River Clyde's Commonwealth Flotilla 2014 Gets £250,000 Funding

Up to 250 yachts will gather at Greenock's iconic James Watt Dock for the Homecoming Muster before sailing up the Clyde to Glasgow as the Commonwealth Flotilla 2014. Inverclyde Council has approved funding towards a major sailing event to showcase Inverclyde, its sailing opportunities and its maritime history. Inverclyde Council has approved £250,000 to help support the one-off event in July. The investment will also secure longer term improvements to Greenock's James Watt Dock. Inverclyde Council's Environment & Regeneration Convener Councillor Michael McCormick said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Inverclyde, its history and modern marine leisure services on a global stage. We have a proud maritime tradition and offer the perfect setting for a spectacular event that has the potential to deliver a long-lasting legacy for Inverclyde and for marine tourism in Scotland. The James Watt Dock Marina is perfectly placed to play host to the event offering accommodation for the boats in sheltered waters and is a perfect day's journey by river from the centre of Glasgow. I am delighted we have been able to commit such a significant level of funding and am excited at the prospect of welcoming the flotilla to the Clyde." Organised by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Scotland the Muster would see a host of feeder sailing events arriving in Greenock between 21 and 24 July from Argyll and the isles, Ireland and Northern Ireland, Wales and England plus the Small Ships Race. Additional boats planning on making the journey up the Clyde will arrive at James Watt Dock by Friday 26 July and after spending the night in Greenock the boats will set sail for Glasgow on Saturday 26 July. RYA Scotland Chief Executive James Stuart said: "We are delighted to be working with Inverclyde Council on this exciting event. Their support will allow us to bring hundreds of boats together in anticipation of a mass Flotilla to Glasgow, which will represent the largest gathering of boats in the Clyde's history. "With Inverclyde as the backdrop the sail from Greenock to Glasgow on Saturday 26 July will be a great spectacle, but it will also help to cement the region's role in the growing Marine Tourism economy and draw attention to the world class sailing and boating in Scotland."

Trinity Sailing offers Devon young people life-changing opportunity

YOUNG people across Devon are being offered a once-in-a-lifetime trip across Europe by a Brixham-based sailing charity. Trinity Sailing has teamed up with a string of Devon businesses to offer 12 deserving young people a voyage at the 2014 International Tall Ships Races. Anyone in the region aged 18 to 25 is invited to apply for a place on Trinity’s sailing vessel Leader which is heading out from Amsterdam on June 29. The 14-night trip sets sail from Harlingen in the Netherlands, where the vessel will meet up with hundreds of other traditional vessels from across the world before heading to Fredrikstad in Norway. The aim of the Tall Ships Challenge is to provide deserving young people with a once-in-a-lifetime voyage worth over £1,200. Applicants are invited to apply for a place by submitting a brief written application explaining why they should be chosen. Anyone who feels they have gone the extra mile can be considered, whether they have helped others or achieved their own personal goal. Alternatively, people can suggest someone they know who might deserve a place. The initiative has been made possible thanks to kind-hearted Devon businesses who have offered to sponsor deserving young people. One of the first businesses to sign up was the Paignton-based family-owned food service company Caterfood. Managing director Mark Felton said he backed the scheme as he wanted to put something back into the local community. He said: “We deal with a lot of businesses in the Torbay area, so we saw it as a way for us to show our support and thanks to local people who deserve a break with this opportunity.” Trinity Sailing works with a wide range of youth organisations, from schools and colleges to social services and community groups. Toby Russell, Trinity Sailing’s director, said: “Sail training, and the Tall Ships Races, is about much more than learning to sail. “It is a true adventure and the experience can inspire young people, whatever their background, broadening their horizons and motivating them towards new goals. For some it is genuinely life-changing. “As well as having a great deal of fun, the Tall Ships helps all of the young participants discover hidden strengths and uncover new talents as they learn the true value of working as a team. “At each stop en route there is a carnival to welcome the ships and their crews. You are given time to explore the various locations and hop on board some the world’s most impressive sailing vessels.” Since their inception in the 1950s, the Tall Ships Races have been a world-class nautical event, attracting young people from all over the world. Trinity will be beginning the Tall Ships adventure in Amsterdam, where the crew can spend four days getting to know the vessel, sailing along the Dutch coast on Leader, as she heads to Harlingen. The first host port will be staging a wide range of activities and events for the international crews before the race begins. No previous sailing experience is required. The trip includes all of the young person’s meals on board, berthing, waterproofs and shore-based activities. If selected, the candidates will need to cover their own costs getting to and from the races. Trinity will provide ideas about how they can carry out fundraising to enable them to pay for their travel and insurance. Selected candidates will also be asked to complete a Tall Ships diary and take photographs of their voyage. A qualified sea staff of five will work with the young people during the voyage. People have until Friday, April 25, to apply for a place. Trinity will then compile a shortlist and invite candidates in for interviews to select the 12 successful applicants. The application form can be downloaded from Trinity’s website trinitysailing.org.

