Sneak peek at Extreme Sailing Series ahead of its return to Wales

Decorated stars from the world of sailing are set to descend on Cardiff as the a major international inshore racing series returns to Wales for a third consecutive year. Five-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie will be among the competitors as the Extreme Sailing Series once again takes over the waters in Cardiff Bay. The event has captured the imagination of the public in previous years and drawn crowds of thousands to the race village in the shadow of landmarks like the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre. The free three-day event is set to begin on Friday with a fleet of high-performance Extreme 40 catamarans due to make their return to the city. Cardiff is Act Five of the Extreme Sailing Series, which takes in iconic locations across the world from St Petersburg to Singapore and Sydney. The Welsh capital is the only city in the UK the sailing series will visit. The competition features 11 elite teams battling it out in front of spectators and attracts some of the world’s best sailors. Olympic and America’s Cup legend Sir Ben – the most successful sailor in Olympic history after bagging gold at five successive Games from 1996 to 2012 – will be skipper of the British entry JP Morgan BAR. “The style of the courses, the speed of the boats and the number of boats on any side of the course at one time means there is a lot of action and a lot of potential for crashes and incidents there. “It makes for exciting racing and you really have to be on your toes.” Spectators will be able to take advantage of stadium-style seating to watch the action while there will also be live music and family entertainment as well as market stalls. Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “We look forward to welcoming Extreme Sailing back to Wales for a third year. “The event has provided Cardiff with a global position alongside other premium venues such as Singapore, Istanbul, Nice and Boston. “It has given us the opportunity to promote Cardiff Bay internationally as a world-class sailing and water sports venue and to promote Cardiff and Wales as an attractive and diverse visitor destination.” * For more visit www.extremesailingseries.com

Terminally ill woman from Topsham completes epic voyage around the UK

A terminally ill mum from Topsham has finally completed her voyage around the UK - just over a year after she was forced to abandon the trip when her appendix burst. Inspirational mother-of-three Lori Murdock has an aggressive form of skin cancer and was initially given only months to live. The 59-year-old retired solicitor and law lecturer decided to spend some of the time she had left sailing and raising £10,000 for cancer charities FORCE, Hospiscare and Macmillan. With her Patterdale terrier Betty for company, she set out from Falmouth in May 2013 on board the Kasuje III, a 1953 Yeoman Classic gentleman's racer cruiser. They sailed anti-clockwise, with friends joining them for various legs of the trip, and had reached the West coast of Scotland when disaster struck at Ardrishaig on the Crinan Canal. “I had peritonitis and was rushed to Oban Hospital for an emergency operation to remove my appendix so that was that,” said Lori. The boat had to go back to Dartmouth on a low loader and Lori eventually returned home to recover and continue her battle against cancer. Since July 2012 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 malignant melanoma and given less than a year to live, Lori has been on a clinical drug trial and is now having treatment in Southampton using a new medication that has just been introduced into the UK. “I’m on borrowed time but I’ve learnt to live in the moment and sailing gives me such a lovely sense of well-being that I wanted to finish my big adventure,” said Lori. In May she set out from Totnes on the penultimate leg of her voyage, sailing Misty with a friend via the Isles of Scilly to Holyhead. And earlier this month she joined fellow Topsham Sailing Club members Gill and Godfrey Whitehouse aboard their boat Rebecca to complete the final 200-odd miles from Anglesey back to Ardrishaig. So how did she feel at the finish? “Certainly mixed emotions. So, so pleased to have done it, so very, very blessed still to be alive to sail it. As I sailed across the line I thought of all those that I have met through melanoma that are no longer with us. I am very fortunate indeed. Good to remember that I planned this sail six months into a prognosis of nine months to live. I am extremely grateful,” she said. Lori is now back in Devon where she continues her battle against cancer while working hard to raise awareness of malignant melanoma. “I gave out literature everywhere I went on my trip. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer but it can be cured in most cases if you catch it early. I encouraged everyone I met along the way to check their skin, get to know it so you can spot any change, however small. Get it checked out straight away,” she said. To donate to Lori’s appeal please visit virginmoneygiving.com/lorimurdock

