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Summer of Laser Sailing - Lydia Sailing/Sailingchandlery

Day 1 - 2019 Wetsuit Outlet UK Moth Nationals

Sail After Service Success

A group of military veterans from Greater Manchester are negotiating to establish their own sailing group after discovering the value of the sport in their recovery from the effects of combat. As well as improving their sailing skills further, some are also hoping to qualify again as sailing and powerboat instructors. However, it is the camaraderie they have been able to develop alongside the physical and mental benefits of sailing that has made the biggest impact on lives blighted by the long lasting effects of post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD. The group from Rochdale and Tameside Ex-Forces and Veterans started their sailing journey with a dedicated eight week course at the Hollingworth Lake Activity Centre. They followed that by entering the Royal Yacht Association Sailability Multi-class Regatta and bringing home a trophy. One of those on the course, Steve Casey explains: "PTSD meant I lost confidence so I hadn't sailed for ten years. It also affects how you feel about meeting people. I heard about the course and thought I'd have a go. It's the sense of freedom you get from sailing, as well as the social aspect of it." Steve works as a search dog handler but points out that most of the other veterans on the course are not employed so they are trying to get funding so the proposed Veterans Sailing Group can pay for sessions on the water. He is hoping to re-qualify as a powerboat instructor. Another veteran Graham Braithwaite summed it up: "It’s a great way to relax and get away from the stresses of life as it puts your mind into a different mindset." He says they have already set up a fishing group as a result of the social contacts they made. One of the instructors at Hollingworth Lake was Ben Glynn: "Everyone involved since the first taster day has walked away with more confidence and with a renewed and refreshed skill set or a completely new skill." The activity was funded through the Sail After Service programme organised by Rochdale Council and supported by Link4Life, the RYA and Moving Forces. Caen Matthews, himself a veteran, who manages Sail After Service says "The aim of the scheme was to bring veterans together with a shared purpose and, judging by the feedback we have had, it has been a resounding success.” Caen joined the team at the Regatta:“It was a fantastic weekend and we were honoured to be representing the borough of Rochdale at such a prestigious sporting occasion. There were plenty of thrills and spills out on the water, but we performed with credit and enjoyed every minute. "

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Volunteers wanted at sailing club for people with disabilities

Frensham Pond Sailability is a sailing club aimed at “anyone from the age of ten with a disability or long term illness” who wishes to learn how to sail. The club provides both beginners lessons as well as competitive racing at national and international levels. Boats provided include a “range of specially designed boats and necessary support facilities”, with Sailability members describing themselves as “freed of limitations” and having the ability to “compete on equal terms with any able-bodied sailor”. However, the team at Frensham Pond are appealing for volunteers to join the group and assist with activities at the club. Volunteers can help through teaching members to sail, preparing the boats and helping sailors in and out of the boat. Other roles include organising and running events, preparing meals and assisting with IT issues. Katie Apse, volunteer co-ordinator at Sailability joined four years ago, learning about the team through a friend. She called the experience a “wonderful way to spend the day doing the things I love, being outside and sailing, and helping people at the same time”. She also described her “greatest satisfaction” as “seeing someone sail solo for the first time”. The team has appealed for volunteers to assist at Thursday and Saturday morning sessions from April to October. If you would like information on how you can volunteer, email Katie at katieapse@btinternet.com Or for more information visit the website www.frenshampondsailabilty.org.uk.

