Rossendale Valley Sailing Club celebrates 50 years

Sailors, skippers and seamen will take to the waters at Rossendale Valley Sailing Club to celebrate 50 years. The club was founded in 1965 by a group of sailing enthusiasts from the Valley, including the a former journalist at the Rossendale Free Press. It now has more than 250 members, ranging from dedicated members in their eighties to young children just getting into the sport. Club bosses are planning a series of events to celebrate the anniversary over the summer, including an open day on the August Bank Holiday weekend. Membership secretary Andrew Ratcliffe, 46, said he hopes the events will encourage new members. He said: “When it was founded a group of men from the Valley said ‘let’s have a sailing club’ and Clowbridge was the nearest place with water. “It has attracted a lot of people from both Rossendale and Burnley over the years. “Our oldest member is still windsurfing in his eighties and we have a number of people in their seventies who sail and race dinghies. It’s a great little club to be honest.” Over five decades the club has attracted all sorts of members including members competing at a national level and several who compete in regional competitions. Dad-of-two Andrew has passed on the sailing bug to his children, who are also members of the club, which offers everything from windsurfing and sea sailing courses to instructor and skipper qualifications. During this anniversary year, Andrew hopes to see new faces who are both experienced in the sport and total novices. Club bosses also hope to gather boats of all classes, sizes and ages onto the lake for a special event this summer to commemorate the occasion. Andrew said: “We want to appeal to anyone who wants to get out on the water. It’s a great way of keeping fit and we have a lot of equipment members can hire. “People can get into the sport for a low price. Our members go out in all seasons and they love it. “Our ‘jewel in the crown’ is the weekend sessions run for children. It gets them out on the water and having fun. “It’s an unusual sport in that it’s about using your brain and strategy but is still quite physical. “I think this year is a great opportunity to encourage new people to get on the water. “I think people don’t know how accessible it is and quite cheap to get involved in."

Three Peaks Yacht Race preview

The Barmouth to Fort William Three Peaks Yacht Race, to take place this year from June 27th, combines yachting, mountain running and cycling into one of the greatest adventure challenges in British sport. Teams consist of three sailors and two runners, who set sail from Barmouth on the Welsh coast to Fort William in Scotland, via Caernarfon and Whitehaven, racing to the summits of Snowdon (3560ft) Scafell Pike (3208ft) and Ben Nevis (4408ft) on the way. The race now in its 38th year is one of the oldest adventure challenge races in the world. The first event in June 1977 featured just seven yachts, with only four able to complete the course and over the years a total of 500 teams have competed in the event, amongst them some famous faces including renowned sailors Robin Knox Johnston, Bob Fisher and Skip Novak, and the legendary fell runner Joss Naylor. The race has an international reputation and the sailing/mountain running idea has been copied in various locations around the world, but it is the original event that most aspire to, and those who do enter often return time and again. The course consists of 389 miles of testing coastal sailing, 24 miles of cycling and 60 miles of mountain running, with a total ascent of 14,000ft to the highest points in Wales, England and Scotland However, there have been some changes over the years as the race adapts to the times, and this year there are significant new rules in the Lake District section of the race. The cycle into Ennerdale from Whitehaven has been lengthened and racers will now leave their bikes at Black Sail Youth Hostel, running from there to the summit of Scafell Pike and back. Sailing times in Whitehaven will now also be taken once yachts are underway in the outer harbour, so that any waiting time caused by the tidal lock gate to the marina is not included in race time. All entries this year must have an IRC handicap certificate (these can be a bought just for the race if required). The race attracts competitive sailors and past winners who are aiming to win, and those more used to coastal cruising, who are in new and unfamiliar territory and just hope to finish, avoiding sand banks, inshore rocks and whirlpools along the way! The old hands know rowing the yachts will be critical at some point, and the new comers will not quite believe it, until the moment comes! The athletes include triathletes, marathon, mountain and ultra runners, adventure racers and those who just plan to walk up the mountains. The 2015 race begins from Barmouth on Saturday June 27th, and you can find out more on the new race website. This now includes race videos, a notice board for putting teams together and a complete historical results archive. You can also download the race entry form there and entry costs £850 per team for the week long adventure of a lifetime.

