Youngsters set sail on learning programme

Youngsters from a charity that helps the disadvantaged have been given the opportunity to sail with GAC Pindar in Cardiff. Eight young people participating in the Welsh Charity Llamau’s Learning 4 Life programme were given the chance to sail on GAC Pindar’s Extreme 40 racing yacht ahead of the Extreme Sailing Series in Cardiff Harbour last Friday. The charity, Llamau, helps disadvantaged and vulnerable young course members find the confidence and skills needed to succeed as they progress in life. Frances Beecher, Llamau’s chief executive, said: “We’re so grateful once again to GAC Pindar for allowing our young people to have such an exciting and rewarding opportunity to sail with a world-class team. “It is experiences like these that make a huge difference, building confidence and self-esteem, and enabling young people to develop their own aspirations for the future.” Cardiff was Act Five of the Extreme Sailing Series which takes place in iconic locations across the world. GAC Pindar’s Andrew Pindar, said: “It’s wonderful to be able to give these young people a thrilling outing on the water in Cardiff that they will never forget and one that will help them moving forward. It was a delight to see them enjoy the excursion and hopefully some of them have caught the sailing bug. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to offer similar experiences throughout the Extreme Sailing Series and hope to be back in Cardiff again next year.” For more about Llamau visit www.llamau.org.uk or for GAC www.gacpindar.com

Stratford teen enjoys Ellen MacArthur sailing trip

BACK in 2005 Dame Ellen MacArthur became the fastest woman and youngest person to sail around the world single-handedly. But now she is turning her attention to giving youngsters in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing. And Stratford teen Toby Butterworth was among a group of lucky eight to 18 year olds chosen to take part in in an inspirational sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The 16-year-old, who is still on maintenance treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, recently joined the crew of one of five yachts to sail around the Solent as part of a four day yacht adventure. Onboard 42ft cruising yachts, the trip provides an opportunity for young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment while encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking. Departing from the south coast HQ in East Cowes Marina, Isle of Wight, the 30-strong group of teens navigated the waters of the Solent before cruising back into Cowes. Speaking about his experience, Toby admitted he didn't know what to expect before coming on the trip. He said: "It has given me more confidence to talk about what I’ve been through and I would now try to get involved in more things like this. "It’s been really good meeting people who have had similar treatments to myself and it’s nice talking to people who actually know what I’ve been through. I’d love to come again.” Dame Ellen, who tries to spend at least one day with every four-day trip over the summer, added: “The mental and social fall-out from cancer can be just as devastating as the physical illness. "Everything we do is about building confidence, self-esteem and having fun together.” Visit www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org for further information.

Pontoon plan for Elgol on the Isle of Skye not so bonny, say locals !!

A plan to give more boats access to a harbour on Skye has been opposed by locals because they say it will spoil one of best views on the island. Highland Council proposes to install a pontoon at Elgol to give an additional eight berths for boats and relieve congestion at the popular spot. Elgol on Loch Scavaig has a view of Skye's famous Cuillin mountain range. A petition started by residents opposing the pontoon has gathered about 250 signatures so far. The local authority was awarded a £65,000 grant to help fund the project. It has said the extra berths would relieve congestion at Elgol's main pier and improve access to the sea for all members of the community.

Teenagers take part in major UK tall ship regatta

TWO teenagers are among crews racing tall ships. Rebecca Pollitt, 17, from Lee-on-the-Solent and Isobel Johnson, 17, from Southsea, are on board two different boats in the Falmouth to Royal Greenwich tall ships regatta. The pair set sail on Sunday as the 44-strong fleet left Falmouth. Rebecca said: ‘It’s the first time that I’ve sailed overnight and I’m feeling really excited.’ She is one of the all-female crew on board Challenger 1, run by Portsmouth-based charity, the Tall Ships Youth Trust. Isobel, who is deaf, is on the 60ft cutter Thermopylae Clipper. She has raced from Latvia to Poland in tall ships before. ‘Just because you’re deaf doesn’t mean you can’t do it, in fact it’s all the more reason you should do it – to show the world you can do it,’ she said. ‘And of course it will be hard, nothing is ever going to be easy, but it will be worth it – truly.’ Almost half of the vessels taking part are in the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), which is based in Gosport. It is the UK’s sail training umbrella organisation. More than 280 young people are sailing on 19 boats operated by ASTO members. Lucy Gross, general manager at ASTO, said: ‘It has been a fantastic day out on the water in Falmouth with boats of all shapes and sizes taking part in this historic regatta. ‘None of the young trainees on board will ever forget being part of such a spectacle and it will be a highlight of the year for our many ASTO member organisations from all over the UK who are taking part.’ It is the first time the regatta has been held from one British port to another. The fleet is expected to arrive in London today or tomorrow.