Musandam-Oman Sail shatters world record sailing around the UK

It was close, very close, but a new world record for sailing around Britain and Ireland is a record to savour – and one likely to stand for some time. After 1,956 nautical miles and three days, three hours, 32 minutes and 36 seconds, the MOD70 trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail yesterday crossed the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race finish line at Cowes to break the record by a mere 16 minutes and 38 seconds. The previous record had been set in 2011 by Banque Populaire 5 – a yacht almost twice the length and therefore significantly faster. Musandam’s multinational crew, led by Sidney Gavignet, has set a record-breaking pace since the race’s postponed start on Monday morning. The remnants of Hurricane Bertha blasted the striking-looking multihull, along with the rest of the fleet, out of The Solent and down the Channel. Indeed, the manner in which the weather pattern evolved meant the leading yachts were able to broad reach all the way up Britain’s east coast in breeze which rarely dropped below 25 knots, often hitting 40 knots. And then as they rounded Muckle Flugga on the northern most tip of the Shetland Islands the south-westerly breeze obligingly veered to the north, providing another downwind sleigh ride along the west coast of Ireland. The giant tri’s progress was only slowed by having to frequently gybe along England’s south coast, with the only upwind section of the entire race coming in the final sprint to the Cowes finish line from the forts off Portsmouth. Attention now turns to Warsash skipper Ian Walker as he aims to break the monohull race record. His Abu Dhabi Racing Team has a healthy 50-mile lead over the other four Volvo 65s taking part Yesterday, Walker said: ‘We are just rounding the Blasket Islands off the south west tip of Ireland, which seems incredible seeing as we only left Cowes less than three days ago. ‘We have wriggled away from the chasing pack overnight and now have a nice lead which we will aim to defend from here. ‘It seems clear that the prize at stake is not just the first Volvo 65 but will also be the race record for whoever gets there first.’ Meanwhile, Portsmouth skipper Sam Davies, leading the all-women SCA team, is neck and neck with two other Volvo 65s, Dongfeng and Alvimedica, having come back into contention after losing ground having to avoid east coast wind farms. SCA’s Hamble-based navigator, Libby Greenhalgh, blogged: ‘It becomes quite tactical as we gybe down the west coast of Ireland – there will be about one hour between each gybe.’ For the smaller yachts in the 28-strong fleet, the change in wind direction which so benefited the larger leaders has given them a hard upwind slog to the Shetlands. That tough challenge means some are unlikely to round the islands until the weekend.

