Largs sailing event lands top award

The Royal Yachting Association Youth Championships has been voted Event of the Year by the UK sailing community and readers of the Yacht and Yachting Magazine. Held last April, it was the biggest ever UK Youth Championships to be held in Scotland. The 450 young athletes who sailed in 239 boats were from all over the UK, and even from as far away as Australia and Serbia. The championships were held at Largs Yacht Haven. David Kent of the Scottish Sailing Institute, based at Largs Yacht Haven, thanked the volunteers who made the competitors so welcome.

500 student sailors aim to qualify for British Uni Team Racing titles

2014 BUCS/BUSA Student Team Racing Championships.83 student teams, representing 36 British universities, are competing to qualify. Most will be racing at venues around the British Isles this coming weekend, with the Northern group of universities meeting the following weekend (to accommodate the tide timetable!). University sailing clubs (USCs) have been busy training, selecting and competing since the beginning of the current academic year, last October. Team racing is one of the disciplines of student sailing, together with fleet, match and keelboat yacht racing. Clubs also make an increasing contribution to bringing newcomers into sailing, organising learn-to-sail training and facilitating a variety of sailing-related training and qualifications. But Team Racing is particularly popular in universities because of its exciting and sociable sailing format, as a team of sailors work together to try and establish an overall winning combination for their team over their opposition. Team races are fast and furious and reward good starting, boat speed, boat handling, rules knowledge and team work skills. Most university sailing clubs organise sailing at least once a week at a local sailing club, often two or three times a week, arranging team race training and, in many cases, taking team racing skills to a high level of performance. University sailing clubs compete with each other throughout the academic year, organising events themselves across the British Isles. Many familiar names appear in the calendar year-by-year. The Leeds’ Halloween Howler, Sheffield Shuffle, Oxford Magnum, Brummy Bender, London 6-Pack, Cardiff’s Welsh Dragon, Bristol Brew, Loughborough Lemming and Warwick Turtle have already been held this year.

Seems a bit like too much hard work for me !!!!

Post by Waterlust.

Scottish Sailing club in line for national award

Loch Venachar Sailing Club has been shortlisted for the Royal Yachting Association Scotland club of the year. Club representatives will find out if they have won tomorrow (Saturday) at the RYA awards dinner at the Glasgow Science Centre. Loch Venachar Sailing Club is a friendly, family-focused club which has a core of enthusiastic and willing volunteers committed to making everything the club does a success. It has a growing reputation as the place to take children to learn to sail Optimists and progressing on to racing, initially at the club and then on the traveller circuit. It has increased the number of sailors competing away from the club and, as well as supporting these young racers, the club has been making an RIB available to support the regatta fleet where hosting clubs were struggling to provide resources. The club was recently awarded Charter Plus status by Active Stirling and its volunteer instructors ran a second successful year of SQA sailing for a local high school. It is up against Dalgety Bay SC and Clyde Cruising Club in the club of the year competition. RYA Scotland chief executive James Stuart said: “The nomination process has brought to light a host of truly outstanding activity and people. Consequently the short list is of a very high standard indeed. “Our awards dinner is a chance for us to draw attention to these remarkable people and clubs.” The club of the year award is sponsored by Clyde Challenger.

Andrew Simpson: Olympic sailor's 'Bart's Bash' logo chosen

The winning entry has been unveiled after a competition to create a logo for a race in memory of Olympic sailing champion Andrew "Bart" Simpson. More than 65 entries were received, including many by schoolchildren, but the organisers eventually chose a logo by a professional graphic designer. Polly Durrant, from Dorchester, said her logo reflected the "give it a try" ethos of the Bart's Bash dinghy race. It is being held simultaneously at UK sailing clubs in September. Simpson, from Sherborne in Dorset, was killed while training for the America's Cup in San Francisco Bay. Trustees of the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation (ASSF) picked the winning logo from a shortlist of three compiled through a vote on Facebook. An ASSF spokesperson previously said entries had come from "a broad field, including professional graphic designers, adults and children as young as five". Nicknamed Bart, Simpson won Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and silver at London 2012. He died after becoming trapped under an AC72 catamaran when it nosedived, capsized and broke into pieces while training with Artemis Racing. The foundation was set up in his name by his widow Leah, sister Amanda, and fellow sailors Sir Ben Ainslie and Iain Percy, with the aim of supporting youth sailing. More than 250 sailing clubs have so far entered Bart's Bash, which is expected to attract some 10,000 sailors to the water on 21 September.

