FLYING START FOR PARALYMPICS: Plain sailing so far in medal quest

BRITAIN’S sailors got off to a flying start in the opening weekend of Paralympic Sailing races on home waters. Fiercely competitive fleet racing in Port-land Harbour saw the ParalympicsGB contenders make gains towards achieving the country's first medals in the three keelboat classes. After four races, quadruple Skud-18 World Champions Alex Rickham and crewmate Niki Birrell are second overall in the 11-boat fleet, just one point behind their Australian rivals Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch. The American team of Jen French and JP Creignou are third, with seven races to go, following two wins yesterday. Helm Rickham, 30, said: “We don't really like being pushed down the leaderboard but it's quite tough conditions and obviously the Americans showed great pace all day to take two bullets. “We had a bad start in the first race but managed to battle back to fourth so we're pretty happy with that. “In the second race there was a bit of a dog fight going on, we ended up doing some turns for something, I'm not sure if we needed to, but all in all we're quite happy with the day.” Rickham said it was still early days but every race counted. She added: “We’ve worked at this for four years, if we can’t do it now it’s not going to happen. This is it.” Related links •FLYING START FOR PARALYMPICS: Families are so proud Ads by Google Paralympics: Watch Live On 4. On Now. Online. Paralympics live from your PC www.channel4.com/Watch-Live Weymouth Hotel Deals Weymouth Hotel Deals From £25 Only Grab a Great Hotel Deal Online Now! BookDirectRooms.com/Weymouth-Hotel Helena Lucas enjoyed a flying start in the 16-boat 2.4mR fleet on Saturday but slipped from first to third place overall yesterday after taking a 720-degree penalty turn in race four for allegedly ‘rocking’ the boat to increase its speed. The 37-year-old denied the charge and said: “From my point of view I was steering the boat in the waves, which in the 2.4 creates a rocking motion. “Look at the size of me – I’m not very big to rock the boat but it’s a jury decision, that's the way it goes.” Lucas intended to unwind watching her football team Southampton against Manchester United and then ‘keep chipping away’ to get on the podium. Drama in the 2.4mR class on Saturday saw reigning World Champion Damien Seguin, of France, disqualified from race two following a protest by his Canadian rival for a starting line incident. The Athens gold medallist fell from second to ninth place but progressed to sixth overall after yesterday’s races. Meanwhile, the British Sonar Team of John Robertson , Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas clawed their way back from 10th to fifth place in their last race yesterday, to lie fifth overall in the 14-boat Sonar fleet. The trio made an unsuccessful redress request on Saturday, after a confusing X flag made them unnecessarily turn back to the starting line in race two, costing vital places. But skipper Robertson, 40, said their plan still remained to ‘get the job done and nail it’. Crewmate Thomas added that Weymouth and Portland was ‘showcasing itself as a fantastic sailing venue’.

Sailability Scotland

Sailing Club Spotlight Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Clubs

YOU can sum up what most people know about sailing in two words: Ben Ainslie. He, as if you needed telling, is the fella who made it four Olympic golds in a row in London, famously remarking ‘don’t make me angry’ when that Danish bloke ganged up with another competitor to bully Ainslie into second place. He came back and won, but just how he did it is a mystery to most. The BBC commentators’ attempts to explain were gallant but let’s be honest – as spectator sports go, sailing isn’t exactly the best. To the layman it appears as though Ainslie and his peers sit on the side of the boat and fiddle with the sail. The vessel bobs forward. And that’s it. That, however, is most certainly not the case, as I discovered after digging out my waterproofs and joining the members at Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club. As someone who once vomited 11 times on an overnight ferry to France, I admit I was a tad concerned about going sailing. I prefer being on solid ground as opposed to water. I find there’s less chance of drowning. First thing I discovered – apart from how exceptionally friendly the yacht club members are – is how enjoyable and how relaxing it is. That said, it isn’t possible to switch off completely for sailing isn’t like getting in a rowing boat. There is much to learn and all sorts of weird terms to get to grips with, such as telltales (the string on the sail), the jib (the front sail), halliard (rope to raise the sail), and the tiller (steering). That said, the most important thing of all is wind. None of that, or too much, and it’s impossible to sail. There are two styles of boats. The dinghy is for one or two people, the type Ainslie sails; offshore yachts are larger and capable of sailing from, say, Fleetwood to the Isle of Man. I was on the latter, in the capable of hands of Peter and Michael, a pair who have sailed together for many moons and were good company as well as good as dishing out advice. I needed plenty of that for I didn’t know what I was doing, but according to those at the club – on the bank of the River Wyre at the end of Wyre Road in Skippool – it doesn’t take too long to get to grips with the basics. “With 10 hours of experience on water I reckon you can be reasonably self-reliant,” said Stuart Fitton. He is the club’s commodore, the boss, and when it comes to sailing he knows what he’s talking about. Born in Poulton and a club member since he was 14, Mr Fitton has entered competitions all over the world, including the Sydney-Hobart race. He was also in the infamous 1979 Fast Net race from England to Ireland and back, when gale-force winds struck. Of the 306 yachts that started, only 86 returned. 15 people lost their lives. “It was pretty horrific,” recalled Stuart. “Fortunately I’d read a book about what to do if it turned nasty so we managed to get through.” Of course, that is sailing at the highest level. You don’t get that if you pop to the yacht club at a weekend, which is exactly what people will have the chance to do on Saturday week when the club holds an open day, from 10.30am to 1.30pm. All are welcome and with the Olympics and the success of Ben you-know-who, chances are it will be a bumper turnout and I, for one, can thoroughly recommend it. 
For more information about the Blackpool and Fleetwood Yacht Club open day go to: www.bfyc.org.uk.

