6 Sergei Samis (Musto Skiff). Whitstable Yacht Club have reduced membership fees by 40 per cent to encourage newcomers to the sport. Details from www.wyc.org.uk or the club office on 01227 636921. FOLLOWING a successful open day, it was back to racing at Hampton Pier Yacht Club as race four of the summer series took place. In light and fluctuating winds the race officer set two courses to accommodate the three fleets that were sailing. The fast fleet was led from start to finish by Mark Whetton and crew in the Fireball, but with Richard Gower and Howard Barker (Trio) and Peter Bell (Laser) never far behind it was down to handicap adjustments to determine the winner. First were Gower and Barker, with Bell in second and Whetton in third. The medium fleet was won by Frank and Glynis Oliver (Versa) with Dave Farmer (Comet) in second and Ken Smith (Xtra) in third. In the slow fleet it was another victory for Simon Govier (Mino) with Andrew McGregor and Lee Gannon (Mirror) racing home a comfortable second. Next Saturday sees a day of general sailing followed on Sunday by race five in the Summer series.

Giant sailing yachts return to Falmouth

For the first time since the world was last at war, Falmouth will see the return of a class of vast sailing yachts this month. The “J Class” was established in 1929 and serves as a rating for large sailing yachts designed between 1930 and 1937. Measuring as much as 140 feet in length and weighing up to 200 tons, there were only ever ten of these elegant giants built during the design’s heyday – mostly because of the immense expense involved in their construction and maintenance. Now, after years of the original yachts laying largely forgotten - rotting away in mud berths or being broken up for scrap - four of the J Class will make a triumphant return at a specially designed five day regatta in Falmouth from June 26-30. Commodore Peter Collet from the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club (RCYC), which is hosting the event, said: “We feel particularly privileged and we are very excited about it. “The history of the J-Class is all around us here and there will be, in this club, an exhibition of memorabilia that will explain it all to the public during the event.” David Pitman is secretary of the J Class Association, which was formed in 2000 to oversee the revival of the class and organise races. He said: “The ‘J’ is probably one of the biggest sailing boats that you will see in the world. They need 30 crew and have more than 10,000 feet of sail. “The last race we had they sailed for four hours and finished within 15 seconds of each other, so it’s very, very close racing and this is a wonderful opportunity to see them in UK waters. “Once you see the boats close up, you will realise just how special they are,” he added. The four yachts to feature in the Falmouth regatta will be “Velsheda”, which was originally built in 1933, “Ranger”, which is a replica of the last J Class to successfully defend the America’s Cup, “Lionheart”, based on an original design from 1937 and the recently launched “Rainbow”, which is a replica of a 1934 yacht of the same name. Races are billed to start at 11am and will last for approximately three to four hours. Although the starting point is dependent upon wind direction, the finish line is envisaged as taking the four sailing yachts between Pendennis Point and the Black Rock marker at the mouth of the Carrick Roads. John Pickup, principal race officer for the RCYC, said: “That means if you are stood on Castle Drive around about four o’clock in the afternoon you will see these boats coming in at speed and quite close together. It will be quite a sight.” Spectators are encouraged to go out on the water and see the “J’s” up close, but must not manoeuvre in front of the boats and should try to avoid the starting “box,” that will be marked out by boats flying “J” flags at each corner. Mr Pickup said: “People who go out there have to understand that this is a great sport to watch, but these are massive lumps of material that can’t turn easily and certainly can’t stop. “We are really desperately keen that spectators should get out there and see what’s going on, but while all four boats are managed be professional skippers, who are very experienced and know the rules, they will find it completely impossible to deal with two boats converging on their bow.” Race commentary will be available on Channel 69 UHF. For more information, contact the RCYC on 312126.

