Success for national Solo championships in Mount's Bay off Penzance

 About 100 contestants from all over the UK took part in the event organised by the Mounts Bay Sailing Club, Penzance, Cornwall, last week.

With the sails raised and boats racing in front of St Michael’s Mount under a gorgeous blue sky, the event made for a fine spectacle to enjoy.

2021 UK 18ft Skiff National Championship at Calshot

 Last weekend was the much anticipated 2021 UK 18ft Skiff National Championships. After a year away from racing, the UK fleet were keen to show who was the top dog and so the racing was always going to be tight.

The fleet were greeted with 12-14 knots, some sun and a bit of Solent bump... perfect conditions to decide a UK national champion! Union Rose did not have it there way this time and all of the fleet has their nose in front at some point in the day. Babycham and Union Rose took race wins throughout the day, but Union Rose had made their lead too tough to challenge and managed to hold their slot on the podium to remain in first place over the weekend.

So the fleet have themselves a new UK Nationals Champion. Alex Lewin, Dan Harris and Jamie Jobson on Union Rose are well deserved winners of a weekend of exceptionally close racing. With a couple of boats being bought in recent weeks and some addictive racing at the front, it sets the fleet up for an excellent and competitive year in 2022

The next and final round of the Grand Prix Series in 25th/26th September. Be sure to stay tuned!

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Name R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 Pts

1 Union Rose 1 2 1 1 3 1 3‑ 2 11

2 The Black Dog 2 3 3 5‑ 2 2 4 1 17

3 Babycham 3 5‑ 4 3 1 3 1 4 19

4 Rutland 4 4 5 2 5 5‑ 2 3 25

5 The Time Genie 5 1 2 4 4 4 6‑ 5 25

Irish Flying Fifteen Nationals at Strangford Lough Yacht Club

 Lavery & Green dominated the regatta with three race wins. However, there were some races where, by their own admission, they had to draw on accumulated experience and practice sessions to extract themselves from middle of the fleet positions to get into the smaller single figure places that lend themselves to winning major regattas. After discard, they won by a whopping 16pts, with their worst result a 5th place in Races 1 and 4.

McCarthy & Thompson led three boats home on a post-discard score of 29pts, the final order here being McCarthy, Hammy Baker & Peter Chamberlain (3756), Peter Kennedy & Stephen Kane (3920). Two boats were tied on 40pts after discard with Chamberlain & Spratt getting the nod over Biggs & Pritchard Jones. On 41pts we find Trevor Darcy & Crew, followed by two boats on 43pts, Willis & McPeake and Meagher & Matthews. The top ten was closed out by Ian Matthews & Keith Poole (4093) with 51pts.

For the Irish Fifteen fleet. The next event is the Easterns which are scheduled for Dun Laoghaire on the weekend of 18th & 19th of September. Just enough time for a recalibration for those who need it!

Overall Results:

Pos Helm & Crew Sail R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 Pts

1 John Lavery & Alan Green 4083 5 1 2 5 1 3 1 13

2 Shane McCarthy & Andy Thompson 4085 2 11 6 23 2 6 2 29

3 Hammy Baker & Peter Chamberlain 3756 3 4 8 6 6 2 14 29

4 Peter Kennedy & Stephen Kane 3920 4 6 4 4 4 12 7 29

5 Roger Chamberlain & Paddy Spratt 3962 14 5 1 23 14 9 4 40

6 Nigel Biggs & Simon Pritchard Jones 4092 7 3 3 23 14 9 4 40

7 Trevor Darcy & Crew 3782 9 12 9 3 10 7 3 41

8 Bryan Willis & John McPeake 4074 15 9 11 1 9 1 12 43

9 Niall Meagher & Nikki Matthews 3938 10 16 15 2 3 8 5 43

10 Ian Matthews & Keith Poole 4093 11 8 5 12 16 5 10 51

11 Peter Lawson & Chris Hannon 3893 8 15 7 8 8 14 6 51

12 Charlie Boland & Rob McConnell 3883 12 7 10 7 7 17 17 60

13 Lee Statham & Andy Paul 3896 16 2 16 10 13 11 9 61

14 Peter Murphy & Ciara Mulvey 3774 6 10 18 9 15 13 8 61

15 David Mulvin & Ronan Beirne 4068 1 14 12 13 11 16 19 67

16 Ben Mulligan & Cormac Bradley 4081 13 13 14 15 12 10 16 77

17 Tom Murphy & Carel La Roux 4057 17 17 20 11 17 15 15 92

18 Tom Galvin & Alan Balfe 3757 18 19 13 14 18 18 13 94

19 Niall Bradshaw & Lisa Byers 3454 19 20 17 16 20 20 18 110

20 Brian McKee & Crew 3198 20 18 19 17 19 19 20 112

Laser / ILCA Open at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club

A fleet of 19 Lasers assembled at Derwent Reservoir SC on Saturday 28th August and enjoyed glorious blue sky and warm sunshine whilst rigging on the grassy lawns. 

