Southampton Boat Show 2019

BRITAIN'S biggest boat festival is floating back to Southampton to showcase its finest yachts, kayaks and dinghies this September. Southampton International Boat Show will host debuts from more than 330 boats, including yachts such as the Dufour 390 Grand Large, and 600 global marine brands are expected to set up stalls for the ten-day event. And this year, organisers of the show British Marine have taken on new headline sponsor Borrow A Boat to enable passionate boat-lovers a chance to sail onboard the luxury water attractions. See the £1.13m motor yacht making its debut at Southampton International Boat Show Visitors can test the waters through a range of on-the-sea experiences, including stand-up paddleboarding and a 72ft race yacht. Mayflower Park will be filled with festivities as the annual show becomes even larger this year, after the marina was expanded in size to accommodate more boats and activities. British Marine CEO Lesley Robinson said: “At Southampton International Boat Show, powered by Borrow A Boat we have an ideal location to get people on the water and this year we want to get even more people enjoying new experiences in, on and around the water. We’ll be showing just how accessible, inclusive and flexible boating and watersports can be with something for everyone to enjoy.” Below is everything you need to know if you're a boat-lover attending the event this year. When is Southampton International Boat Show 2019? Starting a day earlier than last year, the show returns to the city from Friday September 13 to Sunday September 22. Thousands of guest speakers and businesses will be hosting talks across the entirety of the action-packed event, with live music being played and interactive attractions including the Ocean Scene Mini Cruise, which is complete with bars and sundecks onboard. There'll also be a Seaside Storytime Ship, where visitors can listen to stories of on-the-water adventures and join readers from Southampton’s libraries. A boating stage - for beginners and enthusiasts - will enable people to meet well-known sailing personalities and learn skills ahead of going out to sea. What time does it start and where will it take place? The popular boat event starts at 9.30am every day and ends at 6.30pm, except for the last day on Sunday August 22, when the event will close at 6pm. Mayflower Park, along Town Quay, will be the venue of choice for the boats to twinkle against the waters, which is situated next to River Test. The venue is about a 10 minute walk from the Southampton City Centre. How to get to Mayflower Park If you're arriving by train, the closest railway station to the show is Southampton Central, which is about a 25-minute walk or 10-minute taxi journey. There is a taxi rank situated just outside the station. The postcode for the event is SO15 1ST, which will take you to the show entrance. AA road signs will direct those travelling by car. These signs are located on motorways M3, M27, M271 as well as main roads surrounding Southampton. There are 4,000 parking spaces available in total at the West Quay Podium car park as well as their multi-storey. Find out more about parking here. Visitors getting to the event on a bus can stop at Bargate, High Street, or Town Quay as these stops are five-minute walks from Mayflower Park. A ‘City Link’ bus runs between Southampton Central train station and Town Quay, near Bugle Street, every 15 minutes and costs £1. Those heading from Isle of Wight or Hythe can hop on a Red Funnel or Hythe Ferry, and then take a five minute walk to the boat show after it reaches Southampton. Ferry tickets can be bought at the same time as you buy your show tickets. If you are flying to the show, Southampton Airport is a 20 minute drive from Mayflower Park, or you can catch a train from Southampton Airport Parkway Station to Southampton Central. You can also take a U1C bus into the town centre, which is a short walk away from the show location. Find out everything you need to know about getting to Mayflower Park here. How to get tickets to Southampton International Boat Show 2019 There are a number of ticket options available for the annual event this year. If you want to join in with the fun for one day, you'll need an Any One Day pass. This gets you entry to the show for one day of your choice and is the best option for those unsure of a date they can definitely attend. These are priced at £22. A 'Monday to Thursday' ticket allows visitors to attend for one day out of those four days for £16.50 while a Friday to Sunday ticket enables people to visit for one day of the weekend for a price of £21. Two day tickets cost £30 alongside various VIP packages, with prices starting at £45 for perks including meals, private entrances and access to a VIP lounge. One child under 15 can attend for free but tickets for additional children cost £10. You can buy tickets here. Southampton International Boat Show 2019 events One of the show's most key attractions this year is the Try-a-Boat feature, enabling visitors to set sail on-board a high-speed RIB or float across waters under sail. Adventure-seekers can also look forward to entering this year's purpose-built Try-a-Dive tank which allows divers to breathe under water. Here is a list of other features available throughout the ten-day show: Boat and exhibitors showcase The £1.135million Sunseeker Predator 60 EVO will be unveiled at the show, which is boat builder Sunseeker's first model of a new product development plan. Amongst the 600 marine brands at the event will be Gulf Craft, Nautor's Swan, Iguana Yachts, Hydrolift, and York Marina. Tall Ship Shtandart This is a replica of the 1703 frigate warship built by Peter the Great where people can discover the history of the famous ship. Ocean Scene Mini Cruise A mini cruise ship with sundecks and bars Radio Sailing Pool A competitive racing pool for families and friends who can go head-to-head with each other and race their very own Dragon 65 yacht alongside other models Get Afloat Beginners or advanced, anyone can take part in watersports including dinghy sailing and paddleboarding with the added expertise of Rockley Watersports team. Boating stage Speakers and well-known sailing personalities will be based at this stage, which is a space where the audience can come to meet hosts of guest talks as well as learn skills and insights from the most experienced. Virtual Sailing Royal Yachting Association (RYA) will be on deck to provide a virtual reality experience allowing players to compete against other users at the show. They will also have a stand outside the Holiday Inn Hotel and be providing talks on the Foredeck Stage throughout the show to provide top tips to help protect waters and the wildlife. Talks by the RYA take place at: Sat 14th – 11:00 to 11:30 – Foredeck Stage Sun 15th – 11:00 to 11:30 – Foredeck Stage Mon 16th – 14:30 to 15:00 – Marlow Ropes Stand (J300) Sat 21st – 11:00 to 11:30 – Foredeck Stage Rum and Gin Bar Alcoholic beverages can be bought and tasted at this bar. Seaside Storytime Ship The storytime ship is a peaceful area where people can go to join readers from Southampton's libraries and hear stories about people braving the waters. Environment clean-up An operation to help protect and support the coastal habitat and wildlife will be open to the public during the show.

