Sailors set for 2019 Eric Twiname Team Racing Championship

Oxford Sailing Club will host over 260 young sailors this weekend (12-13 October) as they take to the water to battle for the RYA Youth and Junior Eric Twiname Team Racing Championship titles. Hosted at Farmoor Reservoir, Oxford, and in conjunction with the Eric Twiname Trust, sailors will compete in Firefly and RS Feva dinghies for the prestigious titles. The annual two-day event will welcome teams from the Junior (under 16) and Youth (under 19) Class Associations, RYA Zones, clubs, schools and individual teams across the two separate events. Last year’s event saw Rugby School claim the title of youth champions while Hollowell/Shustoke took the junior honours. As one of the highlights in the RYA's racing calendar, the event brings the nation's young sailors together to put their racing skills and team work to the test. Interest in this year’s event has been so strong that another flight of RS Fevas has been added to accommodate the demand. The regatta, named after famous sailor, author and journalist Eric Twiname, has seen many members of the current British Sailing Team compete in previous editions such as former winner Ben Saxton and 470 sailor Eilidh McIntyre who has recently been confirmed on Team GB for Tokyo 2020. RYA Youth Racing Manager Mark Nicholls said: “The Eric Twiname Team Racing Champs has been a great proving ground for young sailors through the years and teaches some valuable sailing skills. “I’m looking forward to see what this year has in store. The demand for entry has been high and I’m sure that will translate in to high quality racing. “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Eric Twiname Trust. Without their continued support this event wouldn’t be possible and thanks to them so many people get to benefit – the sailors and us as an organisation.”

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Kids sail towards confidence as club partners with Birmingham Children's Hospital

Children with congenital hand differences and other upper limb problems are being inspired to build their confidence and independence on the water thanks to a new initiative between Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Midland Sailing Club. Fourteen children, including patients and siblings, got afloat and enjoyed an introduction to sailing at Edgbaston Reservoir last month. This was the first ‘taster’ session as part of the fledging partnership to support more people living with a range of different conditions in capitalising on the benefits of sailing in their rehabilitation and recovery. The youngsters went out in specially-adapted boats and had such a fantastic time many of them are already geared up to return to take part in more sessions at the club. The children with congenital hand differences and other musculoskeletal problems are all under the care of Dr. Andrea Jester, Clinical Lead for Birmingham Children’s Hospital’s Hand and Upper Limb Service. She explains why sailing can make a difference to the young people. Dr Jester said: “Sailing is a very unique sport, so for the children to be able to say ‘I go sailing’ sets them apart from their peers. Many of them are not able to take part in traditional team sports so to have something different of their own is very nice. "The boats are very accessible and, for us, the most important part of this is the inclusivity - how these youngsters integrate into full club life. We want a child to see sailing as a super sport in which they can be fully involved on and off the water.” Children with congenital hand differences and other upper limb problems from Birmingham Children’s Hospital get afloat at Midland SCThe taster session was run by Midland SC’s ‘Sail Birmingham’ project, which aims to put community sailing at the heart of the city by making the water accessible to everyone of any age, background and ability. A trial day for professionals and clinicians from a number of the different hospital departments was staged at Edgbaston earlier this year to showcase how sailing can promote the building of confidence and independence. Through Sail Birmingham, people of all abilities can take advantage of the specially-adapted boats in the club’s Sailability sessions. Sailability is the national programme, organised by sailing’s national governing body, the RYA, which enables disabled people to experience sailing and become regulars. Now the club is looking forward to making it possible for more local people, who would never have thought sailing was an option for them, to get afloat. Keith Wraight, Sail Birmingham project lead, said: “The removal of barriers to sailing is key to our work and we’re really excited to have created this partnership with the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust team. Facilitating these sessions is an amazingly powerful way in which people can access an activity that may otherwise be out of their reach and unavailable. “Sailing is a way to escape everyday issues, it’s truly immersive and thanks to our specially-adapted equipment we can provide these experiences for all regardless of their previous experience, ability and additional needs. Through our links within the hospital we hope in 2020 we will be able to get more young people to experience the freedom and excitement sailing can provide.” Midland SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. For more information about the club’s Sail Birmingham community project visit www.sailbirmingham.com

