History of the Moth Class with Sailing Historian David Henshall - RYA Di...

Big celebrations planned for 50th anniversary of Whitefriars Sailing Club

Whitefriars Sailing Club is planning a regatta event of a scale beyond anything it’s ever done before – to celebrate its 50th anniversary in June this year – and it’s inviting past members to join in. The club prides itself on inclusivity, fully integrating its hugely successful RYA Sailability group and, recently, becoming an RYA OnBoard club – ensuring that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy sailing there. It plans to bring together older members, families, juniors, and past members in the weekend anniversary event, as vice commodore Dave Buffham explains: “We’re expecting to have about 200 people on-site over the weekend – current members of all ages, and past members. We’re inviting back people who have benefited from the club in some way and gone on to better things, including the people who participated in the Invictus Games sailing training and pre-selection event Sailability@Whitefriars was privileged to host here last March.” The Saturday will be all about team sailing across all ages and abilities throughout the club, with just about every class of boat. Bringing older members together with the kids and everyone in-between, there will be a four-hour team race, with at least eight classes of boat in each team. The day will end with a sail past, and then social, prizes and afternoon tea before a big party with live music in the evening. “On the Sunday, the club will run a 50th anniversary one-off trophy race for the Whitefriars 50th Cup. It will be highly competitive, prestigious and I’m sure closely fought – and like all the activities of the weekend, it will be fully inclusive,” Dave adds. Plus, there will be games and watersports for the children: “We’ve invented lots over the years. Oppie water polo is the best game EVER – it involves everybody soaking wet in the lake!” All past members are being invited to join in the fun – please contact dave.buffham@hotmail.co.uk if you’d like to be involved.

Sailing the Speedbreeder 9th Feb 2019

A chance to go on board a tall sailing ship

A Polish tall sailing ship will be arriving in London at the weekend, and they are letting the public on board for a look around. The sailing ship “Dar Młodzieży” (The Gift of the Youth) is currently sailing around the world to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining independence, and will be in London for three days. She is due to arrive and moor in the Thames near to the Greenwich Pier, just after midnight on Sunday, 17 March. London is the last stop of the “Independence Cruise” of the Dar Mlodziezy. During its 10-month journey, the ship visited the largest ports around the world, including Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Dakar, Cape Town, Jakarta, Singapore, Osaka and Los Angeles. Almost 1,000 young sailors took part in the expedition. While in London, the ship will be open to visitors on the following days: Sunday, 17 March, 13.00-18.00 Monday, 18 March, 14.00-17.00 Tuesday, 19 March, 16.00-18.00 Transport will be provided to the ship (boats will run every 20 minutes from the waterbus stop at King William Walk, Greenwich – just by the Cutty Sark in the town centre. Dar Mlodziezy will end its world wide cruise back home in Gdynia on 28 March.

jumbles sailing club

Wayfarer Top Tips - Reefing the Mainsail

Rutland Sailability sails its way to top prize

Rutland Sailability, based at Rutland Water, scooped the Royal Yachting Association Sailability team of the year at a glittering awards ceremony at Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire. Jonathan Schofield, chief instructor of Rutland Sailability, said: “Receiving the Royal Yachting Association Sailability team of the year puts the icing on the cake, acknowledging the efforts of all who have helped to create the many teams within the whole Rutland Sailability team that drives the overall sailing experience. “We have continued to grow from a small nucleus of people to a much larger organisation over the years, leading to the need for structural change. “Successful teams in large organisations don’t just happen, they are the result of hard work and dedication over an extended period of time.” Last year Rutland Sailability sent three sailors, Val Milward, Diane Faulks and Pat Crowley to the Hansa class world championships in Japan, as well as hosting the multiclass regatta for the 11th year running and acting as a training base for the British Invictus Games sailors. Millie Moody, a deafblind sailor, said: “Being deafblind means there are often huge barriers to learning new skills. “Fortunately, none of the volunteers saw my disabilities as a barrier and they all adapted their teaching methods around me for which I am extremely grateful.”

