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MARLOW TECH TALK: Why Splice?

The World Sailing Show - March 2020

My Classic Boat. Camper & Nicholson 35ft sloop 1966

SailGP GBR Team Ineos

RYA Musto Youth Awards recognise inspirational young sailors

A new generation of inspirational sailors were recognised in the RYA Musto Regional Youth Awards, presented this afternoon (01 March) at the RYA Dinghy Show. The awards celebrate the achievements of young people in the sport whether it’s on the racecourse, volunteering, instructing, coaching or overcoming adversity. They were presented to seven of the 11 regional winners by RYA Chair, Chris Preston, alongside Olympic champion Hannah Mills and her world championship-winning crew Eilidh McIntyre. Tom Brindley, 18, winner of the North West Award regularly volunteers as an instructor at Redesmere Sailing Club despite his heavy racing and training schedule and works with both adults and young people including children who have been excluded from school. “It was a surprise really as I didn’t know I had been nominated for it. It’s exciting to know that people like to recognise the achievement, not just from the performance side but also from the coaching and volunteer side too.” Also picking up an award was RYA North East winner Rebecca Finlay (17). Rebecca is well on her way to becoming a Senior Instructor and is always willing to give up her own time at short notice so other people at the Derwenthaugh Sea Cadet Boat Station can get out on the water. “It was a huge honour. I teach most weekends and a few courses during the week and sail every Tuesday. I also got my Powerboat Instructor qualification last year. Sailing has definitely given me confidence to try new things. I’d love a career which involves being out on the water. I’d love to be a professional racer but I wouldn’t mind being a coach or something- anything dinghy sailing!” Eilidh McIntyre commented: “Congratulations to all the winners. It was a real honour to meet them all today. These young people are doing so much for their communities and the people in their club and they are a true inspiration to us all.” Emma Jackson, Musto Brand Marketing Manager, said: “Musto have come on board as a partner of the RYA Musto Regional Youth Awards and it’s been fantastic meeting all the inspirational winners today and celebrating their incredible work. "We are pleased to champion sailing from grassroots all the way through to upper echelons of the sport through our partnerships with the British Youth Sailing and the British Sailing Team; these awards provide the perfect opportunity to do just that." 2020 RYA Musto Regional Youth Award Winners RYA London and South East winner: Hugo Valentine RYA North West winner: Tom Brindley RYA South winner: Monique Vennis-Ozanne RYA South West winner: Grace Cowd RYA Scotland winner: Mary Kennedy RYA Wales winner: Hew Farmer RYA Midlands winner: Nieve Ball RYA East winner: Harry Sutton RYA Northern Ireland winner: Amy Armstrong and James Corbett

RYA unveils mixed match race crew rules to boost female participation

The RYA has announced the latest in a series of changes to its match racing programme to provide more opportunities for Britain’s female racers. As part of an ongoing reform of RYA Match Racing to promote diversity and equal opportunities, crews entering the Summer Match Race events as well as the new Under 19 Championships must have at least one female sailor among the team. This follows the 2016 relaunch of the Marlow Ropes Women’s Match Racing Championships and the introduction in 2019 of the Women’s Winter Match Racing training event, both of which have led to high levels of engagement from female sailors. The move supports recent international keelboat events such as the Ocean Race and the Midsummer Match Cup which have successfully implemented mixed crew rules. It also follows the success of the RYA’s mixed crew rule introduction for the 2019 Student Match Racing Championships that saw female participation increase from 15 per cent to 35 per cent. It is in the intention of RYA Match Racing to expand this plan to encompass the Harken Youth Match Racing Championships and the National Match Racing Championships Grand Final in 2021. “In the run-up to London 2012, Britain produced some of the best female match racers in the world,” said Jack Fenwick, RYA Keelboat Development Manager. “After the inevitable post-Games decline, interest in match racing has been steadily growing. “We feel that it is vital that we provide female sailors with greater opportunities to compete on the match racing circuit, and by introducing a mixed crew rule to our events we hope we can empower female match racers and attract a whole new generation to our sport.” The move has already received the backing of key figures in elite sailing. Elaine Penhaul, chair of the Magenta Project, said: “We are delighted to see such a positive step to support and encourage gender equity in our sport. We have an imbalance to redress and this will give more women more opportunity to take part and really enhance their competitive sailing skills.” Six-time match racing world champion Ian Williams added: “I think it is a great initiative by the RYA to introduce mixed match race regattas into its programme. We sailed the Midsummer Match Cup last year, the first Grade 1 mixed regatta, and found it a very effective way of encouraging diversity in the sport.” The first of the Summer Match Racing events takes place at Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham, on June 6 and 7. To enter any of the upcoming match racing events, or for more information about RYA Match Racing go to www.ryamatchracing.co.uk.