SCOTLAND'S Boat Show At Inverkip This Weekend With Attractions On And Off Shore

THOUSANDS of visitors from all over the UK will head to Kip Marina, Inverclyde this weekend as the 33rd annual Scotland’s Boat Show takes to the water and shore with an unrivalled display of boats and attractions that places it in the forefront of the Scottish marine calendar. Opening on Friday (11 October), the three-day show -- the largest of its kind in Scotland and second largest in the UK -- promises something for everyone with an interest in the marine and leisure sectors. There will be displays of new and pre-owned boats to suit every taste and budget including new models making their Scottish debut. Visitors can explore a range of high quality pre-owned boats from Michael Schmidt & Partners. Roseann Sweeney of the brokerage said: “We will have a full display of boats for all budgets at Scotland’s Boat Show this year and there is great demand already from customers." In the new boat area, Inspiration Marine will have the spectacular Hanse yachts on display together with the latest addition to their portfolio, Ballistic RIB’s. These boats will be open to the public and there is the chance to book a demo trip. Sail enthusiasts can enjoy Swedish company Arcona’s cruising and racing offering. There will be a selection of new sail and powerboats from prestigious companies like DDZ Marine, Windermere Aquatic, Sunbird and Redbay. Marine Sales Scotland’s spectacular powerboat display expands again this year and promise boats for all budgets and interests including the latest stunning models from Quicksilver and Bavaria. Managing director Stan Prosser said: “Scotland’s Boat Show at Kip Marina has firmly established itself as the most important show in the North and continues to attract more visitors from all over the UK year on year, with Marine Sales Scotland similarly enjoying increased sales each show.” At the small boat area, Hartley Boats display of award-winning sport dinghies always attracts large numbers of visitors. Meanwhile,the ever popular RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Scotland pavilion showcases the latest marine and leisure products from UK wide companies and, with the aim of encouraging more people to get involved in boats and boating in Scotland for the first time, it’s also the base for free sessions on powerboats and RIBs under the expert eye of RYA Scotland’s instructor partner You and Sea Training. The 60-foot Clipper round-the-world race yacht Taeping will be open to visitors throughout the show and with the opportunity to step on board, get an up-close view of the accommodation and ask the crew questions. Back on shore, the Cruising Association are the new main sponsor of the popular stage and theatre in the RYA Scotland pavilion and they are presenting three days of entertaining and informative free lectures and presentations on topics ranging from expert advice on Sailing Round Britain to sampling fresh Scottish seafood. More under cover exhibition space is added for 2019 with the Inverclyde Pavilion becoming the venue for various marine and leisure exhibitors, sailing clubs and an expanded Kip Marina chandlery and outdoor clothing Store plus The Chartroom café. In the car and motorhome area, visitors can see the latest models from Porsche, Morgan and other prestigious manufacturers, luxury holiday homes from Cloch Caravans, and West Coast Harley Davidson's latest iconic motorbike models. The Caledonian MacBrayne Lifestyle Pavilion will be full of artisan craft and luxury goods exhibitors with everything from fashion to furniture, and there will be food and drink exhibitors in the adjacent West College Scotland Food and Drink Pavilion including seafood, baking and cheese form some of the country’s best producers. The pavilion will also host cookery demonstrations from hospitality students as they show off their skills using fresh Scottish produce. On Sunday, TV chef Nick Nairn presents three live demonstrations. Entertainment will include pipe bands, Inverclyde and Largs Rock Choirs and birds of prey from KG Hawks. There will be a food truck area and youngsters can enjoy the children’s play area. Holt Leisure managing director Gavin McDonagh said: “The Boat Show team have worked tirelessly to build on previous years’ successes and, together with our key partners and sponsors, we are delighted to have established Scotland’s Boat Show as the major event on the Scottish marine calendar for both our visitors and those involved in Scotland’s marine and tourism businesses." Admission is free. Car parking is £5 per vehicle.