Youngsters shown the sailing ropes

When the opportunity to practice and train ahead of the racing season is presented to the young sailors of Derbyshire, they certainly commit themselves with vigour. Despite the cold weather, there is no lack of enthusiasm for getting in their boats and working hard to develop and perfect their skills, at all levels and ages. The next training session is being held in the north of the county at Combs Sailing Club on Saturday, March 9 and will be led by coach Richard Rawson of Peak Dinghy Spares. He will be helping the sailors to work on key aspects of their chosen sport and leading them through a series of activities that will be challenging their fitness and capabilities. Rawson raced in several DYS series some years ago and is an RYA trained instructor, so he is well qualified and experienced to help teach today’s competitors. Carsington Sailing Club hosted the first training session of pre-season which was extremely well attended and well received by the sailors. The light wind conditions were perfect for helping the sailors to learn to extend their concentration, so that they can maximise their boat speed and make the most of what little wind there can often be. When the sailors are faced with weather conditions at the lower end of the thermometer, they put on insulating clothes under specialist sailing dry suits that keep them very cosy. They also pull on thick gloves and a variety of warm headwear. Often the sailors return to shore after hours afloat and report that they were too hot as they had to work so hard, but their beaming smiles show how much fun they still had. DYS Training Co-ordinator, volunteer Des Luxton, said: “ many of the sailors are eager to get out onto the racing circuit and start competing at events, their calendars and diaries for this year are already full of commitments for the season.”

Scottish-based sailing charity able2sail launches its 3 LightHouse Challenge

A team of challengers are gearing up for a 700-plus mile sail and cycle in aid of one of Scotland's charities for the disabled. The 3 LightHouse Challenge has been launched by able2sail. It will start from The Lighthouse in Glasgow on Friday 23 May 2014. Six volunteers will endeavour to cycle and sail more than 1,141km of Scotland's most dramatic landscapes and sailing waters. In six days the team aim to cycle to Oban, set sail on able2sail, the charity's own yacht for the sail and cycle round the Outer Hebrides, before returning to Oban and cycling back to Glasgow. The 3 Lighthouse Challenge is a key fundraiser for the charity, which last year took more than 130 clients, friends and carers out sailing on the Clyde and the waters of Argyll. All the opportunities able2sail provides to the disabled community are free of charge by a committed group of volunteers. Charity chairman Gerry Campbell said: 'Sailing truly enables people to be free of their disabilities. With us they are part of the team and the crew, irrespective of their disability or sailing experience.' How will the challenge work? For the sailing legs, the team of six will be joined by one of the charity's expert skippers and members of crew. Throughout the land parts of the challenge, a small support team will provide safety cover, help with punctures etc and of course provide the much needed snacks and warm cups of tea. A yacht delivery team will take able2sail from her home port at Kip Marina to Oban for the start of the sailing aspects of this fundraising adventure. Find out more about the 3 Lighthouse Challenge and how to sponsor the team at www.able2sail.org.uk

Harbour wheelyboat helps give disabled their sea legs

LIFE on the water is second nature to some. But for people living with disabilities, the practicalities of boat trips aren’t so easy – or so you might think. That all changed with the launch of a wheelchair-accessible boat, providing new opportunities for everyone to explore the rich and varied marine life in Chichester Harbour. The John Q Davis RM Wheelyboat launched in June last year, giving disabled people independent access to the water. “We have had a hugely encouraging first year,” said boat skipper Ian McCoy. “It has been better than I thought. We’ve taken out more than 500 people.” The project was a joint venture between Thorney Island’s Army Welfare Service, Thorney Island Sailing Club and the Wheelyboat Trust, a charity based in Petworth. Ian McCoy is a support officer at Thorney Island Army Welfare Service. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for army personnel and their families and others to get out on to Chichester Harbour,” he said. “The expression on their faces that they can do something is amazing. They really enjoy it. “The whole thing was devised to get families to experience the water.” Ian said some families who lived on 
Thorney Island weren’t aware Chichester Harbour was an area of outstanding natural beauty – until they saw it. “We take the groups out and do seal-spotting,” he said. “They are amazed when they see them. It’s just a different way for people to see the area.” The Wheelyboat benefits the island’s army families, injured and disabled service personnel, disabled schoolchildren and adults, and is supporting Thorney Island Sailing Club and the community. “We take out groups from Help For Heroes’ Tedworth House Recovery Centre,” said Ian. The centre helps servicemen and women who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses, running activities which help them to do what they enjoy most. Jack, one of the participants from the centre, said it was ‘the best activity’ they had ever done. “It’s great to drive the JQD,” he said. In June, 90 Scouts from Hayling Island were taken out on to the water and Thorney Island Sailing Club, which provides the boat’s mooring for free, used JQD as a support vessel for its junior sailing week when the boat was involved in two rescues. Ian said he was trying to encourage fishing trips, but day trips, harbour tours and nature excursions were also available. “We can finish off with a picnic at East Head, or go to the pub in Itchenor. That’s popular.” The boat was named by Valerie Davis, in memory of her late husband and former Chichester harbour master, Lt Col John Quintin Davis, Royal Marines, who died suddenly while out sailing with Valerie in August, 2010. “My husband’s vision was that the Chichester Harbour is for the enjoyment of everyone and this allows it to be enjoyed,” said Valerie, speaking at the launch of the new boat last year. Andy Beadsley, director of the Wheelyboat Trust, said: “The funding for the boat was kick-started by the John Davis memorial fund. “Valerie has been a keen supporter of the project. She knew it would’ve been a project John would have loved to support. “Ian contacted me in 2011 to see if we had a model for an accessible boat for use in 
Chichester Harbour. It’s really been one of our flagship projects.” The boat was the 150th Wheelyboat supplied by The Wheelyboat Trust since it began charity work in 1985. To help meet JQD’s running costs, the Wheelboat Trust is asking anyone who is passionate about Chichester Harbour to become a Friend of JQD. The annual membership fee will continue provision for disabled people, their families and friends with access to Chichester Harbour. For more information or to make a booking, visit www.jqdwheelyboat.co.uk

