Alice 4 Charter - Thames Sailing Barge

Disabled sailing teen Natasha ‘Miss Isle’ Lambert successfully scaled the 2,907ft Pen Y Fan

Torquay car park attendant prepares for gruelling charity sailing challenge

A TORQUAY car park attendant is busy planning and preparing for a gruelling sailing challenge. David Birch, who works MDL's Torquay Marina car park, intends to single-handedly cross the 75 miles from Guernsey to Torquay in Rosco, his nine foot Laser Pico dinghy, to raise money for Rowcroft Hospice in May. The hospice was recommended to David as his sponsored charity by friends. Although David has lots of experience on yachts he has less than two years experience of single-handed dinghy sailing. Related content David said: "I just think that if you're going to do something for charity then it should be a challenge, something that you have to work hard to complete and worthy of people donating money to. "This trip will take around 14 hours which in itself is a challenge when you're sailing a single-handed dinghy. "It's the logistics that can be as problematic as the endurance aspect." David will have a support boat alongside him that will carry supplies and be there in case of emergencies, but David does plan to carry as much as he can in Rosco. He added: "I've got one of those army jackets which should be able to store a fair amount and I'll also have a dry bag inside the dinghy for the storage of provisions." David hopes to reach and exceed his £5,000 target and has set up a JustGiving page to organise the donations. Mike Smith, manager at Torquay Marina, said: "We're all so proud of David for taking on this challenge, it's not an easy one and he's doing it for such a good cause that is so very close to many within the local community. "We wish him every success and will do anything we can to support him." You can follow David's challenge via his YouTube channel and donate online.

Geoff Holt from Fareham will sail 27,000 miles around the world

He is the disabled sailor who took on the Atlantic alone. And now he has set his sights even higher. Geoff Holt, who was awarded an MBE in 2010 for services to disabled sailing, plans to circumnavigate the globe in an unprecedented endeavour. The 49 year old who lives in Wallington, Fareham, explained the inspiration behind his Accessible Oceans project: “I’ve done a lot of sailing adventures and I’m very keen to make our oceans more accessible. I’m quite familiar with people who sail on lakes and rivers, but the opportunities for disabled people on oceans around the world are very few. “I propose to sail around the world in a wheelchair on a yacht for three reasons; to promote yacht recreation, vocation and therapy. "I've been lucky enough to sail the oceans several times and I know how special it is. I'm conscious that disabled people are excluded so this will redress that - it's a global problem. "At each of the stopover points we will promote the project and meet disabled people around the world. "Fifteen per cent of the world’s population have a disability but I could count on one hand the number of publicly available boats capable to taking a wheelchair user to sea, be that for a holiday, for therapy or even to inspire them to make a career in the marine sector. My Accessible Oceans project will identify key hubs around the world where we will locate adapted boats so disabled people can enjoy what non-disabled sailors enjoy already." The 27,000 mile journey will start and finish in Monaco, taking in some of the world's most dangerous waters. With around 12 stops along the way, Geoff’s wife Elaine and son Tim, 13, will be able to visit. "We are used to him going away, and Tim takes everything in his stride but of course we both want him to succeed in everything he does," Elaine said. Geoff added: "Obviously we'll miss each other like every other family would but they know it's something I've wanted to do for a very long time." The boat he will use is a 65ft trimaran with three hulls. “It’s specially designed and customised for me to sail and live in. I’ll be in the wheelchair during the day but can be lifted into bed. “All the ropes and electronics come into a central point where I can push a button to control them.” The Neel 65 will be built by a French company in La Rochelle and will cost a whopping 1.3million Euros. It will have four cabins, with Geoff’s cabin on deck level for safety and ease of access. Because it has three hulls it will lean less than a standard yacht, but Geoff’s wheelchair is the same one he uses on land. The plan is to sail without any support vessels, but with two carers on board who will cater for Geoff’s very particular needs. They will be carers first, trained in spinal injury care, and sailors second. Although Geoff did attempt to raise cash for the trip in 2014 he was unsuccessful. This time however he is being given a helping hand by no other than Prince Albert of Monaco, who agreed to be the patron after hearing Geoff speak. The project command centre will be based at the prestigious Yacht Club de Monaco and will host the start and finish of the voyage. Founder of Easyjet Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has also pledged to help through his Stelios Philanthropic Organisation. But despite this impressive support, there is still a shortfall in the funding, with two million Euros still to raise. “Trying to find a sponsor in the UK is very difficult,” he said. “The Brits tend not to sponsor disabled things so much but in France in particular they understand sailing a lot more and are keen to get behind it. So unfortunately it won’t be a British project. "In the UK its a lot harder to get funding for disabled sports altogether. There are lots of sponsors in the sailing world but disabled sailing is always reliant on charity and I find that a bit distasteful. I don't see why corporations who will sponsor mainstream sailing won't sponsor disabled sailing. "My project offers everything a commercial sponsor will want and people aren't interested because of disability. "I'm throwing down the gauntlet to say if the French can do it, why can't we in Britain? "This is a unique opportunity to be associated with a Project that will touch the hearts and minds of people of all nationalities. It is a story of overcoming adversity, changing people’s perceptions of disability whilst making a practical difference that will benefit disabled people around the world." Sailing round the world singlehandedly is a feat for any ordinary sailor, but for Geoff, who is paralysed from the chest down, it will be particularly tough. “Being stuck in a wheelchair is quite challenging, especially when a boat is moving. It's the constant motion which makes it difficult to rest, eat and move about. Tiredness will also play a huge part, as will sleep deprivation,” Geoff said. “When I’m in my wheelchair for long periods of time I have to elevate my feet and lie down from time to time. It makes me ill. But I know what I’m getting into and what it involves. "It's endless navigation and communication. You've got to make the boat steer in a certain direction, know how to sail and look out for other ships - that's 24 hours a day." Share article Despite having sworn never to attempt another trip like his unassisted Atlantic Ocean crossing in 2010, Geoff said: "I can do a great deal of good if I manage this. It will leave an enormous legacy and I will rest happy knowing I can achieve it for other people - I can't do any more than that." Geoff aims to set off in October 2017. The trip will take 14 months.

