ILCA - LASER - HIGH PERFORMANCE - TOP TIP - With Sam Whaley

How to lay your boat up for Winter? Some ideas from Tom Cunliffe

ISLAND BARN RESERVOIR SC London's premier family sailing club

Solent Sailing Ep 28 - Floor Polish on a boat hull!!!

Dinghy Racing Tactics Tips - Be Your Own Weather Person with Mark Rushall

Solent Sailing Ep 27 - Exploring the Hamble

Work starts on new accessible watersports centre near Helston, Cornwall

Work has started on a brand new watersports facility in Helston, Cornwall. The Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust has signed a contract with local firm Brady Construction Services to build an accessible watersports centre at Trevassack, a 26-acre former serpentine quarry near Garras on The Lizard. Brady has now moved in onto the site and work is under way at Trevassack Lake. Simon Osborne, the Trust’s CEO, said: “Trevassack Lake will be a safe and welcoming environment for children and adults of all abilities to learn new skills and have fun on the water. Works has started on a new accessible watersports centre at Trevassack (Image: Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust) "We’ll be encouraging schools, youth and community groups and the general public to visit us, try out watersports and enjoy the onsite cafe.” The trust said the project, which was given the green light after grant awards from the Coastal Communities Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, will transform the quarry with its 10 acres of sheltered waters into a year-round watersports facility. The centre will provide high quality, accessible watersports activities for all, with outstanding disabled facilities and a wide range of specialist equipment. The Learning Centre part-funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation, will incorporate features such as Changing Places toilets and accessible changing rooms; while purpose-built holiday homes funded through grants from the Bradbury Foundation and The Clare Milne Trust will provide activity holidays for families affected by disability both locally and from across the UK. The Trust has commissioned a Floating Classroom, supported by the Mark Benevolent Fund, so that children, including wheelchair users, can learn on the lake too. James Brady, CEO of Brady Construction Services said this was a Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust. Works has started on a new accessible watersports centre at Trevassack (Image: Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust) He added: “James Brady said: “This is a unique development and we’re really looking forward to bringing the project to life. "Work onsite has commenced, overseen by Ward Williams Associates and the development, consisting of a Learning Centre and three holiday homes, is scheduled to open to the public in July 2021.” Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust is now raising funds for additional specialist equipment for young people with multiple and severe disabilities for the Learning Centre. Jonathan Thornton, trustee and steering group chairman on the project said: “Five years ago, the trust set itself the ambitious vision of creating a world-class accessible centre for watersports. "After research, design and most importantly fundraising, the first crucial stage in this project will now be realised.” For more information about the project visit https://hrcst.org.uk/about/future/

Sustainable super yacht sails back down River Orwell after brief return

A beautiful eco-yacht crafted in Suffolk is setting sail for the south coast to take part in the 2021 World Superyacht Awards. Move to the cloud with someone who understands you. Geist – an eco-friendly 34m vessel – was made in Ipswich by top boat-builders Spirit Yachts and headed off to Oslo in Norway to its new owners before returning to the workshop for additional work. It will now head to Gosport to take part in the awards event. Because of its size – it is one of the largest, single-masted wooden yachts ever built in the UK – it must wait until low tide before its mast can squeeze under the Orwell Bridge in order to sail out to sea. It was due to leave the workshop on Friday, October 9 – weather permitting – before waiting out on the River Orwell until later in the evening for the tide to turn enough for it to continue its voyage. Spirit Yachts managing director Nigel Stuart said: “It is wonderful to see Geist head off under the Orwell Bridge and into the horizon for new adventures with her owner. “The yacht’s design and build has been a huge team effort from everyone at Spirit Yachts and we are very proud to have created one of the world’s most sustainable superyachts right here in Suffolk.” At the request of her overseas buyer, the Spirit 111 yacht was designed and built in-house by Spirit Yachts to be one of the most environmentally friendly sailing superyachts ever created. Building the vessel was “a real milestone” for the company due to the complexity of its design and engineering, it said. Using electric propulsion to regenerate the batteries while sailing, the yacht can operate for up to four days at anchor without having to plug into shore power or start its two onboard generators. And providing there is adequate wind, it shouldn’t need to consume any fossil fuels when crossing the Atlantic. Spirit Yachts has been shortlisted in the British Yachting Awards’ outstanding achievement category for its work on Geist.

Cumbria,s Roa Island Boating Club's clubhouse shuts after members get Covid

SAILING club leaders have decided to close their clubhouse in reaction to two members testing positive for coronavirus. Roa Island Boating Club had planned to close the entire site until further notice after two active members found out they had contracted the virus. The club has now announced only the clubhouse will be closed. Boat club commodore Steve Almond said on social media: "We will continue to assess the situation and I will post on here as soon as this lockdown can be eased."

Summer 2020 in four weeks...

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RACING RULES EXPLAINER - EPISODE 3: Downwind Tips

Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club Championship October 2020

On Sunday (4 October), in a strong easterly breeze, sailors competed for the club championship. This was run over three races with all results to count, so consistent results were important. In the first race, it was 13-year-old Hector Droungas who took the win in a Topper, with Martin Brennan (Solo) runner-up, followed within seconds by Jacob Din (also aged 13) in a Laser, Jasper Bramwell (aged 12) in a Topper and senior Nick Hornsby in a Solo. So close racing showed the main contenders. In the second race, the two young Topper sailors had to take a penalty at the start for a rule break. This left the path clear for the senior sailors to get ahead. The strong breeze now had some occasional flat spots. Nick Hornsby and Les Bithell with Emma Turner (Merlin Rocket) were able to take advantage and establish a clear lead which they held to the finish. Meanwhile, Hector Droungas rounded a mark and was caught by a stronger gust and capsized, resulting in him retiring from the race. The final race was sailed in more moderate conditions and the young sailors in Toppers benefitted. This time Hector Droungas made no mistake and took the win from Jasper Bramwell with Tom Daniel, in a Laser, third place ahead of Andy Carter and Martin Brennan in Solos. The consequences of counting all three race results gave overall victory to Jasper Bramwell, with his excellent results, ahead of Martin Brennan and Nick Hornsby in their Solos, as prizewinners. Having to count his second race result left the twice race winner Hector Droungas in fifth place overall. Special mention also goes to young Orla Turner for her first outing as crew in a Mirror with David Hughes, awarded Silver Fleet prize. Away from the lake, Daisy Fisher (aged 15) was competing in a junior Topper Championship at Draycote, in the Midlands, where, in a fleet of 75 boats, she finished third overall and was the leading female sailor.