Great things planned for the GP14 International Class 2014

Lots of great things planned for the GP14 International Class. Check out the 3 dinghies at London Dinghy Show 1st and 2nd March. Get entered for some fabulous Racing Events, including Weymouth for the Nationals, then the World's in Ireland this year. Look forward to visiting the Caribbean in 2016 for the next World Championship to be held in Barbados. Mainsail will be out to GP14 Association members in March, but look out for your newsletter this month. Not an Association Member, then check out details to join on the website www.gp14.org

PARALYMPIC CHAMPION SUPPORTS UKSA

Paralympic gold medal winning sailor Helena Lucas has teamed up with youth charity UKSA to become one of their ambassadors. Helena made history claiming gold at London 2012, becoming the first ever female winner of the male dominated Paralympic class and Britain’s first ever Paralympic sailing gold medallist. UKSA offers transformational opportunities to young people through sailing and watersports, from their main base in Cowes, Isle of Wight, and other sites around the UK. Helena explained: “I’m proud and excited to be ambassador for the wonderful youth charity, UKSA. UKSA uses sailing and watersports as a catalyst to help young people. They know that being out at sea, facing a challenge and working both individually and as a team can make you a more positive, more able person. It gives you confidence, it raises your self-esteem. This is something I strongly believe in and I am very happy to be lending my support to such a fantastic charity.”

Sail 4 Cancer announces Hudson Wight as an official supporter in 2014

Recently launched performance sailwear company Hudson Wight is supporting the sailing charity Sail 4 Cancer at a range of UK regattas this year. Participants at a number of events where Sail 4 Cancer is the chosen charity will be able to win a set of Hudson Wight HW1s by entering the charity's various prize draws, competitions and event raffles. The charity will be providing a range of Hudson Wight prizes at industry regattas ranging from the Profile Cup and Legal Cup organised by Britannia Corporate Events, to the Henry Coanda Challenge and Torbay Week, one of the oldest regattas in the country. "The support of Hudson Wight will enable us to raise funds to provide much-needed respite breaks for families affected by cancer. This year we hope to help a record number of families," commented Lizette van Niekerk, Fundraising Manager of Sail 4 Cancer. Sail 4 Cancer has also joined the Hudson Wight Affiliate Scheme that allows supporters buying their sailing clothing and accessories on the Hudson Wight website to use the Affiliate Code: SAIL 4 CANCER, giving them a 10% discount on the purchase and the charity will then receive 15% of every sale. "We are delighted to include Sail 4 Cancer as our chosen charity for 2014. We only sell direct and our Affiliate Scheme is at the heart of that business model. It allows us to give 15% of all our sales to our affiliates who are typically volunteer run Clubs and Class Associations. The aim is build a top-level brand with the sport of sailing as a key stakeholder in our success. With that approach we hope to give more people a chance to get out on the water," said Hudson Wight's Managing Director Jamie Scrimgeour. For more information on Sail 4 Cancer please visit: http://www.sail4cancer.org/hudson-wight or visit the Hudson Wight website at: http://www.hudsonwight.com

Congratulations to Ben Saxton of Grafham water sailing Club

Congratulations to Club member Ben Saxton, who won a bronze medal at the recent Sailing World Cup event in Miami, helming a Nacra 17 catamaran. This result moved Ben and his sailing partner Hannah Diamond up to first in the latest ISAF world rankings for the Nacra 17 – a useful step towards their aim of representing GBR at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and wining Olympic gold.

