Chichester Harbour: Full send training review

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston takes flight on Britannia

A very special celebration at Peterborough Sailability

Peterborough Sailability, based at Ferry Meadows in Nene Park, Peterborough, was founded in 2006 to offer people with disabilities living in and around Peterborough the opportunity to go sailing and enjoy the fresh air and sense of freedom that this brings. One of its founder members - James Hopgood, a Rotarian - started the organisation after visiting a local Sailability Club and began activity at Peterborough as a retirement project. This year celebrates Peterborough Sailability being 15 years old, coinciding with James’s 80th Birthday. On Tuesday 21 July there was a socially-distanced celebration to mark both occasions. Richard Dykes, Secretary of Peterborough Sailability, said: “Peterborough Sailability is extremely happy to recognise James Hopgood as a founding member over 15 years ago, and proudly honour his 80th birthday in July 2020 by naming our newest boat ‘James Hopgood’. He has had his hand firmly on the tiller steering since its inception to become a successful Sailability outlet, regularly taking over 100 sailors with disabilities onto Gunwade Lake at Peterborough Ferry Meadows within the Nene Park at Peterborough. James was extremely proud to be part of the team when Peterborough Sailability was recognised and was awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Services in 2018.” James sailing the boat named after him Supported initially by the six Rotary clubs in Peterborough, Whittlesey and Oundle, the organisation has grown into a successful operation. Starting with just one afternoon a week, three sailing boats and six sailors in total, today it operates on two full days a week, with nine boats and more than 150 sailors. There are now some 70 unpaid volunteers - some are qualified sailors, taking members out on the water, whilst others are shore-based, launching and recovering the boats, rigging and repairing boats and equipment, handling bookings, helping sailors get togged up in protective clothing and buoyancy aids, and generally being chatty and sociable! To find out more about Peterborough Sailability, visit https://www.peterboroughsailability.org/ Sailability is the national programme run by sailing’s governing body, the RYA, giving people with disabilities the chance to try sailing and to take part regularly. The British network of more than 200 RYA-approved Sailability sites have boats and facilities to cater for people across the whole spectrum of abilities. To find out more about sailing opportunities for disabled people once the current Coronavirus prevention restrictions are lifted, or those that need specific support to get on-the-water visit www.rya.org.uk/sailability.

Vendée Arctique - Sprint to the Finish

Felpham Sailing Club returns to sailing thanks to its volunteers

Guy Mayger, Commodore, is full of praise for how the volunteers on the Committee have come together to lead the club and its members by devising solutions which meet the current legislation and guidelines and are still able to offer fun in a safe environment. Guy said: “The Committee have worked really well together to understand the constraints of the new normal and adapt our offering to club members accordingly. In turn, our members are enjoying getting out sailing, racing and training. A lot of work has been done to make the bar and clubhouse conform with guidelines and members are respecting what has been put in place. So far it is going well.” Several measures have been established to enable maintenance of social distance including household groups providing safety cover, launching on a falling tide (providing a bigger beach and avoiding the high tide dump), and only using lightweight safety craft (two person launch & recover). Choke points in the dinghy park and on the ramp and promenade are self-policed for social distance. The racing is as closely fought as ever with many close finishes across the handicap fleet. Training and race coaching have been very strongly led by volunteer Principal Paul Miller with a team of young instructors looking for work now that school and uni are over for the summer. With a couple of instructors from the same household and four students the instructor ratios have been excellent and the price has been kept low to maximise uptake. Social sailors have not lost out either as they have gone out in small groups around low tide in lighter winds giving each other support while they enjoy the sea. Guy said: “It has been difficult trying to get it right, but the support from the RYA through the online forums and the local Flag Officer network has helped me and the Committee through some challenging times. The last two weeks have been very rewarding seeing many old friends back sailing and having fun, and some new members too.” Guy Mayger in a socially distant Race Officer role – quite a challenge to keep track of a handicap fleet of 30 dinghies. Felpham SC is a British Youth Sailing Recognised Club, an RYA Training Centre and an RYA OnBoard Centre.

Top 5: small sailing yachts 2020

Sailing World on Water News July 17.20 INEOS Boat Build, Vendee Arctique...

Topsails sailing barges back out on the river at The Hythe, Maldon

Topsail's sailing barges at The Hythe, Maldon are back out on the river after gaining the 'good to go' status with Visit England. To start with, only their largest barge, Hydrogen, is operating as she offers more space for social distancing. A spokesperson from Topsail said: "A high number of customer who have already booked, have told us they missed out on holidays and are choosing to do something locally, which is great for Maldon, our local suppliers, Buntings, Maldon Smokehouse and Maldon Brewing Co, and offers a glimmer of hope for the rest of the season. "It will be a challenging future, but we will be working very hard to keep the barges sailing from Maldon in the future." Topsail are also working hard to have 'Thistle' sailing again by the end of the month for private parties of up to 30 guests. The third barge 'Reminder' will not be sailing this year, but they hope to have it up and running by 2021 as more people choose staycations.

Falmouth Week 2020 sailing and racing WILL go ahead this year –

FALMOUTH Week's sailing and racing events will go ahead this year, organisers have announced this afternoon. The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association (PoFSA) has confirmed the news. It had already been announced earlier this year that the shoreside aspects of Falmouth Week had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it was always hoped that the on-water activities could still take place – and so it has proved. Nigel Sharp and the PoFSA team have been meeting twice a month to provisionally plan towards organising the regatta. Neil Andrew, race management officer, said: “It was difficult at times as we felt we were looking through an out of focus pair of binoculars. "When the Falmouth Town Falmouth Week organising committee decided it was no longer possible to hold any shoreside or music events it looked as though PoFSA were going to have to put away our flags and starting guns as well." Competitors from last year were contacted to gauge interest in holding a regatta that could be organised within government legislation and it was the responses returned that meant it was a viable proposition, organisers said. In the meantime Cowes Week, Royal Dartmouth Regatta and Fowey Week were all cancelled. It wasn’t until July 11 that sufficient easing of restrictions gave the team the green light to go safely ahead. A slimmed-down Falmouth Sailing Week will now take place over four days. There will be two racing fleets in the Carrick Roads and out in Falmouth Bay with the start lines close to Pendennis Point. This will make an ideal viewing point to watch the action out on the water. The organisers said the racing would be compliant with current Covid -19 legislation in that only same households – or household plus support bubble – may crew the boats and man the safety RIBS. It will be run in a "conservative and considerate" way to minimise any risk using the Royal Yachting Association’s guidelines. That does mean that there will not be any prizegiving teas or entertainment and receptions this year, but there will be a time after the regatta when winners will be invited to receive their prizes and keen fought for trophies in a socially distanced environment. Wednesday, August 12, will be the Ancasta Champagne Day and the Thursday to Saturday will comprise a three-day series of six races for all classes sailed as regatta courses. Jane Wright, the PoFSA sponsorship and publicity coordinator, said that all the partner sponsors were keen to continue their support and said that Ancasta Champagne Cup, the Hine Downing Bay Fleet and the Mylor Yacht Harbour Carrick Fleet were "providing excellent platforms for the racing community to challenge their skills". More information can be found at www.pofsa.co.uk/index.htm The Race Office is available to leave queries via 01326 211555. To enter Falmouth Sailing Week head to https://falmouthweek.co.uk/race-management/ The addendum to the Notice of Race gives the new requirements for racing. This year there is a flat £20 entry fee. Falmouth Week will return in full on and off the water from August 6 to 15, 2021.

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.

Dart 18 Sailing Barry to Cold Snap and Back

SAILING THROUGH A WINDFARM, and other adventures.