Sussex Sailability urgently seeks more volunteer sailors

Sussex Sailability needs to recruit up to 12 volunteers who can help the charity at least one day per month. They would enable disabled sailors to learn and enjoy the sport, in a safe and controlled environment, on the charity’s specially adapted boats. Declan Rock and Chris Hodge on board one of Sussex Sailability's boats Kevin Headon of Sussex Sailability said: “There is nothing like feeling the freedom of the water, it is a life-changing experience for our sailors, some of whom have had very little experience of sailing when they join us. “At the moment we cannot provide enough sessions for all our sailors, because we just do not have enough volunteers. So, if you can sail and have a little spare time then we would really welcome your help.” The charity is seeking experienced skippers, especially small keelboat or dingy sailors, but also those with a background in sailing who are willing to learn. Additionally, the group needs safety boat qualified volunteers, ideally with a Royal Yachting Association Safety Boat qualification or people with a PB2 licence who would like to work towards a Safety Boat qualification. Kevin added: “Volunteering is incredibly rewarding, especially when you see the positive difference that you are making to someone’s life. “We provide all the training that is needed and free or highly subsidised nationally recognised qualifications.” Chris Hodge, chairman of Sussex Sailability, has been sailing since he was paralysed in a sporting accident 16 years ago. He said: “I love that sailing has given me the opportunities for adventure and competition that I enjoyed before my accident. Sussex Sailability’s fleet of boats, which are adapted for use by disabled people, allow me to get out on the water and to take part in races alongside able-bodied people. “Volunteers are an important part of Sussex Sailability; helping to keep the boats in good condition, getting them ready to go sailing and allowing disabled sailors to learn, improve their skills and get the most from their sailing. This enables Sussex Sailability to make sailing one of the few sports that is totally inclusive for disabled people.” Sussex Sailability is based at Shoreham’s Sussex Yacht Club, which is soon to begin work on building a new clubhouse and facilities that have been specifically designed to be easily accessible to sailors with disabilities. To find out more about volunteering for Sussex Sailability email Kevin at sussexsailability@gmail.com for details.

Working in the Marine Industry - Careers on Professional Sailing Yachts ...

Visually impaired sailors welcomed to Hollingworth Lake,

Visually impaired sailors were welcomed to Hollingworth Lake on Saturday (23 February). They, with volunteer coaches and helpers from all over the country, came for another weekend of training where they were welcomed by the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Mohammed Zaman. The glorious weather on Saturday provided ideal conditions for practising racing starts. Sunday’s lighter winds from the south east were suitable for short races. The blind sailors took the helm of the dinghy, with a sighted crew. Staff from the Water Activity Centre and local sailing club members welcomed the visitors and played an active part in the sessions.

The World Sailing Show - Mar 2019

This sea-loving 84-year-old says sailing is the ‘perfect activity’

