Laser racing basics

2012 Laser Worlds Training

49er Sailing Boat

Sailing Club Spotlight Swanage Sailing Club

Portugal - Great For A Sailing Vacation

The best sailing area is on the south coast where Algarve provides a perfect 150 Miles of interesting sailing coast. The west of Faro consists of small bays and coves mixed by striking rocky outcrops and interesting grottoes. East of Faro the coast comprises sandy offshore islets, which have created protected anchorages and the most wonderful quiet beaches that continue for miles. Portugal is located in the southwest portion of Europe. It's close to the Iberian Peninsula. On the west, you can find the Atlantic Ocean, and on the north and east is Spain. Two islands in the Pacific, Madeira and Azores, belong to Portugal. The climate of the country is basically Mediterranean. The weather is generally warm, which is just what you may need if you go sailing in Portugal. Algarve is one of the renowned tourist destinations in Portugal, most because of its excellent weather. As a matter of fact, some who have been here for their vacation decided to buy real estate properties. Moreover, there are a lot of interesting places to visit and beautiful beaches to swim or cruise. Alvor is one of them. Besides the long coastline, you can also enjoy the village, filled with narrow streets, bars, and restaurants. There is also a very old fishing village, which has been preserved very well by the municipality. Walk farther and you can find a beautiful lagoon. You can venture too in the sandy beach and coves underneath the cliffs. Whenever you're sailing in Portugal, make sure you can stop by the quaint town of Faro. Apart from finding a good temporary home in its villas and holiday resorts, you can also find a variety of artifacts and historical sites. For example, the Milreu ruins depict third-century homes of the Romans. There is also a parish church that was built hundreds of years ago, Palacio de Estoi or manor house and the Bronze Age fort found in Santa Barbara de Nexe. West of Faro are more developed areas like Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago. Disembarking from a yacht charter, you can visit Monchique, a rustic and unexplored town in Portugal. Bordered by the hills of Picota and Foia, Monchique is famous for its cobblestone streets and dark doorways, which eventually lead to small artist shops. There are also a number of religious places here, such as the Franciscan monastery and the parish church, which dates back to the sixteenth century. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1156964

Sailing in Greece - Destination Ionian Islands

The Ionian islands are a fantastic destination for people who want to combine their sailing in Greece holidays together with gourmet food and luxurious services. The Ionian sea is different than the Aegean as it is deeper, colder and darker in color. It is certain that you will make some of the best dives of your life! Also, the Ionian islands are very popular among sailors and skippers because Greeks and Italians have been sailing there from many years ago. They are a destination which will have its own place in your heart forever. Scuba diving is quite popular in the Ionian sea as the underwater views are uniquely terrific. Kerkyra (Corfu) is, perhaps, the most popular of the seven Ionian islands as tourists from all around the world keep arriving there in thousands every year. Luxurious hotel accommodation and many kilometers of seashore around Corfu are the main attractions of this magnificent island. There are bars, clubs, cafes, beach-bars, tavernas and restaurants all around the island. Places that you have already visited and you will visit again at the first chance, because of the state of the art services offered. The Easter time is very popular in Corfu as there are numerous attractions to make you get there every year to celebrate the Greek Orthodox Easter in a traditional way. The experience is fantastic as the municipality band keeps playing religious music all week long. Paxos complex are not very well known to everyone because they are just a small island complex underneath Corfu. The two main islands of the complex are Paxos and Antipaxos. Both of them are a sailing destination and an unforgettable experience. The beauty of nature is tremendous as both islands are covered with plants, having only the sea flowing between them. The Italians know Paxos complex very well as they visit them every year and because they are ideal for yachts. The only way to go all around these two islands and visit places not accessible by foot or wheels, is a boat. With your own or a rented boat you will arrive at small beaches of almost virgin nature. You can visit a different one every day! The trip from Paxos to Antipaxos is a must and it can be done only by boat. Both islands have very narrow roads with limited accessibility to the few small villages around. Most things needed can be found at the port which is very well organized and ready to serve the needs of the incoming sailors. Avoid travelling to Paxos and Antipaxos during the peak season because the islands are small and they can get very crowded. Arrange your sailing holidays in June or September as that's when you can really enjoy all that there is. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7027071

