Sutton Mill Adventure base sailing open day for Cerebral Palsy with RYA

Sutton reservoir is hoping to welcome some new visitors in a special initiative backed by the national sailing body. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA)supported by London 2012 Paralympic medalist and British Sailing Team sailor Niki Birrell, is hoping to get more people with cerebral palsy into the sport. On Saturday 4th July from 10am, The Mill Adventure Base is opening its doors for people with cerebral palsy to have a go at sailing as the centre runs free taster sessions in specially adapted boats. The Mill is a recognised RYA Sailability centre aimed at introducing people with disabilities into the activity and encouraging them to sail regularly. Born with cerebral palsy, Niki, now 28, is a five-time world sailing champion, and, with his sailing partner, Alexandra Rickham, is currently training towards Rio 2016. Niki said: “Sailing is one of the few sports where people with disabilities can compete on a completely level playing field as able-bodied people. The Mill’s cerebral palsy taster day is being supported by CP Sport, the country’s leading national disability sports organisation supporting people with cerebral palsy to reach their sporting potential. The Mill Adventure Base is a purpose built, urban adventure centre which is part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Outdoor and Environmental Education Service and conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. If you are an individual, family or local community group interested in getting involved in The Mill’s taster sessions call 01623 556110 or email:Outdoor.environmental@nottscc.gov.uk for more information or to book a place for the day. For more information about RYA Sailability visit www.rya.org.uk/sailability.

The Lizard lifeboatman to complete 900-mile solo sailing challenge

A MEMBER of the Lizard lifeboat crew is taking part in the Jester Baltimore Challenge single-handed yacht race from Plymouth to Baltimore in Ireland. Simon Fayers will then sail to a position just off the continental shelf, a round trip of almost 900 nautical miles, in his 26ft yacht. Simon, 53 and an experienced sailor who owns his yacht, Shebeca, has been a member of the lifeboat crew for years. He has taken part in a number of single-handed races but this time he will be completing his challenge without any electronic navigational aids, only using a sextant and compass. Mr Fayers hopes to complete the challenge in less than ten days, during which he will be celebrating his 54th birthday. He is also raising money for the lifeboat and the Fishermen's Mission. He said: "I've wanted to sail out to the continental shelf, where there's little commercial shipping, for a long time. "I always thought it would be really good to learn how to navigate using only a sextant, and this challenge was what spurred me on. "As a lifeboat crew member we get called to yachts which have been disabled and are unable to use their electronic navigational aids. "I think it's great to be able to use just the basics of a sextant, compass and chart." He is due to leave the Helford River on board Shebeca on Wednesday to sail to Plymouth before the race starts on June 14. Donations can be made at www.uk.virgingivingmoney.com/simonfayers

Hannah White sets Guinness World Record for solo crossing of English Channel

Hannah White has become the fastest person to cross the Channel in a single-handed dinghy. She completed the gruelling task in a foiling Moth. Starting from Cap de Gris in France, she landed in Dover, England, after crossing the 24 mile English channel in a record time of 3 hours, 44 minutes and 39 seconds. Hannah, a relative beginner in hydrofoil sailing, only started to learn how to master this unique boat in February. Training for this Channel crossing challenge is a precursor to her ultimate quest: to break the Women’s Speed Sailing World Record over one nautical mile next year in a unique, purpose-built sailing hydrofoil. A keen adventurer, Hannah has previously sailed the Atlantic solo three times, participated in the gruelling Haute Route Cycle Race across the French Alps and kayaked 205 miles across the rivers of England. She has been a Land Rover Global Ambassador since 2013. Hannah White said: “I’m much more used to an arduous 3000-mile slog across oceans as opposed to a 24-mile sprint across the Channel, so the transition has been a real eye-opener. Speed sailing requires a very different physiology to long distance races, so this was really an opportunity for me to build my skills over a shorter distance in a hydrofoiling boat”. Mark Cameron, Jaguar Land Rover Global Experiential Marketing Director said: “This Channel crossing highlights Hannah’s incredible ability to push herself beyond the limits of normal capability. As a global ambassador for Land Rover, Hannah embodies all the characteristics that are so central to our brand; strength, determination and an ability to go above and beyond.” Hannah will be attempting to break the Women’s Speed Sailing Record over one nautical mile in the first quarter of 2016 in Speedbird, her state-of-the-art, unique hydrofoil sailboat. Land Rover is collaborating in the development of the Speedbird boat, drawing from its unparalleled innovation, engineering expertise and industry-leading facilities to ensure the boat is capable of breaking the current world record. Hannah will be exhibiting the Speedbird boat at the Cardiff Act of the Extreme Sailing Series on the 18-21 June 2015.