British team dominates at SailGP

In his first day of competing in the world’s fastest sail racing, Ben Ainslie’s much-anticipated debut was masterful as the Great Britain SailGP Team presented by INEOS swept all three races on Sydney Harbour in the kick off to SailGP Season 2. The British team wasted no time establishing itself as the championship front-runner – holding a comfortable lead heading into Saturday’s finale. Sydney Harbour lived up to its reputation as one of the world’s finest sailing venues, delivering near perfect conditions that saw the record-breaking F50s regularly fly at speeds near 40 knots. Ainslie said: “It was an amazing day of racing. You can’t really ask for better conditions than that, 15-20 knots southerly on Sydney Harbour. I think our team did a great job and the guys on the boat were fantastic. Great opening for us but now it’s time to refocus for tomorrow.” Pegged as the favorites entering the season, the Australians struggled to get off to good starts throughout the day, scoring mixed results, with a second, third and fifth-place finish. Despite this, the home team finds itself in position to secure a berth in the final match race, sitting tied for second with Japan. Slingsby said: “It was a tough day at the office. We just made too many mistakes. I think we’re as quick as anyone but the Great Britain team isn’t making mistakes like we’re making. It looks more like we’re the rookies. We just have to come back stronger tomorrow.” While much of the attention going into the event was around the brewing rivalry between Ainslie and Slingsby, the most tense moment of the day involved debutant Spain and France. Phil Robertson and the Spanish team were heading toward a race boundary and lost rights to France and eventually clipped the French F50. After a strong start in the race, Billy Besson’s team was forced to retire from the final two races. The SailGP race jury determined the Spain team inflicted serious damage to the French boat, docking the newcomers nine total points – five points from the first race and an additional two points for each of the final two races that France was forced to miss. While its place in the standings was hurt by the collision and subsequent point deduction, Robertson and the Spanish team had an otherwise strong debut performance, finishing second in the final two races and showing the new crew will be competitive this season. Fellow newcomer Denmark SailGP Team presented by ROCKWOOL was also assessed a two-point penalty for making contact with the Japanese boat in the first race. After day one of racing, Ainslie and the British team find themselves at the top of the leaderboard with 30 points, followed by Japan and Australia tied with 23, the United States with 19, Spain with 15, followed by Denmark at 13 and France with five. The teams will regroup to review footage and the data powered by the Oracle to see if they can find a way to match the impressive Great Britain team heading into tomorrow. Racing resumes at 4:30 p.m. local time (AEDT) tomorrow and runs through March 1. Standings after Day 1 1 Great Britain, 30 pts 2 Japan, 23 pts 2 Australia, 23 pts 4 United States, 19 pts 5 Spain, 15 pts *9 points deducted from total score 6 Denmark, 13 pts *2 points deducted from total score 7 France, 5 pts

