West Kilbride sailing duo have eyes on the prize after sponsor deal

Scottish sailing duo Daniel Smith and Rebecca Jeffery, from West Kilbride have their eyes set firmly on racing success thanks to sponsorship from Flamingo Yacht Charters for their RS200 dinghy campaign. Helmsman Daniel, 36, is an extremely experienced sailor having recorded over 100,000 nautical miles in his log book, including a circumnavigation. He spent his youth in Optimists, then Lasers, with the Scottish Sailing Squad, before deciding to turn his hobby into a career. He became a highly successful Watersports Instructor for the SportScotland National Centre on Cumbrae, teaching sailing, windsurfing and powerboating. Following this he was selected as one of only twelve Skippers for the prestigious Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in 2015-16. Daniel led his non-professional team in a very competitive campaign, eventually finishing with an amazing result of second overall after the eleven month, 40,000NM race. Now home in West Kilbride, Daniel is keen to go back to dinghy sailing and compete at a national and international level. Veterinary Surgeon Rebecca, 28, always feels at home crewing in the front of a double handed dinghy. Having been taught to sail by her father on Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, she was his number one crew until moving to Scotland a year ago. Rebecca has spent most of her sailing life in a GP14, a highly competitive double handed class, with several helms in Ireland and the UK at National and World level. Rebecca has also spent time on yachts off-shore racing, including a 2-legged race around North America. Daniel said "I'm really excited to be racing with Rebecca over the coming season with the support of Flamingo Yacht Charters. The West coast of Scotland is an amazing place to sail and it's going to be great to spend loads of time out on the water training and also racing further afield. The boat is looking great so we can't wait to get out there.” Operations & Business Development Manager at Flamingo Yacht Charters, Hazel Pearson, said “We are looking forward to supporting Daniel and Rebecca in their racing campaign. They are both fantastic sailors and it’s amazing to have them flying the flag for Flamingo Yacht Charters as they make their bid for success in the highly competitive RS200 field. We wish them the best of luck!” Information about Flamingo Yacht Charters Ltd. Flamingo Yacht Charters offers an unrivalled fleet of modern, luxurious charter yachts. From our base at Largs Yacht Haven on the Firth of Clyde, we have direct access to some of the best sailing waters in the world. Offering bareboat, skippered and bespoke yacht charter holidays and a range of corporate team building sailing adventures we can help you to create your perfect sailing holiday in Scotland. Cruise the Clyde, the Hebrides & beyond. To follow Daniel & Rebecca’s RS200 racing campaign go to www.facebook.com/rs200sailing

Try Sailing This May in Scotland

The RYA’s Push the Boat Out (PTBO) campaign is set to return this May, with more than 350 venues across the UK, 44 of which are in Scotland, offering free or low cost, sailing and windsurfing taster sessions. Scotland has embraced the Try Sailing Throughout May Initiative of Push The Boat Out with as clubs come together to celebrate their activity with the local communities and to share their love of getting afloat. Aiming to inspire more people to take up sailing and windsurfing, PTBO open days provide visitors with an opportunity to get out on-the-water and to find out more about their local club or training centre. Sandy Vito went along to Castle Semple Sailing Club last year after recalling his first experiences of sailing were in Plockton in his youth. Now he enjoys sailing at the club regularly and now is even starting to race. “I definitely recommend giving sailing a try at one of the Push The Boat Out Events. If you haven’t been out in a dinghy before, you can experience it and decide for yourself. It reminded me that I had enjoyed once before and that’s why it’s good to try.” RYA Scotland’s Development Manager, Liza Linton commented “With events taking place throughout the month of May, we know that the Scottish public has a great opportunity to undertake safe and enjoyable sailing and windsurfing sessions. With a current global emphasis on the environment what better way to help to showcase our beautiful offerings than through on the water activities with the help of our skilled instructors & volunteers. Whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned sailor looking to find out what is available in your local area and get involved this May." No experience or kit necessary PTBO open days are aimed at complete novices, as well as more experienced sailors, everyone is welcome. All kit and safety equipment will be provided, visitors just need to bring a pair of old trainers they don't mind getting wet, and a sense of fun and adventure. Last year, more than 39,000 people across the UK attended a PTBO open day, inspiring thousands of new sailors to join their local club. Find out more about the Push the Boat Out campaign and events near you at www.rya.org.uk/ptbo.