Sailing therapy scheme wins lottery backing

A project which aims to support families with a parent or carer who abuses drink or drugs, has won backing worth £7,650. The Big Lottery has awarded the funding to Addaction and Cornish charity Sailaday OK, to link up for a project called Break the Cycle. Amanda McCann, Breaking the Cycle team leader, said it was great news. “Breaking the cycle looks at reducing the harmful effects of substance misuse on children. “Addaction is thrilled to collaborate with Sailaday OK. “It’s a brilliant opportunity for families to exercise their creativity in a practical and challenging environment. “It will be a unique and invaluable experience, helping families to strengthen communication, further develop their parenting skills, build trust and confidence and test strategies for dealing with challenging behaviours and emotions.” Sailaday OK will work with eight families over the next year with each given three one-day sessions sailing from Falmouth. The sessions will be led by an experienced psychotherapist and skipper, Richard Hall, founder and manager of the charity. He said: “This is an excellent therapeutic intervention to support these families, who would never otherwise get this unique opportunity to make significant positive changes in their lives. “Participants will explore the strengths and weaknesses of their family dynamics, develop and increase their resilience through activity and apparent risk taking, and practice conflict resolution – all whilst having fun together.”

Disability sailing opportunities with WASH Sailability

Sails up, out on Lackford Lake in Suffolk, it was impossible to discern volunteer, sailor or sailor with a disability. As part of BT "All Join In" week, David Moorcroft, Britain’s former 5,000m world record holder and now head of sport at Join In, took part in a volunteering session at WASH Sailability at St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association. Situated at a nature reserve near Bury St Edmunds, the club is one of many disability sports clubs that are thriving thanks to its volunteers. As Moorcroft stressed, clubs always need more helpers. “There is still more that people can do to help disability sports clubs and I think people still find that a difficult area, so I came to see how big a difference volunteers can make. The range of things people can do to help out is huge – you don’t have to be qualified or skilled in any particular areas.” Moorcroft had never sailed before. “Sailing isn’t a sport I know much about and I’ve never volunteered at a disability sports club but I found there was so much I could do just to help out.” Join In, whose patron is the comedian, actor and writer Eddie Izzard, was created in the wake of London 2012 because some previous Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers had felt the chance to create a legacy feature had been lost. It campaigns to get more people involved in volunteering to help grass-roots sport – in Moorcroft’s words, “to get people to turn up, take part and join in”. WASH Sailability, which runs weekly sessions at Lackford for people with a wide range of disabilities, epitomises that ethos. The participants include amputees, a group with learning disabilities, a visually impaired group and three generations of a family who take to the water with their grandfather, who has recently suffered a stroke. They use boats with a water-filled keel, which makes them very stable, and steer from a fixed seat. “In the year after the Games, and this year,” said Moorcroft, “there’s been much more emphasis on volunteering, much more emphasis on trying to maintain the spirit of Gamesmakers (the London 2012 volunteer helpers) because, for that period, something very special was created around volunteering. “But if you trace it back, volunteers created formalised sport, clubs, events and ultimately the Olympics. Look at 1908 and 1948.” As a volunteer at Lackford, Moorcroft sailed a dinghy with Cris Barlow. They came back to dry land having swapped life stories. “I’m 69 on September 20. I’m from a village just outside Bury,” said Barlow, who lost a leg above the knee through an aneurysm 30 months ago. ‘‘I’m a chartered accountant practising in Colchester. It wasn’t possible to get to work once I lost my leg. I have about 10 clients that I keep in touch with. I have always played golf and squash and sailed.” Sailing, he said, remains very important to him. “I said to Dave that I forget I only have one leg when I get out there. It’s lovely. This is about giving time, not money. It’s life-enhancing and enjoyable “This club is well-supported by volunteers. But I need help when I play golf,” he said. Barlow has played the sport for more than 50 years and has a 12 handicap. “I need someone in case I fall over. I go out with some old boys and they help me. I have the buggy behind me to grab if I fall over. My friends are brilliant. They’re effectively volunteers.” Volunteer Rachel Warren, 22, is a recent English graduate from Lincoln University. “Once in the boat it doesn’t matter that the person is disabled. They are free. It’s very rewarding but I’ve become more active, too, and taken up climbing.’’ Martin Cable, 55, lost a leg and the use of an arm in a motorcycle accident five years ago. “It’s been great to have a reason to get out in the fresh air. I used to go off-road motorbike riding and this is a new challenge.” He started sailing with a volunteer, but now goes out alone. There are about two million volunteers in British sport. “But there are probably a lot more who volunteer and don’t even know it,” added Moorcroft. “Some of the most enjoyable things I’ve done I wasn’t paid for. You feel rewarded by giving up your time.