Trip of a life time sailing the Caribbean for disabled man from Seaford, UK

A disabled man who has no control of his arms, hands or legs has sailed around the Caribbean with the help of the Jubilee Sailing Trust. Sam Taylor, 27, from Seaford, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, was diagnosed aged three months after catching a chest infection which led to complications and brain damage. The Jubilee Sailing Trust is a not-for-profit organisation which brings together the able-bodied and disabled on holidays which require team work. The ex Seaford Head student graduated last summer from the University of Brighton with a degree in Digital Media and was determined to travel independently. Sam said:“Being hoisted 50ft in the air in my wheelchair in a harness up to the crow’s nest as my crew were on deck heaving me up by ropes, was an experience that I will never forget. “I was constantly learning new things. One of my main tasks on board was to lead my team, giving them instructions to keep a steady rhythm going to successfully hoist the sails up. “Since leaving university I wanted to go travelling. This was an opportunity to see the Caribbean. I have always wanted to see this part of the world. The trust allowed me to do this. “Normally I feel nervous and apprehensive doing something out of the ordinary. However I didn’t get this feeling when joining the ship.”

Burgh sailors claim top spot at awards

The event, held at the Glasgow Science Centre, was to recognise the achievements of Scotland’s volunteers, coaches, instructors, officials, clubs and performance sailors. The Helensburgh winners were: Nikki Stewart (Elizabeth Mackay award for female endeavours in sailing), Arlene McNeilage (Instructor of the Year), Laurie MacDonald (Coach of the Year) and Calum Rosie won Youth Sailor of the Year. Nikki Stewart, 28, from Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club said of her award: “I am really pleased to win the award tonight. I wasn’t expecting it at all but I am very proud to win it. Awards like these are very important and it is nice to be recognised for the work that you do. “Everyone puts in a lot of time and the sport wouldn’t be what it is if it wasn’t for volunteers”. Laurie MacDonald wasn’t there to collect her award on the night as she was down in Weymouth coaching more of the UK’s best young sailors in the optimist class. On hearing the news Laurie said: “I’m so delighted to be receiving this award and thank you very much to those who nominated and awarded this to me” Competition for the RYA Scotland Youth Sailor of the Year sponsored was extremely tough with outstanding results coming from a number of Scotland’s young sailors in 2014. Calum Rosie clinched the award after claiming wins at the Inland, National and World Championships in the Topper Class. Again Calum was training down south over the weekend but his dad, Neil Rosie, was there to collect his trophy from Guy Dale Smith, Head of Marine for Caledonian MacBrayne. The final celebration of the night was for news received all the way from Miami. Luke Patience originally from Rhu but now based down in Weymouth with the GB Sailing Team won gold in the 470 class with Elliot Willis at the World Cup Regatta in Miami. Their gold medal was one of the eight medals won at the regatta from the GB Team.

Charity which takes disabled children sailing near Plymouth receives £600

A CHARITY which takes disabled children sailing in Plymouth has been given £600 by a city centre store. The Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Trust takes disabled children sailing in the waters near Plymouth, giving them self reliance, confidence and knowledge of the marine environment. Tesco Metro has chosen the charity to receive £600 from their Tesco Charity Trust Scheme. Charity organiser Tony Winter said: “We take about 100 disabled children sailing every year and all our volunteer crews are very pleased that Tesco have decided to support our efforts. Store Manager Simon Harding said: “We are delighted to be able to support The Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Trust charity as it does some fantastic work with the children in the Plymouth community. “I was lucky enough to see first hand how much benefit the children get from this charity and the invaluable experience it provides.”

World Cup: GB finish with eight medals in Miami

Britain won four medals on the final day of racing to finish with eight from the World Cup Regatta in Miami. Luke Patience and two-time world champion Elliot Willis were victorious in the men's 470 class. A broken kicker for Nick Thompson saw him miss out on gold in the laser class and slip down to silver. There were also silvers for Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark (women's 470) and Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves in the Nacra 17 event. Giles Scott and Bryony Shaw had unassailable leads going into Saturday's final day of their competitions, having both secured their gold medals on Friday. World and European champion Scott, unbeaten since returning to Finn class sailing 15 months ago, finished second in his final race to beat nearest rival Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic of Croatia by 25 points. Shaw was 10th in the final race of the RS:X women's windsurfing class to successfully defend her title. There were also two silvers in the Paralympic classes on Friday. Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell finished second in the Skud, while Megan Pascoe was runner-up in the 2.4mR class.