Virtual sailing gives competitors the edge

Simulating weather and water conditions before a race could give sailors the advantage they need to win, new research reveals. The study, carried out by the Yacht and Superyacht Research Group (YSRG) at Newcastle University, UK, with the Yacht Research Unit of the University of Auckland and the Italian super-computer centre CILEA, looked at how accurately we can predict the way a yacht will behave during a particular race using parameters such as sea conditions and currents. Modelling the way each factor impacts on the yacht at every stage of the race, the team - led by Newcastle University's Dr Ignazio Maria Viola - has shown that it is possible to use a virtual simulation to steal an advantage over your competitors. Dr Viola, who over the last ten years has worked with several Olympic Sailing teams and America's Cup teams, explains: "Until now, competition-level sailors would have to carry out physical tests to accurately choose the best boat for that particular race. "What we have shown is that by simulating the conditions we can predict with the same degree of accuracy as the most reliable of these tests how each boat will behave across the course. "At the highest competitive level every second counts and using this information, competitors can choose the boat that can potentially win them the race and give them an edge over the rest of the field. Ultimately, however, whether they win or not is down to the sailor and how he or she performs on the day." The team modelled the resistance on the hull in a range of scenarios, racing virtual crews in state-of-the-art yacht designs, comparing the results with data from model-scale towing tank tests. The research, published this month in the leading academic journal for yacht engineering, the International Journal of Small Craft Technology (Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects), shows for the first time that simulation can be used to precisely measure water resistance against a boat's hull. The new method, developed by Dr Viola, can now be employed by any sailor, yacht designer or researcher to test the performance of a boat under different weather conditions. Newcastle University Yacht and Superyacht Research Group is the most published and largest research-focussed group in Europe. Currently working with America's Cup sail and yacht designers, the team are world-leaders in the numerical modelling of sailing yachts. "Virtual races could be the key to helping Britain finally clinch the America's Cup," explains Dr Viola, who has also just completed tests on a new candidate for the 2016 Olympics. "The America's Cup is the oldest trophy in the world and the most expensive to win with each challenger spending tens of millions of dollars in designing, building, and sailing its boat, which represents the state-of-the-art of the worldwide marine industry. "First held in 1851 at Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, America held the title for 132 years. Since 1983, however, the Cup has been successively won by Australia, USA, New Zealand and Switzerland, before finally being brought back to the USA in 2010 with the San Francisco Yacht Club's victory of the 33rd America's Cup. "The race will be won by the team with the most skill but our research shows that we can use virtual sailing to remove other unknowns."

Sailing Club Spotlight Snettisham Beach Sailing Club

SCORES of people took to the water to have a go at sailing during an open day. Snettisham Beach Sailing Club welcomed more than 65 people to its site in May. The club was hoping to attract more members during the event and to generate a greater interest in the sport. During the day, visitors were able to chat to members. They were also taken out to sea during the early sessions and later sailed on a water filled former gravel pit. Training centre principal Katie Daniels was pleased with the response to the open day. She said: “We were really happy with the turnout. “We had a barbecue running all day and there were lots of interested smiling faces. “We think we have now got eight to ten new members with more people following it up. It was very successful.” The club has also recently been awarded a £10,000 Sports England grant for a training boat. Members are also running a six-week course to help children lean to sail. Sessions cost £60 for six weeks and all of the equipment is provided.

Loch Awe sailing in a Heron Dinghy

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Blind sailors ready for yacht race

Three visually impaired sailors are to race a small yacht from London to the Olympic sailing site of Portland, in Dorset. The trio are crewing the James Cook on behalf of Action For Blind People (Action) in the Small Yacht Race 2012, set up by the Ocean Youth Trust which aims to get more people out on the water. Stephen Ball, 23, from Southport; Brett Johnson, 22, from Oldham; and Danny Grant, 25, from Wakefield; are working with five other crewmates, many of whom are also blind or partially sighted on the challenge. Stephen has virtually no sight, being only able to see the outline of objects. Action is helping him to find assistive technology to allow him to live more independently. He said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm really excited about the challenge, learning new skills and teaming up with the crew, hopefully sailing to a famous victory." John Turnbull, from Action, said: "We've got a team of eight enthusiastic young people, ready for a challenge and determined to win. At Action, we aim to help young people with sight loss develop socially, learn news skills and increase their confidence. Team building, fun and a competitive environment are perfect ingredients to make this happen and in an Olympic year, the event allows them to prove that sight loss isn't a barrier to living your dreams." The five-day race, celebrating the jubilee and Olympics, involves three stages; team initiation, preparation of the yacht, and the race itself. Away from the yachting challenge, Action is working with teammates Brett and Danny to help them gain greater independence. Brett is partially sighted, suffering from a condition called nystagmus, which makes reading and walking a great challenge. Danny has had practically no sight since birth and is only able to recognise bright light, but no specific shapes or outlines. The race starts on June 11. To support the charity visit www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/donate.