Great Britain SKUD sailors aim for super six at IFDS Disabled Worlds

Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell will aim to win a sixth straight world title when they line up at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships in Halifax, Canada, next week (19-24 August). The Paralympic bronze medallists are among the eleven-strong British Sailing Team contingent set to compete across all three Paralympic Classes - the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD and the one-person 2.4mR – over six days of competition at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. “The Worlds this year is a country qualification event for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and it’s the biggest Championships that we have had since London 2012, plus it will also be the first time we will see the Aussie Paralympic gold medallists. There are a lot of unknowns to be honest so we are just going in with open minds,” explained the 32-year-old Rickham. “We have got over 15 boats on the start line which is the biggest SKUD fleet we have seen pre-Games since the Worlds in Weymouth in 2011, so there will be a lot of jostling for the top spots. “The level of the SKUD fleet has raised, we are going to see potentially some different people moving up the scoreboard which is exciting to see. But as the fleet raises it’s game, Niki and I will also aim to raise our game and try to stay on top.” Looking to extend their unbeaten run to six regattas since winning bronze at London 2012, which included the European crown last year and victory at the recent North American Championships, the 28-year-old Birrell confirms the opportunity to race against a large international fleet is crucial in terms of their preparations for Rio 2016. “In SKUD sailing you don’t get to race against the top guys very often so it’s imperative that when you do come up against them that you see where they are at, see what you can learn and see what ideas they are using to help try and improve your campaign. “Every time you enter an event you want to win, you want to do your best and you want to compete at the top of the fleet. To win another world title would be fantastic, but the ultimate aim is to win in Rio in two years’ time so it is crucial that we are making progress and are on the right lines so come September 2016 we are on the top step of the podium.” With the pair competing for their sixth consecutive world title, having had their names etched on the SKUD World Championship trophy every year since 2009, Rickham admits when they teamed up over seven years ago they never imagined they would be in the position they are in now. “I don’t think either of us thought we would be together this long to be honest. After London 2012 and the disappointment there it took us a little while to consider whether we were going to continue or not, so I think after seven years down the line I don’t think either of us expected to be sailing together! It’s very exciting to be going in as reigning champions and to be competing for a sixth straight consecutive World title. “However, we still need to treat it like any other event, take one race at a time and see how we come out the other side. In some ways it puts added pressure on us but in other ways we have won the title five times in a row so I guess there is a level of confidence that we can go in with.” The Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas enter their World Championships in fine form, having claimed podium positions at all five events they have competed at this year, including a bronze at this week’s Sonar North American Championships at Lunenburg Yacht Club. The 37-year-old Welshman Thomas said: “We want to be seen as serious contenders for Rio and to be doing that we need to be medalling at the major events. We didn’t perform particularly well in Ireland at last year’s Championships but we have had a solid set of results since then and are now hoping that form can continue into the Worlds. “Winning a medal here is important to set an early marker as we move that little bit closer to Rio but it is also important for our confidence as a team and for our development to show that we are still improving and still moving forward in the boat.” The Sonar fleet will see 16 entries competing for event honours, with British Sailing Team Podium Potential sailors Craig Wood, Steve Palmer and Ed Suckling also joining their British counterparts in Canada. Thomas continued: “The Sonar fleet seems to be getting stronger and stronger. If you look at the last cycle there were probably five maybe six boats who could win a medal, there is now easily eight or nine who will be competing for the podium and that’s indicative of how strong the fleet is getting. “The boat handling is getting a lot better, the sail setups are getting quicker and the technical side of things is continually improving. Everyone is becoming more and more professional and that is what is happening in Paralympic sport generally now and we are seeing it in sailing – everyone is getting to the venues earlier and everyone is arriving better prepared and we have to up our game to meet those standards.” Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe are expected to be among the front-runners in the race for silverware in the one-person 2.4mR event, and will also be joined by up-and-coming Podium Potential squad sailor Will Street. The three British boats enter the regatta off the back of a clean sweep at the 2.4mR Pre-Worlds Regatta with Lucas taking gold, Pascoe silver and the bronze going to Street. For 27-year-old Pascoe, her Europeans victory in the Netherlands in July capped off a consistent year and provided a timely boost to her Worlds campaign. “It has been a pretty awesome summer, identical to what I had last year but I feel I have made some really big gains since then. Being crowned European champion last month was great and a lot of fun, I had to work quite hard for it but It was nice to come away with the title before heading over to Canada,” she explained. “I am happy with the way I am sailing and hopefully I can carry my momentum from Sail for Gold in Weymouth and from the Europeans into the Worlds which is the key event for this year.” Paralympic champion Lucas, who suffered gear failure on the final day of racing at the 2013 Championships resulting in a ninth place finish, is looking forward to competing at the Canadian venue for the first time. “I have never been to Canada before so am really excited. It’s the first opportunity we have got to qualify the nation for the Games so that’s the main priority and that would mean a great deal to get that box ticked. It is also a great chance for me to check in against the rest of 2.4mR fleet to see where I am at compared to them two years out from the Games. “After having a bit of a relaxed year last year it’s now time for me to start to knuckle down and put the hard work in. This event is an important stepping stone to the processes and any more development that we need building up to Rio 2016,” said Lucas. Racing at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships starts on Tuesday 19 August and concludes on Sunday 24 August. There are 11 races in total scheduled for each class (two races per day Tuesday - Saturday and one race on Sunday 14 August). For further information and results from Halifax, Canada visit www.ifdsworlds2014.ca/ For the latest news and information from the British Sailing Team follow us at www.britishsailingteam.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @BritishSailing.

Try Sailing For Free As Part Of Foremark Family Fun Day

Burton Sailing Club invites you and your family to try sailing and powerboating for FREE as part of the Foremark Family Fun Day this Saturday (16 August). Severn Trent Water's Foremark Family Fun Day has a seaside theme, with sandcastle competitions, donkey rides, fish and chips and much more and Burton SC will be one of the local community clubs and groups showcasing exactly what the reservoir has to offer. The club will be running sailing and powerboating taster sessions with experienced members and instructors throughout the day so enjoy getting out on the water while discovering the social side of what Burton SC has to offer regardless of age, gender, ability or experience. Burton SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre, meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. The club can be found off Repton Road near the village of Milton just south of Repton. For full details on everything going on at Burton SC this year and how you can get involved visit www.burtonsailingclub.co.uk

Applebey's set for big challenge

Oxford's Ross Applebey is about to embark on a challenge of a lifetime by racing the yacht Scarlet Logic in the tough 1,800 mile Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Setting off from Cowes today, the event involving a fleet of 28 boats from 12 different countries, will see some of the world’s fastest yachts and professional sailors compete on the same race course as seasoned amateurs. Applebey will be competing alongside the likes of round- the-world sailors, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson. The record for this race is just over five days and depending on the weather, could take up to two weeks. The coastline is notorious for highly-changeable weather, wicked tides and currents and puts the race among the most difficult. Most yachts are fully crewed but four entries will be racing with just two crew, making their individual experience even tougher. Five of the yachts competing in the Volvo Ocean Race are using the event as a warm-up to their global race in October.