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Easy sailing for staff at Waveney Sailability following purchase of Kubota tractor

Kubota’s B1620 compact tractor has been put to work at Waveney Sailability in Suffolk in order to speed up the time it takes to launch and recover the sailing and rescue craft at the activity centre. The 16HP tractor was fitted with turf tyres to provide a stable grip on wet and muddy surfaces, whilst the inclusion of a front ball hitch and electric winch help the team maintain control when getting the rigid inflatable boat in and out of the water. Malcolm Brown, Assistant Sailing Instructor at Waveney Sailability, commented: “Since the arrival of the B1620 tractor, the tasks that we have to carry out following a busy day of sailing with very few volunteers has been made significantly easier and safer. “We use the tractor to manoeuvre, launch and recover our sailing boats and rescue craft, which was previously very difficult due to the weight of the equipment. The tractor has been well received with the team at Waveney Sailability as it helps to speed up the time it takes to bring the boats back to land when the team have been out sailing.” Equipped with Kubota’s E-TCVS diesel engine for increased power, cleaner emissions and low noise levels, the B1620 offers an increased travel speed to allow the team at Waveney to travel between destinations quicker. The inclusion of 4-wheel drive prevents the tyres slipping and the Rollover Protection System provides safety when using the tractor on an inclined surface. Waveney Sailability, who specialise in providing sailing classes to individuals with disabilities, was presented with the compact tractor following a grant by Sports England.

Banff sailing club in the picture for awards

A north-east sailing club has been shortlisted for an award which recognises the contribution it has made to the sport in Scotland. Banff Sailing Club and its sailors feature in the Royal Yachting Association’s end-of-year awards after having worked tirelessly to promote local cruising activities. Ivor Clarke, the club’s commodore, said yesterday that everyone at the club was “delighted” to be in the frame. He added: “We had tremendous activity throughout the year, but especially the increase in local cruising activity which allowed those returning to sailing or those new to sailing the opportunity to day cruise on member’s yachts to begin or renew their sailing interest.” Jane Bowie, a member of the club, has been nominated for the RYA’s Elizabeth MacKay Award for female endeavours in the sport of sailing. Ms Bowie wants more people to get involved. She said: “We put no pressure on any newcomer to join the club immediately. It is all about getting to know and meeting the members of what is an established club. “The thrill of being on the water is special. Sailing teaches you many disciplines. “After a really good sail, you get such a buzz that you just want to do it all over again.” The club will travel to Glasgow for the awards ceremony on January 23. A judging panel, comprising Tony Gorzkowski, the RYA Scotland chairman, Jane Kerr of the sportscotland Trust, Alistair Vallance, editor of Yachting Life and Terence Brownrigg, were all impressed by the standard of the nominations detailing the commitment and successes of boating in Scotland.

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2015, Cardiff

Para World Sailing: GB trio claim Sonar gold

Great Britain's Sonar crew won their third world title with victory at the Para World Sailing Championships in Melbourne, Australia. John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas beat their Australian rivals by a single point. It adds to the silver won by Skud duo Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell on Wednesday. "We've missed out a few times over the last few years so this year's been a lot of hard work," said Robertson. The Great Britain crew, who are three-time Paralympians, won World golds in 2005 and 2006. But they faced an anxious wait for confirmation of their third success, as the Australians unsuccessfully sought to overturn a jury decision from earlier in the week. The trio must now wait to see whether they have secured selection for next year's Rio Paralympics. "We sat down and said we wanted to win a gold medal at the Worlds and we've delivered on that," said Thomas. "Selection is still in the balance but hopefully we've done enough for that, and we're a strong unit. "We're getting stronger and stronger, which is going to put us in good stead for Rio." Elsewhere, Paralympic champion Helena Lucas, who has already been selected for Rio, missed out on a medal in the 2.4mR event as she finished fourth overall, one place ahead of team-mate Megan Pascoe.