Life Jackets Types and Tips About Them

A Life jacket is designed to save your life. It is first and last line of defense between you and unforgiving water. Here are few tips why is a life jacket so important. - It will help against hypothermia. You will be able to pull your legs to your chests and with that you will preserve body heat. That is important because it could take some time for the rescue to arrive. - Most jackets are in bright colors which increases possibility of being spotted. There are also types with retro reflective tape sewn to the fabric, so spotting a person in the dark is not a problem. - Nobody plans to fall overboard, but if that happens and you are wearing a life jacket the possibility of drowning is greatly reduced. Because of the jacket your head is above the water so there is no room for panic Life jackets types. It is important to know that a life jacket won't work if it doesn't fit, because it depends on a person size how much amount of buoyancy he or she needs to remain afloat. They come in infant, child, youth and adult sizes and they include weight and chest measurements. It is important that jacket fits so you don't slip out of it. If it's too big then there is possibility that you will have problems with breathing and if it's too small the snaps and buckles might break. Almost every flotation device is most commonly made of a tough synthetic fiber material which retains a source of buoyancy, such as foam or a chamber of air. There are also several types of inflation methods for air-only life jackets, like oral method in which case your jacket must be fully inflated before using. The rest of the methods are manual, automatic and hydrostatic. It is important to know which method your jacket uses and how it works so there wouldn't be any surprises. There are five types of life jackets. First three are for recreational use. Fourth and fifth are not for small boats. They are for throwing to a conscious person in the water and they can't be worn. Type I - is effective in all types of water, especially if you need to wait a little bit longer for rescue. This one provides the most buoyancy and floats the best. It is easy to put on and design to turn most people who are unconscious in the water from face-down position to a face-up position. Type II -is intended for calm, inland water and when rescue is possible in a very short time. It will turn some unconscious wearers to a face-up position, but not all of them. Type III - good for conscious wearers in calm, inland water and where rescue is possible in a very short time. This type is very comfortable for continuous wear. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6813428

