A Sailors Lot

Friday, 17 July 2020

Overnight at the Sillon des Anglais

Volunteer sailors needed for 'adventure of a lifetime'

A DOZEN volunteer sailors are needed for a once in a lifetime voyage around the UK. The Darwin200 UK Voyage is part of preparations for the main two-year Darwin200 expedition, set for 2021, which will follow in the footsteps of naturalist Charles Darwin. Organised by Hamworthy-based explorer Stuart McPherson, the expedition involves a voyage onboard a tall ship, travelling to the same 50 ports Darwin made landfall onboard HMS Beagle. It was Darwin's time on HMS Beagle that cemented his ideas about the natural world, leading to the publication of his landmark On the Origins of Species – a groundbreaking scientific book which introduced the theory of evolution through natural selection. The Darwin200 mission will turn the tall ship Pelican of London into a floating classroom, sailing the world's oceans while conducting five research projects. However, Stuart, is currently looking for 12 volunteer sailors to join the crew for the UK voyage aboard Pelican of London, to enable the main project's systems to be tested and to take part in promotional activities in major UK cities and ports. Stuart said: "Between 24-hour stops in ports around the UK’s coasts, we will sail to the most interesting and beautiful corners of the British Isles. "We will explore breathtaking lochs and pass dramatic castles. "We will land (where possible) to see circles of ancient standing stones, the abandoned villages of the mysterious ‘lost’ island of St Kilda, spot whales and seals, and pass immense cliff side seabird colonies." The UK voyage is already mostly paid for through sponsorship – volunteers only need to pay a small contribution to cover food costs and basic expenses. Among the 6,000 islands of the British archipelago, that will be visited during the voyage, will be the Scilly Islands, Hebrides, St Kilda, Shetlands and Orkney Islands. During the voyage the Pelican of London, a 45-metre long training ship built as an Arctic trawler in 1948, will have 10 professional crew. Additionally, there will be up to 14 Darwin200 staff and research programme participants. The UK voyage is scheduled for August and September this year. Email info@darwin200.com for further information on how to sign up.

Friday, 10 July 2020

ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB ANNOUNCE NEW RACE

With so many events cancelled or postponed for 2020 it is good to welcome a new event onto the sailing calendar for this Summer. ‘Race the Wight’-a race around the Isle of Wight on Saturday 1st August – will see the return to competitive racing at the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), the first since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This race will replace the originally scheduled Channel Race and is open to COVID-19 compliant crews following Government regulations in both the Two Handed and family/same-household classes. Starting from the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes, the 50-nautical mile race will adhere to the latest Government guidelines and advice from the RYA and World Sailing. Safety of all competitors, staff and volunteers are of primary concern as the RORC continues to monitor the Coronavirus outbreak carefully. Yachts will race anti-clockwise, heading westwards towards Yarmouth, leaving the Solent and rounding the Needles Lighthouse before making their way along the South West coast of the Island to St Catherine’s Point before crossing Sandown Bay to round Bembridge Ledge. The fleet then makes its way either side of No Man’s Land Fort and across Osborne Bay to the finish line back at Cowes. With the Island Sailing Club’s Round the Island race postponed in May this will be the first opportunity in 2020 to view a large fleet sailing off the Island’s shore. However, numbers for this race are restricted to 150 boats. RORC Racing Manager Chris Stone comments: “It’s been extremely difficult to know what changes to racing will allow us to go back to our original programme; taking into consideration the current regulations and social distancing measures, plus the need to protect the integrity of the season pointscore. It is our belief that the Channel Race may be a little too early to allow fully crewed racing and would potentially be difficult with regulations not permitting overnight racing. We therefore think a race around the Isle of Wight (for those who can), is a great compromise as crews can enjoy a distance race with an offshore element whilst still remaining close to the Solent. “We have some Musto prizes for the class winners and for our overall winner, and with entry fees going to the Scaramouche Sailing Trust and the NHS, we could not be happier about the whole event. It’s a great way to start the season.” Brian Thompson’s ratified World Sailing Speed Racing Council record for an around the Isle of Wight voyage of 2h 2m 31s in Phaedo3 in September 2016 is a time to be beaten, but all will depend on weather conditions on the day.