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Jonny guides GB blind sailors to world title

A SAILOR from Milnthorpe has used his expertise to guide the Great Britain Blind Sailing Team to a world championship. Each team at the Blind Fleet Racing World Championships in Ontario, Canada, was allowed a sighted tactician and Jonny Cormack filled that role for the GBR B3 team. And his long experience working with blind sailors proved crucial as the team landed a silver medal in their category, with their contribution helping the British squad to the overall team gold. "We have been training hard for this event, using Windermere as one of the venues to get the team used to lake sailing conditions," he said. "Coming away with silver and competing for gold shows we are up there with the best and contributing to the overall team's world title is awesome." Mr Cormack is hoping in the future to take the team a step further by providing instruction for them to sail unaccompanied with the help of sighted sailors in accompanying boats and buoys which give off bleeping sounds to guide the partially sighted crew. He has been involved with GBR Blind Sailing for more than 20 years, and has taken the team to four previous world championships with his Windermere Outdoor Adventure Centre colleague Jonny Stevenson. Mr Cormack's role is to guide the team of Mr Stevenson and two visually impaired sailors without actually touching any of the boat's controls, with the helm and main sail controlled by the two visually impaired crew members. The World Championship consists of three fleets, B1 with no sight, B2 with very low level useful vision and B3 with a small amount of useful vision, and with a bronze in B1 and gold in B2, Mr Cormack's B3 team's silver helped the squad to that overall gold, seeing off powerful teams from the likes of the USA, Canada, Japan and France. The medals are just reward for Mr Cormack whose time in training and competing with the team is all volunteered and who has played a major part in charity fundraising to enable the team to compete.

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Kiteracer from Poole crowned European champion

A 22-YEAR-old from Poole has been crowned Formula Kite European champion just a year after taking up the sport. Ellie Aldridge, who started out sailing at Parkstone Yacht Club at the age of seven, switched from sailing to kiteracing last year and has since gone from strength to strength. She finished on the podium in 12 of the 19 races at the Formula Kite European Championships, held in Torregrande, Sardinia, from Tuesday, September 24, to Sunday, September 29. She was only beaten to the overall European title by world champion Daniela Moroz of the USA. “It’s crazy, I can’t believe that it’s only been a year since I started foiling,” said Ellie. “This event has been the ultimate goal since we started this journey and it’s incredible to come away with a win. I’m speechless.” Ellie made the change from sailing the 49erFX skiff sailing boat to kite foiling, a sport combining racing and kitesurfing, when the British Sailing Team launched its #kite4gold talent search in September 2018. The initiative, in conjunction with the British Kitesports Association and the English Institute of Sport, was a response to the decision to include kite foiling at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She continued: “It was a big risk leaving my 49erFX campaign when it was going well but I felt this was something I needed to do. “The #kite4gold programme has been amazing. To get so many girls interested in the sport in the first place and now to have five of us now racing on the international stage has been great.” Ellie was one of seven talented young women chosen from hundreds to join the programme and begin training under the expert tutelage of experienced riders Connor Bainbridge and Johnnie Hutchcroft. Mark Nicholls, who leads the RYA’s Paris 2024 kite programme, said: “Winning both the European Championships and Mixed Relay event is an important milestone on the journey to kite gold in 2024 and a great success. “There is still some way to go to match the speed of the fastest riders on the world stage but as the #kite4gold project concludes and the athletes are considered for selection on to the British Sailing Team we are now well placed to match the high expectations we set when we started this journey – that of having three world class female riders capable of matching our exciting male talent to win gold in 2024.”

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