Otley sailor has her sights on Pacific challenge

SAILOR Heather Thomas is hoping to follow in the wake of famous yachtswomen by taking on the world’s most treacherous seas. The 18-year-old from Otley was bitten by the sailing bug on a family sailing holiday to Greece when she was seven. She joined Otley Sailing Club, spending every spare hour and weekend on the club’s Weston Water, a flooded gravel pit, where she quickly mastered the basics of handling smaller craft. But the A-level student at Otley’s Prince Henry’s Grammar School is taking her hobby to a new level with a tilt for a place aboard an ocean racing yacht. She has reached a shortlist of two to take part in a 5,500-mile, month-long journey from China to the United States, crossing the world’s largest ocean as part of the Clipper Round the World race. The Pacific leg starts in Qingdao, China in March 2016 and ends on the West Coast of America. If she gets the place, it will be reward for the hard hours sailing off the coast of England, Scotland and Ireland. For the past two years she has volunteered as a watch leader on the training vessel James Cook, run by Ocean Youth Trust North. She also works as a volunteer at Otley Sailing Club and has been a dinghy training instructor for the two years, using her skills to encourage newcomers to learn the ropes. In March she will travel to Clipper Race HQ in Gosport, Hampshire for a training assessment to determine who gets the place. She is up against a 19-year-old man from London. Yesterday she admitted that sailing solo around the world is her ultimate dream. “It’s an expensive thing to do, but if I get the chance, I would want to do it - that’s my dream.” In the meantime she is hoping to get her A-levels and then a job as a yacht’s bosun in charge of the equipment and engine. Asked why she enjoys sailing, she said it was the “feeling of freedom” which came from being out on the water, often alone. And for anyone considering taking it up, a sailing club is a good way to start - or a sailing holiday in Greece, she said. “You have your own boat on a flotilla holiday. It’s quite a safe environment to start sailing in. It’s simple and is a brilliant holiday.” Her father, Matt, said his daughter had shown great skill on the water. “Heather has taken to sailing like a duck to water. All she wants is to be around boats and wants to make a career out of it.” He said: “The Pacific is a real adventure, with the worst of the weather that can be thrown at you. It’s about battling against the elements and I have no doubt that Heather is fully up to the job - I have no worries about her on that score. She has experience on large boats.” The family’s love of sailing can be traced back 43 years when Mr Thomas’ father Eric built his own boat in the garage and then joined the local sailing club. “My dad had a great passion for sailing. We sailed locally in Cheshire and in France, Ullswater and Coniston. “We still have the boat that he built when I was six.” Heather had enjoyed her first sailing experience as her grandfather had his final trip, he said. “He (his father) invited me and my family to sail on a yacht in Greece. There was a little trepidation as I thought my girls would hate it but everyone enjoyed it. They said it was the best holiday they ever had. “My dad had had a stroke and wanted to experience sailing one last time.”

Festive fundraising for youth sailing charity Challenge Wales

YOUTH sailing charity Challenge Wales has launched its ‘Jump Aboard’ fundraising pack to help raise funds to enable young people to experience Wales’ Tall Ship. The sail training vessel, which uses sailing to teach young people life skills to improve their employment prospects, subsidises Welsh residents aged 12 – 25 years and needs to continue to raise funds during winter to ensure young people continue to have the opportunity to jump aboard in 2015. Although the Challenge Wales fundraising pack gives lots of ideas to raise funds, with Christmas on the horizon the Penarth-based charity is keen to focus on recycling from stamps (from Christmas cards) clothes (ideal if you are losing weight after Christmas and don’t want to throw clothes away) and unwanted small items (such as old Christmas presents from Christmas past). Vicky Williams, volunteer and trustee, said: “Passing on unwanted items to us is a great way for us to raise funds and also helps avoid waste going to landfill.” This week also sees the charity launching its first fundraising 2015 charity calendar, featuring some amazing photos of the charity’s journey over the last five years since it launched, capturing beautiful seascapes, wildlife and landscapes. The aim of the calendar is to raise awareness of the work that Challenge Wales and its army of volunteers does. The highlight of the fundraising festive season for Challenge Wales is its Festive Sail and Curry sailing day on Sunday, December 28, from Penarth Marina, an opportunity for people regardless of their sailing experience to blow away the winter cobwebs and try something fun and exhilarating and a very different Christmas present. To get involved in Challenge Wales’ festive fundraising activities visit www.challengewales.org or contact them on 029 20 220 266.

