Lancashire dad sails solo around Iceland to raise money for daughter's school

A Scarisbrick man is sailing solo around Iceland and back to raise money for his daughter’s school. Andrew Bedwell, 45, has been a keen sailor since around the age of six. And after embarking on many sailing stops around the UK, he decided his next journey would be for something all the more worthwhile. Currently on his biggest sail yet, Andrew spoke to the LancsLive just hours before leaving for Whitehaven Marina. From there, on Saturday, Andrew left to sail around Iceland and back, all to raise money for Halsall St Cuthbert’s primary school in Halsall, near Ormskirk, where his daughter Poppy attends. Andrew Bedwell said: “It’s my hobby and I’ve done sailing stops around the UK. “The schools are losing their funding and all that so what I wanted to do was make sure the kids have an activity trail in the school and make it better for them. “My daughter Poppy absolutely loves the school. She’s in Year One.” Andrew added: “I’ll be sailing all the way around Iceland and back. “Unless something goes wrong, I won’t be stopping at all. “It’s like living in a washing machine because it’s so wet! “And you probably have no more space than a living area.” Andrew’s fundraising plans have been a year in progress and it will take him around three weeks to complete the journey. Sailing on his mini transat yacht, which is only 6.5 metres long, Andrew will have no access to a toilet, bunk, heating or bath. He will also have a minimal amount of clothes and have to follow a sleep pattern of no more than 20 minutes a time. Andrew Bedwell said: “It’s a bit of everything. “Absolutely it’s a huge undertaking to be away from contact. “If anything goes wrong you are on your own. “And the sea water is so cold.” Andrew added: “It’s always nice to have a big personal challenge. “And to see the school benefit as well, it’s just a double whammy. “The whole school has got behind it.” Pupils at Halsall St Cuthbert’s will be able to track Andrew’s progress and will be looking and learning about weather patterns and forecasts whilst following his trip. Andrew also added how pleased he was by the support of his wife Tracy, daughter Poppy, Halsall St Cuthbert’s and the West Lancashire Yacht Club in Southport, where he is a member. A Scarisbrick man is sailing solo around Iceland and back to raise money for his daughters school Headteacher Doug Scholes said: “Mr Bedwell approached me last year with a view to sailing around Iceland and helping the school. “I thought it was a great idea, though a bit mad! “He’s explained all about his exciting expedition in an assembly and the children and parents will be able to track his progress over the next few weeks. “He’s certainly a brave chap. “Any money raised with help to buy more outdoor play equipment and that’s much appreciated. “We wish him God’s speed and a safe voyage.” To donate please visit: uk.gofundme.com/Halsall-St-Cuthberts-solo-sail-around-Iceland

Schoolchildren to sail on the Swan

PUPILS from a number of schools around Shetland are set to experience sailing on the historic boat Swan in the coming weeks. Children from Brae High School, Sandness, Happyhansel, Skeld, Tingwall, Whiteness will part take in half-day sails in their local area. The trips are taking place thanks to continued support from Zetland Educational Trust, Sail Training Shetland sponsorship and group fundraising. Swan Trust trustee Peter Campbell said: “Youth engagement and development has always been at the heart of the Swan Trust. “We are grateful to the Zetland Educational Trust for financial support in our school activities and Sail Training Shetland for their continued support of the Swan through their sail trainee programme.” The boat also recently welcomed both Sail Training Shetland trainees and One Step Beyond group members for taster sessions. Swan skipper Thorben Reinhardt said: “Swan has so much to offer to the younger members of our community. “A trip on Swan is not just a sailing experience it’s an adventure which builds life experience and memories which will last a lifetime. The taster trips taken recently have given those young people a chance to get familiar with the boat and its operations before their longer trips later in the year.”

Trek & Sail Scotland adventure with Mammut Mountain School UK and Ventur...

Tall Ships Youth Trust UK Sailing Challenge

William and Kate to compete in charity sailing regatta

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will renew their friendly sporting rivalry when they launch a sailing regatta the couple will compete in. William and Kate will go head to head in the King’s Cup Regatta in August, staged in the waters off the Isle of Wight, to raise awareness and funds for eight of their patronages. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will host the inaugural regatta The King’s Cup this summer to raise awareness and funds for eight of Their Royal Highnesses’ patronages. The couple will launch the event at the Cutty Sark on Tuesday, the famous tea clipper ship in Greenwich, south-east London, and will be joined by children and young people from a number of their chosen charities. The regatta will be hosted by William and Kate on August 9 on the Isle of Wight, and will see the couple compete as the skippers of rival boats, part of an eight-strong field. The winning team will be awarded the King’s Cup, a historic trophy first presented by King George V at Cowes’ Royal Yacht Squadron in 1920. William and Kate hope the King’s Cup will become an annual event, bringing greater awareness to the wider benefits of sport, while also raising support and funds for their causes. The duke trounced his wife when they competed in a dragon boat race in Canada in 2011, but Kate got her revenge three years later when she won a sailing event in Auckland during their tour of New Zealand. William took the honours again during a visit to the German city of Heidelberg in 2017, when he was victorious in a riverboat race against his wife. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cox rival boats during a race in Heidelberg between the German town and its British twin Cambridge The eight boats taking part in the King’s Cup will each represent one of the charities that are being supported this year by the royal couple. These include Child Bereavement UK, Centrepoint, the London Air Ambulance Charity 30th Anniversary Campaign, and Tusk – four causes which the duke supports as patron. The duchess will support four of her patronages: Action on Addiction, Place2Be, the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, and The Royal Foundation in connection with her work on the early years development of children. The duchess was beaten by the duke when they took part in a dragon boat race on Prince Edward Island in eastern Canada. Members of the public can watch the race from the SailGP Race Village along the Cowes foreshore, which is free to access and will include an 800-seater grandstand. Footage from the race will play on screens across the town and there will be a number of family-friendly activities and exhibits to promote sailing around the event, including initiatives and programmes for children and young people.