49er Sailing

Paralympics 2012: GB sailors aim to break medal duck by striking gold

They have got here in different ways. Half of the six were born with their disabilities while the others suffered accidents or illness. Some have sailed since they were children, others only took to it in later life. But all six will be looking to make history. Surprisingly, for a nation with a proud seafaring tradition and a fine Olympic record, GB's sailors have failed to win a single medal since the sport became a full Paralympic event in 2000. The class of 2012 are intending not only to win medals but to do all they can to make sure they are gold ones. "We want the gold medal," Hannah Stodel, the tactician in the Sonar keelboat, said. "We only want one medal. Any other medal would be rubbish for us. That's what gets us out of bed in the morning." Three types of keelboat sail in the Paralympic regatta. The Sonar is a three-person boat, and two people, at least one a woman, race in the Skud-18. A single sailor of either sex competes in a tricky little boat called the 2.4mR. Up to 80 sailors will be taking part at the London 2012 regatta from 23 nations. The giants of the sport include Germany, who top the overall medal table, France, the USA, Australia and Canada. But nations not as well known for Olympic or Paralympic sailing such as Puerto Rico, Malaysia and Japan will also be represented. Athletes have a wide range of disabilities and the boats are specially adapted to try to make sure all can compete on level terms. Some, for example, are fitted with foot pedals that control the tiller. Tilting seats or pulley systems are can be used to make sure the sailor is in the right place. Competitors in the small 2.4mR sit down low in the boat with all the controls to trim the sails and steer within arms' reach. A complex classification system based on an athlete's ability to perform tasks on the boat is designed to ensure fairness. The Sonar trio is GB's most experienced Paralympic sailing outfit, having competed together in Athens and Beijing, finishing sixth both times. Stodel said the trio were "heartbroken" to do so poorly at Beijing and thought about going their separate ways. "We should have medalled and we didn't. We let ourselves down, we let other people down," she said. Their "greatest" moment came when they sat down together to discuss their future and decided to stick together and campaign for London 2012. "That's more powerful for me than anything because we committed to each other," Stodel said. Asked to described the team dynamic, Stodel comes up with "random". Born without a right forearm, she began sailing aged three on the Essex coast and became GB's first woman sailing Paralympian. John Robertson, the helm and at 40 the oldest member of the ParalympicsGB sailing team, is a former weapons technician on Harrier jump jets, who uses a wheelchair following a motorcycle accident. He also had sailed since he was a boy. The third member of the team is Welshman Stephen Thomas, who was a keen rugby player as a young man but came to sailing after losing his legs below the knees when he contracted meningococcal septicaemia. A fierce competitor, as he lay in his hospital bed he began dreaming of taking part in the Paralympics. In the Skud-18, Niki Birrell and Alex Rickham make a fascinating pair. Birrell, who has cerebral palsy, was an excellent able-bodied sailor, campaigning in the 470 Olympic class with his brother before concentrating on the Paralympics. Rickham was paralysed after suffering a spinal injury when she dived into shallow water in her native Jamaica. She tried sailing as part of her rehabilitation and teamed up with Birrell just months before Beijing. They came a creditable sixth place and are tipped to go better this time. Rickham's injury means that her body's thermostat does not work properly. She typically wears five layers on top and three below, plus a balaclava. She has to be careful about how much she drinks because it is tricky for a wheelchair athlete to answer a call of nature while on board. The sixth member of the GB team, Helena Lucas, has taken part in both Olympic and Paralympic campaigns. She was born without thumbs but became one of GB's most talented sailors and won a silver medal in the 2006 Olympic test event in Beijing in the Yngling class. "I've grown up just finding my own way to do things," Lucas, who finished seventh in Beijing, said. "I was disappointed but I think I learnt some very valuable lessons." Of course, the regatta is not just about the GB sailors. There are many compelling characters from other nations. Such as the Israeli Sonar team, all of whom were left disabled while serving in the military. Australia's Liesl Tesch will also be worth watching in the Skud. She is a multiple Paralympian medal winner – but in basketball rather than sailing. It will be interesting to see if the Paralympic regatta grips the imagination in the same way the Olympic one did. The Nothe spectator area, a hit during the Olympics, has been dismantled. The Paralympics regatta takes place within Portland Harbour and can be viewed (binoculars recommended) from the shore. Sporting activities, which proved popular during the Olympics, are being staged on Weymouth beach. Though Ben Ainslie and the rest won a total of five medals at the Olympics, the team were a little disappointed to slip behind both Australia and Spain in the medals table. It may be time for their Paralympic counterparts to shine.

Society's collapsing... let's sail to Greece and learn survival skills

A BRISTOL couple have sold their home and all their possessions and bought a boat – to give themselves a better chance of withstanding the collapse of Western civilisation. Naomi Smyth, 30, and Sam Rossiter, 34, have sold their Montpelier home and bought a 22ft yacht – to follow their dream of sailing to Greece. ​ ​The couple will be leaving behind the Bristol sights such as the Suspension Bridge in favour of Greece's Acropolis •••..The couple set sail from Bristol Harbour over the weekend, heading initially for London via the Kennet and Avon Canal. When we caught up with them aboard their boat, Lexia, yesterday, they had only gone as far as the Jolly Sailor Inn at Saltford. "It's not about seeing how quickly we can get to Greece," Miss Smyth said. "It's about taking our time, meeting as many interesting people as we can along the way, and learning as much as we can from them." Miss Smyth, a freelance film- maker, and website administrator Sam, have left behind their Bristol- based careers to make the journey, which they believe will take them at least a year. "We think we should get to Greece around this time next year," Miss Smyth said. "First we travel on the inland waterways to London, in order to get more used to the boat. Then we cross the English Channel and join the French canal network at Dunkirk." The couple will spend the winter travelling slowly through France, before emerging at the Mediterranean in the spring. "We then want to take a detour across to northern Spain for a few weeks, before following the coast of southern France and Italy, before finally island-hopping through Greece." The couple hope to pick up survivalist skills along the way, which they believe will help them to survive in a post-banking collapse world. "A couple of years ago, when we first started planning this journey, people couldn't get their heads around why we would want to visit Spain, Italy and Greece to find out more about living without money," Mr Rossiter said: "But now they see the euro collapsing in those three countries, and they're increasingly starting to get it. "We were very conscious that the skills we had picked up in our careers were all very good for filming documentaries or running websites but when it came to being self-sufficient and living in a post-industrial world, we were hopelessly naïve." The couple bought the boat for just £500 from an internet auction site last year, and have spent the last few months making her sea-worthy. "Our parents are particularly worried about the periods where we will be going out to sea," Mr Rossiter said. "I can't blame them really. I have been on some sailing courses, but it's fair to say that our maritime knowledge is at about the lowest point at which we could realistically take this challenge on. But we're hoping to pick up a lot along the way – that's the whole point of the trip." Miss Smyth said: "It is far more than a gap year. It is also an exercise in seeing how far we can strip down our lives – how few material possessions we actually need in order to have a happy life. Parting with all our possessions was traumatic at first, but once we started giving things away it became addictive and very liberating. "The money we have from selling the house, we are hoping to put to one side, and when we return from our journey we will buy some land and set ourselves up with a more self-sufficient life in the countryside. "This whole thing began because Sam and I were starting to think about settling down properly and having children. But we were both genuinely concerned about bringing children into a world where we didn't have the right skills to look after them if the financial system that we all rely so much on was to totally collapse. "The fact is, it is already happening in Greece. So perhaps we can learn from the Greek people a bit more about what may be facing us in this country a few years down the line – and what basic skills we will need to live more self-sufficiently. "I personally would like to pick up skills like blacksmithing, foraging, food cultivation, and above all food preservation – something that every woman in England knew how to do 100 years ago, but which few people care much about in today's throw-away society." Miss Smyth will make a series of short documentary films along the way, and upload them to the couple's website. You can follow their journey at: www.howtosurvivethefuture.org.

