Olympics 2016 - 49er FX - Charlotte Dobson & Sophie Ainsworth - British Sailing Team

Olympics 2016 - 49er - Dylan Fletcher & Alain Sign - British Sailing Team

RADIOACTIVITY goes to the Scottish Series 2016

Sailing Jura , Scotland

Dinghy Crusing Association Border Reiver Meet 2016.

A Taste of Scotland 2016

Blackwater Barge Match 2016

Yacht Tikka spices up Arbroath marina

Arbroath marina welcomed a fundraising crew to its docks last Wednesday in the shape of the 28-foot yacht, Tikka. The crew - led by Steve Pointon - is undertaking a charity sail round the coast of the UK to raise money for Action for Children. Steve, who has been joined by three petty officers on this leg of the journey, had set sail from Gosport on June 4. The arrival in Arbroath marked the 19th day of their journey. Steve, who was in the Royal Navy for over 24 years and still serves as a chief petty officer reservist on 700X squadron based at Culdrose, also explained that the crew had an unusual custom when they arrived at a new destination. He said: “One of us usually dresses up in a costume. As the boat is called Tikka, my wife thought of a good idea to dress up in a chicken outfit.” He is also updating a blog on his journey and, in his entry for Arbroath, he said: “We started with a good sailing day again today with the spinnaker flying well but the winds died in the afternoon testing our sail trimming skills until they disappeared completely and we motored the last few hours. Arbroath was a really friendly harbour with a mixture of yachts and small fishing boats.” The stay in Arbroath was short - with the yacht departing early the next morning for Peterhead. Steve said: “We’ve raised just short of £13,000 so far and all the money we are raising is going to Action For Children.” Explaining on Tikka’s Travel Facebook why the charity has their support, Steve commented: “They work tirelessly to help the most vulnerable children in our society to have a better chance in life. We are inviting friends and family to join us along the way. The plan is to sail from Portland in Dorset and circumnavigate the UK in under 12 weeks. The trip will be split into 11 legs with crew changes throughout.” If you would like to sponsor Steve and his family for their challenge, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charity-web/charity/displayCharityCampaignPage.action?charityCampaignUrl=TikkasTravels

Keighley mum defies the odds to take part in gruelling sailing challenge

A KEIGHLEY mum-of-three who was told she would never walk again after suffering a spinal injury is taking part in a gruelling round-Britain sailing challenge. Former soldier Maria-Theresa Miles was severely injured during a training exercise and was medically discharged from the army in 1999. The injury has left the ex-acting sergeant with permanent nerve damage and no feeling down her left side. But she has defied medical opinion and is preparing to join a team of other injured veterans on the Turn to Starboard Round Britain Challenge. The 41-year-old, who has just three months' sailing experience, will take part in a 300-plus-miles section between Liverpool and Falmouth. "After my accident I was told I would never walk again so taking part in the expedition has shown me how a positive mental attitude can help you achieve what you want," said Mrs Miles, who served in Northern Ireland during her time in the army. "To have reached this point has shown me how to not say 'no' and constantly push the barriers put in front of you." She was inspired to join the expedition after seeing an advert on the Turn to Starboard charity's website last year. Over the past three months, she has been attending training sessions on the Isle of Wight. She will join the 38-strong crew onboard the tall ship next month. "I think I'll be OK with rough seas and difficult weather conditions but I feel apprehensive about whether my back will hold out during the voyage," said Mrs Miles. "In preparation, I've been swimming and having training sessions to help strengthen it and I've had a new back support made specially for the trip." She was initially selected to take part in the whole 2,000-mile voyage, which began earlier this month, but she realised the dates clashed with her daughter's wedding. "I was over the moon when I received the phone call to say I had been chosen but I couldn't miss my daughter's big day on July 22," added Mrs Miles. "Thankfully she's been very understanding and allowed me to leave the party at midnight so I can get to Liverpool and join the boat for its 6am departure the following day! "She thinks I'm bonkers but says she is really proud!" Challenge organiser Turn to Starboard, a Falmouth-based charity, provides sailing opportunities for veterans with physical or psychological injuries. Founder and expedition skipper Shaun Pascoe said: "Maria-Theresa is a great example of how the expedition is already having a positive effect on participants. "We're excited to welcome her on board and will benefit from her positive attitude.” The eight-week trip is being sponsored by International Paints and supported by The Endeavour Fund. People are invited to donate by 'buying' a mile of the expedition for £10 at turntostarboard.co.uk/round-britain-challenge-2016/.

Loch Ard Sailing Club

Sailing in the Scottish Hebrides - Island Paradise

Maldon sailor to travel 300 miles to raise awareness of rare condition

A MALDON sailor battling a rare nerve illness will sail more than 300 miles to raise money for research into his condition. Dave Selby, 57, will sail from Maldon Town Quay to The Southampton Boat Show to put his 18ft boat Marlin on display. Mr Selby suffers from a viral condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome which affects the peripheral nervous system. He wants to raise awareness of his condition while raising money for the Guillain-Barré charity and encourage more people to take up sailing. “It’s an illness that affects the peripheral nervous system, and I’ve got an even rarer variant called CIDP, which means the messages stop getting through to my legs about every four and a half weeks,” he said. “Then I go into hospital for three days and antibodies from the blood of 800 donors literally give me legs for another month. Humbling.” Dave will set off from Maldon Town Quay at 4pm on July 9. He will sail up the Thames to London then round to Southampton in small hops as health, time and weather allow, to arrive for the opening of the show on September 16. At the show he’s hosting a series of talks to demonstrate how to buy a boat and get sailing on a modest budget. Dave, who writes for Practical Boat Owner magazine, said sailing had never been more accessible. He added: “I want to share all that sailing has given me. There’s a myth that sailing is expensive. “I bought my small boat in 2004 and it’s given me holidays of a life-time and opened up a world of adventure. Not bad for two-thousand quid.” He has set a £10,000 fundraising target on his JustGiving page. People will be able to follow Dave’s progress at pbo.co.uk/dave-selby. To donate visit justgiving.com/Dave-Selby-Marlins-Mission.

Forty Westerly boats to celebrate 50th Jubilee at Gunwharf Quays

This week will see an invasion of sailing boats at Gunwharf Quays, when more than 40 Westerly vessels will pack the marina for a 50th Jubilee celebration. From June 22nd-29th, the celebrations’ main focus will be Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, alongside other events across the UK. About 50 years ago, a company called Westerly started building small sailing boats. Their yard was at Waterlooville. In quick time, Westerly became a huge success story, in what at that time was a new market, and they helped make sailing accessible for the average family. Westerly built more than 12,000 yachts in the period 1965-2000, making it the most prolific boat builder this country has ever seen. Its 26ft Centaur model became the biggest-selling boat of its kind in the world, a record still unbroken. They are now found all around the globe. Colin Wilding, General Manager at Gunwharf Quays, said: “Welcoming 40 yachts into our beautiful marina will be a fantastic spectacle for all sailing enthusiasts. Gunwharf Quays is the only shopping centre in the UK that you can sail into, and the arrival of the Westerly boats will perfectly celebrate our unique location on the waterfront.” Events during the week at Gunwharf Quays will include a celebratory sail past of many different types of Westerly, a Jubilee dinner at the Royal Maritime Club in Portsmouth which has attracted guests from as far away as Australia, and a re-enactment of the first event staged by the owner group in the mid-1960’s, a friendly race from Portsmouth to Beaulieu.