Parasailing: Great Britain claim double world silver in Canada

Great Britain claimed two silver medals and the maximum three qualifying places for the 2016 Paralympic Games on the final day of the Disabled Sailing World Championships in Canada. Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell just missed out on a sixth consecutive world title in the two-person SKUD class. And Helena Lucas claimed second place in the 2.4mR class in Nova Scotia. "I'd be lying if I said we weren't disappointed, but the reality is that we can be proud," said Rickman. "At the end of the day, we knew it was going to be difficult. We already have five world titles - the only one that we really care about now is Rio, and this is all part of the learning towards that." John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas came fourth in the Sonar. This ensured that GB earned qualification across the three Paralympic classes for the Rio 2016 Games at the first time of asking.

New Mills youngster sets sail for charity trip

New Mills youngster Isobel Lewis has taken part in an inspirational sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The nine-year-old joined up with 20 other young people between the ages of eight and 18 who are in recovery from cancer, for the trip. Joining the crew of one of four yachts, Isobel set sail from the trust’s base at Largs in Scotland for a four-day yacht adventure. The trip was her first time sailing with the trust, and Isobel, who finished treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in March 2011, was apprehensive beforehand. “I felt nervous but excited as well,” she said. “My friend had been on a trip and said it was really good fun.” Sailing onboard 42-48 foot cruising yachts, the trips provide a chance for the young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment, encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking. “We sailed to different places, played card games, watched magic tricks - it was great to sail the boat and go crabbing and fishing,” Isobel said. The trip navigated the waters of the Firth of Clyde, taking the youngsters to various stopovers including Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute and the National Sailing Centre at Great Cumbrae. And Isobel thoroughly enjoyed her trip: “It feels really nice to talk to other young people and we all made friends really easily. The trip is really good.”

Whisky sailing holidays in Scotland

Sailing-Five challengers confirmed for next America's Cup

Five yachting syndicates have been confirmed as challengers for the next America's Cup after they met the deadline to lodge their intention to compete for sport's oldest trophy earlier this month, organisers said on Friday. Teams from Britain, Sweden, France, Italy and New Zealand will compete against each other before they face software billionaire Larry Ellison's holders Oracle Team USA at the next event, which will be held in 2017 in either San Diego or Bermuda. The original Challengers of Record, Australia's Hamilton Island Yacht Club, withdrew their challenge last month over concerns about the costs involved. "It's exciting to look at the roster of teams who are lining up against us," Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill said in a statement. "We're facing five strong challengers who have a lot of resources, talent and experience." Organisers have said that late challenges could be accepted. The 35th America's Cup format has changed from previous years where syndicates gathered in one venue to race each other before the winner of that regatta went on to face the holders. Instead the next event will consist of races in an America's Cup World Series in venues around the world, before it narrows to the 2017 America's Cup when the top challenger will meet Oracle. Instead of the massive AC72 foiling catamarans used for last year's event, where Oracle produced a remarkable comeback on San Francisco Bay to storm back from an 8-1 deficit to beat Team New Zealand 9-8 in a winner-takes-all final race, smaller AC62 yachts will be used in the next regatta. Teams will race the even smaller AC45 yachts in the America's Cup World Series. New Zealand's challenge, which had been partially funded by the Government, had been in jeopardy earlier this year with uncertainty over sponsorship and the format and location of the competition. They confirmed shortly before the deadline, however, they would challenge for the Cup. "New Zealand has a long and proud history in the America's Cup," skipper Dean Barker said. "We see some formidable opposition taking shape in the 35th America's Cup and we have no illusions about the job ahead. "We have been working quietly behind the scenes towards this day almost since the last day of the 34th America's Cup. "Now the real work begins." Multiple Olympic champion Ben Ainslie will head the British challenge. Ainslie was widely credited with turning around Oracle's defence last year when he moved onto the boat as tactician before he left the team to set up the British challenge. "We are delighted that Royal Yacht Squadron Racing's challenge for the 35th America's Cup has been officially accepted," Ainslie said.

