ROUND BRITAIN CHALLENGE - Adventure Sailing Wayfarer with Nipegegi - Din...

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR SAILING ROPES - Sailing Rope tips from Marlow Ropes

Open sailing event returns to Chichester - could it be back for good?

After a winter of storm disruption, the weather was near perfect for the time of year, with a south-westerly wind in the mid teens, and even the sun made an appearance - making it a fine day for sailing. The CYC race committee had worked closely with the class association to set up the event, so on the day the race officer set the RS400s preferred windwar- leeward course with a gate. The first race brought a few capsizes and one boat broke its mast, but was won by Steve and Sarah Cockerill, followed by Jon Heissig and Nicky Griffin. The second race saw the fleet crowding the line with a few boats over. After a regrettable mix-up it was decided the fairest result was to award joint first place to Cockerill and Heissig. The third race was full of incident. Jack Holden and Rob Henderson built an impressive lead, sailing downwind at astonishing speed as they made the most of the gusts. But then had difficulties with their spinnaker which halted the boat by the leeward gate and saw them overtaken by Heissig and Griffin. Holden and Henderson tried to catch up, but the race was won by Heissig and Griffin. At the prizegiving, third place went to Holden and Henderson (Arun YC), second went to the Cockerills (Lee on Solent SC) and first place went to Heissig and Griffin. It was nice to spend at least a few hours outside in the sunshine and after racing, competitors gathered in the sloop for a race tea. The talk after the event was about next year, and it is hoped the RS400 will become a regular fixture at CYC.

Northampton Sailability generates £12,500 to draft in the Welland Flyer to its growing fleet of 20 craft

A booming club dedicated to helping disabled people sail has launched its most exciting boat yet on dry land in Market Harborough. Northampton Sailability has generated £12,500 to draft in the super-sleek Welland Flyer to its growing fleet of 20 craft. Market Harborough Building Society Charitable Foundation ploughed in over £2,000 to speed the mighty boat on its way. And, fittingly, the vessel was officially named by building society chief executive Mark Robinson in The Square just yards away from their historic Harborough home. Speaking after the ceremony on Friday March 13, thrilled Mark told the Harborough Mail: “We are delighted to be able to help Northampton Sailability acquire this magnificent boat. “We are here to support our local community across Harborough. “And clubs like this one do so much fantastic work with inspirational people, who really make you think.” He added: “We’ve had our charitable foundation for 20 years. “We have given away an amazing £250,000 over that time to great causes such as Northampton Sailability. “This boat will have a positive long-term impact for the club and this is a genuine good news story in very challenging times.” Based at Pitsford Reservoir, Chris Bignell, principal of Northampton Sailability, said: “This is a very big day for all of us. “Welland Flyer will be our most exciting boat and will do double the speed of any of our other craft! “A lot of people are going to have a lot of fun in this incredible boat in the years to come.” He said they had built up a tight-knit team of 72 volunteers and 53 members – coming from all over the Harborough area. “We take people sailing who have a wide range of mental and physical disabilities. “We also have wheelchair users and employ special hoists to lift them into our dinghies,” said Chris, of Naseby. “We’ve been going since 1996 and love the work we do. “And I’d like to say a huge thank you to Market Harborough Building Society for helping us land this brilliant boat.” Emma Dakin, 52, travels from her home in Lutterworth every week from April to October to go sailing at Pitsford – and she’s been blind since birth. Beaming from ear to ear, inspiring Emma said: “I’ve already been out in the Welland Flyer – and she’s a true flyer! “She’s so fast and easily the most exhilarating boat we have. “Sailing is right at the heart of my life, I just love it.” She said she took to sailing like a duck to water in 2004 – and has never looked back. Now an assistant instructor, Emma added: “I navigate around Pitsford Reservoir using my own special clock system in relation to local landmarks. “Sailing is so relaxing, so good for your mental as well as physical health. “We are always looking for new members so come along and join us out on the water – you’ll love it.” If you would like to find out more about Northampton Sailabilty check out their website here: https://www.northamptonsailability.org.uk/

Scottish Series Regatta Cancelled Over Coronavirus Restrictions

The Scottish Series, Scotland's biggest sailing event scheduled for the Clyde on May 22 is the latest yachting regatta to become a casualty of Coronavirus restrictions. In a letter to competitors issued this morning, the 2020 cancellation stated that the decision has been reached in line with government guidelines and the expectations that disruptive impacts are likely to be in place into June 2020. The event is the first of the Irish Sea's 2020 calendar but with Howth Yacht Club's June Bank Holiday Wave Regatta already postponed til September, there was an inevitability about this morning's Scottish cancellation. Irtish boats have been very successful in recent voyages North including an overall win in 2019 by Andrew Craig's J109, Chimaera. The Troon cancellation means that with Scottish Series and Wave Regatta now gone the first of the major sailing fixtures is the Round Ireland Race that is still some 13 weeks away. The statement also says 'We have also considered the logistics of being able to complete preparations for what is the second-largest regatta in the UK during a time when many suppliers and sponsors are struggling to continue with business as usual activities. We are also conscious that many of you will have your plans to launch and prep for the event disrupted and indeed, may not be able to make it". The statement concludes with dates for 2021 Scottish Series as 28 - 31 May.

