Free taste of sailing as Tamworth Sailing Club opens new £45k training facility

TAMWORTH Sailing Club is inviting people along for a free taste of sailing as the club celebrates the landmark opening of its brand new £45,000 training facilities. The new training room and storage facilities, funded in part by a £35,280 grant from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities programme, will play a huge part in Tamworth SC being able to offer even more local people more opportunities to get into sailing. The free sailing tasters take place on Saturday, April 5, from 10am to 3pm, all-comers being taken afloat by experienced instructors and sailors, with the official opening of the new facilities at 11am. Tamworth SC is an RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of safety and quality, and it will be running an ever wider variety of sailing courses to suit all ages and experience levels to take advantage of the new facilities this year.

Hilary Lister and Nashwa team up to set two new trans-ocean records

The trans-ocean crossing starts on 10 March and will be the first to be completed by a severely paralysed woman and the first to be recorded by an Arab female sailor. 'Hilary and Nashwa are two remarkable women taking on a route that was used centuries ago when the Indo-Oman trading links were first established. Hilary, who is paralysed from the neck down, became one of Britain’s best-known sailors in 2009 when she sailed solo around Britain to set a new disabled record. Since she started sailing 11 years ago, Hilary who suffers from degenerative disease Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy has felt a strong calling to the ocean and although she has never spent more than 36 hours at sea before, this latest Mumbai to Muscat test is her most exciting yet. 'This is a big challenge in terms of personal endurance and navigating large stretches of water and being responsible for myself and other people as well,' she said. 'But I can’t wait. I love the ocean and feel a huge call to it. I also feel it’s a huge privilege to make this voyage, especially with Nashwa who will be the first Omani woman to make an oceanic passage and that makes me feel very privileged.' Nashwa, an Omani dinghy instructor at Oman Sail who last November won the ISAF President Development Award for outstanding achievement in the development of sailing, said: 'I will be the first Arab woman to do this so if I reach Oman safely, this will be a record. I’m very excited. My friends and family keep asking me why I am doing this but the truth is I love sailing and one day want to sail solo so this is a small step towards my big dream.' The two female sailors will be accompanied onboard by Oman Sail’s Niall Myant, a qualified Yachtmaster with extensive offshore sailing experience, who will help in the event of an emergency and a carer to attend to Hilary’s medical needs. Neither will assist in the sailing of the boat.

New Team Member for Wetwheels

We are delighted to announce that we have a new member of the Wetwheels team. Karen Read joined us this week as our Office Manager. It is a full-time post based at our office at Gunwharf Quays. Many of you will know Karen as she has crewed on board the boat at many events over the past 2 years where we have attended with Wetwheels. Karen is also the person who has been responsible for the behind-the-scenes booking administration for many of the major events we have attended so we are delighted that she has agreed to join us full-time. I hope you'll join me in welcoming Karen to the Wetwheels family and you will get to meet her during the coming season.

Sailing Projects Gets Boost With £63k Heritage Lottery Fund

Portsmouth-based charity, The Boleh Trust, has received an additional £63,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to carry out a sail training transition study which will benefit local young people, it was announced today. The funding will help set up a sail training partnership with local organisations to secure the long term future of the historic junk yacht Boleh, currently being restored in Portsmouth. The grant will also launch Boleh as a sail training vessel to provide inspirational opportunities for young people. The Trust is already discussing ways to achieve this with the Portsmouth Sail Training Trust, a newly formed charity. Through the current HLF funded Boleh Project, the Trust has been able to employ shipwright apprentices and to share Boleh's remarkable story with the pupils of Portsmouth's Charter Academy and the local community. Once the restoration completes this autumn, Boleh - whose name means "Can Do" in Malay - will be used to help those facing challenges in their lives by giving them the chance to experience sailing this unique vessel and so build confidence, leadership and team working skills. Boleh, a unique 40ft wooden junk yacht, was designed and built after WWII in Singapore by a Naval Officer, Commander Robin Kilroy, DSC, who then sailed her back to Salcombe, Devon in 1950. She is constructed from traditional materials to a mixed junk/Bermudan rig design with many novel features - such as portholes made from the windscreens of Japanese fighter aircraft. George Middleton, Chairman of the Boleh Trust, said: "Once again the Heritage Lottery Fund has generously supported our vision for this iconic vessel. This grant ensures that Boleh will be given the best possible start to her renewed life as a sail training vessel."

Set sail to Aberdeenshire for the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival

Weigh your anchor, fill your sails and get ready for the 2014 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Traditional Boat Festival. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend the 21st annual festival which will be taking place in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire from June 27-29th 2014. Scotland’s leading celebration of maritime and cultural heritage is one of the key events in The Year of Homecoming, with the theme reflected throughout the festival programme. The event will showcase the best in Scotland’s maritime, crafts, food, drink, music and dance, with a special emphasis on boat building, restoration and sailing. Traditional wooden boats from all over the UK and beyond will congregate in the historic 17th century Portsoy harbour. Visitors will be able to learn how to sail a coracle, climb aboard restored fishing vessels, and see the crews of the St Ayles Skiffs battle it out on the open seas in the annual regatta. This year will also see the official opening of the PORT Boatshed, a community boat building workshop which allows training and restoration to be undertaken. Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Chair, Roger Goodyear, says, “The Festival has a great programme that offers a fantastic traditional maritime experience. Each year our Festival continues to grow stronger and draw in huge crowds- the small town usually only has a population of 2000 people, and this rises to an incredible 16,000 people over the weekend of the Festival.