Sailing success for hospice funding

A RECORD number of yacht racers have raised more than £20,000 for St Wilfrid’s Hospice. In near perfect sailing conditions at Chichester Harbour, participants in the hospice’s 11th ‘Nab’ Challenge raced from just outside the harbour, around the Nab Tower and back. The race, which was held on Saturday, September 22, increased the cumulative sum raised by the event over the years to almost £150,000. Spokesman for the Inn-Shore Cruising Club, who organised the event, Mark Taylor, said: “Once again, we have set the bar high and in this year of high sporting achievements we have risen to the challenge once again and raised a fantastic amount of money for St Wilfrid’s.” Overall winner with the highest points total was Alan Stannah on his boat Sally of Kames. The ATAG trophy for the boat that raised the most money was won by Derrick Pope who raised £3,200 through sponsorship of his yacht Valkyrie, while the Tempest Fugit Trophy for the club that raised the most money will be going to Itchenor Sailing Club, which raised £7,180 for the Hospice. The winner in the Sunbeam Class for the second year was Gayle Palmer’s yacht, Little Lady. Class winners included Marcus Hyde with his yacht Veruska in Class B and David Gammon with his yacht Euphoria in Class C, both members of the Inn-Shore Cruising Club. All will be presented with their trophies at a special presentation to be held at the Itchenor Sailing Club on Saturday, October 13, starting from 11am and followed by a buffet lunch. The main sponsor of the event was Chichester-based ATAG Heating. Managing Director Phil Bell said: “It was extremely encouraging to see so many new entrants this year. “It’s thanks to the incredible generosity and support from local people that this event is so successful and long may it continue.” Since it opened in 1987, St Wilfrid’s has cared for over 10,000 local people and at any one time provides care for 210 patients, while offering support to their families and friends.

Sailing Club Spotlight Tata Steel sailing Club

Ultimate Dinghy Sailing !

Seven annual sailing season inspections to save you money!

Inspect Boat Sails and Repair. Remove all sails and canvas, such as Biminis and dodgers from the boat. Inspect both for chafe or tears. Have the local sail loft do a 'head to toe' inspection. Ask your sailmaker to beef up worn areas with additional chafe patches to prevent problems in the future. 2. Service Your Small Diesel Engine. All cruising sailboats abuse their diesel engines. We sailors just don't run them long or hard enough to make a diesel happy. Hire a mechanic once a year for one hour (or more). Have them conduct a 'physical' on the beast. Ask lots of questions. You'll learn a ton of stuff and save lots of money in the future. 3. Make a Bottom Dive or Haulout. Do you sail in fresh water or salt? If you sail in salt, your bottom gets fouled after a few months dockside, at anchor of at a mooring. If you don't haulout, hire a diver to check the bottom, propeller condition and rudder. Keep them clean and barnacle free for peak performance. 4. Test Every Seacock. If you haul the boat, you need to break down every seacock, inspect the internal parts, and grease the fitting. Use only a silicone waterproof grease to prevent damage to rubber parts. Keep them serviced so that they serve you for years to come. 5. Unstep the Sailboat Mast - Check Sailing Rigging. If you haul the boat, unstep the mast. Otherwise, you or a rigger must go aloft to check mast tangs, spreaders, spreader boots and halyard blocks. Check all running rigging and replace if worn. Keep your mast in place and your sailing rig strong to prevent failure. 6. Repair Spongy or Crazed Sailboat Decks. Moisture finds its way into cored decks after a decade or two. Check around every fitting, like lifeline stanchion bases, cleats and mast step for crazing. Before you fill them, use a moisture gauge to check for water intrusion. You must dry the core before filling with sealant. Keep cracks from crunching your cruising plans by taking action once a year. 7. Conduct an Anchor Rode Inspection. Pull it out--pull it all out. Empty your anchor rode from the anchor locker and onto the deck or dock. Inspect every inch of the line, give it a fresh water washdown and dry it out. Salt acts like sandpaper on nylon line and wet nylon loses 15% of its strength. Dry out the anchor locker to prevent mildew.

The Toughest Sailing Race in the World !!