Sailing: UK Duo bidding for six world titles

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 Champ-ionships, which start tomorrow in Halifax, Canada. The Paralympic bronze medallists, who train at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are among the 11-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 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 last week’s Sonar North American Champ-ionships at Lunenburg Yacht Club. 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. Helena Lucas and Portland’s 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 European victory in the Netherlands in July capped off a consistent year and provided a timely boost to her World Championship campaign. “It has been a pretty awesome summer,” she said. “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. “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.”

Burton Sailing breakthrough for special needs youngsters

Children with severe learning difficulties and behavioural problems have been benefitting from OnBoard sailing sessions at Burton Sailing Club this summer. Led by the club's Training Principal, Keith Pallett, progress has been exceptional for youngsters from Pingle School in Swadlincote who have learned to sail on Foremark Reservoir. RYA OnBoard is the national grassroots sailing and windsurfing programme providing low cost opportunities for schools and youth groups enabling kids aged eight to 18 to learn to sail and stay in the sport. Two groups of Pingle School youngsters attended OnBoard sessions at Burton SC on Wednesdays and Fridays for six weeks after Keith had visited the school and spent time learning about the young people and their needs and how to plan appropriate sessions to ensure each individual youngster benefited. The children had constant support from the club instructors and school teaching staff throughout the sessions and the sessions were a huge success. Keith said: "The children with behavioural problems sailed, and completely changed their mannerisms and attitude to each other and the tasks they were given. Those with learning difficulties started out not wanting to put on buoyancy aids, they wouldn't walk on the jetty without aid and encouragement, and many were simply fearful of the water. In the end they would swim, walk on the jetty unaided with buoyancy aids, and sail in the dinghies. "Our instructors enjoyed working with the kids immensely. Teaching Special Educational Needs and young people with learning difficulties is a new skill set for our instructors and we have now contracted with another SEN school. "There is no doubt OnBoard works really well not just for the kids but also the carers and parents, who could see the benefits the sailing experience had on the wellbeing of the young people and how, together, we can develop sailing into the curriculum as an aid to child development." The youngsters too were very positive about their experiences. Callum Richardson, a Year 7 student, said: "It was my first time sailing. I was scared but after a bit I was leaning back to balance the boat." Jake Crawshaw, a Year 9 student, added: "We were also taught how to rig and sail a sailing boat, which I really liked. If I could I would like to have a boat of my own, a little sail boat that I could set up easily. Going to Foremark has been one of the best things I have done." Burton SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. RYA OnBoard has got an impressive track record – over 480,000 OnBoard beginner sessions have been run across Britain since 2005, with almost 40,000 young people taking up sailing or windsurfing on a regular basis. There are over 240 OnBoard clubs and centres nationwide, with several more joining the programme during 2014. To find out how your school or youth/community group can get involved in OnBoard at Burton SC visit www.burtonsailingclub.co.uk

UK teenager sails to Appledore using boat controlled by her mouth !!

A TEENAGER with cerebral palsy who is sailing around the South West coast in a specially adapted boat she controls by her mouth has arrived in Appledore. Natasha Lambert, 17, arrived with an escort from the Appledore RNLI on Friday evening on part of her 430 mile journey. So far she has raised nearly £10,000 for three charities – the RNLI, The Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust, and the RYA Foundation which helps disabled sailors. Natasha arrived from Padstow into the harbour and is looking to set sail on the final leg of her journey to Swansea this week. She first tried sailing ages nine at the Calvert Trust and loved being on the water. Since then Natasha sailed model boats using a sip and puff mechanism to control the vessel with her mouth. This sparked her interest and her father developed a system where she could control and sail a boat using a single straw. In 2010 Natasha sailed around the Isle of Wight in her boat Miss Isle, and last year she sailed from France to England across the channel. During this adventure after reaching Swansea, Natasha will then climb Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, using a specialised walking frame. Follow Natasha’s Sea and Summit adventure and track her progress at www.missisle.com.