The World Sailing Show - May 2019

GB team for 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships announced

Fourteen of the country’s most promising young sailors have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Youth Sailing World Championships. The talented youngsters, all aged 18 or under, will represent the British Youth Sailing (BYS) Team in nine classes at the prestigious regatta being held in Gydnia, Poland, from 13-20 July this year. The sailors gained selection to the team for their performances in the 29er, 420, Nacra 15, Laser Radial and RS:X windsurfer at the recent RYA Youth National Championships and RS:X European Championships. Previous Youth Worlds participants include some of today's best known sailors including the world's most decorated Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie and 2008 Beijing gold medallist Pippa Wilson. Among those selected and making a first appearance at the Youth Worlds, windsurfer Finn Hawkins (Porthpean Sailing Club - pictured below) who has tasted international success when he took bronze at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is targeting another medal. Hawkins, 16, said “I have just come back from the RS:X European championships in Palma where I confirmed my selection and I am very excited to be representing Great Britain at the Youth Worlds in Gydnia. “This event will be a similar format to the Youth Olympic Games so I feel this has prepared me well and I hope to repeat my success, however, I know the competition will be very strong.” Laser Radial sailor Matilda Nicholls (ASWC Portland/Aldeburgh Yacht Club), who returns to the BYS team for a second Youth Worlds appearance, is also looking to call on previous knowledge to bring about success. “I’m really happy to have gained selection again for the Youth Worlds,” said Nicholls, 17. “I went last year and got fifth place, so I would really like to use that experience and medal this time around.” Also making a second consecutive appearance are the 29er teams. Ewan Wilson (Wormit Boating Club), one the youngest in the team at 15 years old, will sail with crew Finley Armstrong (Royal Torbay Yacht Club) in the boys’ fleet while Freya Black and Millie Aldridge (HISC/Parkstone Sailing Club - pictured below) will compete in the girl’s. Aldridge, 18, said, "We are very excited to be selected for the Youth World Championships again this summer. We gathered a lot of experience from last year's Youth Worlds in Texas [USA] on what it is like to race in a small fleet of all girls, that should ease off the nerves as we aim high to take on a range of conditions and big waves this summer in Gydnia." Eleanor Keers (Itchenor Sailing Club) and Faye Chatterton (Waldringfield Sailing Club) were picked in the girls’ 420 class with Haydn Sewell and Will Heathcote (West Kirby Sailing Club) in the boy’s. Brother and sister pairing Theo and Jasmine Williams (Restronguet Sailing Club) will contest the Nacra 15 multihull with James Foster (Poole Yacht Club) in the Laser Radial and Mollie Densley-Robins (WPNSA) in the RS:X making up the final spots on the BYS team. "Our Youth Worlds team this year I feel is a great mix of experience and young sailing talent," said Mark Nicholls, the RYA's Youth Racing Manager. "We have international medals in the squad and returning Youth Worlds sailors who are determined to improve and show the world what they can do. Add to that some great newcomers to the team. "I’m excited by the attitude of all the selected sailors and look forward to seeing what they can do on the world stage. They are all top sailing talents and are looking to grasp this great experience and make the most of it.” The British Youth Sailing Team for the 2019 Youth Sailing World Championships: 420 Girls: Eleanor Keers (17 – Itchenor Sailing Club) and Faye Chatterton (15 – Waldringfield Sailing Club) Boys: Haydn Sewell (16 - West Kirby Sailing Club) and Will Heathcote (16 - Royal Lymington Yacht Club) 29er Girls: Freya Black (17) and Millie Aldridge (18) – HISC/Parkstone Sailing Club Boys: Ewan Wilson (15 - Wormit Boating Club) and Finley Armstrong (17 - Royal Torbay Yacht Club) Laser Radial Girls: Matilda Nicholls (17) – ASWC Portland/Aldeburgh Yacht Club Boys: James Foster (16) – Poole Yacht Club RS:X Girls: Mollie Densley-Robins (18) - WPNSA Boys: Finn Hawkins (16) - Porthpean Sailing Club Nacra 15 Theo Williams (18) and Jasmine Williams (15) - Restronguet Sailing Club

Jacindar Sailing with the Pathfinder Broads Cruise

Easter Camp 2019

Broadland Squib Sailing Regatta 2019

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