Major funding for Balloch-based Maid of the Loch

A project to renovate the 1950s Loch Lomond paddle steamer the Maid of the Loch has been awarded funding of £950,000. The Maid has not sailed since 1981 and has been moored at Balloch Pier for more than two decades. The funding from the Scottish government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund takes the project closer to its £5.5m target. It is hoped the ship can be used for cruises and functions. The Loch Lomond Steamship Company, which owns the paddle steamer and is leading the regeneration project, has described the funding as a "major milestone". Chairman John Beveridge said: "It is absolutely wonderful news and a complete game changer for The Maid's full restoration. "This takes us significantly closer to reaching our £5.5m target, but we still have a way to go." Artefacts disappeared The 63m (208ft) ship entered service in 1953, the same year as the Queen's coronation. The ship was built in Glasgow in sections by A&J Inglis before being transported by rail to the slipway at Balloch to be reassembled. The ship navigated the waters of the loch for a number of different commercial operators until passenger numbers dwindled and it was eventually mothballed in 1981. The steamer remained watertight while moored at Balloch but much of the interior, such as copper piping and artefacts disappeared. The Loch Lomond Steam Ship Company took over in 1996 and set about renovating it. After 22 years of constant fundraising and repairs, investing about £2m, the company is almost ready for the final attempt to make the steamer fit to take to the water again.

420 Sailors Get Strong Test at UK Spring Sailing Events

The weather in recent weeks has been variable and has curtailed a number of 420 training weekends around the country but three Irish boats travelled to the UK Spring Championships on the 10th and 11th March at Royal Torbay Yacht Club in the hope of some good sailing. Torbay on the south coast of England brands itself as the 'English Riviera' but the Irish boats arrived to sail in testing conditions. On the Saturday after an initial delay to the sailing whilst the race officer waited for the wind to swing round and the visibility to improve, racing kicked off in 20+ knots and rolling waves. There were numerous capsizes, some before the start of race one and a number of DNS/DNC’s appearing across the fleet as sailors struggled with the occasional gust of up to 32 knots recorded on the committee boat. Sunday morning was a lot more promising, the wind had dropped slightly to around 15+ knots and swung round to the east. The bad news was there were now some very larger rollers heading into Torbay. For most sailors it was slightly easier, fewer gusts, and a more consistent wind. Of the top 10 boats, 3 were all girl boats and only 2 were all boys. The other 5 boats all being mixed crews of which 4 of the boats had girls helming, interesting statistics for the sailing community in general. Irish boats finished as follows, 10th overall and 3rd girls were Gemma Mc Dowell and Emma Gallagher of Malahide Yacht Club, 15th Michael O’Suilleabhain and Michael Carroll of Kinsale Yacht Club, and 24th Nicola and Fiona Ferguson of the National Yacht Club. The second spring event scheduled in the UK was to be the Inland Championships at Rutland Sailing Club on the 17th and 18th March, however the Beast from the East II put paid to this event with strong winds and freezing temperatures. The Irish boats made it back across the Irish Sea before the worst of the weather arrived and in good time for the upcoming 420 Class Open training weekend to be held on the 1st and 2nd April at the National Yacht Club. The training weekend provides an important warm up to the Volvo Irish Sailing Youth Pathway National Championships 2018 being jointly hosted by the National and Royal St. George Yacht Clubs.