Whitstable Yacht Club. World Class Sailing.

Dinghy Racing Tactics Tips - Tactics in fast Boats with Mark Rushall

Cornish Crabbers Coble sailing in Fowey, Cornwall.

TrailBlazers Empowering Girls Sailing Adventure

I Bought A Boat Wreck! Building Misumi | Ep.1

NBCSC Start of the Sailing Season 2020

‘For the first time in my life I felt free of my disability'

DISCOVERING sailing has transformed Hannah Shelmerdine's (34) outlook in life, from one of loneliness and isolation to a world of possibilities, freedom and friendship. With acute Cerebral Palsy Hannah needs 24 hour care and after leaving education she found herself becoming increasingly depressed, recalling those days as a seemingly endless loop of daytime television or shopping with careers. Today, Hannah describes herself as a ‘disabled extreme sportswoman' but this was not always the case. "Eventually I was so unwell I became desperate. Then my sister suggested sailing, I'd never seen a sailing boat before so I had no idea but I just thought I'd go and see if I like it" Hannah explained. Hannah and her sister went along to Bolton Sailability (at Bolton Sailing Club) in the summer of 2016 where she was taken out on a boat that day. "For the first time in my life I felt free of my disability and all its restrictions. I left my wheelchair behind" she explained. Hannah helms a double-handed boat with a crew and in light winds can sail single-handed with the aid of a powerboat driver alongside to give directions. As she has limited use of her left hand she is able to adjust the sails and steering using specially adapted controls. During her first season at the club, Hannah began to learn how to race competing at the RYA Sailability Multiclass Regatta two years running. Today she is a Rooster-sponsored ambassador for the sport and hopes to take part in a tall ship adventure with the Jubilee Sailing Trust. "Sailing really has opened up a world of opportunity" said Hannah. "It made me realise there is a life out there to be had. Sailing has given me the confidence to try other things and make new friends. One of my carers recently said to me: "We couldn't get you out at one point and now we can't keep you in!" If you'd like more information about sailing for people with disabilities please visit www.rya.org.uk/sailability

New walk-ashore berths and visitor moorings at Lymington Quay

Lymington Harbour has just announced that its scheme to upgrade and regenerate the Quay is completed and that the new facilities are officially open. Lymington now offers visitor berth facilities that rival other leading destinations across the south coast and which modern boaters expect. This is good news for Lymington businesses and estimated to boost the local tourist economy by over £1.1m over the next ten years. There are now 46 dedicated walk ashore pontoon berths (including 26 finger berths) for visiting craft, all with power and water, as well as 32 fore and aft visitor moorings. Conveniently for visitors the finger berths will be available for advance booking, initially through the harbour office, and in the coming weeks, online. Seen as the ‘gateway’ to the Solent, Lymington is as we know steeped in yachting history. With its proximity to the New Forest, it is also an attractive destination to visiting boats from other parts of Britain, and from Europe too. As well as improving the visitor facilities, the new development also enlarges the commercial landing. This will allow larger boats and more frequent visits from the pleasure cruise craft which bring day trip tourists from destinations such as Yarmouth and Cowes. Upgrades for local fishing and private boat owners too The project has also relocated the commercial fishing boat berths which provides better segregation between commercial and leisure boat activities, and upgraded 24 moorings reserved for local residents to pontoon berths. Lymington Harbour is a not for profit trust port. It sees the £620k investment as a crucial part of its wider sustainability and development programme Walk ashore berths at Lymington Quaythat is further supported by research from the British Marine Association - who highlight how the marine sector has created close to £6bn in sales from boating related tourism expenditure in 2018, a 65% growth since 2013. Travelling to and fro mainly by land as we do, most of us don't routinely consider these aspects of our economy! Tourism without traffic plus a boost for local jobs and local spending Crucially, at a time when various New Forest stakeholders are working to reduce vehicle related tourism, the new visitor facilities will deliver ‘tourism without traffic’ as well as boosting jobs and expenditure into the local community. With WIFI, power and access to newly renovated facilities, Lymington will continue to be seen as a leading destination for boaters, something that excites Harbour Commissioner Ryan Willegers: “We are delighted that this project which has been in the making for a number of years following wide spread support to an earlier public consultation is now complete. We now look forward to welcoming many new visitors to Lymington so that they can enjoy the wonderful facilities the town and harbour has to offer, while at the same time benefiting the local economy and employment”. Lymington harbour logoWe'll be hearing more from Lymington Harbour! With its vibrant weekly Saturday market, bustling high street home to award winning restaurants and independent shops along with a calendar of summer events including the annual Lymington Seafood Festival of which Lymington Harbour is also a main sponsor, the Harbour’s investment in the Quay is likely to open up even more opportunities for events and community based projects. And this is an area the Town Council is keen to develop too. Councillor Anne Corbridge Mayor of Lymington said: “We are really delighted with this investment in our sailing facilities. Which, along with the shore side improvements will certainly push Lymington to the forefront of sailing in the UK. Along with the redevelopment of the Quay later this year, this will really make our beautiful town the perfect destination for both sailors, visitors and locals, which will certainly boost the local economy." For more information visit www.lymingtonharbour.co.uk.