British Sailing Team concludes mid-cycle squad review

The RYA’s Olympic Steering Group has finalised its latest periodical review of the British Sailing Team squads following the Santander 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, with a number of changes at the Podium level as the focus towards Rio 2016 intensifies. The Podium squad in the Olympic classes has been narrowed to 29 sailors across the ten events, with 14 of those sailors having qualified for the highest tier of funding via UK Sport’s World Class Performance Programme following medal-winning performances at key regattas. In addition to this, the Nacra 17 and 49erFX classes have seen crew changes, with Ben Saxton now partnering Nicola Groves, who transitions to the multihull from the 49erFX, while Groves’ former helm Frances Peters will now sail with Katrina Best in the women’s skiff. Hannah Diamond, who previously paired with Saxton, will be trialling various potential helms in the Nacra 17 class. The Podium squad will be underpinned by 50 Podium Potential sailors who have the opportunity to learn through the second half of this cycle as they prepare to launch their campaigns for Tokyo 2020. RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park explained: 'We’re halfway through the Rio cycle now, and at this stage at the Podium level it’s about trying to narrow down the numbers so that we can increase the level of focus and support that we can give to those sailors who we think, by their performances to date, are most likely to be challenging for podium places come 2016. 'Clearly there are some sailors who will be disappointed by some of these decisions, but it’s an important part of the process towards evaluating and refining the programmes in each of the classes, and delivering the support that hopefully will allow sailors to move from fourth or fifth places to the podium, and then into those gold medal positions. 'It’s that fine detail of review, planning, delivery and execution that will see those gold medals being won in a couple of years, and we’ll keep taking those steps and making refinements towards our target.' British Sailing Team October-December 2014 Podium Squad Olympic Classes: Giles Scott (Finn), Ed Wright (Finn), Nick Thompson (Laser), Alison Young (Laser Radial), Chloe Martin (Laser Radial), Nick Dempsey (RS:X Men), Bryony Shaw (RS:X Women), Izzy Hamilton (RS:X Women), Hannah Mills-Saskia Clark (470 Women), Sophie Weguelin-Eilidh McIntyre (470 Women), Luke Patience-Elliot Willis (470 Men), Dylan Fletcher-Alain Sign (49er), John Pink-Stuart Bithell (49er), Charlotte Dobson-Sophie Ainsworth (49erFX), Frances Peters-Katrina Best (49erFX), Pippa Wilson-John Gimson (Nacra 17), Lucy Macgregor-Andrew Walsh (Nacra 17), Ben Saxton-Nicola Groves (Nacra 17), Hannah Diamond (Nacra 17) Podium Squad Paralympic Classes: Helena Lucas (2.4mR), Megan Pascoe (2.4mR), Alexandra Rickham-Niki Birrell (SKUD), John Robertson-Hannah Stodel-Steve Thomas (Sonar) Podium Potential Squad Olympic Classes: Peter McCoy (Finn), Ben Cornish (Finn), James Hadden (Finn), Hector Simpson (Finn), Lorenzo Chiavarini (Laser), Alex Mills-Barton (Laser), Martin Evans (Laser), Elliot Hanson (Laser), Jack Wetherall (Laser), Michael Beckett (Laser), Hannah Snellgrove (Laser Radial), Georgina Povall (Laser Radial), Ellie Cumpsty (Laser Radial), Rhiannon Massey (Laser Radial), Tom Squires (RS:X Men), Joe Bennett (RS:X Men), Connor Bainbridge (RS:X Men), Kieran Martin (RS:X Men), Sam Sills (RS:X Men), Ali Masters (RS:X Men), Imogen Sills (RS:X Women), Saskia Sills (RS:X Women), Noelle Finch (RS:X Women), Anna Burnet-Flora Stewart (470 Women), Amy Seabright-Anna Carpenter (470 Women), Katie Tomsett (470 Women), Kirstie Urwin (470 Women), Jess Lavery-Megan Brickwood (470 Women), Mike Wood (470 Men), James Peters (49er), Fynn Sterritt (49er), Ed Fitzgerald (49er), Chris Taylor-Sam Batten (49er), Jack Hawkins-Chris Thomas (49er), Kate Macgregor (49erFX), Vikki Payne-Steph Orton (49erFX), Tilly James-Alice Masterman (49erFX), Owen Bowerman-Morgan Peach (49erFX), Rupert White-Nikki Boniface (Nacra 17), Tom Phipps-Mary Rook (Nacra 17) Podium Potential Squad Paralympic Classes: Will Street (2.4mR), Carol Dugdale (2.4mR), John Brooker (2.4mR), Jonathan Currell (2.4mR), Craig Wood (2.4mR/Sonar), Steve Palmer (2.4mR/Sonar), Alex Hovden (SKUD)