Gold medallist Helena Lucas opens new Portland sail making centre

PARALYMPIC gold medallist Helena Lucas is on the road to Rio, thanks to a Portland sail making business. The sailing star was on hand to cut the ribbon at the new sail loft for Moatt Sails at Osprey Quay on Portland on Saturday. The new facility means the company can now work on boats up to 60feet. Helena said the company had helped her out over the years with gear and were now involved in her campaign towards the Rio Games in 2016. She said: “They have massively helped me out over the years, they have been a great support. “It’s a great privilege to be here to cut the ribbon. “They are very much part of my program and road to Rio campaign. They have been absolutely brilliant.” Helena said the campaign to 2016 was looking good, with two great results recently – two medals at the two world championships. She said: “We have got lots of exciting things in the wings. We have been doing some development and will start introducing the new kit.” In fact, she has just returned from a training camp in Rio, which she said was ‘very successful’ and the team had been learning about the winds and tides. She said that because of the mixture of mountains and high-rise buildings in Rio it was an even more challenging course than Portland had been. And even though she now lives in Southampton, Helena said she loves coming back to her ‘second home’ of Portland. She added: “Whenever I’m here I always get such a good welcome. “It definitely feels like a second home. I’m pleased I picked here for my gold post box- there will always be a little bit of me here.” Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Kate Wheller, was at the opening, she said: “We always hoped this area would become a centre for marine excellence and this is what is happening. It’s achieving what we hoped it would, which is great.” Steve Moatt, owner of Moatt Sails, said that the opening of the sail loft marked a turning point in the business, he said they had come a long way from working out of a shed seven years ago. He said he was very proud of his team, adding: “We are very passionate about what we do- we love what we do. We appreciate our customers, we know without them we wouldn’t be here.”

Ben Ainslie teams up with Red Bull ahead of 2017 America's Cup

Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) have teamed up with Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT) to work on their challenge for the 35th America's Cup in 2017, the British team announced on Thursday. The BAR team, conceived by the most successful Olympic sailor of all time in June 2014, will draw on the "simulation" and "modelling skills" of the winners of four of the last five Formula One World Championships. "BAR are really excited to be partnering with Red Bull Advanced Technologies," Ainslie, part of Oracle Team USA's triumph last year, said in a statement on Thursday. "We are in a unique position in this country, and this campaign is about assimilating the very best of British in design and engineering - RBAT epitomises this."

Torbay: To Host World's Toughest Sailing Race

Torbay will host the UK leg of the Solitaire du Figaro race in 2015 - a 2000 mile solo yacht race, unofficially known as the world championships of solo offshore sailing. The Solitaire du Figaro is a sailing endurance race divided up into 500-mile legs between several European host ports. Now in its 46th year, the race draws only the best sailing talent to its start line, and attracts sailing fans and the general public alike to its bustling race village. It's hoped more than 100,000 people will visit with the location chosen as it is within 2 hours of more than 100 yacht clubs and sailing academies. Recognising the race as an opportunity for increased tourism, international publicity for the town and community involvement, the Royal Torbay Yacht Club and Torbay Council have been the driving force behind the host venue bid The Solitaire du Figaro - one of the world's toughest sailing events - comes into the Bay between the 17th and 21st June. The arrival of the race will mark another significant chapter in Torbay's rich maritime history, the Bay hosting the 1948 Olympic sailing competition. The Artemis Offshore Academy, the UK's only training centre for British solo sailors, has been working closely with Torbay representatives to successfully prepare the town for the race. Training and supporting British solo competitors since 2010, Artemis supports eight UK Solitaire competitors, including well-known southwest Solitaire competitors Robin Elsey (Falmouth), Sam Matson (Exmouth) and Henry Bomby (Dartmouth) - with all 3 now training for the race in 2015.

