Solo sailing grandmother nears dry land

A 70-year-old British grandmother is due to sail back in Victoria, British Columbia within several days after spending over 245 days at sea alone. Jeanne Socrates in her 38ft yacht, Nereida, will be officially timed as she passes the Ogden Point breakwater. It will mark the completion if her non-stop single-handed sailing voyage around the globe - a feat undertaken without the use of the boat's engine for propulsion. Nereida departed from Victoria Harbour on 22 October 2012. Jeanne's voyage is being recorded by the World Sailing Speed Record Council. The yacht will be escorted in by a Prince of Whales whale watching boat. After arrival, Nereida will be docked in front of the Empress Hotel, courtesy of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority. Third time lucky Jeanne is a remarkable woman who has previously had her hopes of a successful non-stop round the world voyage dashed. She has written a spirited daily journal throughout her quest, in which she describes the many challenges she has had on her voyages (http://svnereida.com/). This is her third attempt; the first attempt resulted in the total loss of her boat, and during the second attempt her vessel was knocked down off Cape Horn and Jeanne was forced to put into port for extensive repairs. Though she completed the circumnavigation, the non-stop challenge eluded her. Jeanne learned to sail when she was in her late 40s. In 1997 she and her husband commissioned the first Nereida and sailed from the UK across the Atlantic. After her husband's death from cancer, Jeanne started a steep learning curve that resulted in her deciding to carry on sailing single-handed. She hopes to raise funds to support the Marie Curie Cancer Foundation by using her sailing to highlight the work it does in providing home care to terminally ill patients. In 2004, Nereida was trucked from Florida to Vancouver. Her remarkable voyages since then (including the loss of the first Nereida) are documented in detail on her website. After her laptop computer was damaged, Jeanne has had radio communications with many HAM operators around the globe who have lately been posting her progress reports received by radio. Ocean Cruising Club Jeanne Socrates, a member of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), is following in the path of another OCC member, Victoria resident Tony Gooch , who completed the same nonstop solo round the world sailing voyage in record time in 2003 aboard the sailing vessel Taonui. Tony has acted as mentor to Jeanne. Jeanne is recognized internationally for her sailing achievements, and she is well regarded locally, with friends in Vancouver, Victoria and Port Townsend who have assisted her in many ways and enthusiastically followed her progress toward her goal.

Sailing is for everyone, even the disabled !!!

By Glenn McCarthy I have a good sailing friend who lost two legs in an auto accident 20 years ago. And I have not met anyone who is so upfront and straight forward about how he deals and beats the challenge in everything he does. His forthrightness, and explanations of the prosthetics, the care of the stumps and simply how to get around, has made me comfortable with the subject. I’m an advocate for life jacket wearing, and one day he cornered me and said that double leg amputees don’t like life jackets. “They make us float butt up.” Without the weight of the legs holding the body vertical, he inverts. It is this type of frank talk that helps all of us understand the challenges of a disability. However, you quickly find that this group doesn’t like to be called “disabled,” because they are very able at doing everything. So a few years ago, an effort was made to change the title to “Sailors with Special Needs.” Sailing is a Paralympic sport. Each athlete is assigned points based on their needs and when sailing as a team, the maximum points the team can have is 14 points. You’ll see these sailors taking off an arm or leg prosthesis, leaving them on the dock to get their team down to 14 points. Each person can adjust their “points” based on how able (with prosthetics) or disabled (with one or more prosthetics removed) they are. With the number of injuries in car crashes, veterans coming back after defending our country, this exciting sport awaits them. Convince them to give it a try, most are surprised at how invigorating sailing is and gives them a big boost.

Plain sailing at County Durham boat club

A SAILING club in the North-East held an open day over the weekend to encourage people to take up the sport. Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club welcomed newcomers to the water, near Consett, in County Durham, on Saturday. All ages were able to try out a free sail with safety equipment provided by the club. Susan Tate, 53, from Hedley-on-the-Hill, who runs the club’s galley, and has been sailing for 18 years, said: “It was an absolutely brilliant day. “A lot of people are interested in sailing and that is what we were hoping for.” Two day training courses to teach people how to sail with all equipment provided are available at the club, which is open at weekends and bank holidays, for £125. Wind surfing is also available through the club. For more information log on to drsc.co.uk or call 01434-675033.