So with two firsts Batchelor took the event, Belfield's first place in race 1 gave him second, tied on points with Liggins in third. Charlotte Rockett sailed well to take the title of first Radial and Lady in 9th.

Batchelor gave his thanks on behalf of the competitors to DRSC and the race team for a highly enjoyable and competitive event. The Lakeland and Borders Grand Prix circuit continues with a trip to Beadnell on the Northumberland coast on 4th Sep, Blackpool & Fleetwood on 11 Sep, before a Lake District double header to finish - at Coniston on 25 Sep before the series finale at Ullswater on 2nd Oct.

Overall Results:

Pos Helm Pts

1 Nathan Batchelor 2

2 Stuart Belfield 4

3 Greg Liggins 4

4 Peter Owen 6

5 Jethro Gebhard 10

6 Dave Gebhard 10

7 Dave Shilling 14

8 Richard Startup 16

9 Charlotte Rockett 16

10 Thomas Bates 16

11 John Pitkethly 17

12 Spirit Alderson 18

13 Laura Pitkethly 19

14 Nicky Leech 20

15 Steve Robson 26

16 Kevin Brown 27

17 Conrad Daniels 29

18 Myles Ripley 32

19 Sam Dorman 34

Entries invited for World Match Racing Tour Academy & Grade 2 Event in London

 Applications have opened for a World Match Racing Tour event and training camp taking place at London's Queen Mary Sailing Club in a joint initiative with RYA British Keelboat Sailing.

Match racing sailors are invited to register their interest for what is set to be an international Grade 2 event, with easy access via Heathrow Airport just a stone's throw from the club. Three days of match racing in symmetrically-rigged RS21s will take place from Friday 15 October to Sunday 17 October 2021 for up to 16 teams, comprising four or five sailors weighing no more than 350kgs in total, with a practice day on Thursday 14 October.

Organisers are also excited to announce that following a new partnership between RS Sailing and the World Match Racing Tour designed to grow participation, the event will be preceded by a three-day WMRT Academy in RS21s for up to 10 teams, led by six-time world match racing champion Ian Williams. The training camp from Monday 11 October to Wednesday 13 October will likewise be for teams of four or five sailors up to 350kg and will cost £700 per team.

The deadline for teams wanting to apply for the WMRT Academy and/or the WMRT Event is midnight Wednesday 08 September 2021 and invitations will be sent out by Friday 10 September.

Great North Asymmetric Challenge (GNAC) 2021

 This year's Great North Asymmetric Challenge (known as the GNAC) at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club will be held on 25th and 26th September. 

With visitors from eight different sailing clubs already entered, the GNAC is always hotly [dictionary: passionate, intense, or angry!?] contested. Given this year's event is part of the RS200 and RS400 Northern Tour, it's likely the dictionary reference will be accurate.

A multi-class event open to all asymmetric boats, in the past the GNAC has welcomed almost everything from Vareos to asymmetric Vortexes and VX Ones. The event will be an eight race series sailed on windward/leeward courses.

Camping is available on site for tents, caravans and motorhomes. The club will be open from 17:00 on Friday September 24th. The first start will be at 13:00 on Saturday September 25th. 

Please enter by September 19th at 

webcollect.org.uk/bass-sc/event/great-north-asymmetric-challenge-2021

2021 Hansa TT at Bristol

 Hansa 2.3s, two Hansa 303 doubles, two Hansa Libertys and six 303 singles. The event was hosted by All-Aboard Watersports Centre and the racing was run by Baltic Wharf Sailing Club.

2021 Bristol Hansa TT Results:

Hansa 2.3 Class

1st Lindsay Burns - Frensham

2nd Rowena Marsh - New Forest

Hansa 303 one person Class

1st Rory McKinna - CCC

2nd Mike Everitt - Frensham

3rd Dennis Hantman - Frensham

4th James Woosnam - Frensham

5th Hanna Nicoll - Whitefriars

6th Pat Jackson - Bristol

303 two person Class

1st Steve Kitson and Andy Holes - New Forest

2nd Phil Hall and Tom Hepburn - Chesil

Liberty Class

1st Paul Philips - Frensham

2nd Tessa Watkiss - Frensham

Scotland is sailing’s best kept secret

 If you head to the West Coast of Scotland, you are surely in for the one of the greatest sailing surprises in your life afloat. From Stranraer in the Dumfries and Galloway to Durness on the north western tip of the Highlands, you arguably have all that you could ever possibly want from a boating life.