Big year ahead for Pascoe

FRESH from winning gold at the Miami Olympic classes regatta, Portland’s Megan Pascoe is gearing up for an action-packed year. The 2.4mR keeboat sailor beat her biggest rival – British Para-lympic champion Helena Lucas – and a 26-boat fleet, to secure victory on Biscayne Bay. Lucas battled back into medal contention to take bronze following an over-the-starting-line (OCS) penalty in race two of the regatta. Pascoe, aiming to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, admits the win is a timely confidence boost. She said: “We are still not sure when the trials will happen but obviously a win is a win and it means I am still world number one. I have a lot more work to do but I’m ecstatic that I finished every race inside the top three. “My speed is getting faster and my racing more consistent in every competition so, with a bit more practice, I’m sure when trials come round I have a good shot at it.” Pascoe, who narrowly missed out on London 2012 Paralympic selection, credits her new coach Rob Wilson for upping her game. She said: “Rob has coached the winning Extreme 40 Wave Mus-cat team plus many more teams to victory in many classes. He has made me go faster and has confidence in my speed, which has made sailing easy. The 27-year-old’s next big events are the Princess Sofia regatta in Palma in March, the Hyeres World Cup in April, the IFDS Worlds in August in Hali-fax, Nova Scotia, then the 2.4mR Open Worlds in Toronto, Ontario in September. Although Pascoe will be in Toronto on September 21, she is determined to participate in the Guinness World Record attempt in honour of her former British Sailing team-mate And-rew ‘Bart’ Simpson, who tragically died in an America’s Cup training accident. ‘Bart’s Bash’ aims to be the biggest-ever sailing race, involving yachts, dinghies and windsurfers world-wide, competing simultaneously at 11am (BST). Castle Cove Sailing Club (CCSC) and Weymouth Sailing Club (WSC) member Pascoe said: “I’m hoping I can persuade National Yacht Club in Toronto to host an event. “Bart’s Bash will be the most amazing spectacle. In Weymouth alone, I know how big some of our Yacht Club of Weymouth events can get so this is going to be massive.” WSC and CCSC are among the 322 clubs signed up so far. CCSC spokesman Rob Smith said: “Bart’s Bash is a multi-club and multi-national event, created by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation as a special way to remember and capture the spirit of the late Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson. “In addition to promoting sailing, raising awareness of the foundation and its core objective of encouraging youngsters into sailing, it is also aimed at giving thousands of sailors a great simultaneous event with the opportunity to get results against the best in the world, raise funds and achieve a Guinness world record.”

Sponsors wanted for GB sailing challenge

A SAILING enthusiast is appealing to Pershore residents and businesses for sponsorship funding so she can help Great Britain to glory this summer. Pershore High School student Amy Johnson will have the opportunity of representing her country in July when she takes part in The Atlantic Challenge International Contest of Seamanship which will be held in France. The competition, which runs over ten days, will see the talented 17-year-old compete in a series of different rowing and sailing races in a 38ft boat called Intergrite against 16 other countries from across the world. To help fund her training, which starts months before the competition begins, Amy is on a £1,000 fund-raising appeal and hopes to get help from businesses and residents to help cover her travel, clothing and boat maintenance costs. Amy, who is also studying in her final year of A-Levels at the Station Road school, has managed to raise some cash already thanks to family members, friends of friends and organising raffles. But time is ticking as Amy needs to raise all the funds by May so she can begin her preparations in good time. This will be Amy's second time representing Great Britain in the competition after making her debut in 2012 when the event was held in Ireland. Speaking to the Observer Amy said representing her country was one of the biggest honours she has had in her lifetime. "I'm really excited to be representing Great Britain and any amount of sponsorship would be greatly appreciated," she said. "My first experience of 2012 was such an amazing experience with the atmosphere and everything and I can't wait to experience it all again. "We will have a much bigger team than we did in 2012 so it means we will have more flexibility and can choose our strongest rowers for races rather than everyone in the team having to row. "I've been sailing for quite a while and got started because my dad got involved in sailing and I then I followed it up from him. I really enjoy sailing and hope to do it for most of my life." Pershore High School headteacher Clive Corbett added: "Everyone at the school is very proud of what Amy achieved in 2012 and what she is going to achieve this year. "I'm always in admiration into how Amy and other students fit these type of activities in around their studies as well. And I'd urge people out there to help out Amy in her quest to do really well for Great Britain this summer." Anyone interested in sponsoring Amy should email her on 006784@pershore.worcs.sch.uk or contact the school on 01386 552471.

WEYMOUTH: Exciting 2014 events programme launched !