Free sailing on offer at Upton Warren

UPTON Warren Sailing Club and Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre are offering free sailing for all of the family this weekend as part of national RYA Push the Boat Out Weekend. Running on Saturday and Sunday (10am to 4pm), the fun-filled weekend is guaranteed to offer something for all the family. There will be the chance to enjoy a first taste of sailing with one of the club’s experienced members and sample the social side of what life at Upton Warren can offer. The tasters are open to everyone aged six and above and regardless of gender or experience. Just bring a change of clothes, soft-soled shoes and waterproofs, the club will supply everything else. RYA ‘Push the Boat Out’ will see sailing clubs and centres across the country inviting local people to come and ‘have a go’ at sailing and windsurfing. The weekend provides the perfect chance for everyone to get out on the water and celebrate a national weekend of sailing. Upton Warren Outdoor Education Centre is a recognised RYA Training Centre, meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. For full details on everything going on at Upton Warren SC, visit www.uwsc.co.uk.

Sailing Club Spotlight " Rutland Sailing Club Open Day"

A sailing club hopes to attract some new members at an open day. Rutland Sailing Club will hold its annual event at the Edith Weston entrance to Rutland Water from 10am on Saturday, June 1. All ages and abilities are welcome to come and try the sport for free. Full details on the open day and the club itself can be found at www.rutlandsc.co.uk

Rough first sailing experience !!!! Sent by a friend

So I purchased my first sailboat this winter (vanguard nomad). I took some sailing lessons the past 3 summers and was very excited to get out on the water. Things, however, did not go well. I have to motor about 1/2 mile with my mast down to get past 2 low bridges. On my first sail I did this without removing the boom. I found out a bit late that this put too much pressure on the gooseneck and sheered the bolts off of it. First sail ended before it really began! I was able to repair the gooseneck on my own. Which I was very proud of because I know that mechanical failures are part of boat ownership and I need to be self sufficient. So now it was time for my second attempt. I made it under the bridges and was getting the sails set up when I realized we were drifting a bit close to shore. No problem I thought I will just start my little 2hp engine and motor away. It refused to start, we drifted into a dock and bumped into a ski boat on boat lift (slight scratches to my boat no damage to said ski boat but I still left a note for the owner). I managed to get off of the boat and pull us over to a vacant dock at which time my son got off and held the boat while I checked the engine and finished rigging. I managed to revive the engine and pull away from the dock. Good to go I thought, I went to drop the kick up rudder and the wire snapped. I didn't realize at the time how important that part can be. Because of the lack of real steering sailing was impossible. I quickly became frustrated and headed for home. I have repaired the rudder, but I am now leery about sailing. I have learned a lot about my boat, but it has caused me lots of stress instead of being the fun and relaxing hobby I hoped it would be. Oh well, I have a few more tries in me before I look for a boat for sail sign. Here's hoping for improving fortunes.

Blind sailors hope for success in Japan

A team of blind sailors will be representing Great Britain at the 2013 International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) Blind Sailing World and International Championships in Japan next week. The championships will take place from Seabornia Yacht Club and Riviera Resort in Koajiro Bay from Saturday, May 25. The five-day event allows sailors to race against other sailors with the same level of vision. Blind sailing is split into three sight categories, B1, B2 and B3, B1 being those who are totally blind to B3 sailors who suffer from conditions like tunnel vision and retinitis pigmentosa. Great Britain is sending a whole team, with representation in all three sight categories. Each team, supported by the charity Blind Sailing, is made up of four sailors – two visually impaired and two sighted. The visually impaired sailors helm and work the mainsheet, with the support of a sighted crew and a tactician. The blind sailors use the feel of the wind and the movement of the boat to enable them to sail. Sharon Grennan, a category B1 sailor, said: “Blind Sailing has given me the opportunity to take part in an active and exciting sport with the camaraderie of a group of enthusiastic sailors, who, like me happen to be partially sighted or blind. “I enjoy the competitive buzz of racing too and improving my sailing for the next event always gives me a goal to work towards.” Previous successes of Blind Sailing sailors includes gold at the 2011 IFDS Blind Match Racing Championships, gold at the International Blind Match Racing 2010, and they were world champions at the 2002 World Blind Championship. For more information about Blind Sailing, visit www.blindsailing.net