LYMINGTON SAILOR ANNOUNCES RETURN TO OLYMPIC CIRCUIT

Lymington’s Laser Radial sailor Hannah Snellgrove has announced her return to the Olympic circuit after two years away from international competition. The 27 year old, who represents both the Royal Lymington Yacht Club and the Lymington Town Sailing Club when she competes, is a three-time British National Champion, and remains the only woman ever to hold that title. Although her parents had never sailed, Hannah benefited from local expertise, initially learning to sail at Salterns Sailing Club before moving up through the Royal Lymington Yacht Club junior and youth training. In her previous time as a full time athlete Hannah placed in the top 10 at European Championships, EUROSAF Cups and World Cups, in the top 15 at a World Championships, and qualified in 2014 and 2015 for the first two World Cup finals reserved for the top 20 sailors in each Olympic class. In her time away from international competition, she has worked part time as a journalist, and as a sailing coach, and has helped to build up the RS Tera and Laser youth sailing programmes at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club. Hannah Snellgrove hiking"Hannah is a brilliant sailor and a dedicated coach, so inspirational. She manages to combine passing on her sailing knowledge, inspiring and coaching next generation of sailors, with the steely determination to be the best in her own boat." shared one of the many parents of children coached by Hannah. Training hard to reach the Olympics Hannah has been a self-supported athlete since April 2015 but has never given up on the Olympic dream. With only nine days on the water in the Laser Radial in the previous year, she jumped back into the boat for the 2017 World Championships last August and was still able to compete near the front of an international fleet of full timers, finishing 26th. She followed that up with a 14th place at the Europeans a month later, and achieved multiple top ten finishes in races in both these major regattas. Hannah said: "Following these achievements in 2017, I was inspired to recommence my Olympic campaign. My goal for this year is to achieve international regatta personal best finishes." She spent the first month of this year out in Miami training and competing in the World Cup. Since returning to the UK at the end of January, she has been putting hours in at the gym at the crack of dawn before work, working a full day, visiting the gym again on the way home, and then putting her programme and campaign together late into the evenings, building up a great support team ready for the coming season. Hannah achieved her impressive results in the two major regattas of 2017 while working, and with no RYA funding, and she is searching for financial backing to be able to compete against professional athletes who are supported by their national governing bodies. Could you support Hannah? Hannah has launched a crowd funding campaign to buy a new boat and anyone who would like to help should visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/new-laser-radial-for-hannahs-2018-sailing-season Businesses or individuals who are interested in sponsoring Hannah should visit www.hannahsnellgrovesailing.co.uk for further details.

British Blind Sailing train at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club

A team from British Blind Sailing came from around the country for a training weekend at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club over the weekend using the club's Hansa 303 Dinghy. The dinghy, named after Gracie Fields which was donated to Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club by the Rotary Club of Rochdale East, enables sailors with limited mobility or a disability to enjoy sailing on the waters of Hollingworth Lake, owing to their greater stability and simple controls. Graham Knox, Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club, said: “Those walking around the lake might have noticed beeping noises, which came from special buoys laid to aid direction for blind sailors. “The Water Activity Centre and the Sailing Club assisted in a successful weekend." Club members were also busy preparing for the start of the racing season. Mr Knox said: “In preparation for the start of the club's racing season next Sunday, racing marks were put out and preparations made to get active again on the water.”

The World Sailing Show - March 2018

Worcester Park woman gets help to achieve her goals of sailing solo around the world

A Worcester Park woman is on a quest to achieve her sporting ambition of sailing solo around the world. Sailor Lizzy Foreman was the first British sailor to finish in her class in the Mini Transat, a solo race across the Atlantic, in 2016 which saw her spend 27 days at sea in a 21-foot boat. The 27-year-old is now part of the 'Vendee2020Vision’ programme, a five-year ocean racing project and could be selected to compete in the 2020 Vendee Globe a solo around the world race. If successful she will be the fourth British female to compete for Britain. Lizzy is being helped by watch brand Christopher Ward as part of its Challenger programme. She said: "I’m thrilled to be part of the Challenger. “The next two years are going to be very exciting and I can’t wait to see where the partnership takes us.” Previous Challengers include world-record holder Team GB Paralympian Sammi Kinghorn, Olympic Gold Medallist Will Satch, explorer and ultra-marathon runner Jamie Maddison, racing driver Jody Fannin and rallycross driver Paige Bellerby.