Sailing Club Spotlight Tamesis Yacht Club

Boat Blunderer sailing a laser dinghy

Hobie Cat 18 - fast and fun

hobie cat sailing

Sailing

Sailing - Different Types of Sailboats

When you learn to sail, you will hear different sailboat terms like monohull or multihull. But just what does this sailing terminology mean? Follow this easy sailing guide to look at the different types of sailboats to help you decide on the best to fit your brand of sailing! Monohull Sailboats - Pros and Cons Pros: Mono means "one" of something, so in sailing, a monohull means a sailboat that has just one hull. Most sailors on the water sail on boats with a single hull. They are easy to sail, cheaper to purchase, simpler to rig, and take up less room when docking or turning. Most new sailors learn to sail on small monos called dinghies. Once they learn how to sail aboard a dinghy, sailors might move up to the larger cruising monohulls. These cruising sailboats heel over less than their dinghy cousins, have more room to move around, and might have a head (toilet and/or shower), galley (small kitchen), and inboard or outboard engine. Cruising sailboats with single hulls have made successful voyages across every ocean in the world. Cons Small monohull sailboats like dinghies heel over a lot. If they heel too much, they can flip over. Larger monohulls heel over too, but most of these will not flip over because they carry extra weight in a "keel" below the waterline. The keel helps to counter-balance a lot of the heeling. In breezy conditions, you will begin to heel a lot and the boat will become more difficult to hold on her sailing course. You will need to reduce sail--called "reefing"--when this happens to keep the boat balanced and easy to steer. Single-hull sailboats can have limited space for supplies like food, clothing, sailing gear, water, fuel. You will need supplies like this if you go cruising for the weekend or longer. The longer you stay out cruising, the more supplies you need. So, on a monohull sailboat, you need to be careful to be extra careful to load the supplies the correct way so that the boat stays "in trim" (in balance and level). Multihull Sailboats - Pros and Cons Pros: Multihull boats have more than one hull, attached by cross members. Catamarans have two hulls with a wide flat area or cabin space between. Trimarans have three hulls. Both boats give you a lot more living space for supplies and living aboard. Boats with multiple hulls tend to heel much less than monohulls because of their wide beam. This gives a much more comfortable ride in most calm to moderate sailing weather. Underway or at anchor, these boats give you more room for sleeping and offer more privacy for friends or guests that come aboard to cruise with you. Below the water, these boats have less depth--of "draft". That means you can poke into coves and shallow waterways where deeper draft boats could not go. And that opens up a whole new cruising world for you. Cats and Tris can skim across the blue green waters in the Bahamas and Caribbean to explore new areas that other boats could not. That's one reason these boats are so popular for island cruising. Cons: Multihulls cost more than monohulls because you are buying two hulls (or three in the case of a trimaran), instead of one hull. Overall maintenance costs can be higher because you have two hulls to take care of. Marinas may charge more for boats with multiple hulls. They take up more dock space than a single hulled boat. Multihulls need more care when sailing. Because they heel less than their monohull cousins, you need to be careful not to carry too much sail. This could cause the boat to become unstable and in extreme conditions, cause the boat to capsize. Reduce sail sooner than you think on windy days to keep the boat balanced and sailing at peak performance. At anchor, multihulls tend to sway back and forth because most of the boat lies above the surface of the water. Two or three hulls present a lot of surface for the wind to blow against. Rig an anchor bridle that looks like a "V" from pontoon to pontoon. Join the anchor line to the apex (point) of the "V". This will help the multihull behave in a windy anchorage. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6974541