UK GP14 National Championship is scheduled for 27–29 June.

The GP14 National Championship is scheduled for 27–29 June. Put your entry in now! WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY is a great venue for this three-day event, with accommodation available so close. Very good value at £99.50 entry fee. Eight races are scheduled over the three days, free beers at tallying – what more could you ask for? Two course-evening meals are arranged for both nights and can be booked and paid for at registration – exceptionally good value. Weymouth offers lots to do for families and non-sailors, with great beaches and good walks along the world-famous Jurassic coastline. Finally, let's see which club can send the most entries to the event. There will be a PRIZE of a bottle of champagne (or maybe two!) for the club with the largest entry.

Third Time Lucky As Staunton Harold Named Best Sailing Club Finalist

Staunton Harold Sailing Club is hoping it's third time lucky after once again being named as a finalist for the prestigious RYA Club of the Year Award. The Midlands-based club was shortlisted in the final five for the award in 2012 and 2013, and will discover if they have landed the 2014 accolade of Britain's best sailing club at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace on Saturday 1 March. The annual RYA Club of the Year, presented by sailing's national governing body, recognises clubs who excel at promoting the sport of sailing, encouraging people on to the water and making their activities varied and accessible to the community. Staunton Harold has an enviable record of attracting people to, and keeping them, sailing. The club has generated a 50% increase in membership over the past three years, thanks to its friendly, welcoming ethos, range of RYA training courses, work with schools and the local community and significant programme of facilities investment, totaling £150,000 to date. Its Open Day regularly welcomes over 100 visitors yearly, and its popular annual 'Sailability Day' attracts well over 100 disabled participants. Meanwhile, those who sail at Staunton Harold have countless opportunities to improve their skills, take part in competitive racing and make the most of the club's buzzing social scene, including its massively popular summertime Friday Night Club, where fun, informal sessions are run for adults and kids complete with BBQ. Nick Waters, Staunton Harold Club Commodore, said: "We're delighted to have been shortlisted for the RYA Club of the Year again. Last year saw us build on the success of the previous two years with success stories in every part of the club. "Over 100 volunteers directly contribute to the running of the club on committees, training, race management, safety, maintenance, bar and galley, and this nomination would not have been possible without their dedication and diligence." The other shortlisted clubs are Brightlingsea SC (Essex), Horning SC (Norfolk), Sussex Yacht Club (West Sussex) and Ulley SC (South Yorkshire). All five clubs will collect finalist awards from the British Sailing Team's Megan Pascoe, before the overall winner is revealed by RYA CEO, Sarah Treseder. In more great news for Staunton Harold, rising star, Ellie Craig, 14, will also be presented with an RYA Regional Youth Champion Award for the East Midlands at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show. Ellie, previously a member of the RYA North Zone Topper Squad, is progressing towards the RYA National Junior squad in the junior one-person class. As an RYA Champion Club, Staunton Harold has enjoyed much success feeding talented youngsters like Ellie into the RYA's hugely-successful Junior and Youth Racing Programme, on the pathway to Olympic classes sailing. Jackie Bennetts, RYA Club Support Advisor, said: "Without the ongoing support and commitment from individual members, clubs wouldn't exist and certainly wouldn't offer the range or quality of activities which are crucial to the continued success of both clubs and our sport." Staunton Harold certainly won't be resting on their laurels in 2014. The club's RYA learn to sail courses start on Saturday 19 April for adults and Saturday 10 May for juniors. Meanwhile their Open Day, when anyone can go along and try sailing for free, takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 25 August. For more full details about everything going on at Staunton Harold SC this year visit www.shsc.org.uk or for information about sailing in Derbyshire visit www.rya.org.uk/regions/eastmidlands Thanks to Gallagher Heath, supporters of the RYA Club of the Year Award, and Sailing Awards, who have donated the Club of the Year trophy.