Never Give up on AOTW

UK Wounded veterans sailing challenge

A Cornish charity has launched a campaign to find a team of wounded veterans for an ambitious 2,000-mile sailing expedition from Land’s End to John O’ Groats – and back. Turn to Starboard is offering a unique opportunity for 24 veterans who have been affected by military service, with physical injuries or mental trauma, to join the epic challenge for a one-way voyage in either direction. The Long Way Up will see a fleet of three 40-foot yachts set sail from Land’s End on June 10. Crew members will spend around three weeks at sea navigating the west coast of mainland Britain while learning to sail under expert tuition from professional instructors. Turn to Starboard CEO and founder, Shaun Pascoe, said: “The aim of this exciting challenge is for wounded veterans to experience the therapeutic effects of sailing and the sea, meet people facing similar challenges as their own and gain valuable new skills. “Crew members can choose to either set sail from Land’s End or John O’Groats on a 1,000 nautical-mile trip and enjoy stunning views along Britain’s wild coastline. Each participant will get the chance to develop their sailing ability and skippering skills, learn about navigation, meteorology, safety and signals. “There’s no doubt each person will return as a competent sailor and have the option to continue their training with the charity and put themselves forward for an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore assessment. This valuable qualification allows the holder to work professionally in the boating industry as a delivery skipper, on a superyacht or as a sailing instructor and is recognised worldwide as a certificate of competency. “All places are provided free of charge and include three meals a day plus the loan of waterproof kit and safety lifejacket. Anyone who would like to apply will need at least one week’s yacht sailing experience, which may be able to be take place from our base at Falmouth in Cornwall before the expedition.” Organisations across the UK are being invited to sponsor the Long Way Up expedition. Turn to Starboard is looking for businesses or groups who would like their logo featured on all of the yachts, and enjoy complimentary use of a yacht at the launch regatta, or take part in employee or client sailing experiences on a traditional tall ship. Various corporate packages are available. If you are interested in sponsoring the event and showing your support for wounded veterans, contact Jane Higgins, events and fundraising manager, on 01326 314262 or by email at jane@turntostarboard.co.uk. For more information or to apply for a place on the Long Way Up expedition, contact Helen on 01326 314262 or email helen@turntostarboard.co.uk

Norfolk Broads sail boats, sailing up to Hickling Broad.

2020 Irish RS Aero Dinghy Calendar Expands

The Aero class has increased in Ireland to such an extent that there are now 17 boats regularly sailing and the solo class has been invited to participate in a number of RS events around the country hugely increasing racing opportunity, according to agent Kenny Rumball. The RS200/400 fleets have welcomed the Aero to participate in the following events; RS Southerns – Baltimore – 16th and 17th May RS Westerns – Galway – 4th and 5th July RS Northerns – Carrickfergus – 15th and 16th August This adds to the RS Aero Irish Open, taking place on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May in Dun Laoghaire, where a charter fleet from RS Sailing is confirmed. The event is being supported by Irish National Marine Services, the RS dealer in Ireland, and hosted by the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School. Considerable UK interest is reported for the event, which will be used as a showcase for the Aero in Ireland. The burgeoning Irish RS Aero Class Association welcomes the UK interest, and indeed commends the considerable support from well known UK based Aero sailors in supporting the event. The group is hoping to attract as many Irish entries as possible, and will help Irish sailors by directing them to the charter options available, and offer a few hints and tips. Indeed, the Irish Class Association will be present at the upcoming “Try the RS Aero” Open Day at the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School on Saturday the 7th of March from 10 am-1 pm. There will be three RS Aeros available for anyone with an interest in the boat to give it a go for free. The 5, 7 and 9 rigs will all be available, along with on the water support from members of the class association. Anyone interested is asked to contact the INSS office on 01 2844195 or sailing@inss.ie to aid with planning. Describing the logistical support behind the push to expand the class this year, Kenneth Rumball says “ Irish National Marine Services is committed to supporting the growth of this class. In stock are two brand new boats, as well as two demo boats. We’re convinced of the potential for a lightweight, fun, comfortable single hander like the Aero, particularly suited to the weather conditions we experience here.” Word from Aero sailors in Ireland echoes the “fun” element of the boat, with Dun Laoghaire sailors testing the Aero out in big breeze a couple of weekends ago in the harbour.