Up to Speed: October 2020

All-female doublehanded Round Ireland record attempt underway

Cat Hunt and Pamela Lee have started their attempt to set the first doublehanded Round Ireland record for an all-female crew. The pair left Wicklow Sailing Club in the early hours of 13 October for the start line at Kish lighthouse before heading south for a clockwise circumnavigation. They will be following the classic 700 nm route of the bi-annual Round Ireland Race, keeping Ireland and all its islands and rocks to starboard. After rounding the Fastnet Rock, the sailors will be exposed to the Atlantic Ocean and its harsh weather conditions, all along the west coast. Once around the northern tip of the island, they will have to contest with the strong tides around Ratlan, where the speed of the water can often exceed the speed of the boat in the opposite direction. The final stretch involves navigating the fickle winds and tidal currents of the Irish Sea to the finish. Cat and Pamela are sailing a Figaro Bénéteau III, Iarracht Maigeanta (Éire) during the attempt, which is being backed by The Magenta Project, a collective set up to support women at the highest level of sailing. They wanted to set this record as an all-female crew, to demonstrate that women are not part of the shorthanded and fully crewed offshore sailing scene just because of a mixed crew requirement, with the likes of the Olympic and Ocean Race rules, but because they are strong, motivated sailors in their own right. ‘Shorthanded racing is a great discipline because it demands that each skipper is skilled in all aspects of offshore sailing – from navigation to helming and sail trimming,’ explained Pamela, who is skipper of the Irish RL Sailing Team. ‘It is fantastic for females to be involved in particular, because it offers opportunities to learn and take the lead onboard that are often harder for women to fulfil on a fully crewed boat, where roles are more compartmentalised,’ she added. The two sailors are taking on the Round Ireland challenge with the hope of inspiring girls in Ireland and the UK to move into offshore sailing after graduating from dinghies, and to aspire to skippering large boats. ‘There is talent, enthusiasm and potential among young, female sailors in Ireland and the UK, but often a lack of awareness about the avenues for participation for women,’ said Cat, who placed 2nd in the 2019 RORC Transatlantic Race with an under 30 team, and hopes to be the next female British sailor to compete in the offshore Solitaire du Figaro. ‘We hope our record attempt will help to break down some of the stereotypes, related to accessibility and male dominance, and will generate excitement – encouraging other girls to get out and try to break the record we set!’ The Round Ireland record attempt is expected to take them five days and nights. Cat and Pamela will run a two-hour on watch rotation, and will also work together as a team on deck whenever manoeuvres such as sail changes are required. You can follow their progress on the Magenta Project’s Facebook page.

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...

Vendée Globe: 1 month to go