£100,000 donation will keep Sail for a Fiver scheme afloat

THE popular ‘Sail for a Fiver’ scheme that has helped thousands of youngsters to learn the sport will continue thanks to a £100,000 donation. The Chesil Trust, which oversees the scheme, has received the donation from Mrs Elma Shipley in memory of her husband Rod who died in 2012. This donation will enable the popular “Sail for a Fiver” scheme to continue for at least another three years. Mr Shipley owned Chesil Beach Motors and was a popular local businessman. Born in Pickering, North Yorkshire he was educated at The Royal Hospital School in Holbrook where he experienced sailing for the first time. In recognition of this inspiration, his wife Elma, who lives on Portland, donated £100,000 to the trust to give local school children a chance to experience sailing. Di Ludlow, Chairman of The Chesil Trust said: “The ‘Sail for a Fiver’ scheme has enabled more than 12,000 Dorset children between the ages of 10 and 11 to experience sailing on our Olympic waters. “The scheme will be renamed the “Rod Shipley Sail for a Fiver” scheme in recognition and thanks to Mrs Shipley for the generous donation in memory of Rod”. Mrs Ludlow added: “To formally thank Mrs Shipley and to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the scheme we are hosting a cake and coffee reception at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy at 11am on Thursday February 27 where Olympian and Patron of the Chesil Trust, Simon Hiscocks will receive the cheque from Mrs Shipley”. The Trust works with providers – the Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre and the specialist sailing school based at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing academy who in turn work closely with schools throughout Dorset. The programme allows Year 6 schoolchildren to sail for a charge of just £5. The Trust then tops this up to make sure the providers can cover their costs

Ahoy Centre and Greenwich Council offer free sailing tasters ahead of Tall Ships Regatta

GREENWICH Council has joined forced with a Deptford sailing centre to offer free taster sessions ahead of this summer's Tall Ships Regatta. The sessions are for 15 to 24-year-olds from the borough during the Easter school holidays. They are particularly aimed at those who want to join a crew during the regatta, as they race from Falmouth via the Isle of Wight and into Greenwich for a four-day festival from September 5 to September 9. The sessions, which offer a RYA sailing qualification, have been funded through the Woolwich United sports programme, being delivered by Charlton Athletic Community Trust. Anyone interested in signing up to the sessions should call 020 8293 5355 or email katy.mcardlecastle@cact.org.uk

East Coast Sailing Trust offers bursaries for school trips

A sailing barge offering trips for school children is awarding bursaries to some organisations and schools. The Thalatta offers five day cruises from Maldon or Ipswich, and children sleep in hammocks and take turns to crew the boat, while learning about estuaries and the sea. The East Coast Sail Trust can now offer a £1000 bursary, reducing the cost of the trip from £3600 to £2600 for a group of ten. Applications should be submitted by email or post to Christopher McArthur, Director of the Trust, at chris@cimcarthur.co.uk or Mr C I McArthur, Berry Farm, Hoo Road, Charsfield, Suffolk, IP13 7QH by March 25.

