A Great British RIVER ADVENTURE | Sailing MAKANI Ep6

Building a yachting community in the landlocked Midlands

If your passion is yachting but you live in the landlocked Midlands, you could be forgiven for thinking to indulge your passion all-year round might be a challenge. Thanks to seven cruising clubs and a number of shore-based RYA Training Centres dotted around the Midlands, many of the region’s big boat sailors do meet regularly, learn new skills and enjoy annual cruises, rallies and races at home and abroad. But if you’re one of the estimated 5,000+ yachting enthusiasts who live in the counties farthest from the coast, you can now be part of a year-round community of likeminded Midlanders, thanks to an exclusive Facebook Group created just for you. Midlands Yacht Cruisers and Racers – or MYCAR for short – is about bringing the region’s scattered yacht sailors together virtually in one place. MYCAR gives sailors access to training, cruising and racing opportunities, the chance to ‘meet’ and network with others who also can’t wait for their next adventure on the waves, a way to stay up-to-date on relevant current affairs and sailing news and a platform to proactively share advice, information and experiences. To be part of the MYCAR community, you don’t have to own a boat, just have a passion for them. From people who have enjoyed flotilla holidays but never had the chance to follow it up or dinghy sailors keen to expand their boating horizons, to experienced skippers, instructors and boat owners, anyone who loves yachting can join. The only ‘rule’ is the Midlands must be your home. One of the first to join the MYCAR community was 20-year-old Ethan Harries, who lives in Bedworth, North Warwickshire, situated some two-and-a-half hours from the nearest bit of sea. Ethan’s yachting backstory is an interesting one. On an RYA Start Sailing dinghy course at Draycote Water, the then 14-year-old met two people who were shortly going off to do their RYA Competent Crew qualification. The teenager had never given yachts a second thought before, believing it to be something way beyond his reach and means. But that conversation opened his eyes to the possibility there might be a pathway to big boats for him too. When Ethan discovered Shustoke SC, just 11 miles from his home, had a cruising section he couldn’t believe his luck. That was five years ago and he’s since taken part in cruises and deliveries around the UK and Channel Islands and competed in the Round The Island Race. He achieved his Day Skipper theory last year and is now waiting for COVID-19 to pass before he undertakes the practical part of his training. That’s one reason MYCAR has been the perfect outlet for Ethan. He said: “If my experience with Shustoke is anything to go by, I’m looking forward to joining and networking with more likeminded people and discovering what opportunities might arise and experience I can learn from. “Being able to do that online is also particularly important at the moment and it provides a way for people to check in more regularly than meeting up in person. “Yachting for me is about the potential to explore. I still sail dinghies, but I can get bored sailing round the same lake for 20 minutes. In the past two years I’ve sailed in the West Country, the Solent, and the Channel Islands and it’s whetted my appetite to do more and go further afield further down the line.” “It’s been lovely to discover this group of people with so much experience and knowledge right on my doorstep at Shustoke. Now I’m looking forward to extending this through the wider Midlands yachting community.” MYCAR is also an RYA Affiliated Club, that’s free to join. The group doesn’t organise activities; its sole purpose is to complement and expand on the work the Midlands cruising clubs, training centres and RYA do to promote and celebrate yacht sailing with those who live in the region. If you want to expand your yachting horizons while sat at home, search ‘Midland Yacht Cruisers and Racers’ on Facebook and request to join. You will be asked a couple of simple questions about your connection with the Midlands and why you want to join MYCAR. The virtual door will then open to a world of new opportunities.

Up to Speed: June 2020

INEOS Team UK Britannia June 2020 VNR 1280x720

JOIN the UK J70 Class!

Vendée Globe 2020: All Systems Go

Island Sailing Club members make a splash with return to action

Members of the Island Sailing Club-Reading were able to sail on their lake at Pingewood last Sunday for the first time since the Coronavirus lockdown. The latest Government restrictions and the guidelines from the RHA were observed to ensure the members’ safety. A good number of members turned up, some just to check on their boats and others to see how the social distancing would work. This meant a smaller number than usual took to the water for the races. These were all single-handers, two-man boats are only allowed if crewed by members of the same household. Two races were planned and the first one was held in sunshine and a gentle breeze, with Ian Wickens becoming the clubs first post lockdown winner. Unfortunately, the second race had to be abandoned after the wind died and it started to rain. Racing will continue each weekend in future and now that members can see that the new regulations can work, it is hoped that more will return to rake part.

Standard Horizon HX300E VHF - Video 2. F4 Guide: Top 5 Best Selling Hand...

Kitesurfing Poole Harbour 20200605

UK Sailing While Dolphin spotting

British Youth Sailing unveils pioneering Diploma in Sporting Excellence

British Youth Sailing is launching its new Diploma in Sporting Excellence (DiSE) supporting talented and committed young athletes with the potential to be high achievers in sailing. The Level 3 diploma, worth 64 UCAS points, combines sailing and full-time education so participants have the skills, knowledge and competence to pursue sporting excellence alongside education and a future career in sport. A first for sailing in the UK, the course will be delivered by British Youth Sailing and Loughborough College. The pilot scheme will feature 12 places, beginning in September 2020. DiSE is funded by the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) as a dual career pathway for athletes who have been recognised and nominated by their National Governing Body as having high potential for excellence. The programme is delivered over two years, with sailors able to choose their further education studies, such as A levels, BTEC or other vocational qualifications alongside DiSE. Sailors must be in full time education for the duration of the DiSE programme. Applicants must have five GCSEs of minimum grade 4 (or C), preferably including maths and English, and be starting year 12 in September 2020. Sailors should have ambition to be part of and progress within the British Youth Sailing pathway. The diploma will be delivered through 10 to 15 days of bespoke BYS training camps during weekends and holidays, on top of class training and squad activity. It will include contact days on the water, workshops, online lessons and 1:1 specialist reviews. Course modules include Lifestyle, Finance, Anti-Doping, Injury Management alongside specialist sessions in mental skills and nutrition. Assessments are through practical work, written tasks and recorded discussions. British Youth Sailing and Loughborough College will work within the Government’s Covid-19 guidelines to ensure a safe programme is delivered. “This is real positive step to further supporting our sailors in education which I am excited to see grow and develop,” said Jack Grundy, RYA Performance Manager. “This qualification gives learners the preparation they need to be able to continue to compete in their sport at elite level and/or to use the knowledge, skills and competency they have gained to progress to employment in sport or to an alternative career pathway.” To register your interest for the course, please fill out the form here. The deadline for applications is midday on June 19.

Sailors invited to join Royal Southern Yacht Club charity regatta

THE Royal Southern Yacht Club is inviting sailors to take part in a charity regatta this August. It will take place in August and has been announced after the cancellation of the Isle of Wight regatta, Cowes Week. Four days of racing is planned for club class yachts, sportsboats, dayboats and other classes with six or more entries. The regatta will be based in Hamble, and will run from August 8 to 11. The nominated charities for the Royal Southern YC Charity Cup Regatta are Solent Mind and Hamble Sea Scouts. All racing and any services ashore will be organised in line with HM Government guidance and regulations on Covid -19, and will follow all recommendations from the Harbour Authorities. A limited entry is available for the event. To reserve a place, email sailing@royal-southern.co.uk

The Foiling Optimist