Port Dinorwic Sailing Club/ Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli crowned RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2021

Port Dinorwic Sailing Club / Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli have been crowned RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2021 supported by Gallagher, at the virtual RYA Dinghy Show (27th February 2021). The annual award recognises the outstanding achievement of clubs across the UK. The North Wales club were one of 10 regional finalists selected by the RYA Awards panel and were ultimately crowned overall winner by the public vote. The coveted trophy was presented by Dinghy Show host, professional sailor Hannah Diamond and RYA CEO Sarah Treseder. Port Dinorwic SC / Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli were recognised for being at the ‘heart of the community’ for their innovation and efforts to ensure their activities could continue to run safely once lockdown restrictions eased. When many of their members were unable to get out on the water, the club’s ingenious online activities including training and eSailing continued to keep them entertained and engaged. Their social media campaign attracted new members from the local area and boosted their membership and they also invested in a beach winch, allowing sailors to pull their boats up the beach while remaining socially distanced. Commodore Noel Bristow said: “Wow! I’m blown away! On behalf of all our members who I know will be delighted, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has voted. We were really proud to be recognised in the ‘Heart of the Community’ category and now to be named RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year is fantastic! Thank you to RYA Cymru Wales for all your support”. During the virtual awards ceremony British Sailing Team athlete Kirsty Urwin congratulated all the finalists: “This year more than any other has provided clubs with challenges but has also proven what can be achieved under these testing circumstances. It has been a pleasure to hear everything that has been achieved”. RYA Director of Sport Development Rob Clark said: “A huge congratulations to Port Dinorwic Sailing Club and all their volunteers. Whilst this year has been extremely challenging for all sports organisations, Port Dinorwic SC’s hard work, commitment to their members and innovation is what made them stand out to the judges. Congratulations to all our inspirational finalists". The 2021 finalists are: Bolton Sailing Club Chelmarsh Sailing Club Debdale Outdoor Activity Club Emsworth Sailing Club Guernsey Yacht Club Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club Port Dinorwic Sailing Club / Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli Prestwick Sailing Club Ripon Sailing Club Strangford Sailing Club Special commendations were also awarded to Cowes Sailability for their work connecting with isolated members and Llandudno Sailing Club for becoming an integral part of the one of the North Wales field hospitals whilst enabling members to return to boating as quickly as possible. Thank you to Gallagher for once again supporting the award, Moores Brothers for donating the trophy and to RS for donating a fantastic range of prizes for the winning club to choose. For more information about the award, how to get involved and this year’s finalists visit www.rya.org.uk/cluboftheyear

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Charlie Cumbley Interview Part 1

Sailing Scotland, Oban area

Sailing World on Water February 26.21 Sir Ben Is Upset, 12 Metre Beauty,...