Sailing Scotland

Experience the sailing journey of a lifetime

THE world’s longest ocean race is calling on more local residents to take on the challenge of a lifetime and achieve something extraordinary in the next edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Next week, race organisers will host a talk in the city at the Cardiff Marriott on Monday, November 24, at 6:30pm alongside former race alumni from across Wales, including 38 year-old Project Manager, Owen Jones from Barry, who had no previous sailing experience before signing up for the adventure. Owen, who circumnavigated the globe and spent over 11 months at sea sailing across Mother Nature’s toughest oceans, is one of six Welshmen to have represented the country in the last edition of the race. Owen says: “It still leaves me with a surreal feeling when I think about what I have achieved. The race provided me with the opportunity to learn a new skill and fulfil a lifelong aspiration; testing me physically and mentally in the face of the enormity of nature. “The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was a great experience, enabling me to do what few have done before - less people have circumnavigated the globe, than have scaled Everest. There are some lovely places to sail off the coast of Wales, but I would encourage anybody who wants to see more and stretch themselves, to take a look at how far you can go, with fellow amateur crew and a professional skipper on the race. I am proud to say I undertook the challenge.” Those who want to find out more and attend the talk will be in with a chance of winning the opportunity to experience a taste of the race and will automatically be entered into a draw for a place on board the first of four levels of training required to take part in the race at a value of £1,085. Now in its 19th year, the Clipper Race, which was founded by legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail single-handed and non-stop around the world in 1968-69 is unique. It is the only event where people from all walks of life, regardless of previous sailing experience, can race around the world under sail. Each of the fleet of 12 yachts is sponsored by a city, region or country around the world and each of the teams is led by a professional skipper. In the 2013-14 edition, 670 crew, including 34 per cent women, from over 40 nationalities, took part in the race from countries as widespread as Russia, Serbia, Norway, Peru, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Kenya, Hungary, China and Singapore, in addition to the UK, forging cultural understanding and awareness to work together and build lifelong friendships. More than 230 different professions were represented, from nurses to GP’s, pilots to farmers, film directors to surfing instructors, head teachers to students, and the whole range of occupations in between. The Clipper Race is open to anyone over the age of 18 at the time the race starts, but there is no upper age limit. Clipper Race recruiter and circumnavigator in the 2009-10 race, Della Parsons says: “I can’t wait to get out there and meet more people that want to be part of this unique challenge and join the elite group of ocean racers. More and more people are looking for something different these days, something extraordinary that will really push their limits and test the boundaries of what they thought they were capable of. It’s my job to make them aware that it’s here.” More information about the race and how to RSVP to the event can be found on the Clipper Race website www.clipperroundtheworld.com.

New backing for inspirational war veterans sailing charity in Falmouth

An inspirational new sailing charity for war veterans and their families, which just six months ago was run from its founder’s front room in Cornwall, is celebrating gaining backing and support from major players including Help for Heroes, The Royal Air Force Association, The Prince’s Trust and Rustler Yachts. Turn to Starboard supports veterans from all services and conflicts back into civilian life through the therapeutic effects of ocean sailing and expert maritime training. Now CEO Shaun Pascoe, a retired squadron leader who himself led countless medical evacuations in Iraq and Afghanistan, has a strong volunteer team operating from their new HQ at Falmouth Marina backed by “significant” funding packages from Help for Heroes and RAFA. T2S has also been gifted a £60,000, 42ft yacht hull by Falmouth based Rustler, for which the “boat build” fund-raising project has begun to fit her out specifically for Turn to Starboard’s beneficiaries. Rustler’s Adrian Jones said: “We’d met Shaun a few times and were really impressed with his vision and the work he was already doing with war veterans who, for various reasons, were struggling to settle back into civilian life. “The hull we’ve given Turn to Starboard is just the start of an on-going project and we feel proud to be among the organisations big and small who have been able to help – especially in the early stages.” Further support has come from The Prince’s Trust in the form of a 92ft, half million pound pilot schooner, Spirit, acquired by T2S for the princely sum of £1, which will enable longer voyages for up to 14 military sail trainees.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston finishes third in his Route du Rhum class

HAMPSHIRE sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston has achieved a podium finish in a gruelling transatlantic race – at the age of 75. The grandfather of five has completed the 3,542 nautical miles from St Malo in France to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in the prestigious Route du Rhum race. Knox-Johnston, who was the first person to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the planet in the 1960s, reached the finish earlier this evening. The race for top spot ended when Anne Caseneuve took that prize last week, but third represents a special achievement for Knox-Johnston, who admits the race has taken its toll. The founder of the Clipper Race told the routedurhum.com: “I will be back next time with a smaller boat. I am absolutely over the moon, ecstatic to get third. I was up against some really good competition in this class. "These last few days we have been racing very hard against each other and in the end there is no shame in being beaten by good people. And I was beaten by two very good people. I congratulate them. "My race was slow to start but got faster as I went along and it was great because I had three other boats in the same class who were close and we were all very equal, and so that made it great." "The hard bits were the first days and coming round the island at the end. "The competition was excellent, I loved watching to see how I was gaining or losing, that made it really fun. "The low point was the English Channel and last night was one to forget, it was pretty much pandemonium at times. I tore the reaching sail and had a Chinese gybe." "If I said in Saint Malo I felt 48 then perhaps tonight I feel 50 but no more!"