Yes, you can probably leave sunblock off the shopping list. Yes, you’ll need decent sailing boots and be advised to take the kind of foul weather gear that Captain Scott would probably think was overdoing it for a winter in the Arctic. And yes, you’ll need to have a basic understanding of messing about in boats because these are deep waters and it can windy. But don’t hold back, because quite simply, you’re in for a majestic, unfathomably good experience.

Among the glorious shores of these islands, there is one of the best-kept secrets of sailing.

It’s a ragged and rocky coastline that is blessed with the sort of idyllic, empty sandy beaches stretching on for miles that would make Tom Hanks's castaway shake from method acting-induced PTSD. Here the blue waters are scattered with islands rising from the depths with the kind of muscular topography that would have your average geography teacher reaching for their colouring-in pencils.

This, my friends, is the west coast of Scotland.

Forget the Caribbean, wonderful though the punch, the people and the terribly reliable temperature all are. The untouched beaches of the Western Isles are every bit as beautiful, just permanently 15 degrees Celsius colder.

Ignore the Mediterranean, with it barren sandy waters, overfished to within an inch of its life since the Augustine and overrun with Frenchman fighting over marina spaces.

Because here’s the secret. If you head to the West Coast of Scotland, you are surely in for the one of the greatest sailing surprises in your life afloat. From Stranraer in the Dumfries and Galloway to Durness on the north western tip of the Highlands, you arguably have all that you could ever possibly want from a boating life.

From the picturesque port of Oban in Argyll and Bute, to the distant shores of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, by way of islets dotting the sea with names like Canna, Tiree or the towering slab of Staffa, famed for its Fingal’s Cave, you will find yourself in a water wonderland that feels positively Jurassic, geologically speaking.

Anchor for the night in Loch Aline off the Sound of Mull, where you can be the only boat, and you can wake up for swim in the morning before dipping your hook in for a mackerel or two. You’ll then have their peppered fillets twitching in the melting butter of your pan for a breakfast of the gods. You can have eggs any-which way you want them, followed by the most stupendous banquet of ornamentally dissected tropical fruits while having your head massaged in the Four Seasons in the Maldives with hammerhead sharks mating beneath your plate glass floor. Good luck to you. I’ll take fresh buttered mackerel on toast, with the sun rising over a loch in the Western Isles, in the shadow of a munro, under a Sisley sky of pale blue that doesn’t stop till it reaches the Moon.

 And then there’s the wildlife; the basking shark you’ll see as your cross the Little Minch from Skye to the Outer Hebrides, or the school of dolpin that will dance around your bows with glee for an hour without cease, or the seals bobbing in the lochs.

Bask in the Mediterranean sun all you want, but there’s nothing like drawing level with a basking shark.

Yet there is more to celebrate: when you’re ashore you won’t be assailed by marching bands of vernacular musicians like you would in the Aegean, sonorous for a night or two though they are. Moreover it is hard to tire of haggis or langoustine or mussels freshly harvested. These crustacean are the evolutionary destination of lemon and sauvignon blanc. And then there are distillery tours, so perfect for getting your land legs back.

There are a few simple rules, of course: have respect for dreaded Corryvrekin; don’t slow down for a whirlpool, avoid the rocks, and keep plenty of fuel in the tank just in case. Oh yes, and steer clear of the fisherman, and the ferries which travel faster than you’d think. Do all that, and you can do your best to eat the mackerel to extinction, and spend happy days sailing between islands named Rum or Canna, or Benbecula, Uist or Lewis, of course, where you can head ashore and visit the Callanish Stones or stroll out to see the Atlantic in all its fearful glory. And from the Outer Hebrides you could even set forth into the Atlantic and make for St Kilda, evacuated in 1930 and now the home of puffins and gannets.

Forget the pirates of the Caribbean, be a primate of the West coast of Scotland. It’s what boats are built for. The Vikings knew it and so should we all.

RSK D-Zero National Championship 2021 at Largs Sailing Club

 At 54 boats, the 2021 RSK D-Zero Nationals fleet was the largest collection of D-Zeros seen at our Nationals to date, and it is a testament to the energy of the class organisation and individuals in the Largs fleet that this years event was 30% up on entries. Further testament to the strength of the Scottish fleets was that approximately 75% of all Zeros delivered north of the border were in attendance.