Cobles to sail again at Bridlington

The third annual ‘Sailing Coble Festival’ will take place at Bridlington over the weekend of 4th-5th August this year. This event is fast becoming a premier attraction on the East Yorkshire coast with many people, fishermen, coblemen and enthusiasts alike, from North Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland making the journey south to view what is a spectacular sight of cobles under sail once again. Expectations are high that the Festival this year will bring together twelve sailing cobles, the largest gathering in living memory. Visitors to the resort will be given a nostalgic glimpse of days gone by when cobles were a familiar sight sailing out of Bridlington harbour, not only for commercial fishing but also for the holiday trade, when taking passengers for a sail around the Bay was a regular occurrence. Organised once again by the Bridlington Sailing Coble Preservation Society and The Coble and Keelboat Society, with full co-operation from the Bridlington Harbour Commissioners, the Festival will showcase some beautiful examples of this traditional north east coast working boat, the mainstay of the inshore fishing industry for generations. At every port, harbour and coastal village from the Humber to the Tweed, this iconic, open little craft was used for potting, long lining and even trawling during its evolving life. Its origins can in fact be traced back to the Lindisfarne Gospels of around 700 AD. Already it has been confirmed that Christina from Mevagissey, Avail from Henley on Thames and Grace from Staithes will be joining the six locally based sailing cobles that are berthed in the harbour during the summer months. It is expected that Free Spirit, one of the pair built at Bridlington in 2014 by John Clarkson and Joe Gelsthorpe, will also be under sail during the weekend. Invitations have gone out to a further three sailing coble owners and the Festival organisers are awaiting positive replies. All the vessels taking part will be moored near the Harbour Heritage Museum, Harbour Road, to give visitors the opportunity to admire the beautiful lines of the cobles at close quarters and chat to the crews. Two periods of sailing are planned for each day, when all the vessels will parade out of the harbour and into the Bay to highlight the grace and serenity of a traditional sailing coble. It is not too late for anyone who would like to take part in this spectacular sailing event to register their interest and get more information by contacting the organisers at email: plandsarro@plandsarro.karoo.co.uk

Wales confirmed as one of eight stops in Extreme Sailing Series 2018

Cardiff is one of eight venues in three continents which will be visited this year by the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ - which takes place for the 12th consecutive year. Act 1 of the Extreme Sailing Series will begin next month in Oman and will then travel to Lake Garda, Italy, 24-27 May for the World Championship; followed by Barcelona, Spain, for the second time from the 14-17 June. The fleet head to Portugal from the 5-8 July, before St Petersburg, Russia, makes a comeback on the calendar from the 9-12 August. Cardiff will welcome the fleet again as part of the Cardiff Harbour Festival over the UK August Bank Holiday weekend, 24-27 August. 2018 sees Wales celebrating its ‘Year of the Sea’. The event is supported by the Welsh Government. 2018 will be the seventh time for Cardiff Bay to experience the excitement of the Extreme Sailing Series. We’re celebrating the Year of the Sea in Wales this year, which is a fantastic opportunity for Wales to make its mark as the UK’s top 21st century coastal destination – with world class products, events and experiences – with this event playing an important part in the line up of attractions. Extreme Sailing Series provides Cardiff with a global position alongside other premium worldwide venues and gives us the opportunity to promote Cardiff Bay internationally as a world class sailing and water sports venue. – LORD ELIS-THOMAS, MINISTER FOR TOURISM

The World Sailing Show - February 2018

Sailing World Cup Series: Great Britain's Fletcher and Bithell win gold in Miami

Great Britain's Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell have won gold in the 49er class at the second leg of sailing's World Cup Series in Miami. They finished ahead of Spain's Diego Botin le Chever and Iago Lopez Marra. The British pair, who are world and European champions, also won in Miami in 2017 and won the opening round of the 2018 series in Gamagori, Japan. "We came here with not too big expectations... it's nice come out here today and deliver," Bithell said.