Sailing Stars of 2012 Set to Inspire at RYA Volvo Zone Championships

Great Britain’s Junior sailors will be seeing stars when some of the world’s top Olympic and Paralympic sailors pay a visit to the RYA Volvo Zone and Home Country Championships which are taking place concurrently next weekend (29-30 September) across nine different venues throughout the United Kingdom. Members of the London 2012 British Sailing Team, including Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas, will be visiting eight venues across the course of the two-day regatta, to inspire the next generation of British sailors. Over 1000 young competitors, aged between eight and 16, will be given the chance to quiz the sailors about how their sailing careers developed, from club level to their first regional event and how they progressed to ultimately compete at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. They will get the opportunity to compete under the watchful eyes of RYA High Performance Managers, key coaches and selectors as well as showcase their talents in front of the 10 Skandia Team GBR and Team Volvo sailors who will also be offering tips and advice whilst out on the water. 470 London 2012 silver medallist Hannah Mills will be visiting the South Zone (Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy) along with Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas who will join Mills on the Sunday after dropping in on the North Zone (Rutland Sailing Club) on the Saturday. The North Zone will then welcome Olympic windsurfing silver medallist Nick Dempsey on day two. 2012 Match Race girls Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor will visit the South East Zone (Weir Wood Sailing Club, East Sussex) and the South West Zone (Chew Valley Sailing Club, Bristol) respectively. Olympic silver medallist Stuart Bithell will be at the West Zone (Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club, Greater Manchester) while his 470 sailing partner Luke Patience will be making the trip back to his homeland to visit Largs Sailing Club in Scotland. Visiting the East Zone (Alton Water Sailing Club, Suffolk) will be the Paralympic SKUD bronze medallist Alexandra Rickham, while the Welsh Championship will welcome her sailing partner Niki Birrell at New Quay Sailing Club, Ceredigion. Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, said: “The RYA Volvo Zone and Home Country Championships are always a fantastic event and this year’s events will be extra special because thanks to the support of our long term sponsor, Volvo Car UK, the young sailors will be able to meet, get tips, advice and support and ultimately be inspired by their sailing heroes of 2012. “To achieve in Olympic Sailing takes a long time and sailors need to have self-belief, commitment and be inspired to put in the years of hard work – I hope that meeting the Team Volvo Sailors of 2012 will give the young sailors both an insight and the inspiration to see what a great journey it can be, what a fun and powerful sport this is and give them a new determination to make the best of the fantastic opportunities we can offer.” Truswell concluded: “There was a lot of talk about legacy and inspiring a generation this Summer, thanks to Volvo Car UK’s continued support and their enthusiasm, as well as that of the sailors of our Olympic and Paralympic team to support our Junior programmes, this weekend will really bring to life that aspiration for our young sailors.” The RYA Volvo Zone and Home Country Championships is a great first-time event for club level Junior class sailors, giving them the opportunity and support to get a real feel of a Championship atmosphere relatively locally. It is a great stepping stone into regional and national racing and race training programmes and also a key event for any young sailor wishing to be selected for the RYA Zone and Home Country squads. Racing takes place across the nine RYA recognised Junior dinghy and windsurfing classes including the Mirror, Optimist, Topper, RS Feva, Cadets and the windsurfers on the Bic Techno using the open 4.5, and 5.8 rigs, and the Techno 6.8s and Techno 7.8s – classes vary according to each venue. Competitors are urged to submit their entries, together with the entry fee, online at www.ryaracingevents.org.uk before 23 September 2012. Due to safety considerations and the size and complexity of the event, entries after this date cannot be accepted. The 2012 RYA Volvo Zone and Home Countries Championships will be staged at the following venues: The RYA Volvo South Zone Championships – Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Dorset · The RYA Volvo South West Zone Championships – Chew Valley Sailing Club, Bristol · The RYA Volvo South East Zone Championships – Weir Wood Sailing Club, East Sussex The RYA Volvo East Zone Championships– Alton Water Sailing Club, Suffolk · The RYA Volvo West Zone Championships– Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club, Greater Manchester · The RYA Volvo North Zone Championships – Rutland Sailing Club, Rutland · Volvo Welsh Youth & Junior Championships – New Quay Sailing Club, Ceredigion · RYA Scotland Volvo Youth and Junior Championships – Largs Sailing Club, Largs · RYANI Volvo Youth Championships and NI Schools Cup In association with McCready Sailboats – Ballyholme Yacht Club, Co Down

Dinghy Sailing with Flying Fish