Miss Isle sailor completes Capital Venture voyage

Inspirational disabled teenager Natasha Lambert has completed her voyage from the Isle of Wight to London using sip-puff technology. The young cerebral palsy sufferer, who is on a fundraising drive to start new sip-puff school for disabled sailors, reached central London’s only marina, St Katharine Docks today. Now the 17-year-old athertoid cerebral palsy sufferer, will swap her specialist boat for her Hart Wallker to complete a journey on foot around the Square Mile of the City of London. Natasha left her home port of Cowes on Saturday 23 May and sailed up the coast past Dover to reach London in her Artemis 20 Mini Transat boat Miss Isle, equipped with sip and puff technology designed by her father.The technology enables Natasha to manoeuvre her using a straw that turns the rudder right when sipped and left when puffed. Miss Isle’s Capital Venture aims to raise funds for a new charity being set-up to teach disabled people to sail using sip and puff technology at the ‘Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff sailing’. The event finale will be a charity fundraising reception held at St Katharine Docks. Capital Venture is the latest in what is becoming a long list of achievements for Natasha. In 2014, she undertook the ‘Sea and Summit’ challenge which saw her sailing more than 500 miles from Cowes to South Wales and climbing Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. William Bowman, marina director at St Katharine Docks, said: ‘Natasha is a truly inspiring youngster who is raising awareness and money to create a new charity to help others with disabilities to learn to sail. ‘We would like to wish Natasha and her team every success, and are only too pleased to host the London leg of this fantastic challenge.’

Challenger sailing group given equipment boost

A HELENSBURGH sailing group for people with disabilities received a boost recently when it was given new equipment which will help members make better use of the water. Members and helpers from the Challenger Sailing group met to receive the launching trolley, which was made by Babcock Enterprises and given to the group free of charge. The trolley works by helping to launch the boats into the water and has a dolley wheel at the front, which allows for better manouevering into the water. Chris Jones, chief instructor at Helensburgh Sailing Club, said the new equipment would be a boost to the existing facilities at Helensburgh Sailing Club. He added: “Sailing is the only time they can compete on a level ground with able bodied people because once they’re in the water their disabilities don’t matter. “We cover a wide range of disabilities and we also have four men from the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme which is going to help out the users.” Helensburgh Challenger Group is a registered charity which was first formed 30 years ago and is the only group of its kind in Scotland. It currently has about eight active sailors and provides a range of facilities to enable disabled people to swim, including an RIB (rigid inflatable boat) – a kind of dinghy which the group purchased last year thanks to funding from the lottery, Waitrose and some contributions from local clubs. The RIB allows the instructors to go into into the water before the sailors so that they can guide the sailors back to shore if they get stuck. Aside from a team of instructors, the group also receives help from volunteers from schemes like the Duke of Edinburgh. Joanna Martin, the current chairwoman of the Challenger Sailing Group, said sailing was ‘therapeutic’. She added: “It’s absolutely a good thing to be involved with, it’s very social. "We hold a range of fundraising events throughout the year and have had barbecues as well as a swishathon, a ladies clothes swap event.” Joanna was a keen rower before she had an accident about nine years ago which put her in a wheelchair. She said it had been great to get into sailing. She added: “The trolley will be able to launch the boats into the water so it’s obviously something which we’ll be able to use for a long time to come.”

Stone dad takes well-earned rest during sailing challenge around the UK

DAD Michael Goodwin will take a well-earned two week rest as part of his bid to sail around the UK to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The 59-year-old, from Stone, is one of a group of sailors taking on the challenge which is due to be completed in 2016. The team set off from Southampton on May 17 and has so far made it to Harwich, in Essex. Now the group will rest for two weeks before continuing on to Felixstowe, in Suffolk, on June 14. Michael – whose son Daniel, aged 34, suffers from Cystic Fibrosis – hopes to raise £6,000 for the charity.