Latest RYA Member Offers

As we look forward to the arrival of a new sailing season, there are a few things that are important to consider. From preparing your boat after being laid up for the winter, to checking your safety equipment. It is also important to ensure you have the right insurance in place for the season ahead. Bishop Skinner Marine have worked alongside the RYA for more than 30 years, providing boat insurance that suits the needs of our members. Whether you own a dinghy or a yacht, cover can be arranged to suit your requirements, and as an RYA member you can enjoy a number of additional benefits including discounted premiums. Bishop Skinner Marine boat insurance could provide protection from accidental damage, including fire and theft, as well as up to £5 million third party liability cover (depending on your policy), which offers protection should a third party make a claim against you for damage caused to themselves or their property. Many marinas require a minimum amount of third-party liability cover to use their facilities, so this is definitely something to consider. When buying insurance, we hope you never have to use it, but should the worst happen and you need to make a claim, Bishop Skinner Marine will work hard to resolve your claim as quickly as possible. With 24/7 claims support, it is a goal of theirs to get you back out on the water as soon as they can. If you have any questions about an existing policy, or would like a quote, please contact the Bishop Skinner Marine team by calling 0800 783 8057 or send an email to insurance@bishopskinner.com, and they will get back to you. Visit the Bishop Skinner Marine Member Benefit Pages to find out more. Marine 16, top rated by Practical Boat Owner Magazine, manufactures fuel additives and general maintenance products for the marine industry. Manufactured here in the UK (Wales). They have developed a range of ‘cutting-edge’ maintenance, polish, hygiene, and biocidal products which offer outstanding performance and value. Marine 16 products have been developed exclusively for the leisure boating and light commercial sectors - making it easy for you to maintain vessels, inside and out. Widely respected for fuel treatments, they can eradicate diesel bug, remove harmful injector deposits and maintain fuel systems. Products include their highly acclaimed Diesel Bug Treatment and Biodiesel Complete. Marine 16 can be seen as a pioneer in the cleaning industry, with a range of cleaners that are fully biodegradable, conforms to MARPOL ANNEX V “not harmful to the marine environment” and probably the most important of all, whilst creating zero plastic! RYA Members save 15% with Marine 16, simply visit the Marine 16 Member Benefit Page to find out how. Don’t forget your discounted offers from Spinlock Looking forward to Spring adventures on the water? Don’t forget your discounted offers, on the Spinlock range of products including the Alto 50N Flotation Belt. Popular with stand-up paddlers getting more adventurous in their distances and locations. Compact, small and lightweight, Alto provides essential flotation when needed without hindering your paddling when underway. Other discounts include our Cento Junior Lifejacket and Rig-Sense rig tuning gauge. To find out more and claim your exclusive RYA member offers, please visit Spinlock Member Benefit Page. Wetsuit Centre for your watersports needs This year the Wetsuit Centre has announced a large expansion of their product range. Having partnered with Helly Hansen, Musto, Cressi, Mystic and lots more, they now offer a comprehensive range of wetsuits, accessories, sailing, diving, swimming and general water sports hardware in the UK. Wetsuit Centre customers can expect expert advice on all water sports equipment, dedicated customer service and quick, reliable delivery across the UK and worldwide. Your membership with the RYA ensures you receive exclusive discounts and rewards schemes when shopping with the Wetsuit Centre. As one of the largest water sports outlets in Europe, with well-known brands such as O’Neill Wetsuits, Rip Curl, Xcel and hundreds more, they can be seen as a one stop shop to help you get kitted out and enjoy the activities you love. Visit the Wetsuit Centre website or call one of their experts on 01202 302943 to explore the range. Alternatively, to find out more and claim your exclusive RYA Member Discount, please visit the Wetsuit Centre Member Benefit Page. Rooster - for watersports enthusiasts, by watersports enthusiasts Founded by Steve Cockerill in 1999, Rooster’s very origin is innovation and challenging the system; delivering products for watersports enthusiasts, by watersports enthusiasts. Rooster has just launched a new, slick, easy-to-use, easy-to-follow website AND a totally fresh range of products coming out this year to check out or even pre-order. Rooster offers all RYA members a saving of £20 when you spend over £100 across the entire range of full priced Rooster clothing products on their new website! Visit the Rooster Member Benefit Page to claim your exclusive member discount code. Not an RYA Member As an RYA member, you could be benefiting from a whole host of special offers and discounts to help cut the cost of your boating. To claim these great offers join the RYA today and visit the member benefits webpages to obtain your discount codes.