Para World Sailing Championships: Great Britain win silver

Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell won Great Britain's first medal at the Para World Sailing Championships after taking silver in the SKUD. The former world champions, who have had equipment issues in Melbourne, cannot be caught by third-placed Italy. Defending world champions Liesl Tesch and Dan Fitzgibbon took gold with a day to spare in front of their home fans. "I think realistically this morning we knew that [silver] was the best that could happen," said Birrell. "We sailed over some weed on day two, and then we had a problem with Alex's canting seat. "We have to respect the fact that [the Australians] sailed really well this week and deserve their world title. "I think the scores would have been a lot closer had it not been for the seat issue and the weed. That being said, they sailed really well and we're going to have to find some more."

‘Dream’ of yacht race to St Kilda to become reality

IT is a test of endurance and skill in some of Britain’s most remote and treacherous waters. Organisers of an inaugural race to Scotland’s furthest flung archipelago are giving sailors the chance to make history by embarking on a sea route many view as “unattainable.” The St Kilda Challenge will see the first ever yacht race held from North Uist to the isolated island group and back again. Described as a “dream” event for maritime enthusiasts, the race will span a distance of around 100 nautical miles and cover the hazardous swells of the North Atlantic, not to mention potentially dangerous weather conditions. St Kilda was occupied for thousands of years, but unforgiving conditions on islands and the surrounding seas meant that it was depopulated 85 years ago. Now, those behind the new race home they can raise the profile of the islands while also fulfilling the “lifetime ambition” of ambitious sailors. The event, which will be staged in June next year, is being organised by Comann na Mara, the Society of the Sea, based in Lochmaddy, North Uist. The group’s chairman, Gus Macaulay, explained: “North Uist is the closest landfall to St Kilda, which is some 45 miles to the west. “For so many sailors, a journey to St Kilda is a long-held dream but many have seen it as unattainable, just something to plan in the long dark winters in the sure knowledge of never living it out. “However, we realised that, with a carefully crafted and organised race run by a committee of experts and supported by some key businesses and organisations, we could put in the structure to bring together a group of like-minded yachts people, potentially from all over the world, and run an exciting regatta to these mysterious islands on the outermost fringes of the United Kingdom.” Comann na Mara’s venture is being supported by ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne, the Scottish Sailing Institute, and governing body the Royal Yachting Association Scotland. The route will begin at Lochmaddy and it is expected it will take sailors around 24 hours to complete it, depending on the conditions. While the course is relatively short compared to other yacht races, Mr Macauley said it would present “significant challenges.” The race will be open to all but organisers are creating a qualifying criteria and safety standards for yachts and crews. The initiative is also being backed by the National Trust for Scotland, the conservation charity which owns St Kilda. Alexander Bennett, its general manager responsible for overseeing the islands, said he “envied” the opportunity being given to those who will have a chance to approach St Kilda by sail, “just as generations going back thousands of years would have seen it.” He said: “Not only is this a unique event that could only be staged in Scotland’s western approaches, it will help to highlight the UK’s only dual World Heritage Site, recognised for both its natural and cultural significance, in what will be the 30th anniversary of it receiving the former designation in 1986. “The term ‘national treasure’ is now overused, but that is exactly what St Kilda is, and we must continue to remind people of its importance if the support and recognition necessary for this special place’s long-term wellbeing is to be obtained. “This is exactly what the St Kilda Challenge will achieve, as well as being an amazing experience in its own right, and it is why we commend it.”

Steven’s sailing therapy

Bestselling author and former soldier, Steven McLaughlin, has just returned from his latest adventure – training with the sailing charity Turn to Starboard. The charity, based in Falmouth,helps former veterans of foreign wars readjust to civilian life by teaching them sailing techniques and tutoring them in the ways of the sea. A lot of former soldiers fall through the cracks when they return to civvy street and can have real problems adjusting, given the horrors they’ve seen and the traumas they’ve faced Lytham-based Steven said: “A lot of former soldiers fall through the cracks when they return to civvy street and can have real problems adjusting, given the horrors they’ve seen and the traumas they’ve faced. “They can also desperately miss the friendship of dear colleagues, some of whom are sadly no longer with us. “Turn to Starboard helps them get over that by introducing them to the comradeship and purpose of the sea, which is a great leveller and gives men their pride and self-esteem back, literally healing old wounds.” Turn to Starboard offers free sailing courses and professional training to former soldiers who feel they’d benefit from time at sea, with the only proviso being they must have served on an operational tour. The courses are taught by highly-qualified sailors and former soldiers who voluntarily give their time, teaching the Royal Yachting Association syllabus and sailing out of Falmouth Marina on a Bavaria 32ft cruising yacht. Steven plans to continue sailing and strongly encourages any former soldiers to get in touch with Turn to Starboard and begin their own journeys at sea.