Cowes sailing team trip competition

An activity day for a group of 12 at the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) at Cowes, Isle of Wight, is perfect for team building. The Telegraph have teamed up with Volvo to offer this exciting prize to one lucky reader and 11 of their business colleagues. The team-building day will be held on Friday, September 6. The prize includes travel, ferry crossing, transfers, dinner and overnight accommodation on Thursday, September 5 at the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA). The following morning, the winner and 11 colleagues will enjoy breakfast followed by a fantastic day's sailing, which includes all the equipment needed, a safety brief, practice sailing, lunch and an exciting mini race. Find out more about the itinerary at the United Kingdom Sailing Academy website: www.uksa.org Sailing and Volvo – Volvo Car UK has been a key sponsor of British sailing since 1999, supporting everything from youth development at grass roots through to Britain’s top sailors at the pinnacle of the sport. – Volvo has invested in a group of top inspirational British athletes under the banner of Team Volvo since 2001. Britain has won six Olympic sailing medals, (four golds, two silvers and one bronze) since Volvo started their support. – For the last 15 years, Volvo Car UK has been a great supporter of The Royal Yachting Association Champion Club Programme. – The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's pre-eminent round-the-world yacht race and one of the most coveted prizes in the sport. See more at: www.volvocarssailing.co.uk The prize draw To enter this competition you will need to explain a particular business challenge your team has dealt with in the last 12 months that means they deserve this great day's sailing.

Paralympic sailing champion Helena Lucas talks of her MBE honour

Redhill's Paralympic sailing gold medallist Helena Lucas has said she was “humbled and honoured” on receiving her MBE recently at Buckingham Palace. Helena was crowned London 2012 champion in the 2.4mR class at Weymouth and Portland last September. She claimed an emphatic victory to become Britain’s first medallist since sailing joined the full Paralympic Games programme in 2000. Speaking after the ceremony at Buckingham Palace, she said: “It really was the icing on the cake after such an amazing year.” She said: “I’m so honoured to have received this award for doing the sport that I love. “There were so many other amazing people in the room with me from all walks of life, who were so driven, have made great sacrifices and have worked so hard for their country. “It was really quite humbling.” Helena, 37, was awarded her MBE by The Princess Royal, who is also President of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), and who attended alongside other key figures from London 2012. The Skandia Team GBR member was accompanied to the investiture by her husband Steve Thomas, and her parents Val and Geoff. She said: “It was so nice to have been able to share the day with them, as they’ve all been so brilliant and supportive throughout my career. “All the tradition and ceremony around the day made it really special for all of us.” She continued: “There’s still so much excitement around London 2012. People are still so excited about wanting to see my gold medal.

Ahoy there, get a taste for the big blue with free Sail Spree classes

Sail Spree – an initiative developed by the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) to encourage people of all ages to try water sports – will run from May 4 to May 6 in over 25 venues around the country. On offer will be various free taster sessions in sailing, windsurfing and powerboating. Many clubs will also provide onshore activities, including food and entertainment, guaranteeing a great day out for all the family. While pre-booking is not essential for all of the venues, it is advised that you contact your chosen club to avoid disappointment. For more information about Sail Spree events in your area check out www.sailspree.ie.

Fire Crews sailing against the tide !