Disabled teenage sailor, Natasha Lambert, is en route to London for her latest daring charity challenge.

In her specially-adapted boat Miss Isle Too, Natasha is sailing 231 miles to the centre of London.

Natasha, aged 17 from the Isle of Wight, set sail on Saturday, 23 May, from her berth at Cowes Yacht Haven, heading east towards the mouth of the river Thames. After passing through Tower Bridge to St. Katherine’s Docks, Natasha will then swap her boat for her special walking aid and walk the square mile of the City of London. Her latest challenge aims to raise funds and awareness for the Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff Sailing charity, recently launched by Natasha. Ben Ferris, marina development manager of Cowes Yacht Haven, said: ‘It is our honour to support Natasha and her incredible journeys. We are very proud to help give Miss Isle Too a home here at Cowes Yacht Haven. ‘She is a true inspiration to us all here and to all the people who berth with us. We do all we can to help her and the very worthy charity she has founded.’ Natasha was born with athetoid cerebral palsy that affects her limbs and confines her to a wheelchair. She had always enjoyed sailing as a passenger but was desperate to helm a boat alone. In 2010, her father Gary built a system that would allow Natasha to control her Artemis 20, Miss Isle, and Mini Transat, Miss Isle Too, with a single straw. She now wants to allow other youngsters to take to the water using her “sip and puff” method through her charity, The Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff Sailing. Natasha has since carried out three extraordinary challenges, including last year’s Sea and Summit challenge, which saw her sail 500 miles to Wales to climb the highest peak in Southern Britain, Pen Y Fan. Natasha’s mother Amanda, said: ‘We have to give our tremendous thanks to Cowes Yacht Haven for the support they have shown Natasha over the years. This challenge would not be possible without everybody’s help, it takes a whole team of passionate people.’ Follow Miss Isle on Facebook, sponsor Natasha at www.gofundme.com/t2frf8/donate Read more at http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/miss-isle-too-on-courageous-charity-challenge-21482#iQ6ixflAi17tDdt7.99

Fools Gold – to the victor the spoils: Silvers Marine Scottish Series 2015

Congratulations all round to Robert McConnell and the crew of Fools Gold on winning the Series overall trophy for their performance in IRC Class 2 at the 2015 Silvers Marine Scottish Series regatta. After four days, 11 races and some of the best sailing in Scotland, the crew certainly had the luck of the Irish taking the overall title, along with winning IRC Class 2. Race organisers awarded the coveted trophy to Fools Gold based on the best performance in the tightest class. And that’s not all, the Waterford Harbour Sailing team received the Crawford McInnes Trophy sponsored by Hempel Paints for the best under 25 helm. They also take home the trophy for the best IRC class boat. Fools Gold presentation copy 2 While Silvers Marine Scottish Series’ main sponsor, Jamie McGarry, may be disappointed to see the trophy go over the water to Ireland, you can be sure both he and Colin Moore will be back to fight for it again next year. Jamie, who has just announced Silvers Marine will sponsor the regatta again next year, praised the race officers Stuart Childerley, John Readman and Alan Cassels for their smooth management of the regatta. The race teams on both courses were excellent and it is testament to them that all races were sailed and none cancelled. In IRC Class 1 it was Steven Cowie’s Zephyr who came out on top. This was a hotly contested class all weekend and Jamie McGarry and Colin Moore’s Eala of Rhu, lying in third place overnight, had an outstanding final day. However, it was Zephyr who claimed the victory and it was wonderful to see Scotland’s three Commodore’s Cup team boats ending the regatta in the top three places, with Rod Stuart and William Ram’s Aurora taking the final podium position. In IRC Class 2, and there was just one point in it as overall champions Fools Gold stayed ahead of Sloop John T and Storm who both finished on 28 points. In IRC Class 4, Craig Latimer who has battled all week, settled for a single point victory over Trastada with Irish hopefuls Landbay Rules coming in in third on 22 points. Craig won this class last year in his previous boat Wildebeest IV and will be delighted to have snatched victory again this year. CYCA 5 This class was dominated by Geoff and Norman Howison in their new boat Local Hero. Consistent sailing by Enigma saw them in second and a great regatta for Ian McNair in First By Farr saw the crew clinch third. CYCA 6 and the veteran Valhalla of Ashton, competing in every Scottish Series, topped the table again this year. She looked strong all weekend and was followed home by She of the North and Garth Wilson’s Zebedee who took a very credible third. CYCA 8 Restricted Sail saw all change in the top two, with Windhound pulling out an ace in the last day to beat Jochr and with Eureka IV taking third. CYCA 9 Restricted Sail – well done to Halcyon who had a comfortable win over Lyrebird with Poppy in third. Sigma 33 Series had tight racing across the regatta but on the final day Bradshaw and Gallagher did what was needed to stay ahead of Leaky Roof 2 and Donald McLaren’s Sigmatic which took the third spot. National Sonata One Design and Steve Goacher’s Eric the Boat dominated this class all weekend. However Old School had a great regatta to end up a credible second with White Magic in third. Sadly, this class saw last year’s winner Murray Caldwell in Red Hot Poker have to withdraw on day one of the event with a broken rig. VX One, this class had some tight racing but Ovington Boats held their nerve to finish ahead of Robbers Dog and Zhik. J70 Iain Aitken in boats.com dominated this class with straight firsts across the regatta. He was followed home by Jacuzzi and Django to win the Scottish Championship. Hunter 707 More T Vicar stayed one point clear of Rammie to take the class ahead of Black Sheep in third.