Guernsey Yacht Club Joins OnBoard

Guernsey Yacht Club, based in St Peter Port, Guernsey, is on course to inspire the next generation of sailors after joining RYA OnBoard – the national grass roots programme making it easier and cheaper to get more young people on the water. Run by sailing’s national governing body, the RYA, OnBoard gives anyone aged 8-18 the chance to learn to sail or windsurf by providing low-cost opportunities for schools, youth groups and families to have fun afloat. The low cost sessions are also designed to promote equal access to sailing for young people from all social and economic backgrounds, whilst encouraging their character development. Commodore of Guernsey Yacht Club, Anna Rivers said “We want to make sailing as accessible as we can to everybody, and in particular to younger sailors. We know that they have a lot of demands on their time, and OnBoard gives them the chance to just get out on the water, sail and have some fun away from any stresses or pressures that they may have. We have our Open Day planned for May which includes RYA Discover Sailing and this will be the perfect opportunity to find out more about what OnBoard offers.” Hannah Cockle, RYA OnBoard Operations Officer comments; “It’s great to welcome Guernsey Yacht Club LBG to the OnBoard programme. Getting out on the water has a huge amount of benefits, no matter what your age, background or ability. We look forward to working with them and the local community in the future to get as many people as possible enjoying our great sport.” Outdoor activities, including sailing and windsurfing, are hugely beneficial for both physical and mental health, and can also help nurture and develop young people’s key life skills. The 2020 landmark RYA OnBoard Impact Report evidences that by learning and participating in sailing, young people are likely to benefit from a wide range of outcomes as well as providing a variety of valuable life skills that can be applied into all areas of a young person's life. The Report, which was produced by Professor Bill Lucas and the University of Winchester, identified that sailing can help young people develop multiple positive character attributes including: creativity, confidence, teamwork, communication, determination, independence and performance. Hannah continues: “Being on the water creates multiple situations where young people are challenged and tested as they learn a new sport or activity. The OnBoard programme provides a safe and proven structure for this to happen and a great environment to help young sailors to develop the OnBoard character attributes and capabilities that are so important for success in later life. “More than ever, this year also demonstrates just how important and beneficial outdoor activities like sailing and windsurfing are for our physical and mental health – to young and old alike.” By becoming an RYA OnBoard Club, Guernsey Yacht Club is continuing to build on its junior and youth offering. Youngsters currently (when Covid-19 restrictions allow) enjoy a range of weekly activities. Five-year-olds and over can take part in weekly ‘Pirates’ and learn to sail in a fun and safe environment on the club’s Model Yacht Pond. Once enough experience has been achieved, the youngsters then move out onto the sea and improve their skills with the Buccaneers course. The Club’s older children, with their own Optimist boats, train regularly and progress onto Fevas and Lasers. With experience, older juniors also have the opportunity to join the adult teams racing yachts and gain new perspectives on being part of a team.Having fun dinghy racing on the Model Yacht Pond Last year, within Covid-19 restrictions on the Island, the Club hosted a successful Junior Open Day. An impressive 150 juniors enrolled in the club’s various activities, spanning from Pirates on the Pond for the youngest to Laser sailing at national as well as international level for the most experienced. As well as its commitment to junior sailing, Guernsey Yacht Club also strives to support the development of the sport within the island. The Club supports a wide range of sailing related activities including dinghy racing, yacht racing and cruising, and power boating whilst it’s safety and pilotage evenings are unrivalled. Since 2005, OnBoard has introduced more than 900,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting some 70,000 of them into regular participants. For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit www.rya.org.uk/go/onboard

Ranelagh Sailing Club 2021

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Bid to make Norfolk town home for historic 'Dunkirk' sailing barge

Campaigners have launched a bid to make the last full-sized wooden Thames sailing barge ever built a permanent fixture at Wells-next-the-Sea. Burnham Overy filmmaker and author Jim Ring is part of the group that wants to see Cabby, which was launched in 1927, restored and brought to the north Norfolk port. And the project has special significance for Mr Ring, 66, as Cabby was used as the reception venue when he and wife, Kate Faire, 53, got married 25 years ago. Mr Ring said: “Given the nature of Wells as a historic trading port she would be a wonderful example to have here, with links to the great age of sail. It’s something the whole community could get involved in.” Mr Ring said the first steps would be to carry out a condition survey and feasibility study to establish how Cabby could be put to use in Wells. He said possibilities included running an on-board cafe over winter, offering chartered voyages around the coast in summer, sail training, and even as an events venue, such as for Wells’ Sea Fever Literary Festival. In its early years the 92ft long vessel was used to transport everything from cement to straw up and around the coast from the Thames, with Cabby’s shallow draft allowing her to venture into coastal waters other deep water boats could not reach. Cabby is also a registered Dunkirk Little Ship, although it has not been confirmed if she made it past the offshore muster point at Ramsgate and participated in the Second World War evacuation. The ship’s most recent use was as a family home by James Tuffs from 2014, but after they moved abroad several years later Cabby was taken to a marina on the River Blackwater in Essex and has languished there ever since. Mr Ring said: “Barges need a fair amount spent on them, just like an old house. She would probably need between £10,000 and £20,000 annually to keep her in good nick, and she’s not currently having that money spent on her.” Others involved in the bid include Wells harbourmaster Robert Smith, Charlie Ward, Kate Faire, Ash Faire-Ring and Josh Danziger. To donate to the project’s initial fundraiser, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/cabby-2025

SFS UK tour 2020 ep2 - Yarmouth to Dover

Sailing Gladys

Possibly 11knt tidal stream on the west coast of Scotland