Melton Mowbray Sailing Club present disability dinghy to Rutland Sailability

A group of sailors from the Melton Mowbray Sailing Club (MMSC) have presented a specially adapted dinghy to Rutland Sailability who provide assistance for disabled persons wishing to sail. The ‘Melton Mist’ dinghy, which represents the final distribution of the club’s funds since it folded, will be used by disabled sailors at Rutland Water. Other recent beneficiaries of cash from the sailing club include the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (£7,500), defibrillators to Melton Country Park, Roundhill Sailing Association, Nottingham Sailing Club, Swarkestone Sailing Club and Grantham Canal Society.

Boat Crashes, Capsizes and Wipeouts when it's "Fresh to Frightening" out there.

YACHT DONATED TO SAILING CHARITY

A sail training and youth development charity has received a major boost after the donation of a 34ft long yacht worth more than £20,000. The yacht called Lene Sono - Latin for 'gentle sound' - is a 1970s Rival 34 sea class yacht in excellent condition. Her owner, a sailing enthusiast who wished to remain anonymous, donated the yacht to Ocean Youth Trust (OYT) North to enable more young people to take part in Adventure under Sail voyages. The Adventure under Sail scheme promotes the development of team working, communication and leadership skills and equips young people with the tools and belief needed to overcome adversity. Lene Sono was delivered to its new home at Royal Quays Marina, North Shields, at the end of last year and is now ready to take its place in OYT North's fleet. It will be used as a training vessel for volunteers and adults aiming to earn yachting qualifications. Steve Lennon, general manager of OYT North, said: "We simply could not believe our luck when we heard that a fellow sailor wanted to give us an offshore sailing yacht. "Lene Sono is a beautiful boat in great condition and we are so grateful to have her. "Her arrival has enabled us to expand our operations and open a new sea school providing yachting qualifications for the professional development of our volunteers who support our work with young people. "While aimed primarily at our volunteers, members of the sailing public are welcome to join our courses and benefit from our nautical expertise. All course fees go towards supporting our work with young people." The new sea school is called OYT North Training and has been recognised by the Royal Yachting Association. Clients can undertake all practical RYA Yachtmaster and shore-based courses up to Yachtmaster Ocean as well as the shorter practical seamanship courses offered by the charity's sailing staff. It is run from OYT North's offices in North Shields and training voyages on Lene Sono will depart from Royal Quays Marina into the North Sea. Caroline Saunders, chief instructor at OYT North Training, said: "The gift of Lene Sono has made a huge difference to our work as a youth development charity. We can now train our sailing staff and volunteers to a higher standard, raising the quality of their seamanship and ultimately benefiting the young crews who sail with us, week in week out seven months a year." Over the past quarter of a century OYT North has welcomed more than 10,000 young people on-board its yacht James Cook, including groups with special educational needs, visual impairment, young offenders, schools, colleges, Scouts and Guides and young people enrolled on the National Citizen Service. OYT North Training has published a programme of its first seamanship and yachting courses and is interested to hear from sailing enthusiasts at yachting and sailing clubs keen to develop their skills and skipper boats in the ocean. For more about Ocean Youth Trust North and OYT North Training, visit www.oytnorth.org.uk or email admin@oytnorth.org.uk.