British Skipper replacement for Clipper Race

British sailor David Hartshorn, 53, from Chepstow, is to take over as GREAT Britain Skipper for the remainder of the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race, replacing Andy Burns who has made the difficult personal decision to step down here in Airlie Beach, Australia. Race Director Mark Light explains: “A very popular, highly competent Skipper, Andy will be sorely missed by his crew, fellow Skippers and all of us within the Clipper Race Office, however, we accept and fully support the difficult decision he has made. We all have huge admiration and respect for Andy and will continue to stand by him and wish him the very best in his future journey, both professional and personally.” Andy’s decision was made due to personal struggles following the tragic loss of crew member Simon Speirs during the Southern Ocean Leg 3. Andy and his crew were given full praise from the Clipper Race Office and wider followers for the way they reacted and supported each other. Explaining, Andy says: “It saddens me to say that I have made the very tough decision to step down as GREAT Britain Skipper. The reality is I have struggled at times since Fremantle and no longer feel I can give my crew the competitive edge they need from a race Skipper at this point in time. “The support offered to me by the Race Office on a professional and personal level during this tough time has been phenomenal and I will always be extremely grateful for the opportunity given to me but it’s not one I feel able to continue at this time. “It’s been a pleasure sailing with those I have to the east coast of Australia and know they will give David Hartshorn the warmest of welcomes. I will follow the rest of their race and look forward to waving the team back into Liverpool full of shared pride of what has been achieved.” On the choice to appoint David Hartshorn as the new GREAT Britain Skipper, Mark says: “We carefully selected David as one of our original twelve Clipper 2017-18 Race Skippers so it was an easy decision to select him once again for the role of Skipper. “David put a great deal of time and effort preparing his campaign to lead a crew around the world in this edition of the race and through circumstances outside of his control, he was unable to fulfil this goal. It is therefore fitting and highly deserved that he will now once again have the opportunity to lead a team in this race. We all welcome David back and wish he and his new GREAT Britain team huge success for the remainder of their race together.” The former Greenings Skipper, David was medevac’d from his yacht on Day 5 of the opening Clipper Race leg after suffering a severed hand on board. Fully recovered, he had been preparing to return as Skipper for the start of the All-Australian Leg 4 in Fremantle, however the yacht’s grounding during the race to Fremantle resulted in the premature ending of the Greenings team’s campaign. Reacting to his appointment as GREAT Britain Skipper, David says: “Having got to know Andy closely as a fellow colleague and a strong competitor, I am of course firstly disappointed for him that he does not feel able to complete this circumnavigation with his team. “However, I am grateful for the opportunity to build on the strong foundations he has set for his GREAT Britain crew, and am proud to have the opportunity to lead them for the rest of their campaign. We all look forward to sharing a drink with Andy back in Liverpool where we’ll celebrate completing the journey we started out on together.” Formerly one of the most senior Police Officers in the UK, David has been a keen sailor for many years, accruing more than 55,000 nautical miles of sailing experience which includes nine ocean crossings. Following retirement from his role in the Met, David decided to turn his hobby into his next profession, setting his sights on becoming a Clipper Race Skipper. In preparation for his role, he signed up as a crew member in the Clipper 2015-16 Race as he sought to gain insights and experiences to support his leadership approach. The Clipper 2017-18 Race started from Liverpool’s Albert Dock on 20 August 2017 and the teams are currently in Airlie Beach, Australia, which is effectively the halfway stage of the circumnavigation as 20,000 nautical miles of the 40,000-nm course are now complete. The GREAT Britain team currently sits in seventh place in the overall race standings.

North London schoolboy Montel Fagan-Jordan joins previous recipients of young sailor award Sir Ben Ainslie and Hannah Mills MBE