Sailor to Circumnavigate the U.K. for Charity

Retired businessman Mark Ashley-Miller, 56, set out from Dartmouth on March 29 to circumnavigate the U.K. and visit every Harbour Master on an epic two-year voyage. Ashley-Miller is sailing his 34ft ketch Good Dog from harbor to harbor in a clockwise direction around the UK, with the aim of meeting as many Harbour Masters as possible and asking them questions in order to gather a unique record of them, their harbors and their work. He is doing this in support of Seafarers U.K., raising money for the charity and awareness of men’s mental health in the maritime industry. Website: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HarbourMasterSailingChallenge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harbourmastersailingchallenge

The World Sailing Show - April 2019

Dinghy Sailing - Crew Talk - with Olympic Gold Medallist Saskia Clark an...

Community Sailing Comes To Heart Of City With Launch Of Sail Birmingham

Getting active outdoors is proven to positively impact health and mental wellbeing and an ambitious new community sailing project at Edgbaston Reservoir is breaking down barriers so anyone in Birmingham and the surrounding areas can get active afloat. Sail Birmingham, launched by Midland Sailing Club, is putting community sailing at the heart of the city by making the water accessible to everyone of any age, background and ability. By opening up a new programme of tailor-made and open-access activities for all, Sail Birmingham means even people who might never have thought they could get on the water can now enjoy all the wellbeing benefits of being active outdoors. Ladywood MP, Shabana Mahmood, is amongst those to have welcomed the initiative, while Cllr Albert Bore, Birmingham City Council, Ladywood Ward, described the green and peaceful Edgbaston Reservoir location as "a hidden gem at the heart of Birmingham.” Keith Wraight, Sail Birmingham Manager, explains: “There are perceptions of sailing that stops some people even thinking about it as something they could do, it isn’t even on their radars. But Sail Birmingham is about showing everyone that actually sailing is open to them and it can have a hugely positive impact on their lives. "Sailing is a low impact activity that can be enjoyed by all the family and it’s great for meeting people and making new friends. By learning new skills people get a sense of challenge and achievement. "Meanwhile sailing is also proven to help young people develop key life skills that can positively shape their futures and even create new career opportunities. On the water everyone is equal and spending time outdoors is an integral part of everyone’s wellbeing.” Four OnBoard sailors hold their RYA Youth Sailing Scheme books at Midland SCAmongst the wide-ranging opportunities Sail Birmingham is offering are Silver Sailing for people who want to stay active into retirement, Sailability for disabled people, Women on the Water, RYA OnBoard for schools and youth organisations, and holiday schemes where young people can learn to sail and progress through a structured scheme. In addition, current sailors can just turn up to 'Pay and Play’ and after-work and other group sessions are open for schools, charities and other organisations to book. The club also continues to run its popular learn to sail courses and taster sessions. Sail Birmingham is the result of partnerships between Midland SC and sailing’s governing body, the RYA, RYA Sailability - the national programme enabling disabled people to go sailing - the Canal and River Trust and Birmingham City Council. Midland SC was established in 1894 and has a long history at Edgbaston Reservoir. Last year the club taught 83 new adults and young people to sail, but an increasing demand for people wishing to get afloat led to Sail Birmingham’s creation. Visit www.sailbirmingham.com for more information or like Sail Birmingham on Facebook. WHAT THEY SAID: Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood at Midland SCShabana Mahmood: "I congratulate Midland SC for launching Sail Birmingham. I know how committed they are to introducing people to sailing and particularly passionate about training young people. "Their vision of a wide range of leisure sailing opportunities and a comprehensive training programme alongside school holiday activities will give lots of people, young and old, the opportunity to enjoy sailing in a welcoming and friendly environment.” Cllr Sharon Thompson, Birmingham City Council, North Edgbaston Ward and Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods: “It’s great to see our parks and reservoirs being used by local sports clubs and making the most of the wonderful resources we have in Birmingham. It’s fantastic to see the boats out on Edgbaston Reservoir and I hope lots of local residents take the opportunity to Sail Birmingham.” Adnan Saif, West Midlands Regional Director for the Canal and River Trust: “The Canal and River Trust is delighted with the new initiative of Sail Birmingham at Edgbaston Reservoir. One of our key aims is to encourage more people to make use of canals and reservoirs across the region and Sail Birmingham will help achieve this.” Gareth Brookes, RYA Regional Development Officer: "I am really excited we have a new sailing centre in the heart of Birmingham to enable more people to try and start sailing. The ethos of Sail Birmingham - to encourage and enable people from all backgrounds and abilities to try sailing - is one that I support wholeheartedly. This new centre has already started to work with us on Sailability and we have plans to get more people with a disability afloat."

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.”