Superb sailing at Cardigan Bay regatta

THE 145th Cardigan Bay Regatta at New Quay – one of the oldest sailing events in the country – served up superb sailing and family fun in perfect weather conditions. President Phillip Thomas and his wife Carol presided over a successful and memorable regatta, where sailing of the highest standard was on show over the three days. The shore activity programme attracted children from near and far. More than 70 children took part in the sand building competition which opened the inshore events and was held on the main beach on the first day. The swimming and rowing events were a brilliant sight and a total of 33 events were raced to screams of encouragement from the pier. Thanks went to the inshore lifeboat and the beach lifeguards who supported the event and helped to make it a success. The Cardigan Bay Watersports centre also assisted with the use of six paddle boards and kayaks. The regatta is run entirely by a small, dedicated band of local volunteers and all events were funded through sponsorship, the support of local businesses plus the kind donations from the public. The sailing race from Aberystwyth was won by Christine Willis in Rodmar, second was Mark Willis in Katabatic and third, Nigel Howes in Moonrise. Overall, the light winds favoured the smaller boats and once again sailors had the company of a large family of dolphins as spectators. In the dinghy fleet, Best Junior (Under 21) was won by Duncan Lloyd-Evans; the Best Lady Helm was Catherine Gray (Laser Radial, NQYC) and Most Improved U21 was her brother, Morgan Gray (RS Feva XL, NQYC). OVERALL RESULTS Cruisers: 1 Katabtic (Mark Willis, Sam Coles, Rachel Malcove, Doug Lloyd-Haynes, James Willis, Ceri Knapgate) 4pts; 2 Brainstorm (Chris Seal, Andy Lowe, Simon Earle, Ben Davies, Steffan Seal) 8pts; 3 Bobble (Steve Berry, Peter Heard, Steffan and Llinos Williams) 19pts; 4 Sprite (Crawford McLeary, Steve Wood, Kat Dawes) 20pts; 5 Gelert (Carl Rich, David Stubbs and Joe Litten) 21pts. Dinghies: 1 Ian Willis (NQYX/South Staffs) 5pts; 2 Christian Smart (Pembrokeshire YC) 11pts; 3 Duncan Lloyd Evans (NQYC) 5pts; 4 Eliot Rose (Bartley Green SC) 23; 5 Simon Turnbull (Pembrokeshire YC) 25 pts. Next year’s event takes place from August 23-25.

Isle of Wight sailor celebrates return home after circumnavigating Britain in catamaran

AN ISLE of Wight sailor has become the first person to single-handedly sail a beach catamaran around Britain. Liam Thom, 48, notched up an impressive 2,587 miles on his Dart 15 catamaran, Biscuit, after setting off on June 17 and arriving back on the Island on August 13. He started at Shanklin Sailing Club and sailed to the very northern edge of Scotland and back again, stopping only to sleep beside his boat or occasionally stay with people he met on his travels. Liam said: "I'd done some cruising before, but I had always wanted to round Britain at some point — so I guess the seed was sown long ago. "The Dart 15 catamaran is my boat, so it was the boat I wanted to do this in. "It wasn't too unpleasant on the water — although it did get rather cold and, at one point, I had up to nine layers on. My fingers were suffering a little towards the end." Liam, from St Helens, was elated when he finally made the half-way point and was able to cross the northern most part of Scotland. He said: "The real highlight was going over the top of Scotland. It's quite renowned as being a really dangerous stretch of water, so I had to stay focussed the whole time. "When I managed to get through, I was one very happy sailor. That was my Everest. "At one place, a local invited me to stay at his house for a night and he fed me steak and let me have a bath. I met so many strangers who were so generous." When Liam returned to the Island, arriving at the same sailing club he left from, his girlfriend, Yvonne, and family were waiting for him as he crossed the finish line. Liam said: "I was absolutely over the moon. I really was so happy to have completed something that took two months to do. "It was a pretty special moment. It takes a while to realise the enormity of what you have just done, of the achievement you've made."

The Clipper 2019-20 Race Start

British woman achieves solo sailing record at 77 | AFP

British Boats Take Top 12 Places at Subaru Flying Fifteen Worlds, National Yacht Club's Gorman & Doorly are 13th