WEYMOUTH and Portland has officially launched its exciting programme of events for 2014. It will be hosting more than 260 events throughout the year including world and national sailing championships, live music, art and sports events, community fetes and fairs and many seasonal favourites during 2014. The events programme gets off to a sporting start this month (February) With the Topper Winter Regatta at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy while on February 22nd-23rd the borough will also host the quad bike racing event, Dickies Quad Beach Cross, on Weymouth Beach. The borough’s major events are back in 2014 including Best of Dorset Show in March, Weymouth Kite Festival in May, Wessex Folk Festival and Armed Forces Celebrations in June, Dorset Seafood Festival and Spirit of Portland in July, Weymouth Carnival in August and the Lions Beach Motocross in October. Big sporting and leisure events will be happening in Weymouth and Portland this year including one of the country’s leading Iron Distance triathlons, Challenge Weymouth, in September. Challenge Weymouth will lead more than 1,500 athletes through this incredible multi endurance event which includes a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run, attracting an extra 5,000 sports visitors and supporters. Challenge Weymouth is planning to develop a strong future in Weymouth. A range of high class sailing competitions will also be happening at the WPSNA including Cadet Worlds in August and the Wayfarer and Optimist Nationals in July and August. People can also take part in sporting challenges such as BustinSkin multi-event series, Round-the-Rock I0K, Portland 10 mile road race and Dumble Bimble Fun Run on Portland, the Weymouth 10 Mile Race on Weymouth Seafront and the ASA Long Distance Swimming Championships. July and August is always a great time to try out a sport and join in the fun on Weymouth Beach and this year the Ecover Blue Mile will be back with an open-water swim, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. This will be part of the Dorset Festival of Sports which will feature the Beach Sports Festival, the Battens Charity Beach Volleyball and the RAF Weymouth Beach Volleyball Classic, the country’s leading two side men’s and women’s volleyball championship. Throughout 2014 the borough’s fabulous park and open spaces will host a range of activities including fetes, fairs and picnics organised by the parks’ friends groups and the borough council. Weymouth Portland tourism spokesman Councillor Ian Bruce said: “The 2014 programme is full of top quality events. There are seasonal favourites and exciting new events making this programme bigger and better than ever. There is really something for everyone to enjoy and get involved with. This programme will again give a great economic benefit to the area. “A special thanks to this year’s event partners, Real World Security, Weymouth Swimming Pool (SLM), Weymouth Pavilion, Mud & Gears and Just Racing (Challenge Weymouth).” For the events happening in Weymouth and Portland go to www.visitweymouth.co.uk.

A new range of performance wet weather gear

Hudson Wight is the latest brand of performance sailwear to enter the technical end of the sailing clothing market. Their range of stylish-looking gear is targetted mainly at keelboat sailors for year-round use whether cruising or racing, inshore or offshore, however the range is only available to purchase direct from Hudson Wight which is intended to reduce pricing. Norrie Forster, a delivery skipper and RYA Yachtmaster Instructor in Scotland, had this to say. "In summary, I would now without hesitation consider the Hudson Wight sailing suit (HW1s) as my first choice; indeed I feel strongly enough about the significant increase in effectiveness that I find myself regularly evangelising about this new brand and its future in the sailing marketplace." More products are being added to the range this year but for all the technical and fabric information and testimonials refer to the website: http://www.hudsonwight.com

SAILABILITY :- Grantham’s Val performs well at windy Rutland Water

Disabled sailor Val Millward took part in the prestigious John Merricks Tiger Trophy event at Rutland Sailing Club over the wekend. The conditions were extremely windy, particularly on Saturday when it was only possible to run one of the scheduled races. The Sunday pursuit race went ahead as planned but even then it was very windy. There were 165 boats entered but not all actually took to the water, such were the trying conditions. Val Millward finished 17th over the two-day event and was the first lady helm, receiving the Lady Tiger Trophy for the second time. She recorded a maximum speed of 12.6 knots on Sunday although she said she may have gone even faster on Saturday. Val said: “It was like being inside a washing machine during Saturday’s race at times. The waves were tossing the boat about that much that it made you feel quite seasick.” The John Merricks Tiger Trophy is part of the winter Sailjuice series of events. There are eight venues and sailors count their best four results. Val was only able to sail four of the events and her results from the other three were not good as there had been little to no wind, so last weekend’s 17th place has helped improve her overall result for the whole series.