Wimbleball sailing club to host the 'Exmoor Beastie' race

WIMBLEBALL Sailing Club in Exmoor is to host the final races in a new competition to find the best sailors in the South West. Roadford, Starcross and Wimbleball Clubs are holding races on consecutive Sundays in March to find out just how good the sailors are in the South-West. The first race, the Roadford Rocket, is a new event and will be hosted by the Roadford Lake Sailing Club and is due to take place on March 8. The second race will be the 23rd annual Starcross Steamer Pursuit race, sponsored by Exe Sails, to be held on March 15 on the River Exe. The third race in the series, the Exmoor Beastie, will be hosted by Wimbleball Sailing Club on March 22 at Wimbleball Reservoir in Exmoor National Park. The race is a three-hour pursuit and prizes will be awarded at Wimbleball after the Beastie to the first three competitors who complete all the events. All the events will be using the Sailjuice handicap numbers and will be open to all monohull dinghies with a handicap from Cadets to Foiling Moths (1350 to 500). For more information on the Roadford Rocket, contact rickwillows@ gmail.com;

Win a life changing sailing experience

The Town Council, in association with the Tall Ships Trust, have launched the Barry Marine Youth Award for 2015 which awards an all-expenses paid voyage, in UK waters, sailing as a member of the crew aboard the tall ship Stavros S Niarchos (or its successor), or aboard a 72ft ocean going Challenger yacht. The award, available to Barry residents aged from 12 to 25 years, will offer the opportunity to make new friends and enjoy new and unique challenges. Applicants need to complete an application form and submit a short written statement of up to 500 words about “What winning the competition would mean to me and how it would develop my skills and abilities.” Applications are welcome in English or Welsh. Deadline for applications is Sunday, March 15 and winners will be selected by March 31. Further details and application forms can be obtained from Barry Town Council on 01446 738663 or by emailing info@barrytowncouncil.gov.uk Applications should be sent to Barry Town Council/Tall Ships Competition, Council Offices, 7 Gladstone Road, Barry, CF62 8NA.

World class sailors to arrive in Cardiff as the city prepares to host the Extreme Sailing Series for a fourth time

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Sailing success

OLYMPIC sailing star Sir Ben Ainslie accepted an official Guinness World Record Certificate for Bart’s Bash, the charity event which set a new record for largest sailing race in 24 hours. An incredible 9,484 boats took to the water to race at 237 locations worldwide for the race in September, with the first-time event raising £366,391.95 for the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. The charity was founded in memory of Olympic gold medallist Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, who had spent time training in Gosport, who died aged 36 in a sailing accident. Bart’s Bash was created to remember the sailor and to raise funds for the charity’s work in sailing. Sir Ben, who is one of the founding trustees of the foundation, received the Guinness World Record Certificate for Bart’s Bash at the CWM FX London Boat Show 2015. Sir Ben, who is building his America’s Cup sailing team base in Old Portsmouth, said: ‘It’s a real pleasure to accept this certificate. No-one could have imagined how big the event would become. ‘It is a reflection of how much Bart meant to people across the world, and how sailing can unite people.’

Sonning schoolboy sails for Great Britain at Mirror World Championships

Fourteen-year-old Henry Heath competed for Great Britain this month at the Mirror World Championships in South Africa, and at the African Championships the week before. Joined by his team mate James Dickinson, the pair made the most of the two weeks bagging second place in the African Championships Under 16 boat, and fourth place in the World Championships Under 16 boat. Henry said: “I was very proud to represent my country. It was a real honour – and it gave me a great feeling.” Henry, from Henley, has been sailing with James who attends Royal Grammar School, in Guildford, for the past year and a half after they met at the Itchenor Sailing Club on Chichester Harbour. They qualified to sail for Britain after their success last summer when they finished first Junior boat and third overall at the General Mirror European Championships. Both the African and World Championships took place on the huge Theewater Dam in the heart of the Cape wine and fruit growing-region of South Africa. With Cape sunshine and plenty of wind, the conditions were perfect for the gathering of 60 boats from the Mirror fleets of the UK, Australia, South Africa, Japan and France. The wind blew hard for the first two days of the African championships, conditions in which Henry and James thrive, and the boys achieved a first, second and fourth. Lack of wind caused the last day to be cut short, and Henry and James finished the regatta fourth overall and second Under 16 boat. After two rest days for the sailors, the World Championships began. Despite testing conditions Henry and James finished fourth Under 16 boat and 15th overall. Henry’s personal highlights of the trip were “the chance to meet a lot of people from other countries and winning one of the races at the African Championships”. The events provided the Sonning schoolboy with a number of memorable moments, the most bizarre of which was having to abandon a race because there was a Cobra in the lake. Henry and James will continue competing next year but are upgrading to a “bigger, faster and more complicated” boat - 420s.