Land-locked firefighters from West Yorkshire, including some from Bradford, are preparing to defend their UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge title – with just one day of training. Four teams of eight from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will compete against 30 crews from across the country in the three-day annual competition in the Solent next week. But with limited access to water, the teams, which won the title in 2009 and 2012, have yet to complete any training. They will take part in their first practice session the day before the event, which starts on Tuesday. Watch Commander Darren Bagley, of Huddersfield, said: “Most of the other brigades are from coastal regions, mainly from the South Coast, and West Yorkshire is quite clearly land-locked. We don’t train. “The event starts on Tuesday, but we’ll travel down on the Monday for our first and only training session before the other crews arrive. “I think we surprise a lot of them with how well we do – especially when we don’t do any training. We won it last year and in 2009 and we’ll be ready to give them hell again this year.” The event will see the crews race 40ft yachts over three days, staying at Yarmouth and Cowes during the evening. They have a secret weapon in their midst – skipper Peter Crowther. Mr Bagley said: “Our success lies mainly with our skipper who has more than 40 years’ dinghy-racing experience and has transferred his expertise seamlessly to a bigger scale. “Peter was recently the world firefighter dinghy racing champion.” The West Yorkshire crew has used the event to raise thousands of pounds for Yorkshire Cancer Research and Huddersfield Downs Syndrome Support Group. It has also secured sponsorship from The Woodman Inn in Thunderbridge, nationwidebathrooms.com, Lucas Lee and Partners chartered surveyors and Kevan Davey of Concerto Support Services in Cheshire. To sponsor them, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/WYFSCharitySailingTeam

Red Bull Sailing take second in Singapore

Roman Hagara's crew climb to the top of the Extreme Sailing Series' overall leaderboard after Act 2. Switzerland's Alinghi team claimed victory at the Marina Bay Reservoir in Singapore after winning more races than the rest of the Extreme 40 fleet. But it was a closely fought thing on the final day. With little wind to speak of the event's Race Committee had made the decision to abandon competitive racing. Thankfully, though, a breeze picked up and the teams were able to complete one final race. It was an eventful one, too. Four teams – Alinghi (SUI), Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT), SAP Extreme Sailing (SAP) and Realteam (SUI) – all muscled their way into podium positions. In the end, it was Morgan Larson's Swiss team who triumphed to take their first win since Almeria in 2011. But Roman Hagara's Red Bull Sailing Team pushed them all the way and notched another impressive second-place finish. enlarge It was always going to be an uphill task for Hagara and crew to cancel out Alinghi's lead, which they'd held since race six, but the Red Bull Sailing Team were able to hold on to the position they ended day three in and repeat their result from Act 1 in Muscat. Roman had this to say afterwards: “It's always tough when you don’t know when the last race is going to happen, but it worked out well for us and it's great for the team. They did a great job on the boat. I think they really deserved it and it's great for the overall standing now.” enlarge Roman Hagara of Red Bull Sailing in action© Red Bull Content Pool / Balazs Gardi / Red Bull Sailing Roman's Red Bull Sailing Team now share top spot in the overall standings with Alinghi. The next stop for the Extreme Sailing Series is in Qingdao, China, on May 2-5. Extreme Sailing Series 2013 Act 2, Singapore final standings 1. Alinghi (SUI) – 198 points. 2. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) – 163 points. 3. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) – 161 points. 4. Realteam (SUI) – 159 points. 5. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) – 153 points. Extreme Sailing Series 2013 overall standings 1. Alinghi (SUI) – 18 points 2. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) – 18 points 3. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) – 16 points 4. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) – 12 points 5. Team Korea (KOR) – 11 points

Sailing Club Spotlight Otley Sailing Club

Otley sailing club has received a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services. This is the highest award presented by the Queen to voluntary groups. The award is for the club’s voluntary work with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Sailability scheme to make sailing accessible to all. Young people and adults from Bradford, Otley, Ilkley, Skipton and Leeds with special needs are encouraged to sail independently in specially-designed boats. This would not be possible without volunteers. Schools also take part in regular Sailability sessions during term times. The volunteers give many people with special needs an opportunity to try sailing and ‘sail free’ independently, giving them a sense of achievement and freedom that they might not otherwise be able to experience The award will be presented on behalf of the Queen by Dr Ingrid Roscoe, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, on April 25.