Crews race across Channel from Falmouth

YACHTS lined up at Royal Cornwall Yacht Club for a race 95 miles south to Roscoff in France. The opening Coastal and Offshore Yacht Racing Series meet of the year saw seven crews take part with all making it across the Channel to the Brittany town. In almost perfect weather conditions, the boats crossed the shipping lanes in westerly winds and a misty night. Along the way, many of the competitors reported seeing dolphins and short-finned pilot whales in the sea. The first yacht arrived after 13 hours on the water with Sarabande, skippered by Rob Mably, winning the IRC Class. Just In Time and her captain Mark Humphrey won the Handicap race and IRC Two Class went to Afrita, manned by Andrew Leming and crew.

Sevenoaks school pupil Cossie Lewis will represent Great Britain in sailing championships

A Sevenoaks school pupil will pit her wits against more than 250 of the continent's best young sailors after being selected to represent Great Britain. Cossie Lewis booked her place in the eight-strong British team for July's Magic Marine Optimist European Championships after impressing at the selection trails in 2012. The Optimist junior sailing class is widely regarded as the breeding ground for future international sailing success with four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie a former Optimist sailor. Cossie Lewis has been selected to represent Great Britain The championships get underway on Friday, July 17, with a total of five days of racing before the prizes are presented on Thursday, July 23. Some 255 sailors from 37 nations, including from outside Europe, will be racing on Cardigan Bay. Cossie, 13, who competes for both the Sevenoaks School Sailing Club and Bosham SC in West Sussex, admits she can’t wait to get to Pwllheli in North Wales, where the championships will be held. She said: “The Europeans is the biggest event I have been selected for to date. After last year's Nationals I sat down with my coach, Matt Rainback, and discussed my goal, which was to get to the European Championships. All my racing and training during the last few months was focussed towards this goal, so I was thrilled to achieve it! "I am really looking forward to the event, particularly sailing against such tough international competition. I’m still working out my goal, however ideally it would be to get into Gold fleet, which is the top third of all boats for the final series.” Cossie has previously been selected for British teams to compete in major Optimist regattas in Braassemermeer in The Netherlands (2014 and 2015), while she says her best recent achievement was coming 30th out of 538 competitors at the International Palamos Optimist Trophy regatta in Spain in February. This will be the first time in the Championship’s official 32-year history that the Optimist Europeans will be held in Great Britain, and only the second time the event has been hosted on UK waters since Belfast in 1993.

Push the Boat Out 2015 starts today!