Hayling Island Sailing Club won ‘Club of the Year’ award for 2014

Hayling Island Sailing Club has won the coveted Yachts and Yachting ‘Club of the Year’ award for 2014 and will receive its prize at a prestigious awards ceremony to be held at the London Boat Show on 15th January 2015. The Yachts and Yachting awards aim to highlight the best performances, products, clubs and events of the last 12 months and to be named ‘Club of the Year’ is a tremendous accolade for the committee, staff and members of HISC who hosted an action-packed year in 2014. Consistently good weather, record levels of sailing activity as well as the highest ever membership levels meant that 2014 was a hugely successful year for the club. 2014 was the year HISC hosted the Moth National and World Championships; possibly the most high profile event the club has ever organized, and a record turnout for the class. The two years of meticulous planning ensured an extremely well run event both on and off the water and the huge level of media interest that the event secured was testament to its worldwide success. HISC also hosted a number of other extremely successful events in 2014 including the RS200 and 420 National Championships, The RS Classes Southern Championships with over 200 boats as well as a busy programme of open and grand prix events for a wide selection of dinghy classes. All this on top of the normal 6 series Open Pursuit races, Saturday and Sunday club racing series, Family Fun Week, the largest ever Youth Race Week, and a busy schedule of training and youth events held throughout the year! Another highlight of 2014 was the launch of the hugely successful Get Racing Club; an initiative which saw a large number of newcomers get on the water to learn key racing techniques, build confidence and gain valuable racing skills in a relaxed and informal format from experienced volunteer racing ‘mentors’. Commenting on the award, HISC Commodore Greg Lamb said, 'This is a fantastic and well deserved achievement for everyone involved with Hayling Island Sailing Club. From the committee members who give their valuable time and experience to assist in the running of the club, to the dedicated and hard-working team of permanent staff and of course the enthusiastic members who get such enjoyment from the varied racing schedule and many social events held at the club. 2014 was a memorable year for all sorts of reasons and to win the Yachts and Yachting ‘Club of the Year’ Award is the icing on the cake for us!'

Disabled sailors need volunteer helpers

A PORTLAND sailing scheme supporting sailors with disabilities is encouraging more people to volunteer as their New Year’s resolution. Chesil Sailability, based at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, is looking for people to assist in a variety of roles. Volunteers will have an opportunity to work by the sea during the summer whilst making a difference. The group is currently reflecting on their first full summer season. Weekly sessions ran from April to September with almost 50 sailors taking to the water. This included people who had never been sailing before. Some sailors have since made their own personal debut on the racing scene. A special ceremony was also held in July where £12,000 worth of new sailing dinghies were launched. Money from the Rod Shipley Memorial Fund, formed by Elma Shipley and the Chesil Trust, helped pay for two Hansa 303 boats. Hugh de Iongh, chairman of Chesil Sailability, said: “Looking ahead to 2015, we want to build on the success of this year, sharing the amazing experience of being afloat with more and more local people with disabilities. We want to support our sailors to have fantastic exp-eriences, whether pottering about in boats, or racing. “Our Race Team is competing in the Europeans and we are hosting the Nationals in 2015, so there is plenty to look forward to and get training for. “But Chesil Sailability really is for anyone with any kind of disability who wants to sail at any level.” The group is entirely run by volunteers. Over the winter, training is planned to ensure all volunteers feel confident in their roles and organisers stress a knowledge of how to sail is not essential for taking part. Roles up for grabs can range from reception, administration, looking after the boats, to hoisting sailors in and out of boats on the pontoon. Other roles could include coaching and safety cover on the water. If you would like to find out more information or would like to try sailing, please get in touch with Chesil Sailability by calling 07543 656390 or emailing info@chesilsailability.org.uk.