Disabled teen sailing 400 miles - in boat she controls by puffing down tube

A teenager with cerebral palsy is sailing over 400 miles in a specially developed boat which she controls - by blowing through a tube. Inspirational Natasha Lambert, 17, uses a 'sip and puff' system, which her electrician dad designed, after she took a shine to sailing. Natasha is halfway through a month-long challenge that will see her sail over 430 miles from the Isles of Man around the South West of England and onto Wales. Once she arrives in Wales she will climb 2,907ft up Pen Y Fan - the highest peak in Southern Britain - using a specialist walking aid. Natasha was born with athetoid cerebral palsy - severely hindering her speech and use of limbs and confining her to a wheelchair. But while on holiday, the teen realised she enjoyed sailing and so dad Gary spent weeks researching a system which would allow the gutsy teen to sail solo. Gary decided that a breath control system would be the best solution, and set about designing the 'sip and puff', which is based on a straw mounted inside a cycling helmet. The mechanism allows her to control and steer the 21ft long boat by sucking and blowing into a tube. He said: ‘We found there was no commercial technology that she could use so we started to think about what Tash could do and breath control seemed like the most viable solution. Pneumatic switches and photocells were the way forward.’ After developing the technology, Gary found a sailing coach, Phil Devereux, to train Natasha ahead of her challenge. He is the only person on board with Natasha, but she controls the boat on her own. Gary said: ‘We have a lot of faith and trust in Phil. The guy knows sailing and if anything went wrong, he would be the first to know. ‘It's intense, being together week in week out, but so far neither of them have got too cross with each other so it's going well.’ Phil added: ‘The joke among the team is that I'm her butler - because the majority of my job is to pull the sails up, get her food and water, and keep her cool. ‘So if the boat doesn't go in the right direction, it's because Natasha hasn't steered the boat the right way! ‘It's a big responsibility. In terms of the family, I'm the least experienced in terms of communicating with Natasha. 'But it's a nice way to mark how far we've come in 18 months that we're able to jump in a boat together and set sail.’ Natasha, of the Isles of Man, is taking on the challenge to raise money for the RNLI, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the RYA Foundation.

Town gears up for aquatic excitement at Waterfest Weymouth in September

WEYMOUTH is gearing up for aquatic excitement as Waterfest Weymouth takes place on September 6 and 7. The two-day festival aims to celebrate the maritime history of Weymouth and there will be a wide variety of events and activities over the weekend, including kayaking and sailing taster sessions plus the chance to sample local seafood at stalls ranging from Portland crab and oysters to scallops and sea bass. Crowds will be able to board the Gypsy Moth IV, the sailing ship which Sir Francis Chichester used to become the first person to sail around the world. Three-masted Newfoundland schooner tall ship Le Marité is also set to visit and will be sailing in from Granville, Normandy. There will even be a demonstration of the UK’s first flyboard experience courtesy of Poole company Acqua Jet Packs, whose jetpacks are powered by water jets connected to a jetski and can propel riders up to 10m in the air. The Historical Diving Society, which visited the Dorset Seafood Festival in the past, will be demonstrating their diving equipment in a mobile dive tank on the quayside. And the research vessel for the Ship Wreck Project, RV Coastal Guardian will also be demonstrating nautical equipment. Custom House Quay and Trinity Road will be a hive of activity with displays from Weymouth Sea Cadets, lobster pot making, boat building, art, and street theatre. Younger visitors will also have the chance to operate Weymouth Sealife Centre’s giant Percy the Seahorse sculpture, which will tour the festival site. Alistair Clarke, chairman of Weymouth Business Improvement District, said the event could have a significant positive impact on Weymouth tourism. He said: “We are working with Roger Dalton, who organised the seafood festival, so he’s the ideal person for this. It’s good to focus on Weymouth’s maritime history and it will be a chance to support businesses outside of the summer season. “We are building things up slowly in advance of the event so watch this space as it develops, because it’s set to be really exciting.” Waterfest Weymouth will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday September 6, and 11am to 5pm on Sunday September 7. For more information call Weymouth BID on 01305 779410 or visit weymouthbid.co.uk