2014 KA Sail Victorian Moth Championships

Montrose Sailing Club battles to stem the tide of coastal erosion

An Angus sailing club is continuing to improve its defences in its ongoing battle against coastal erosion. The steps down to the beach which had stood strong for most of Montrose Sailing Club’s 50-year history were damaged in the winter storms which battered Angus. A coffee morning in Old and St Andrew’s church hall raised £660 which will go towards repairing the damaged steps. MSC Commodore Kathy Locke said coastal erosion is a problem which the club has encountered on more than one occasion throughout its history. She said: “There have been many attempts over the years to protect the shoreline near the sailing club. On an occasion many years ago, a well-meaning club member deposited a load of rubble to help prevent erosion towards the road. “The club knew nothing of this at the time and in spite of the fact that it was not planned and seemed like a mistake at the time, it is still intact and providing a good defence today. “The council has also been involved in protecting the area around the club from erosion in recent years. They were responsible for placing the large sandbags on the beach south of the club to help prevent erosion towards the road. “In spite of the attempts made to protect the area from erosion, the residents of the house north of the sailing club were less fortunate a few years ago when the roadway outside their house was washed away. “This has since been repaired but emphasises that the area is vulnerable to erosion in adverse weather conditions. “With winter storms seeming to become more frequent, the potential for further erosion around the sailing club is prevalent and it is in our interests to continue to improve defences so that the club can continue to flourish in the coming years.” First formed with only a few keen members in May 1964, the club has gone through a number of positive changes over the years. Where the steps are from Esk Road down to the shore was a launching ramp, constructed from salvaged railway sleepers and telegraph poles by club members, for launching and retrieving the club’s first safety boat. This boat was an ex-lifeboat powered by a four horsepower ‘seagull’ engine and due to its weight, it was retrieved by hauling it up the ramp using a block and tackle. At the site of the concrete slipway came another wooden slipway for launching dinghies. This was replaced by a more substantial concrete one between 1981 and 82. This slipway, was well used and held up well to the elements until it was eroded to an extent where it had to be replaced. The club was fortunate enough to receive funding of around £1,000 in 2011 to replace the slipway, and over the course of a weekend, club members rallied together to construct the current slipway.

Disabled teenager reveals her big sailing ambition for 2014

On the 24th July, Natash Lambert, 16, will sail from her hometown of Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, to embark on a month-long challenge sailing her 21ft Mini Transat, Miss Isle Too, single-handed down the South West coast of England to Wales. Natasha was born with cerebral palsy, which affects her limbs. This weekend she has officially revealed her incredible 2014 sailing challenge: ‘Sea and Summit’. Natasha's condition means she does not have use of her hands, so she sails her yacht using her mouth to operate a ‘sip and puff’ mechanism engineered by her father. It is operated via a straw mounted inside a cycling helmet. Having completed the sailing part, Natasha will then swap her boat for her special walking aid, called a Hart Walker and will climb Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, the highest peak in Britain south of the Snowdonia mountain range.

Staunton Harold Sailing Club crowned RYA Club of the Year 2014

At the eagerly awaited awards ceremony, Staunton Harold SC was picked as the overall winner from the five finalists including Brightlingsea Sailing Club, Horning Sailing Club, Sussex Yacht Club and Ulley Sailing Club. These clubs were selected by an awards panel who judged them on the range of quality and safe activities they provide, how they encourage people to get out on the water and good governance and club management. 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, totalling £150,000 to date. 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. Nick Waters, Staunton Harold Commodore said: 'I’m struggling to find the right words, it’s a fantastic feeling. We have got this far for the past two years so winning and picking up the trophy is tremendous. I want to pay tribute to all the members at Staunton Harold who work so hard to make it such a good club.' RYA Club Support Advisor Jackie Bennetts said: 'Over recent years Staunton Harold Sailing Club have focussed on developing both its facilities and the activities they offer. They continually revisit their club development plan, review their achievements and aspirations, and plan for the future. The club have worked hard to develop and maintain great links with their local community and ensure that everyone visiting the club receives a warm and friendly welcome.

Bart's Bash in memory of Sherborne Olympic sailor Andrew Simpson signs up 400th team

A RECORD breaking attempt to hold the world’s largest sailing race is on track say organisers. Bart’s Bash, to be held in memory of Sherborne’s sailing gold medallist Andrew Simpson, has signed up it’s 400th sailing club just two months after entry opened. Jez Payne, the event director at the Andrew Simpson Foundation said: “At a sign up rate that continues to match just short of seven clubs a day worldwide, the world record attempt is on track to easily become the largest sailing event ever on the planet.” Club Nautic Arenal from Mallorca, Spain, were the 400th team to sign up. Albert Vadell, spokesmna for Club Nautic Arenal said: “This is a great initiative and we wouldn’t miss it for the world. We’re ready to go and make it happen.”

Poole Sailability seeks sailors

Poole Harbour is urgently seeking volunteer helpers. Poole Sailability, who are an RYA Foundation site, are appealing for anyone who has sound sailing experience in dinghies or keelboats to join them this season from May to September on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Due to an increasing number of people with disabilities wanting to sail they need both skippers and also boat maintenance helpers. They run a lively social programme after sailing sessions and throughout the winter. If you would like to become involved with Poole Sailability contact Anna Moreland on 01202 632096. More information on www.poolesailability.co.uk.

ILS supports Sailing for the Disabled

ILS Fiduciaries (Isle of Man) Limited has chosen Sailing for the Disabled as its charity of the year. The company, headquartered in Douglas, has donated £1,000 to the Manx registered charity, which provides opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sailing on equal terms with their able bodied friends in a harmonious and safe environment. Sailing for the Disabled was nominated by ILS Isle of Man staff and the money donated was raised through dress down days. To further support the charity the Company is also a silver sponsor. Chief Executive Officer of The ILS Group Chris Eaton says “We are delighted to have chosen Sailing for the Disabled as our charity of the year and in turn show our support and raise awareness for a great cause".