Bottlenose Dolphins visit Tobermory Bay

Bolton Sailing Club gets special boat for disabled sailors

DISABLED sportsmen and women can set sail on a new adventure thanks to a donation from a tissue making firm. SCA Manchester, who are entering an all-woman team in this year’s round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race, have donated a dinghy suitable for disabled adults and children to Bolton Sailing Club. The firm, based at Trafford Park in Manchester, was keen to ensure people from all walks of life were given the chance to sail. The double-handed access dinghy is specially designed with simple controls and features to keep users safe. Sailors at Bolton Sailing Club’s Belmont Reservoir base are delighted. Club commodore Warren Price said: “We loan them out to other sailing clubs to encourage participation, as well as for our own members with disabilities. "They are ideal to give people of all ages an opportunity to enjoy sailing when otherwise they wouldn’t get the chance. "SCA approached the club with the offer of buying a dinghy for us and we were delighted.”

Scottish Care home residents take to the water for sailing challenge

Ranging in age from their late eighties to 99, a group of residents from the Gibson House care home in St Andrews took up the challenge of a sailing trip at Lochore Meadows. For many of those in the group, it was the first time they had gone sailing. Gibson staff member Peta Cunningham said the group included Ellen Scott, who went flying on her 90th birthday, and Ailie Gunn, who turned 99 on Monday. She said the trip was organised through Fife Sailability. The club was formed in June 2012 and is affiliated to RYA Sailability Scotland, which supplied the boats. The club is independent and, through membership fees, self-financing. Based at Lochore Meadows, which is a UK Sailability Centre of Excellence, there is a specially designed Challenger dinghy and an excellent core of volunteer instructors. People with almost any disability can be catered for, from the age of eight to 80 and beyond.

Sponsors keep Littlehampton sailing centre afloat

MUCH-needed sponsorship has once again been offered to a youth sailing charity in Littlehampton. The Arun Youth Aqua Centre (AYAC), has been celebrating this month after being awarded £1,200 by RINKIT.com, which is based at the Lineside Industrial Estate, in Littlehampton. The cash will help towards the annual running costs of AYAC, which has made sailing and canoeing affordable to hundreds of young people across Sussex children for more than 30 years. Roger Elliman, AYAC manager, said: “We’re really grateful to have RINKIT.com on board this year. As a dynamic young local company, they make a great role model for our members.” RINKIT.com is an online homeware store which sells everything from crockery to clocks. Richard Goss, of the company, said: “Water sports are a great way to get young people active and to learn important life skills “We’re fully behind AYAC’s mission to make sailing and canoeing accessible for all and very happy to be able to offer sponsorship.” AYAC is based in Hendon Avenue. For more details, see www.ayac.org.uk or call 01903 714753.

Team RAFBF Spitfire at Cowes Week 2014

Royal opening of sailing club’s new facilities

It was all plain sailing as HRH Princess Anne officially opened new facilities at Scaling Dam. The royal visitor chatted to members at Scaling Dam Sailing Club and had a look around the club before doing the honours and opening the new training room. Princess Anne herself has a keen interest in sailing and is the patron of Sailability - an organisation which helps disabled people take part in the sport. Club commodore, Mark Lewis told the Gazette: “She was really interested in what the young people had done and we have three generations that are members who she met. She is involved with the disability scheme and was interested to meet those people and was very much interested in what boats our champions have been sailing. “We are one of the smaller clubs so it was a coup for us to get here so we are delighted she came.”

Great Britain's sailing team qualify for 2016 Olympic Games in Rio

Great Britain have qualified for every sailing class at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio following their performances at the World Championships in Santander. The team, which is led by manager Stephen Park, won Finn class gold with Giles Scott, while teammate Ed Wright earned bronze. Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark got on the podium in the women's 470, as well as Laser sailor Nick Thompson, all of whom scooped bronze medals. "It's been an interesting event and fairly challenging from a racing perspective over the last ten days or so," said Park. "However, it's been pleasing to have managed to qualify the country for the Olympic Games at the first opportunity in each of the ten events, and to come away with four medals which was in line with our target coming here. "That said, we were disappointed not to win a medal in the Nacra, the 470 Men and arguably we could have won one in the 49erFX as well halfway through the week." The team secured four medals, which is two less than their six-medal return in Perth in 2011.