Dinton Pastures Activity Centre has three new fast powered sailing boats for people to try

A WATER sports activity centre has received a cash boost, offering residents the opportunity to try a new hobby. Dinton Pastures Activity Centre is invited locals to try their brand new sailing boats after recently expanding its site. The activity centre has secured almost £10,000 in funding from Sport England as part of its small grants programme. Councillor Parry Batth, executive member for environment and leisure, said: “We are delighted to have received this funding from Sports England. It is a huge achievement for the team at our Dinton Activity Centre, who are always actively encouraging local residents to try their hand at sailing.” The new RS Neo's are faster than traditional sailing boats and are made with carbon fibre rigs. Eager sailors are invited to test out the boats at the newly-launched Twilight Sailing Club which takes place on Wednesday evenings. The club is open to 16-25-year-olds and encourages them to continue to sail and develop their skills. In addition, there are a number of adult sailing courses available in September and October, including Introduction to Dinghy Sailing course and Improvers Dinghy Sailing.

Anchoring, how to stop dragging and be secure.

Rutland Sailability club purchases new rigid safety boat after £23,000 grant

A new boat was launched at Rutland Sailability last week by the High Sheriff of Rutland, Margaret Miles. The purchase of the rigid inflated safety boat, along with a launch and recovery vehicle, was made possible by a £23,400 grant from the LEADER funding programme managed by Opportunity Peterborough with support from Rutland County Council. On Thursdays and Saturday mornings Rutland Sailability enables 200 disabled and able-bodied sailing enthusiasts to share the sport using more than 20 specially adapted boats to cater for people of all abilities. High Sheriff of Rutland, Margaret Miles, posing with the RIB with a number of the club's volunteersHigh Sheriff of Rutland, Margaret Miles, posing with the RIB with a number of the club's volunteers The club is run entirely by its 200 regular members, about half of which are disabled, and welcomes hundreds of visitors each year. They volunteer their time on and off the water to run the club and provide hands-on support to more novice sailors. The club ensures that everyone who wants to sail does, and would like to bring in more volunteers to meet growing customer demand. Sarah Forsyth, a volunteer at Rutland Sailability said: “We attract people from as far afield as Ireland, Scotland and Yorkshire who want to benefit from our facilities, so the addition of the RIB and launch and recovery vehicle has been a huge boost. It doesn’t matter what disability someone has, we will always find a way to get them onto the water. “We are completely reliant on our volunteers to make sure our members and visitors have unforgettable experiences. These new pieces of equipment mean we can help more people sail at any one time and develop their passion for the sport.” Rutland Sailability hosts a number of activities for groups including the Parents’ Association for Seriously Ill Children, Grantham Disabled Children’s Charity and students completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The club is a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Sailability Centre of Excellence, and advises other clubs on how to run successful centres. The Rutland-based club also helped train athletes ahead of the Invictus Games. Tom Hennessey, chief executive ofOpportunity Peterborough which was responsible for providing the grant, has said: “The geographical pull of Rutland Sailability is spectacular and we hope that more people can volunteer their time to support the club. High Sheriff of Rutland, Margaret Miles, met with some of the sailing club's volunteersHigh Sheriff of Rutland, Margaret Miles, met with some of the sailing club's volunteers “Their services are in such high demand and this brings a lot of footfall to the region, boosting the economy.” The LEADER funding programme, managed by Opportunity Peterborough, is part of the Rural Development Programme for England and provides funding at a local level. The £1.3 million funding programme helps projects which contribute to rural tourism, support small businesses or provide a rural, cultural or heritage service. Councillor Oliver Hemsley, Leader of Rutland County Council said: “As a keen sailor myself I know all about the passion and commitment of Rutland Sailability’s volunteers. The team is absolutely committed to removing any and all barriers to sailing.”