This weekend marks the start of RYA Push the Boat 2015 with sailing clubs and training centres across the nation offering free and discounted taster opportunities for all to ‘have a go’. More than 340 venues will be taking part in the national event, providing everyone, regardless of age, background or experience, with the chance to get out on the water and discover the sport of sailing. The week-long Push the Boat Out 2015 will run from tomorrow, Saturday 9 May, to Saturday 17 May. All you need for any of the open days or ‘try sailing’ sessions is warm clothing, soft soled shoes and a waterproof if it’s raining. The clubs and centres will provide everything else! Booking may be required for some of the activities. Jackie Bennetts, RYA club support advisor, said: ‘RYA Push the Boat Out provides a fantastic opportunity to show people just how easy it is to get involved in sailing and windsurfing locally. ‘People think it’s an expensive sport but the reality is you don’t even need to own your own boat! A family of four can be members of a local club for as little as £10-£15 a month and most clubs have boats you can borrow for a morning, afternoon or evening from as little as £3-5 or sometimes free depending on the club or centre.’ Last year 260 clubs and centres in Britain hosted Push the Boat Out events with 17,000 people trying sailing or windsurfing for the first time over one weekend. For full details about what’s going on near you visit www.rya.org.uk/go/ptbo

Celebrations in order as Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre reaches first birthday

CELEBRATIONS are in order as the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre reaches its first birthday. The centre is inviting the local community to take part in the celebration, which takes places next Saturday, May 9. From 11am, there will be opportunities to sail on the Olympic waters with free sailing tasters for children aged five and over. There will also be the opportunity to have a go at climbing and a cardboard boat race will take place at 2pm. The event offers a host of other fun free activities for all ages and a visit from Weymouth and Portland mayor Kate Wheller and her Consort Mr Michael Wheller. The centre is owned by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation and operates as a not-for-profit sailing centre at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Dorset-based gold medal-winning Olympian Andrew Simpson, affectionately known as Bart by friends and family, tragically died in a training ground accident as he prepared for the Americas Cup in San Francisco in 2013. The foundation was set up by Simpson’s friends and family in his honour and aims to support programmes around the world which promote Andrew’s and the Olympic values. New centre manager, Alex Porter, who was appointed in February, said there were ‘some fantastic times’ ahead at the centre. Alex added: “I’m really looking forward to working with the experienced and enthusiastic team here, running not only exciting new sailing courses but also the variety of charitable programmes. These programmes include Bart’s Inspire programme, Sail for Life, Aiming High and the popular Rod Shipley 'sail for a Fiver' programme. “I’m particularly looking forward to meeting local people who may not have been to centre yet, and I’m sure they will love what we have on offer. "We have also introduced youth sailing clubs which take place on Saturdays throughout the year. “Bart’s Sailing Club on Saturday mornings and Bart’s Racing Club on Saturday afternoons will be an opportunity for young people to come along to the centre, to develop their sailing skills and make new friends.” The centre offers the charity the opportunity to develop sailing programmes in line with the foundations objectives. In the centre’s first 12 months, it has offered more than 1500 subsidised places on its charitable programmes and is aiming to double that number this year. The centre also receives an annual grant from the foundation, allowing it to support those aged five to 24 years from schools and groups to sail. For more information visit andrewsimpsonsailing.co.uk

Himley Hall Sailing Club getting set for fundraising race

HIMLEY Lake will be full of sails next weekend as people take to the water to raise cash for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The six hour race on Saturday May 9 will be the first big event of the season for members of Himley Hall Sailing Club. Several teams from the club will take part in the sponsored long distance race, as well as pupils from Ellowes Hall School - which has recently introduced sailing as an option in PE - and Aldridge and Dudley Sailing Clubs. RNLI members will be acting as starters for the event, which is now in its 39th year and has raised more than £90,000 to date. Organiser Alan Dean said: “We’re hoping that this year’s event will be really big. The RNLI is such a worthy cause. "If there are other sailing clubs out there who would like to enter, there’s still time. Just contact the club, we’d be delighted to have you aboard.” The club is also hosting a taster day on May 16 for anyone who would like to try sailing. To book a place, call Tony Sutton on 07774 818449.