Harris and Scalpay pontoons plan moves forward

A proposal to attract more yachts to the isles of Harris and Scalpay has taken a step forward. The team behind a £1.3m project to install new pontoons at Tarbert on Harris and Scalpay have applied for funding from several organisations. These include Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The new facilities could be in place by the end of next year.

UK Sailing - Mills and Clark strike world sailing bronze

The Olympic silver medallists were in the podium places coming into the decisive double points medal race and insisted they had no complaints with the result after a season disjointed by injuries. "This was all we could have hoped for today really,” said Mills. “It was too far for silver and gold to be in with a shout so we did just did the best job we could and came home with the bronze. “This is the ISAF World Championships, it is only once every four years - it is a big deal in the build up to any of the Olympic Games so to come here and perform we are really happy. It's not quite the colour we wanted but we have a lot to work on." Clark also insists the result will give the double act the perfect springboard to the Rio Olympics - their next big regatta and target. "It was a big deal this morning there was lots of noise when we came to the boat park. We don't get much chance to practice in that - it is only the Olympics really we have all that kind of excitement," she added. “On the water it was really tricky with land all around us that is similar to a lot of our race courses in Rio, so we feel we have made a real step forward sailing in that kind of breeze this week."

Plain sailing for Oundle School cadets

Young cadets got to explore clear blue waters round Britain’s coast on an expedition. Three CCF cadets from Oundle School, Jamie Hembury-Gunn (16) and Clovis Parker-Jervis (16) (pictured) and Felix Terrell (17), took part in Exercise SCOTWEST around Scotland’s coast, to gain RYA dayskipper qualifications. The crew even had time to have their own bake-off, with Clovis showing off his cake to the cameras. Felix said: “This memorable trip was amazing – simultaneously relaxing, informative and dramatic. I hope to get back up to Scotland this winter and continue sailing when it’s summer again.”

Young people given lessons in sailing at Rudyard Lake

SCHOOLCHILDREN are being given the chance to learn sailing at a North Staffordshire beauty spot. Rudyard Lake Sailing Club has signed up to 'OnBoard', a scheme run by the RYA, the sport's governing body. It provides low-cost sailing opportunities to schools and youth groups, and caters for eight to 18-year-olds. St Dominic's Priory School, in Stone, is one of the first to take part in the sessions. Now other schools are being encouraged to get involved. Young people can work towards sailing certificates through the programme. The OnBoard sessions are offered on Thursdays as after-school activities. Tricia Ordsmith, senior instructor at Rudyard Lake Sailing Club, said: "OnBoard is designed so that young people, regardless of age, gender or background, can be introduced to a life on the water and then have the opportunities to keep sailing regularly at welcoming, inclusive clubs." To find out more about the scheme, schools, youth and community groups can call the club on 01538 306200.

The Wirral’s own Alex Ibrahim joins inspirational sailing trip

Alex Ibrahim, 24, from the Wirral has recently taken part in an inspirational sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, along with 11 other young people between the age of 18 -24 in recovery from cancer. Alex, who joined the crew of one of four yachts, set sail from the Trust’s new base in Largs in a five-day yacht adventure. For Alex, who was treated for testicular cancer at Clatterbridge Hospital, this was his first time sailing with the Trust. Alex explained: “I have wanted to sail for a long time and this is the perfect opportunity, I’m looking forward to learning all about the boat ” 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. Alex added: “I really enjoyed sailing against the wind, the more blustery conditions were awesome. The scenery was breathtaking and we learnt a thing or two, especially what port and starboard meant!” This is the second year the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has run sailing trips in Scotland, having set up their Scottish base in Largs in North Ayrshire in early 2013 thanks to funding from the players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The expansion of their operation comes as part of a three-year plan to double the number of young people in recovery from cancer taken sailing. Sailing trips are provided completely free of charge to the young people. The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust does not receive funding from the Government or NHS, so is reliant on donations. To donate and help them to continue to provide support and encouragement to young people in recovery from cancer visit www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org/index.php/donate