Calling new British sailors: RYA Push the Boat Out begins May 17

Calling new British sailors: During the weekend of 17-18 May, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) will once again be running RYA Push the Boat Out (PTBO) with clubs, centres and marinas across the UK offering a range of ‘have a go’ and taster sessions for you to experience sailing and windsurfing. In 2013 thousands of people took to the water including newcomers, regular sailors as well as families. Over 100 sailing clubs opened their doors to host Push the Boat Out events. Clubs and centres can now register their 2014 PTBO open days and taster sessions. RYA Push the Boat Out is also part of National Watersports Month. May signifies a great time to kick start a summer of sport and National Watersports Month promises to provide an action packed schedule of activities across the country. 'Push the Boat Out is a fantastic opportunity for clubs to inspire those who live locally to get out on the water and find out just how easy it is to get involved in the sport' said RYA Club Support Advisor Jackie Bennetts. 'This year Push the Boat Out is going to be even bigger and better with more clubs signed up and even more people of all ages and abilities finding out why sailing is such a great sport'. If your club is holding an event for the public on RYA Push the Boat Out weekend, the RYA will provide promotional materials including postcards, badges and pens, coasters and key rings. Resources will also be available on the RYA website including advice on how to run an open day, promote your event and downloadable PTBO posters.

Monkey business on River Mersey

THE threatening winter conditions did not prevent Liverpool Yacht Club / Tranmere Sailing Club staging their latest Brass Monkey Series races on the River Mersey on Sunday. There was a seven-strong turnout in IRC Class One eventually headed by Greg Chiswell's Diva from Bada Bing (Andy Napper and Andrew Farrall) and Eazi Tiger (Adam Kyffin). The Warwick Telfer owned Clarevouyant took Class Two from Saphoenix (Ken Roberts). There were three starters here. The next competition is scheduled for February 16 at 10.30am.

West Mersea's Martin Evans prepares to sail for 145-mile sailing challenge

AN Olympic hopeful will sail from Mersea to the Netherlands on a boat about the size of a surfboard to raise money for charity. Martin Evans, 21, believes he will be the first person to take on the 145-mile challenge in a Laser dinghy, which is just 4.2m long and 1.4m wide. The former Colchester Royal Grammar School student, who is in the second year of a law degree at Exeter University, will take on the challenge in June to raise money for the RNLI.

Pascoe seals second consecutive Miami crown

THE cancellation of racing on the final day for the Paralympic classes saw Portland’s Megan Pascoe secure her second consecutive Miami World Cup title. The conditions also handed the island’s Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell victory in one of only two events that’s eluded them so far during their six-year SKUD partnership. The British Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas claimed silver, having also seen no racing on Friday, while Paralympic champ-ion Helena Lucas joined Pascoe on the podium, winning 2.4mR bronze just three points behind her team-mate. “It’s a very, very good way to start off the year,” Pascoe admitted. “Last year here was a bit more tricky – I wasn’t quite leading going into the last day and I had to have a few things go my way – but last week has steadily gone my way. Everything’s been really fast and I’m really, really happy.” The 2.4mR fleet was sent out and even managed to start a race before any trace of wind finally disappeared from their course area. “We had quite nice wind to start with – it was about six knots, as the beat progressed it was going more and more left, the pressure was becoming incredibly patchy,” the 27-year-old Pascoe explained. “But going down the run it just went incredibly soggy – I was lucky enough to have had a good beat and was ahead of Helena and Allan, which is what I had to be, so even if the race had finished I was confident I’d still be in the position where I am, but the race wasn’t going to finish. “We were definitely going to be timed out on that one.” Pascoe, aiming to qualify for her first Paralympic Games at Rio 2016, admits that her Miami win is a timely confidence boost at the start of the season. “I think 2014 could be very important in terms of my Rio campaign. There are all sorts of rumours about when trials might start, but really it’s always nice to win and it would be nice to go to the IFDS Worlds in a really good place. “They’ve always kind of eluded me, so hopefully we’ll get one this time.” Meanwhile, Paralympic SKUD class gold is the thing left on Rickham and Birrell’s hit list after finally breaking their Miami World Cup duck. “We’ve been to the Miami World Cup five times – my first ever SKUD event was out here in 2008. We’ve done every year except one since then, and we’ve had every result from fifth to second I think. Finally, now we’ve got to the gold, so now we’ve got a 1,2,3,4,5 in our five attempts.”