The size of the entry was swelled by some real talent including Nick Craig (multiple world, European and National title holder), Steve Bolland (past D-Zero and multi-RS300 champ), Gavin Fleming (inland champ), Ian Baillie (RS300 past champ), Jon Shelley (Musto Skiff hot shot), Arran Holman (470 British Sailing Team Helm, 29er and Laser 4.7 hot shot) and the usual array of experienced and very fast D-Zero regulars.

Congratulations go to Dan Holman for yet another well-deserved National Championship win, to Nick Craig for a not-unexpected fight to gain second place, and to local man Jono Shelley who showed great form to take third place by one point from Arran Holman - both, as with Dan, in boats loaned by class members who could not attend the Nationals.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st GBR119 Dan HOLMAN Netley SC ‑1 1 1 1 3

2nd GBR310 Nick CRAIG Burghfield SC/Lee on Solent SC 2 3 2 ‑4 7

3rd GBR22 Jono SHELLEY Largs SC ‑5 5 3 2 10

4th GBR7 Arran HOLMAN Hollowell SC 4 4 ‑7 3 11

5th GBR110 Joel WALKER Grafham Water SC ‑6 2 6 5 13

6th GBR183 Gavin FLEMING Hunts SC 3 ‑6 5 6 14

7th GBR326 Niel RITCHIE Aberdeen and Stonehaven YC ‑11 7 4 7 18

8th GBR306 Jon BASSETT Largs SC 8 10 ‑27 10 28

9th GBR328 Tom SOUTHWELL Lee on Solent SC 9 ‑12 11 9 29

10th GBR66 David VALENTINE Emsworth Slipper SC ‑15 13 12 12 37

RS Aeros in Chichester Harbour Race Week held at Hayling Island Sailing Club

 Fantastic to see 48 RS Aero entered in total at Chichester Harbour Race Week this year, all getting set for the UK National Championships the following week with 144 set to compete! The Race Week fleet broke down into two Class fleets consisting of 17 RS Aeros 5s and 26 RS Aero 7s.

Congratulations to the winners, Sasha Tydeman (Lymington Town) in the RS Aero 5s and Greg Bartlett (Starcross) in the RS Aero 7s for winning their fleets, both counting straight 1sts!

In a breezy week overall, Sasha was pushed hard in the 5's by the rapidly growing team of local Hayling RS Aero sailors with Paul Hammett (Hayling) taking all the 2nds, with Hilary Baker (Hayling) finishing 3rd overall. In the 7's Ben Rolfe (Burghfield) took 2nd to Greg with Mark Riddington in 3rd.

Squib 50th Anniversary Weekend at Waldringfield Sailing Club

 One year late, due to Covid, The Waldringfield Squib fleet were able to finally celebrate their important anniversary. Eleven Squibs enjoyed four races over both days of the weekend.

The locals enjoyed their usual close racing but at a respectful distance from our three fast visitors who were tuning up for the Nationals next month. Andy Moore in 881 won, crewed by Max Evans one day and Peter Hallinan the next.

Pushing 881 were Patrick Wilton and Robert Cubitt in 164 and Jonno and Gemma Baker in 91. 91 was in our original fleet in the ownership of Jonno's grandfather Chris Thompson so it was great to see her back with us.

Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club holds successful Discover Sailing day

 FAMILIES from across Helensburgh and Lomond and beyond descended on the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club recently to try their hand at sailing – some of them sampling the sport for the first time.

The occasion was a ‘Discover Sailing’ event held by the RNCYC to coincide with the Olympic exploits of local heroes Anna Burnet, Charlotte Dobson and Luke Patience, all of whom learned their craft at the club.

And while it’s far too early to tell whether any of those who took part in the club’s event might be part of Team GB in the future, vice-commodore Linda Pender is already certain of one thing – that the day was a success.

To find out more about what’s happening at the RNCYC, check out rncyc.com or search for RNCYC on Facebook

Southampton Boat Show 2021 now just weeks away

 The event which takes place at Mayflower Park will run from Friday, September 10 until Sunday, September 19.

And according to the organiser, British Marine, there will be much more than boats to see.

The 52nd edition of the show sees the addition of brand new zones tailored to watersports, dinghies and day boats.

There will be a host of water sports to try including paddleboarding, kayaking and dinghy sailing - all ‘absolutely free’.

For more information or to buy tickets visit the Southampton Boat Show website.

For every adult ticket, two children aged 15 and under have free access.

The show is open from 9.30am to 6.30pm.