Hundreds of boats compete in the historic Barcolana Regatta

Blowers takes first Match Racing Victory

Eight teams gathered last weekend, 12-13 October, at Queen Mary Sailing Club for the final chance to secure a place at this year’s National Match Racing Championship Grand Final. Day one was a very light wind day with significant shifts keeping the sailors on their toes as it was all too easy to see a comfortable lead fade away very quickly. The teams fought their way through a single round robin and while Blowers was the clear leader having lost only one race all day to George Haynes, the rest of the fleet was tightly compressed with Miles Jones and Sophie Otter tied on four wins a piece. Four teams, Ali Morrish, George Haynes, Sophie Taylor and Josh Adams followed just behind all tied on three wins. With the lack of wind making completing a second round robin impossible, the race team concluded racing early to work out the best plan for day two racing. As the battle for the final semi-final spot was so tight, it was decided to amend the schedule so that the top two teams of Blowers and Jones would carry on to the Semi-finals but that that remaining six teams would compete again in a repechage with the top two taking the remaining spots in the semis. After a poor showing in the first day’s light winds it was Niall Myant who was the star of the show in the big breeze winning all five of his races. George Haynes regained his usual form in the stronger winds and completed the line-up in the semis. The first attempt to get the semi-finals underway was thwarted when a gust of over thirty knots streaked across the race course forcing Alexis Dogilewski, Principle Race Officer, to abandon racing to avoid any damage to the boats or sailors. It wasn’t long before the breeze had settled and racing was underway. With time pressure becoming a factor the semis were shortened down to the first to win just one point so Blowers would race Haynes and Jones would face Myant in a sudden death shoot out. Blowers lead Haynes around the race track to secure his place in the final. In the other match Myant and Jones had an even start but Myant had a slight advantage by the first mark. Jones thought he could sneak through inside at the top of the course but the umpires disagreed leaving Jones having to take a penalty straight away to reset the order. Undeterred Jones hunted Myant down again on the run and before long was pushing him away from the leeward mark. An attempt to keep Myant from gybing left Jones with a penalty for overlapping too close. The race was nip and tuck all the way around the race track and on the final run Jones was again pushing Myant away from the finish line and indeed they sailed beyond the line. Jones tacked around to take his penalty and try and lead Myant back to the finish but did not sail low enough and so the penalty remained and Myant crossed the line ahead to take his place in the final. While the knock out stages were underway a “king of the Hill” was being run for the lower place finishes. A “winner stays on” format where eighth races seventh with the winner racing sixth, and so on, saw Sophie Taylor climb from seventh to fifth but it was match racing newcomer, Josh Adams, who held off her charge to take fifth overall and with it a place in the Grand Final for highest placed, not already qualified, skipper. The petit final saw George Haynes taking third place ahead of Miles Jones in a one race playoff and the finals saw Blowers secure the win with a fairly convincing 2-0 victory over Myant. After racing Blowers said “National Match Racing Championship Qualifier 2 was great for us to get our first event win on the circuit, the event was full of tricky conditions and matches throughout the weekend in varying breeze. Automatic qualification to the semi-finals after a great round robin meant we were confident heading into the next round. Where we then were able to be consistent to take straight wins in both the semi-final and the final. We will be back at Queen Mary Sailing Club for the Grand Final in four weeks, where will hope to have a similar performance at the season finale against the country’s highest performers. Thanks as always go to our sponsors, Moody Decking & Services, Marlow Ropes and Harken. Next up is the National Match Racing Championship Grand Final on the 15-17 November where the winners of each event this year will fight it out to be crowned UK National Match Racing Champion. More details at www.ryamatchracing.co.uk

End of the line for disability sailing charity

A charity which allowed hundreds of disabled children and adults as well as the elderly to experience the joy of sailing has folded. Founder Ged Doran said there is no longer the same demand for the yacht, Solway Adventurer, and it and its assets will now be given to the Isle of Man disability vessel, Pride of Man. Mr Doran said that as well as a lack of demand, he had been unable to focus on the charity – Solway Adventure Sailing, formerly Sailability – for some months due to personal reasons. His father Ged, 91, went missing earlier this year, sparking a huge search by police and more than 200 members of the public. His body was eventually found between High Harrington and Workington. Mr Doran said: “I found it difficult to concentrate on the charity and handed it over to someone else to run. But it has run its course.” The charity was inspired by the Isle of Man group, Pride of Man. “I didn’t really appreciate at the time the amount of hard work involved in raising £100,000 to buy the yacht and that was really just for starters. There would be insurances, mooring fees and more.” The first donation received was from occupants of a house he was working on in Whitehaven. Events were held, a Lottery grant awarded and the boat was bought. The vessel was moored at the Maryport Marina and he thanked marina boss Pauline Gorley and all those who helped over the years. Mr Doran, said the charity holds a special place in his heart. “It has been over 17 years since the charity was formed and it will always leave me with some special memories,” said Mr Doran. “There were a couple of disabled people who wanted to sail but couldn’t because they were in wheelchairs. We made it possible by training to lift them aboard with the boom.” "Kids affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster visited the yacht in 2005. One young lad had fell asleep on the coach and was left behind. As I was walking past the coach I heard footsteps coming down the coach steps, this little boy had tears in his eyes. I couldn’t speak Russia, he couldn’t speak English but he just took hold of my hand, then I had a tear in my eye too. “We were told some of those children would not live until adulthood. I still get a tear thinking about it.” He also played tribute to the young carers from Netherhall School in Maryport who helped on one trip and discovered they were coming back from Kirkcudbright in 45 to 50 knot winds with a woman who suffered from motion sickness. “There are so many memories. It is sad to see the charity go but there is just no demand now.”

Clipper Race: Rest and recover

All eleven yachts of the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race have now completed the 5,195 nautical mile race from Portimão, Portugal to Punta del Este, Uruguay, which will be home to the yachts and the crew for the next eight days. After the start on September 15,the race has been a tough one, with vastly contrasting conditions making for an experience for the crews will remember. With around 40 percent of Race Crew having never sailed before completing the Clipper Race training programme, their newly acquired skills were put to the test in strong winds left in the wake of fierce tropical storms. In contrast, the teams have enjoyed idyllic sailing conditions, spotted the wildlife they will have dreamt of and crossed the Equator in their own unique way. The final couple of days at sea have rounded off a remarkably varied race, with squalls and resulting wind holes as they tried to push forward to the finish line.

Endeavour Trophy 2019 Day 2 Highlights

Chipstead SC Graduate racing 6 October 2019

#ThisIsBOSS

Catching a huge gust in the Moth - 30.9mph

Spirit 111 superyacht launch

Britannia 18 months in the making

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.”

Olympic sailing through the years | Team GB

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