Tenby Sailing Club News

A stiff breeze that eased somewhat as the races wore on, together with choppy seas under a leaden sky, greeted the three intrepid crews that set forth on Sunday morning. Race officer Paul Evenden and rib driver Ieuan James set a triangular course with near perfect reaching angles (according to the RO!) for the two races run back to back. In the first race, the RS200 of Dan Jackson and Connor Keohane was first over the line and soon built a lead on the Osprey of Jaime Bohata; meanwhile Danny, in his Streaker, took a conservative starting approach, mooring up to the start mark for a few moments whilst he gauged the best route up the beat for his attack on the lead. The reaching angles meant that Dan and Connor in the asymetric boat, spinnaker up, soon built a commanding lead on the Osprey that chose not to fly their spinnaker. Danny was plugging away until a collision with a partially submerged floating object tore his rudder from its mountings and put paid to his chances. He was towed in by the safety rib with a little difficulty, due to some of his boat’s buoyancy tanks filling with water, through the holes left by the damaged rudder mountings. Whilst the towing operation went on and the sun came out, a second race was underway, once again won by Dan and Connor after a capsize caused by a tangled main sheet bridle put paid to Jaime’s chances. Winter Series Racing will continue until Boxing Day, weather permitting, with two races on Sunday mornings. Any dinghy sailors out there looking for some racing are welcome to attend. Membership taken out now will include all of next year, too, so the winter racing will effectively be free. Blues Night Saturday night’s Tenby Blues weekend performance of the five-piece band ‘Cottonmouth’ at the club was, once again, a roaring success, with the club crammed to capacity. Many thanks to the organisers, all who attended and especially Mr. Terry Evans and Mr. John Akrill for stepping into the breach and running the bar at the last minute, after Mike Stace was taken ill. Mike is now recovering and assures us he will back on the water and winning races again very soon. Forthcoming events Tonight (Friday) - Annual Prize-Giving Dinner at the Giltar Hotel, The Esplanade, Tenby, at 7 for 7.45 pm. Dinner, prize-giving and raffle, followed by a disco and bar until late. £26 per person. Dress code, black tie, lounge suit or Mess dress. Members have been emailed with full details. Tomorrow (Saturday) - Autumn International Rugby, Wales v New Zealand, kick-off 5.30 pm. Bar open from 5 pm. After that, moving seamlessly on to the club AGM beginning once the rugby is over. There are some vacancies on the committee and volunteers are sought to help in the running of the club. If any member out there would like to get involved please get in touch with any current committee member, and/or come to the AGM and speak up! Also, our membership secretary, Julia Dashfield, is relinquishing her post after many years service. Thanks Julia for all your work. That means we are looking for a replacement; get your application in quick! Junior Christmas Party - date to be confirmed. All juniors parents and helpers welcome. Club Christmas Party - December 20. Full details to follow. February 21 - Sailwave demonstration. One for the diary; there will be a demonstration of the Sailwave racing results software at the club on February 21; all welcome. Opening Hours The club is now open Friday and Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime. Website The club’s website can be found at www.tenbysailingclub.org.uk and includes a Facebook link and details of activities and sponsors. New members welcome; sailors, aspirant sailors and non sailors. We are a members club run by volunteers who try to involve all members in a variety of activities, both sailing and social. To enquire about joining call at the clubhouse, contact any member who will be pleased to help, or contact us on-line.

Glenridding Sailing Centre launches new website

GLENRIDDING Sailing Centre has launched a new website with the aim of keeping in touch with boat owners and sailing students. The 35-page website now has greater emphasis on social media and includes a ‘Launchers Area’ for the 150 plus people who keep their boat at the Centre during the sailing season. The centre said this will create “a friendly online community for folks to keep in touch during the winter.”