Havering Sailing Club

The Havering Sailing Club was founded in the late 1950s by a group of teachers from Hullbridge. Their aim was to provide outdoor activities for schoolchildren, and in turn themselves, and the activity that became dominant was sailing. “When the club’s lease at Hullbridge expired, it moved to Grangewaters, South Ockendon, before finally relocating to Stubbers in Upminster. “Havering Sailing Club is a small, friendly, group which meets from March through to November. “There are various club boats for members to use for a small fee. “Club members own many different classes of dinghy, so the handicap principle is applied to races, enabling each boat to participate on equal terms. “Generally four races are held each Saturday. There is also a rescue boat which is on the water all afternoon and buoyancy jackets and helmets are available for use. “Two week “Come and try” sessions for new people thinking of joining the club are offered for a charge of £20 and if these people join they get £10 of that back. “Currently the fees are £75 per adult for each eight-month sailing season, with a person under the age of 18 paying £35.” www.haveringsailingclub.org.uk

Focus on Tall Ships: Luxury Gulden Leeuw to visit

The former Danish government ship Gulden Leeuw is the third to be featured in our series profiling some of the vessels due in port for August’s Falmouth Tall Ships Regatta. The ship was built in 1937 on behalf of the Danish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Then named M/S Dana, it was designed and built as an ocean-going ice class ship and was frequently used for marine biological research. Over the next few years she was sold and re-named a few times before being used as a training ship for the Danish Nautical College in 2000. In 2007 she was finally sold to P&T Charters and converted into a fast three-masted topsail schooner. The company claims: “We built our dream, a big, sturdy sailing ship reminiscent of the 30’s and with the deck layout of a classic yacht.” The ship is fitted out in luxury, with the Captain’s VIP lounge offering an open fire and Chesterfield sofas, the deckhouse housing a central bar and a dining room that can be transformed into a dancehall, seminar room or dormitory. As well as offering day trips and quayside parties, the Gulden Leeuw also provides sail training opportunities for up to 60 people. They claim: “On board the Gulden Leeuw we truly believe in sail training and the influence this experience has on the life of young people. “You can see people change during the time they are on board. Our crew is trained to support trainees within every task; sailing, steering, navigating but also cooking and cleaning are part of the program.” For more information on the ship visit www.guldenleeuw.com.

The fantastic A-Cats

Ian is happy with his Volvo Ocean Race crew

HAMPSHIRE round the world racer Ian Walker has bolstered his Volvo Ocean Race crew with a host of Hampshire sailors. Southampton-based Justin Slattery, Simon Fisher, Phil Harmer and Andrew McLean have all been snapped up by Walker for his third stab at victory in the 40,000-mile race. Between them they have sailed in 12 past editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, and Slattery and Fisher were key members of Walker's 2011-12 squad. Harmer sailed with French winners Groupama in the past race while McLean was onboard Team New Zealand. The four new recruits join Emirati crewman Adil Khalid, Australian Luke Parkinson and onboard reporter Tom Bushell on Walker's Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team. The final member of the nine-man crew is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. “Phil, Andrew, Simon and Justin each bring unique skills and invaluable experience to the team and I couldn’t be happier to have them aboard,” said Walker. “We all enjoy sailing together and that can be an important factor in the pressure cooker environment of a nine-month yacht race around the world.” Hamble's Neal McDonald, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's performance manager, played a key role in selecting the sailors to take on yachting's premier ocean race. ADOR performance manager Neal McDonald was instrumental in the selection process. “I’m confident we have the right people. “It’s a solid mix without any big egos. “This is an international lineup, but the common factor is that they are all very much focused on winning.” Walker and his team are set to take delivery of their brand new Volvo Ocean 65 yacht in the next few weeks and will then head to Lisbon, Portugal, to train. The Volvo Ocean Race starts from Alicante, Spain, in November.