Dart Sailability reflects on a successful year

DART Sailability, the Dartmouth-based charity that helps disabled people take to the water, is reflecting on a successful year. Principal and senior instructor Mark Farries said: “We had some of our best weather for five years so everyone enjoyed good sailing. “I would like to thank all the volunteers on the shore, the pontoon and the water who have given up so much time and always done so with a smile.” Sailing takes place at Noss Marina twice a week between May and September and 101 disabled sailors took part last season. Two schools, Oakland Park in Dawlish and Bidwell Brook in Dartington, have continued to bring disabled students aged 14 to 18 years. The Dart Harbour Authority awarded Sailability the Dart Harbour Senior Award for exceptional and inspiring work with young people on the river, saying: “The organisation meets the needs of so many disadvantaged people in such a fun way.” Chairman Robert Boyd said: “We greatly appreciate their kind donation of £500.” Other activities during the year included racing the group’s 23ft yacht Sonar of Dart in the RDYC Wednesday evening series and the Dartmouth Regatta. Sailing with different, mixed-ability crews, they acquitted themselves very well, finishing fourth overall in the keelboat series in the regatta. During the regatta, the group hosted a visit from Geoff Holt and his catamaran which can carry disabled sailors including several in wheelchairs. A number of members went out for a high-speed trip in the bay which was much enjoyed. Barry Cooper and a team from Dart Sailability took part in the Eddystone charity race and raised £1,077 for the group. Another team provided safety boat cover for the Totnes Longbow canoe races and a generous donation was received from Totnes Rotary Club in gratitude. Mr Boyd said: “As a disabled sailor and the group’s chairman I would like to thank everyone for making Dart Sailability such a delightful organisation to be a member of. It provides support, friendship, recreational and competitive sailing which improves the condition of our lives. “We are indebted to all our volunteers, sponsors and fundraisers who make this possible.” All the boats are currently out of the water undergoing their annual refit, which is being undertaken by the group’s volunteers. The sailing season will start again in May.

Princess Anne gives a Churchouse sailing boat her seal of approval

A SAILING boat built in north Hampshire has received a royal seal of approval. The Princess Royal, president of the Royal Yacht Association (RYA) and patron of RYA Sailability, did the honours at the Churchouse Boats stand at the London Boat Show last week. The Drascombe Longboat, called Penny Wake, will be an addition to the growing number of boats used by Rutland Sailability, at Rutland Sailing Club, in Leicestershire. The vessel has been built to include various modifications to the standard Drascombe Longboat, to make it easier for disabled people to use. Churchouse Boats is run by husband and wife team Simon and Sharon Harwood, at Apsley Sawmill, in Hurstbourne Priors, near Whit-church. Delighted that the princess accep-ted the invitation to name the boat on behalf of Rutland Sailability, Simon said: “She said the boat looked lovely and was surprised that we have a small team of three producing such wonderful boats.” The London Boat Show certainly proved to be fruitful as the firm secured a deal to build a new boat, along with numerous spares and accessories. “It’s a great show worth going to as there is always competition out there from other boat builders, and so we are able to show off our product, which has been built to a high standard, for all to see. “Going to the show also opened up an opportunity for us to work with other Sailability groups and network with potential suppliers.” Simon added: “Our business continues to grow through building new boats, brokerage sales, refurbishments and spares, which are sold not just in the UK, but also worldwide.”