World’s Best-Known Sailing Regatta Gets Underway Today

This year, Cowes Combined Clubs celebrates 50 years of co-ordinated race management at the 188 year-old regatta, and at least 13 competitors racing this year also took part in the 1964 regatta (the first year of the formation of CCC). Eric Williams of Williams Shipping is one, and these days is frequently to be found towards the top of the leader-board with his Dragon, Ecstatic. Commenting on what keeps him coming back to Cowes Week, Eric said: “I love it. It’s a great sailing obstacle course! It’s not just about the racing; you’re crossing tides, avoiding ships, missing rocks and keeping clear of everyone else. There’s so much to think about and you’ve never won until you’ve crossed the finish line. It certainly gets the adrenalin flowing!” In celebration of the anniversary, the daily prizes and overall trophies will carry a commemorative logo and there are a number of commemorative items available for purchase too. In addition, the CCC Anniversary Trophy has been introduced. This is a painting by local yachtsman and artist, Mike Till, and will be awarded as a perpetual interclub team trophy with the painting held on the premises of the winning club. Organisers are delighted to also welcome a number of new faces to this year’s regatta, with at least 45 newcomers entering for the first time in 2014. David and Gill Roberts are one such crew, taking part for the first time on the final Saturday with their cruiser, Bugsy 2. This will be their first proper race in their first yacht! Racing on the final Saturday is now used as an introduction to the regatta for those who want to find out what it’s all about while having the chance to win some silverware and enjoying a gentler pace with a later start, for a bargain price of just £30. Commenting on their motivation for signing up to this year’s regatta, David Roberts said: “Having bought our first boat and just about got used to her, we thought it would be great fun to enter her into the final Saturday race, which seemed designed to encourage the likes of ourselves to take part.” In keeping with Aberdeen Asset Management’s and Cowes Week Limited’s shared objectives of supporting the next generation of sailors, they were delighted to announce the appointment of UKSA as the official charity of the regatta earlier in the year. UKSA provides transformational opportunities for young people through sailing and watersports, and will be fundraising in order to offer every year six primary school child on the Island (a total of 1,600 children) the opportunity to experience water-based sports. UKSA have a range of activities planned in support of this target, including a limited edition Ladies Day charity T-shirt and will be resident at Cowes Yacht Haven throughout the Week. Aberdeen Asset Management has also extended its popular Under 25 initiative to twenty crews who have had their entry fees covered by the title sponsor this year and will also receive team sailing kit and be in contention for the prestigious Aberdeen Asset Management Under 25 Trophy. Ashore, there is a packed schedule of events with entertainments laid-on from early afternoon each day across the town and the addition of a big wheel at Northwood House this year offering panoramic views across Cowes and the Solent. Special highlights for 2014 include a display from The Blades Aerobatic Display team (Saturday 2 August at 7pm), Family Day (Sunday 3 August), Ladies Day (Thursday 7 August), and the RAF Typhoon Display Team (7.10pm), the iconic Red Arrows (7.30pm) and the spectacular fireworks display (9.30pm) all taking place on the penultimate day of the regatta (Friday 8 August). See the official event website for full details of the shore-side schedule. Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2014 will provide something for everyone and organisers look forward to welcoming all to Cowes for one of the greatest events on the sailing calendar. For those unable to attend, Cowes Live! will broadcast the racing action on the event website from 9.30am until early afternoon each day thanks to funding from Aberdeen Asset Management and the support of the event’s technology partner, NGR, and Cowes Radio. Race website: www.aamcowesweek.co.uk

Cardigan-based luxury boat maker Swallow Boats sets sail on latest expansion phase after a major capital investment

Cardigan-based luxury boat maker Swallow Boats has set sail on its latest expansion phase following a significant capital investment. The company has built a new workshop to accommodate demand for its latest sailing boat the Bay Cruiser 25, which will be launched at next month's Southampton boat show. Established in 2005 this family business now employs 13 staff. The investment has already created four new jobs and another four vacancies are anticipated within the next 12 months. Its latest £200,000 investment has been backed by Barclays Bank. Director Matt Newland said: “I have been a sailing fanatic for over 30 years and ensure my passion, experience and attention to detail goes into every boat. We build between 25/30 boats a year ranging from £10,000 to £70,000 and export to Japan, Australia and America but the core business remains UK based. “Running a business can be tough at times but the rewards far outweigh the downsides even after working long hours. The gratitude of customers simply enjoying our boats or returning many years later for a new boat makes it all worthwhile.” Mr Newland said the business emerged from the economic downturn in a stronger position. He added: “We faced a number of challenge as a provide a luxury product , but we still continued to increase turnover every year [during the recession] as we maintained our strong marketing strategy. "With interest rates so low many clients chose to invest in a luxury item they could enjoy. We have now emerged stronger and leaner for the experience and are optimistic for the future. “We feel we are well positioned within the local market and can use this investment supported by Barclays to grow and strengthen our business. We recognize the importance of traditional boat building but also embrace the latest technology as we are planning to further invest in computer controlled machinery and we even use a 3D printer to produce some of the smaller bespoke components. We also have plans to diversify into the powerboat market next year ensuring we have both a more diversified product base and income stream.”