A 17-year old from Tottenham is making a splash in the yachting world after being named Young Sailor of the Year, following in the footsteps of four-time Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie. Montel Fagan-Jordan, who is preparing for his A-levels at Greig City Academy in Haringey, was recognised for his leading contribution in the school’s sailing initiative, Project Scaramouche. Pupils gave talks and fundraising pitches around the country to raise to restore the school's 1980s-era yacht, Scaramouche. He was nominated by Greig City Academy teacher, Jon Holt, for the Yachting Journalists’ Association award for the leading role in fundraising and racing. Montel went on to captain a crew of fellow students who entered the yacht in the 605-mile Fastnet Race, steering and navigating for a four hour stretch in the dark. The North London school, where more than 50 languages are spoken and 70 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, gives every student a chance to work towards qualifications in dinghy sailing before graduating to Scaramouche. The school believe they’re the first team from a state comprehensive to compete in the Fastnet, and were the only school competing in 2017 when they finished 142 out of 368 competitors. He was shortlisted against young champion sailors from the yachting world, but announcing his win, the Yachting Journalist’s Association said the award was in recognition of leadership throughout the multi-year restoration and racing project. A post on the Project Scaramouche Facebook page ahead of the awards said: ”Everyone nominated tomorrow deserves it, but for a lad who has, at 17, charmed sponsors, pitched to big sailing companies, sailed over 3,000 miles and done masses behind the scenes at school for Project Scaramouche I think if it goes his way, it will reflect his commitment and effort!” During the award ceremony, Montel said: “Thank you to everyone who has made this possible. Five years ago, I didn’t really know what sailing was, so you can imagine it is rather overwhelming to be stood here next to some of sailing’s greats,” according to All at Sea magazine. Mr Holt said: “This was unique yachting project in which a multi-cultural crew spent three years undertaking more than 50 fund-raising talks to buy and restore the famous Gérman Frers designed yacht. “Montel and the whole crew really pulled together and are already helping us with the future of Greig City Academy Sailing. We want to be the school that does the Fastnet Race, they are the ones making this happen.” “Given that Scarmaouche is an old yacht, which rolls madly, his ability to hold a course for four hours in the dark, surfing downwind without broaching was amazing.” he added, of Montel’s captaincy during the race. Previous winners of this award include Sir Ben Ainslie the most decorated Olympic Sailor in history and Hannah Mills MBE silver medallist in the 470 at London 2012, taking gold in the same class at Rio 2016.

Epic charity sailing challenges to thank organisation that supported son through cancer battle

A NORTH Fambridge sailing instructor is planning to take part in two epic fundraising challenges as a thank you to the charity that has supported his son through a battle with cancer. Colin Stracey, 62, runs First Class Sailing out of Fambridge Yacht Haven, and for the past two years has organised Sail for Macmillan events which have raised £16,000 for the cancer charity. The Round Britain for Macmillan trip returns for a third year this time round, but will be joined by a trip to Copenhagen, as they sail to the Baltics. Mr Stracey hopes to raise another £16,000 this year, in order to than Macmillan cancer support for the help they have provided his son James during his struggle. He said: “We have seen first-hand the great work that Macmillan do. “This all started because we wanted to show our gratitude for what they did for James. “The news before Christmas last year was very bad to say the least, but later in the year they found there was a new therapy treatment that matched with James’ DNA. “We are not out of the woods yet but the prognosis is looking much better to say the least.” James was diagnosed in 2013 and has been supported by Macmillan throughout this period, and when not having surgery, chemo and immunotherapy treatments, James himself cycled from Warsaw to Manchester to raise funds for the charity. The decision was taken to run a second trip to Copenhagen alongside the Round Britain adventure this year when a friend volunteered the use of his boat. Mr Stracey explained: “A friend of mine, a retired doctor, offered his boat for the Round Britain trip last year. “During his time as a doctor he saw people with various types of cancer and saw how much it impacted them, and what good work Macmillan do to support them. “In the summer we were chatting and I mentioned how I had never sailed to the Baltic, he said he hadn’t either and we thought what better way to do than to do it for Macmillan.” People can donate to join the crews on either adventure, for just one leg or the entire trip. “No experience is necessary to come along on one of our cruises,” explained Mr Stracey. “With our instructors skippering each yacht, the trips are a relaxed and enjoyable opportunity for people with a range of experiences, or none, to see our beautiful coastline from a whole new perspective.” To register your interest in joining the trip visit premiersailing.co.uk/sail-around-britain-2018.