A Teenage Girl Grows Older and Wiser While Sailing Solo Around the World

Dutch teenager Laura Dekker set out at fourteen on a solo sailing trip around the globe. Her journey covered 27,000 nautical miles and lasted 519 days, and she currently holds the unofficial record for youngest person to accomplish such a feat. Dekker’s incredibly impressive adventure mostly through footage she took herself while sailing apart from friends, family and strangers alike. We get to watch as this confident and capable young woman deals with inclement weather, impending madness caused by doldrums, and a constantly developing desire for a life other than the one she left behind in Holland. By the time she crosses the equator, dancing alone in a party hat and offering pancakes to Neptune, you’ll find yourself loving her spirit and personality nearly as much as she loves the sea. “Freedom is when you’re not attached to anything.” Dekker’s larger journey of life began off New Zealand where she was born on a boat to parents who themselves had set out to sail the world. They made a home on land a few years later, but the saltwater bug was already coursing through Laura’s little veins. When her parents split up she chose to stay with the one who shared an affection for sailing, but life with her father also shaped her into an independent and self-sustaining child. That drive helped her win a ten-month-long court battle with the Dutch government who wanted to stop her plans to sail the world solo, even going so far as attempting to take custody away from her dad. She set sail in August of 2010 intent on setting the age record, but while other teens focused on speed, Laura was more interested in seeing and experiencing the world around her. She made multiple stops along the way, and we see her time split between the solitary life aboard the Guppy and her brief, social excursions at various ports or with fellow sailors. Her initial jubilance is tempered by ravioli disasters and clumsiness as she learns to film while going about her business on a rocking boat, but even as her spirit sinks and nerves settle in at the beginning of the 2200 -mile stretch across the Atlantic ocean, she stays remarkably focused and controlled. There are tense moments as storms approach, water gets in where it shouldn’t, and Laura works to navigate a deadly, reef-filled strait at night in the rain, but the film is filled with vitality, charm, and a sense of humor. Animated maps show the legs of the trip with watercolors and personalized little touches highlighting her dog Spot, where she was when she turned 15, and more add a human touch. A scene counting the days trapped by dead winds in the Indian ocean features Laura joking that “bobbing on the waves for days” is enough to drive someone crazy, and it’s followed by her introducing a bird that had taken up residence on the boat. “I’m only speaking English to him,” she says straight-faced, “because he probably doesn’t understand Dutch.”

Jubilee Sailing Trust - Be Inspired: Meet Jess

The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a Southampton based charity that promotes the integration of able-bodied and disabled men and woman through the medium of tall ship sailing. The JST owns an operates the only two tall ships on the planet that have been specifically designed to cater for people of all abilities. They are called Lord Nelson and Tenacious Lord Nelson is currently embarked on her maiden circumnavigation. This staggering 50,000 mile voyage is made even more incredible by the crew, people like Jess, who come on board and become part of the adventure Jess Mellish is a 16 year-old from New Zealand who was sponsored to travel with JST through the special needs unit at Te Puke High School. Jess has condition called Septo-optic Dysplasia, which caused the loss of her sight. On her voyage in New Zealand she climbed the mast in an incredible display of bravery. Lord Nelson is a 55-metre square rigged vessel that was purpose built in 1986 and has, along with her sister ship, Tenacious, had 40,000 customers. Of those, 15,000 have been disabled and 5,000 have been wheelchair users.

Sailor well on his way round the world !!

On November 11 last year 53-year-old Andrew Halcrow slipped quietly and unannounced out of port in his 30-foot yacht Elsi, on the start of a single-handed, 40,000-mile Falmouth to Falmouth west about circumnavigation. Andrew is no stranger to long distance sailing. The Shetland islander, a blacksmith by trade, has already sailed part the way around the world with his brother in a five-year long adventure beginning in 1988. However, he had a burning desire to sail single-handed around the world. In 2006 he set sail on a single-handed round the world voyage but 300 miles off the south Australian coast he suffered a burst appendix. He contacted his wife who alerted Shetland Coastguard, who in turn passed the information to their colleagues at Falmouth. An Australian aircraft located him just four hours after the initial alert. In a rescue operation co-ordinated by Falmouth Coastguard he was airlifted to hospital in Albany. His yacht was left to drift. Months later, relatively unscathed Elsi had drifted ashore in Australia. Andrew made arrangements to have his craft returned to Shetland on a freighter. At the time, Andrew insisted he had no intention of ever embarking on a similar journey again. After refitting Elsi he decided to have another attempt at his round the world voyage. This week, Andrew was sailing down the eastern coast of south America. He expects to be back in Falmouth in December. Elsi is averaging between 80 and 110 miles every day. His route is from Falmouth down through the North and South Atlantic, then round Cape Horn, up the west coast of South America, across the South Pacific in the SE trades to the Torres Straits, across the Indian Ocean, round the Cape of Good Hope and back up to Falmouth. Before sailing from Falmouth Andrew said: “If I don’t do it now, I am never going to do it. I dinna want to be sitting in an old folks’ home, being 90 years old and thinking I really should have done it.” Readers can follow Andrew’s progress at www.elsiarrub.co.uk