The World Sailing Show - September 2019

East Lothian Yacht Cub - RYA Club of the Year Finalist - Enter now

Sailing to Skye and the Inner Sound

Darwin Escapes 2019 J/70 World Championship Day Two – 03 September

2019 Dart 18 UK National Championship at Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club

This year's 2019 Dart National Championships, 24th to 27th August, was hosted at the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club in the stunning Bridlington Bay. Fifty two Dart 18s entered including two teams from France and Italy. The majority of the Darts were sailed two-up with a varied combination of family members/partners/borrowed crews. There were eight singlehanded entries without the jib, six of which finished in the top twenty. Boats arriving on Thursday and Friday were welcomed by club members and directed to parking and camping areas and the fabulous marquee gin bar, already up and running! The Windsport support team was set up prior to scrutineering and supported the boats throughout the event - offering a repair service and selling spares. Windsport's Brian Phipps ran a three hour race training session on Friday afternoon for the less experienced competitors. The weather throughout the event was hot and sunny, almost unheard of on an August Bank Holiday! Race Day on Saturday had a good wind 3 - 4 and both races were won by Rob Garka and Fi Goegebeur from Worthing S.C. As soon as the racing finished free Pirate Cider was served at the sponsor's trailer (Windsport), when that finally ran out it was off to the event marquee for a BBQ, Gin Bar and 80's Dad Dancing at the Disco. Sunday: hot with a light wind but still the Race Officer Tony Saltonstall managed to get two races in; race three was won by David Lloyd and Joanna Trafford, race four by Andy Kelley and Sue Nelson. Both boats were from Stokes Bay S.C. That evening's entertainment started with a fish'n'chips supper followed by a Sponsor Night with spot prizes supplied by the different sponsors. The big prize of a new jib was won by David 'Lucky' Lloyd in a game of knock out coin tossing. The entertainment continued with live music from Zebra, who performed on a Neill & Brown 40' trailer stage accompanied by a full light show. Monday: unfortunately, even less wind but the sun was hot. Despite his best efforts, the Race Officer had to abandon the race five as the lead boats ran out of time just before the windward mark and racing was cancelled for the rest of the day. In the evening, competitors decamped to the main yacht club building in the center of Bridlington for a superb curry or pasta meal; the homemade chilli sauce was to die for (and some did). Everyone then boarded the Yorkshire Belle cruise boat for a two hour champagne fuelled trip around the spectacular Flamborough Head and sea bird colonies. Tuesday: you guessed it, hot with light wind but the Race Officer finished three races. Races five and six were won by Rob Garka and Fi Goegebeur and race seven by singlehanded pensioner Paul Chatfield from Stokes Bay S.C. The prize giving was held outside with Bridlington Bay as a backdrop. Prizes were awarded for the top ten boats, first lady helm, youth trophy, best newcomer, Master's Trophy (combined age of 90+) and the handicap prizes (similar to a golf handicap) that encourage the crews with less sailing experienced to be more focused. And finally, a big thank you from the competitors to all our sponsors who supported this championship.

Exhilarating & Competitive Racing at the 175th Dartmouth Royal Regatta

FAMILY DINGHY ADVENTURES

Water great shot! Cricketers battle it out in the middle of the Solent as the annual grudge match between two sailing clubs takes place during the early morning's low-tide

With recent successes on the field at Headingley by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer giving England another chance at the Ashes, the British love affair with cricket has been reignited once more. So much so that batsmen and bowlers took to the sodden sandbank of the Solent, a patch of land between Southampton and the Isle of Wight only accessible at low tide, to play in a much more relaxed home game. Organised by the Royal Southern Yacht Club (RSYC) and their friendly rivals the Island Sailing Club (ISC) the two teams faced off in the early hours of the cold morning to make a splash. Despite what might appear to be a fierce competition, the match's winner is predetermined in the interest of the love of the game and escaping the rising tide.

RS 200 Nationals 2019