Aspiring young sailors awarded own boats and boards

For the second year running, aspiring young sailors have been awarded their very own boats and windsurfers, donated by the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST), the official charity partner of the RYA OnBoard programme. The 13 youngsters were selected from over 70 applications after competing in the RYA Zone and Home Country Championships which took place at nine venues across the UK this September. 'This is the second year we’ve teamed up with the JMST to run this scheme which is aimed at helping ambitious young sailors to progress in the sport. These youngsters have all shown huge enthusiasm, talent and commitment to the sport despite some of them being fairly new to sailing. This year we will award six Toppers, three Optimists, three Bic Technos and one Laser' said RYA OnBoard Operations Officer, Cat Ferguson. The boats and boards that the JMST have donated will provide these sailors, who may not have ordinarily had the opportunity, to progress their skills with the highest quality equipment to continue to participate in sailing. Ten year old William who sails at North Lincs and Humberside Sailing Club was delighted when he found out he was being gifted the use of his own BIC Techno. 'I really love windsurfing but always have to borrow my club’s kit, often having to search for my own board and sail. I love being outdoors meeting new friends and improving my skills in windsurfing every time I go.' Finlay (11) was awarded his very own Topper with the scheme last year. He said: 'This opportunity has allowed me to learn and compete with the kind of equipment we couldn’t otherwise afford. My mum and dad have made friends with other parents on the traveller circuit and weekends have been a fun and busy time for all of us'. The JMST will donate more than 50 single-handed junior pathway boats and boards to promising sailors over five years. Each year at least one young sailor will be selected from each of the nine RYA Zones and Home Countries, to receive two years of exclusive use of the boat or board which has been donated by the Trust. After which the boats or boards will be donated to the sailor’s original club or training centre to benefit club training programmes and enable other young sailors to benefit in the future and progress into club, regional and national racing activities. Cat concludes: 'We’d like to thank Bishop Skinner who once again are supporting the partnership as the official RYA OnBoard JMST marine insurer. Thanks also go to Topper, Laser, Boardwise and IBI Sailing for helping us to make this possible.' Run by the RYA, OnBoard is a grass roots programme which introduces sailing and windsurfing to young people aged eight to 18, through schools, youth groups and training centres. Over a ten year period OnBoard has introduced over 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting over 10% of them into regular participants. JMST seeks to help young sailors and youth sailing organisations to achieve their goals and was set up in the memory of leading Olympic sailor and 1996 Olympic silver medallist John Merricks. Ian Walker, John’s former sailing partner, JMST Trustee, double Olympic silver medallist and skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, commented, 'John Merricks did not come from a sailing family and learnt to sail at school. He was a fantastic sailor, but was as well known for his sense of fun as he was for his natural talent. Many people helped John on his way to achieving his Olympic Silver medal and the Trust set up in his name aims to support youth sailing at a grass roots level, hoping to encourage young sailors like these to follow in his footsteps.' Youngsters who have been selected for RYA OnBoard JMST awards are: • Manon Ellis, County Antrim Yacht Club, Co. Antrim • Abigail Cowley, Kielder Water Sailing Club, Northumberland • Philip Heywood, Coquet Shorebased Trust Windsurfing Club, Northumberland • William Russell, North Lincs and Humberside Sailing Club, North Lincolnshire • Molly Maciver, Clyde Windsurfing Club, Renfrewshire • Alistair Coombs, Loch Venacher Sailing Club, Perthshire • Dan Batty, Oxford and District Schools Sailing Association, Oxfordshire • James Smaggasgale, Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre, Middlesex • Kieran Andrews, St Mawes Sailing Club, Cornwall • Miles Ripley, Paignton sailing Club, Devon • Amelia Grant-Jones, Fishguard Bay Yacht Club, Pembrokeshire • Joshua Price, Solva Sailing Club, Dyfed • David Peaty, Worcestershire Schools Sailing and Canoe Association, Worcestershire