Ten Heavy Weather Sailing Tips You Need to Know

1. Make Up "Zero-Prep" Energy Bags Use small Ziplock type bags to hold high energy snacks. Combine nuts, dried fruits, tasty seeds like sesame or pumpkin, banana chips, and dried coconut for a super snack. Press the bag tight before you seal to keep air out and your energy snack will last longer when stored aboard your sailboat. 2. Top Off Your Trusty Thermos Purchase two large thermoses. Before the rough stuff arrives, fill one thermos with a hearty soup or stew. Fill the other with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. That way, you won't need to worry about boiling water in choppy seas for a nutritious meal or drink. Secret Tip - Purchase a thermos with a spigot-top conversion kit and mounting brackets. Install the brackets in a spot near your boat galley. Fill the thermos, screw on the top and close the spigot. Mount the thermos "bottoms-up" in the brackets. Now you have a safe, fast, easy way to pour soup or your favorite beverage in any sailing weather! 3. Eat Before the Weather Arrives at Your Boat Fix a light meal with pasta if you expect rough seas when sailing. Stay clear of greasy, fried foods. Concentrate on foods that you boil, broil, or bake. Pasta has a good reputation as a "tummy tamer" when it comes to sea sickness. It's economical, easy to digest, nutritious, and provides good energy for sailing in rough weather. 4. Lash and Stow Below Check the galley for loose pots, plates, and silverware. Wrap silverware in towels to avoid clanging. Store pots in cabinets. Stuff towels or pieces of foam between stacks of dishes, glasses, or pots and pans to keep things in place and noise to a minimum. 5. Keep a Clothes Change Handy Pull out a full change of clothes. Fold and stow in an oversized Ziplock or waterproof bag outside of your sailing duffel bag. You want this change of clothes ready in an instant so you won't need to hunt around for it. Include underwear and socks. If you get soaked when sailing, you will want to slide into a set of dry clothes right away. Do this now to save you time and effort later. 6. Clear the Decks for Clean Decks Studies of past heavy weather sailing races show that those racing sailboats with clean, uncluttered decks had an easier time. Take a tip from the racing crowd. Check the outside decks from bow to stern. Neaten up sheets and lines. Turn cowl vents around to face astern to prevent water intrusion below; in extreme conditions, remove the cowl vents, stow them below, and screw covers in their place. Keep decks clean for safer sailing in any weather. 7. Add extra Lashings Check all lashings on deck-stowed Jerry jugs (cans), propane bottles, life raft canister, dinghy, and anchors. Double or triple lashings with small diameter line. Seas that break aboard can break weak lashings like a knife going through butter. Make lashings strong and robust to keep deck-stowed gear in place. 8. Seal Ports and Hatches No matter what the manufactures tell you, expect ports and hatches to leak. Heavy weather or squalls can bring high winds, seas, and horizontal driving rain that will find any nook and cranny. Use strong, waterproof duct tape to seal around ports and hatches on the inside your cabin. This will keep water out and dryness in for greater crew comfort in heavy weather sailing. 9. Set Up Sails Now Hank on your storm jib or trysail now with sheets run, halyards cleared, and all ready to hoist. If you decide to delay on the hoist, stop off the sail along the deck with sail ties or next to the mast (in the case of a trysail). This way, your storm sails will be ready to set in a matter of seconds when you need them. 10. Rest and Hydrate Often Heavy weather sailing saps energy like few other activities. Get as much rest as possible between watches. Remember to keep hydrated with water or non-sugar energy drinks like Gatorade or Emergen-C. These beverages replace critical electrolytes and minerals that you will use to keep your balance, hang on when heeling, or move about when changing sails or standing watch. Remind your sailing crew to rest and hydrate for greater comfort. Follow these ten heavy weather sailing tips to get ready before the tough stuff arrives aboard your boat. These tips will help keep your sailing crew safe and sound and provide them with more comfort--wherever in the world you choose to cruise! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7046795

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