After three races sailed at Dun Laoghaire, British boats have total control of the Subaru Flying Fifteen World Championships at the National Yacht Club on Dublin Bay and take the top 12 places overall after three races sailed. Lying in 13th place is Irish champions Dave Gorman and Chris Doorly. Racing was brought forward to an earlier start time on day 2 due to a forecast of a fading breeze later in the afternoon. The fleet of 75 boats from 9 nations head out to the start line in overcast but dry weather for two more windward/leeward races. After one false start the first race was started under U flag at 1115 hrs in an 11 - 13 knot northerly with a slight chop but a weaker tidal flow than yesterday. Both sides of the beat had a fairly even spread but three boats played the shifts well to arrive at the windward mark with a healthy lead. David Tabb and Chewey Sherrell from Parkstone YC in Poole, who placed third at the UK Nationals last July, sailed an excellent upwind to lead from yesterday’s star Irish performer Ian Mathews and Keith Poole from host club the National Yacht Club. Third round was another local boat from NYC, Dave Gorman and crew Chris Doorly. Down the first run, regatta leaders Graham Vials and Chris Turner were already breathing down the necks of the lead three boats. Also moving through the gears were the British armada including Steve Goacher, Nathan Batchelor, Andy Mckee and Ian Cadwallader. On lap two Tabb and Sherrell maintained their lead but had Vials and Turner on their transom. The two lead boats split gybes with the two Irish boats trying desper-ately to hold off the hunting Brit pack but down the second run the pressure was beginning to tell Rounding for the short upwind leg to the finish it was a two-horse race which was going tack for tack to the line. David Tabb fell agonisingly short pipped on the finish line by Vials / Turner who scored their second win of the championship. Steve Goacher and Tim Harper (Royal Windermere YC) broke through for 3rd. Gorman / Doorly (NYC) were an excellent 4th and Andy Mckee and Richard Jones from Dovestone SC in the UK, a consistent 5th. Richard Lovering and Matt Alvarado (HISC) were a bit disappointed to drop a few places on the last leg to finish 13th. Other good performances included Ireland’s Andy and Rory Martin from Strangford Lough YC, in 11th, John Wilson and Mat-thew Summers from South of Perth YC in Australia, who finished 14th and the oldest boat in the fleet GBR 2520 a classic F15 sailed by Nick Heath and Pip Chapman (Cam Sailing Club). The pair punched well above their weight with a 30th place. Local Irishman Dave Gorman sums up an excellent 4 / 11 in races today: “We were delighted with racing today, the conditions suited us a lot better. We had a bad enough start in the first race but spotted some cloud on the right and got a nice knock out there and rounded second at the weather mark. We were waiting for all these fast guys to come through but we just wanted to sail as well as we can and we were 2nd, 3rd 4th round the marks, so we were delighted we were able to keep our own in an older boat.” “Ironically we had a much better start in the second race but we went up the middle of the course which was probably the wrong thing to do and got into the 20’s at the first mark. We were going to gybe set at the mark but luckily we decided not to be-cause the breeze filled in down the run and when we got to the gate in about 11th we had taken about 15 places on the run. So we were delighted to get two counters today.” Race 2 of the day and 3 of the championship started shortly after at around 1245pm under U flag again at the second go. The breeze had shifted a bit more N/NE and dropped to around 8 - 10 knots. Nathan Batchelor (Ovington Boats) and Ricky Riggs from Tynemouth SC got a peach of a start leaping out to a two boat length lead off the start line. Again the spread was fairly even across the course but the British pair rounded the weather mark just behind Australians Mike Hart and Dean McAullay from the Royal Freshwater Bay YC in Perth. Again the leaders were largely made up by the British boats but this time regatta leaders Graham Vials and Chris Turner copped a penalty losing a lot of ground. The first run was quite well spread but Batchelor and Riggs got a bit of a jump on the fleet to lead at the gate. Jeremy Davy and Martin Huett (Draycote Water SC) moved up into the lead pack with Andy Mckee / Richard Jones and Richard Lover-ing / Matt Alvarado and Australians Ashley Smith and Charlie Aprhorpe. On the second lap of the windward / leeward course, Batchelor / Riggs had established a comfortable lead ahead of Lovering / Alvarado but the battle was still full-on for third place. The pre-worlds regatta winners closed out the win followed by Lover-ing but the tacking duel for third involved three boats. On the line, Andy Mckee / Richard Jones just claimed 3rd, Davy and Huett, 4th and the Australians, Smith / Apthorpe 5th. “We had a great time today, we had a bit of damage on the boat before the start of the first one, the mast ram lever broke but we got a good start and were going quickly so we got a 9th in the first race which was pleasing.” “The second race we had a great transit on the start line and Riggy had confidence in where we were and called us forward with about 15 seconds to go so we started a couple of boat lengths ahead of the boats around us so it always makes it a bit easier. Despite the forecast to go right all day, which it did in the first race, it actually went 30 degrees left on the second beat so plenty of shifts to play but the second lap got a bit light and we got a bit of distance ahead at the bottom as the other boats were fighting each other so it was just a covering job to the finish.”