Rupert Holmes comments on Youth Initiatives at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week may be one of the world’s oldest regattas, but tradition does not hold back a large number of entries from some of the UK’s best young sailors. In 2014 these numbered more than 20 boats with their entire crews aged under 25, across a wide swath of both the dayboat classes in White Group and the bigger Black Group yachts. There were also further entries where the skipper was below 25, although other crew members may have been older. Both title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management and regatta organiser Cowes Week Limited are firmly behind supporting the youth element of the event and promoting it hard. “Quite simply, youth sailing is the future of the sport,” says Cowes Week Limited sales and marketing director Michelle Warner. “We’re right behind it, as are the yacht clubs, the classes and our official charity, Cowes-based UKSA, which is one of the UK’s foremost providers of sailing experiences to young people.” Richard Thornton, Chief Executive of UKSA, added: “At UKSA we use the power of the sea to make a change. From our main site in Cowes we have a wide reach, with over 9,000 young people a year benefiting from what we do, whether that’s encouraging an eight-year-old to get onto the water for the first time, to training the captain of a 3000gt superyacht, and everything in between.” “We used the money raised during this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week to give every Year 6 Island child a chance to try sailing with us, for free. We’re proud that we lead so many young people into sailing, help them develop their skills and ultimately become the world’s future yachtsmen and women.” Racing for young people Collectively, Cowes Week, title sponsor Aberdeen Asset Management, UKSA and the clubs and classes involved with the event are doing everything they can to provide pathways for young people to progress from dinghy sailing, which is very well supported by the Royal Yachting Association, with local, regional and national coaching to a high standard. However, only a very small number of the sailors in these programmes will join the Olympic Squad, leaving other talented sailors to seek alternative pathways within the sport. Of course, historically for many people Cowes Week has been about sailing with younger members of their family, but enabling young people to move to sailing independently in a boat of their own is an important next step. For the last 3 years Aberdeen Asset Management has supported youth sailing by introducing the Under 25 initiative and hotly contested Under 25 Trophy. By fully funding the entry fee and providing kit for an agreed number of crews, they helped to increase the numbers taking part by almost 10 per cent each year. More recently, even local businesses have become involved in initiatives to support young sailors. For instance, this year East Cowes Marina offered the young crews taking part in Aberdeen’s Under 25 initiative a 50 per cent reduction in berthing costs during Cowes Week. Organisers are looking at other ways in which they can make the event more cost-effective for youth sailors who are at a time in their lives when funds aren’t so readily available. Individual classes and local clubs are also doing much to promote sailing among used generations. The Etchells fleet, in which three of the 15 Cowes Week entries in 2014 were crewed by young sailors, goes further than many classes in this respect. Since 2012 they have made two fully funded boats available for youth teams each season. In addition, with support from the RYA, the class has worked with a total of 90 young sailors, including some of the UK’s most promising used talent, over the past three years. Much of this has been made possible by generous funding by the Class Admiral, Edward S Fort OBE. “What we offer tends to follow on from when young people leave home, often to become a student,” says David Franks, captain of the Cowes fleet. “At this stage their parents are less likely to be supporting them in dinghy racing, but at the same time they don’t have spare money of their own to spend on sailing.” The scheme also brings benefits to the class that are not always obvious from the outside. “We have also solved two common problems through populating many of the other boats in the fleet with young sailors as crew,” Franks adds. “Firstly young people who are hungry for success and want to take part in a full programme of racing are looking for boats to sail on. At the same time, owners who want to sail at a high level often find the friends they might invite to race are either not at that level, or are not sufficiently committed. “What’s great with the youth sailors is that they are talented, are prepared to commit to a season’s programme, and will help to look after the boat as well. It solves all the crew problems that owners often have. As well as all being very good sailors, they are also people who, if they were your daughter or son, you would be really proud of them.” While the class has a more extensive offering for youth sailors than many, the Etchells is by no means the only class to offer strong support for young sailors. There are many other classes and yacht clubs that have established pathways into keelboat and yacht racing for their younger members. The Squib class for instance, had eight sailors under 25 sailing in its 31-strong fleet in Cowes Week 2014. The Royal Victoria Yacht Club, home of the Isle of Wight’s Squib fleet for example, has club-owned boats that have been available to young sailors with crews selected to sail during Cowes Week. Similarly the Royal Yacht Squadron and Royal Thames Yacht Club’s fleet of modified J/80s that are a regular sight in the Solent during the summer and Queen Mary SC during the winter, have been a valuable resource for younger members’ racing. In Sussex the Shoreham Youth Team was started to encourage young teenagers to work as a team on a racing keelboat. Since 2008 it has operated as a rolling 18-month project, with the outgoing teams taking on the winter training for the next budding keelboat sailors. The aim is to compete successfully in Cowes Week, where the team’s boat is a regular podium finisher in both the Sonar Class and for the Under 25 trophy. Increasingly sailing has to compete with other activities for people’s valuable and limited spare time. Enthusiastic and skilled young ambassadors for the sport is an important means to spread the word and foster greater participation among a used generation of sailors. Aberdeen Asset Management’s Under 25 initiative, together with the work of the UKSA and the yacht clubs and class associations, is therefore helping to provide the sailors of the future for both Cowes Week and other events. Entries for the 2015 regatta, 8 – 15 August, are now open via the event website.