A grandfather with a life-long passion for the sea, who remains an active sailor at the age of 84, wants more families to take up the sport and enjoy ‘amazing adventures’ together. David Skinner has been an active member of the Sussex Yacht Club in Brighton Road, Shoreham, since 1971 and was the club’s Commodore in 1994. David Skinner at his boat, which is moored in Southwick For more than 40 years, he has been sharing his passion for sailing with people in Shoreham and taking newcomers out on his boat to show them the ropes. Mr Skinner said: “Nothing beats getting out on a boat and gaining hands-on experience. “I try to gently stretch them, to encourage them to have a go. “For some people simply walking from one side of the boat to another is a big achievement, whilst others are happy to climb up and down the mast – it really does depend on the individual. David racing at Cowes week in 1993 “It’s all about gradually building people’s confidence on the water.” Mr Skinner’s love for the sea started early – he grew up in a lifeboat family and often went fishing with his father, a keen angler. He took up sailing when he moved to the south coast and bought a 17ft boat. From then on, Mr Skinner, his wife Jennie and their two children would spend all their spare time sailing together. David's Cowes week team in 2005 Being part of the yacht club became a ‘major part’ of their lives and they all made ‘great friendships over the years’, Mr Skinner said. The family also took part in races, with Mr Skinner entering Cowes Week, a sailing regatta, a number of times and his son completing the Southern Ocean leg of the Round the World Yacht Race, which took him from Sydney to Cape Town. Mr Skinner said: “I think learning to sail is one of the best things children can do, it teaches them so many life skills and they are outside in the fresh air gaining new experiences. Rustington and Chichester superstores launch recruitment drives “Even now I take my grand-children out on my boat and we’ll have sleepovers with a takeaway as a treat.” But it is not just youngsters who can benefit, and Mr Skinner said Sussex Yacht Club encouraged sailors of all ages and abilities. “I took a lady in her seventies out on my boat and she fell in love with sailing straight away,” he said. Mr Skinner was one of the original Trustees of Sussex Sailability, a voluntary organisation that enables people with disabilities to sail from the Yacht Club. He said the new and improved clubhouse, which is set to be built in Brighton Road, would be more accessible for sailors with disabilities and would be ‘a huge asset to the local community’. Now in his 80s, the grandfather-of-five still enjoys racing with his 42ft retirement boat and said sailing keeps him active. He hopes more Shoreham families will take advantage of the sea on their doorstep. “In my view, sailing is a perfect activity for families to enjoy together,” he said. “It means so much to me and I have so many very happy memories.” Families can join Sussex Yacht Club for an annual fee that works out at less than £20 per month, and you do not need to own a boat, a spokesman from the club confirmed. To find out more about membership or taster days, call 01273 464868.

Scots competing in World Cup Miami 2019

A number of Scottish Sailors put in solid performances in the first World Cup Series event in Miami, 27th January to the 3rd February, in an event dominated by light airs. Rhu’s Charlotte Dobson, sailing with Saskia Tidey in 49er FX gained a bronze in tense light-wind 49er FX battle in the double point’s medal race. Charlotte Dobson, 32, said. "We had nothing to lose and everything to gain going into today's race, so the strategy was to try to win the start and assess the point’s situation at the top mark. We were second round the first mark with everything going to plan but the race got quite affected by some massive wake from pleasure boaters and stray yachts which cut the fleet up quite badly. We were really pleased that we just kept chipping away but it wasn't quite enough to pip the kiwis who were struggling. All in all it was another good light wind performance is really encouraging." In the foiling Nacra 17 class, Anna Burnet sailing with John Gimson had a race win during the week and despite finishing third in the medal race missed podium by just seven points, finishing 4th overall. Anna Burnet, 25, said. "It’s been a real light winds week and we’re happy to have put together a consistent series in some unpredictable conditions. We’ve had a lot of training in stronger winds over the winter and we’re feeling strong in those conditions. It’s actually been great for us to have a regatta in light winds as it’s the perfect training at this stage of the season." Lorenzo Chiavarini, sailing in the Laser class led the live streamed medal race round the first lap, eventually falling back to fourth and finishing the week 8th overall in the 102 strong fleet. In the men’s 49er Fleet, competition between James Peters and Fynn Sterrit and WCS Miami title holders Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell with five points between them going into the medal race in 2nd and 3rd respectively. However an OCS in the medal races dropped Peters / Sterrit back to 5th overall and the duo of Fletcher / Bithell stayed on the podium taking home a silver for the British Sailing Team. In was a hard week for Luke Patience, 32 from Rhu, sailing with Chris Grube in the men’s 470 class as they pair struggled to break into the top ten and finished 13th overall. In the Women’s 470 Class it was also a hard week for Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre after victory was snatched from them at the 11th hour. They had began the 470 class double-points medal race three points off the lead, but with just eight points splitting the top four teams it was always going to be a tight race which ended up leaving them off the podium in 4th place. The next big event for the British Sailing Team will be the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma, Mallorca, in early April. Keep up to date with all the latest news from the British Sailing Team at www.britishsailingteam.com.