Tenby Sailing Club gets OnBoard

West Wales children will get more chances to give sailing a try thanks to Tenby becoming the latest sailing club to join the successful national scheme OnBoard. It is aimed at providing as many opportunities to sail to as many children as possible, particularly those who would not normally get the chance to try the sport. Tenby is already the host of many Welsh and national championship sailing events, recognised as one of the best stretches of water for sailing on the British coast, so it is one of the best venues to learn to sail. By improving links with schools and clubs in the Tenby area, the sailing club will look to bring sailing to increased numbers of children between the ages of seven and 16. "Tenby Sailing club has been a proactive club for a many years. By becoming the 22nd OnBoard partner in Wales we hope that it will enable them to grow and develop their family, youth and adult membership further," said Hester Walker WYA West Wales Club Development Officer. Run by sailing's national governing body, the RYA, OnBoard is a highly successful industry supported grass roots programe which seeks to make sailing easier to get into for young people. Over a ten year period the programme aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing in the UK, converting over 10% of them into regular participants. So far it's nicely on track. Cat Ferguson, OnBoard Operations Officer, said, "It's great to welcome Tenby Sailing Club to the OnBoard programme. "Sailing is a fantastic sport no matter your age, background or ability. We look forward to working with them and the local community to get as many people as possible enjoying our great sport." Tenby commodore Paul Evenden added, "We are delighted to have been recognised by the OnBoard scheme and this will help us to develop sailing in the area even more. "We have so many natural advantages at Tanby sailing club, but this will allow us to open up those opportnunities to even more children in the area. "We are looking forward to being more involved in Tenby schools and giving a chance to sail to those children who would not normally come across these opportunities." For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit the RYA's website www.rya.org.uk or the OnBoard website www.ruob.co.uk

Honoured For Landmark Disability Sailing Work

A Stoke sailor who has driven the quest to build a new fully inclusive, state-of-the-art £550,000 training centre and boathouse for disabled sailors at Rudyard Sailability, near Leek, has had his efforts recognised by sailing's national governing body, the RYA. Rudyard Sailability Chairman, Dennis Priebe, himself a wheelchair user after suffering a spinal injury in 1993, received the Exceptional Contribution Award at the annual RYA Sailability Volunteer Awards on Saturday (8 February). Having been instrumental in founding Rudyard Sailability 12 years ago, volunteer Dennis has transformed the site from a 'shed' to become a venue for all. In the past 18 months alone he has raised over £400,000 towards the new facilities, spending days and nights at the site in sub-zero conditions last winter overseeing the project. With the ethos to make sailing as accessible as possible to absolutely everyone, regardless of severity of disability, the centre's design promotes total independence. Whilst work continued last year, Rudyard ran shoestring activity for the local special schools, social services users and the Aiming High for Children with disabilities project. But having now achieved official RYA Training Centre status, this season will see the centre bid to achieve its aim of full family inclusiveness and sailing for all. Dennis said: "I'm ecstatic to have been given this award. I'm even smiling and I'm supposed to be grumpy! I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped with this project without whom this award would not be possible. "So far we've received no Sport England or Lottery funding. We tapped into one European fund but everything else has come from private investment, donations, bucket funds, buy a brick, fundraisers, you name it we've probably done it! We've relied so much on goodwill and volunteers, and their efforts and generosity can only be described as extraordinary." Some of the highlight features of the new facility include a remote sensor controlled 4ft wide solid wood entrance door, designed specifically to enable fully-ventilated users with the biggest wheelchairs hassle-free access, an interior painted in contrasting yellow and blue following recommendations from visual impairment groups and open space and kneeholes designed in consultation with mobility groups. The building also has two hearing loops, while sensors and finger tip touch for access is commonplace throughout. All of this is housed in a beautiful traditional stone building that looks like it has been standing at Rudyard Lake for 100 years. Jackie Griffiths is Rudyard Sailability Secretary, and her daughter Tilly, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and is a full-time wheelchair user, is a regular Rudyard sailor and now also teaches others to sail. Jackie said: "This facility simply wouldn't exist if it wasn't for Dennis. He's been project manager, site foreman, he's wheeled and dealed and just not taken no for an answer from anyone! Despite impaired mobility himself, Dennis and up to 20 volunteers each week were digging trenches, laying stones, everything and anything in spite of sub-zero Arctic conditions last winter. He thoroughly deserves this award." Debbie Blachford, RYA Sailability Manager, said: "Dennis' total dedication, commitment and determination have made this project successful and he has ensured disabled people are part of the management committee and board of trustees so disabled people have a voice in every decision of the project. He lives and breathes Rudyard Sailability, and his vision of accessible sailing for all. I can't think of a better role model for accessible sailing and volunteering." To find more about learning to sail and getting involved at Rudyard Sailability this year visit www.rudyardsailability.org.uk