MORE THAN 100 YOUNGSTERS TAKE PART IN POPULAR COWES SMALL SHIPS RACE

 More than 100 youngsters are taking part in the popular Cowes Small Ships Race this weekend.

The annual event is hosted by the Gosport based charity ASTO (Association of Sail Training Organisations), with support from the Royal London Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron.

For the last 20 years, it sees young people aged between 12-25 (known as Trainees) competing against each other on a fleet of Sail Training vessels.

Many of the young people on board have never been sailing before, so the race provides an opportunity for the Trainees to challenge themselves and to take pride in their achievements.

The popular event also provides the chance for many Sail Training organisations across the UK to celebrate the end of their season.

2021 HYS Hamble Winter Series starts tomorrow

 The 40th running of the Hamble Winter Series will commence on the weekend of 2nd & 3rd October 2021. Sponsored once again by Hamble Yacht Services the main eight week series will start with two races on Sunday 3rd October.

Before that, the Hamble One Design Championship will kick off on Saturday 2nd October and the plan is for 6 races to be completed over two days. There will be three classes in this first OD weekend.

RS400 Demo Boat available for the Inlands and beyond!

 Are you thinking of joining the RS400 Class? If so, come and find out why this class remains so popular, over 25 years after it was launched, with great turnouts at Nationals and regional events and a 50-boat National Championship.

Our RS Class Association demo boat is available for the Rooster Inlands at Grafham on 2/3 October. Get in quick for the early entry rate closing 30th Sept! It is also available throughout the Winter at Leigh & Lowton SC.

So far this year at least four pairs have joined the fleet, following demo sails. Could you be next? Who knows, you may even with the GNAC!

The Class Association would like to thank the generous supporters who have helped keep the boat in tip top condition - Rooster, Rope5Boiats, RS Sailing, Rain and Sun and GP Sails, as well as the volunteers from the class who look after the boat and assist sailors, particularly Andy Powell, David Swift, Paul Reynolds and Dave Exley

Contact sally@rs-association.com for more details.

North West Topper Championship at Bolton Sailing Club

 Thirty-three Topper sailors from clubs across the north of England travelled to Bolton Sailing Club on Saturday 18th September for the North West Championships.

There was still enough wind for the fleet to launch and a tight Race 4 saw Erin lead from the start to seal the Championships. Jasper finished second in the last race and was second overall, with Ava finishing third and third overall. A great day's sailing and thanks to Bolton Sailing Club for hosting the North West Championships; the next event in the North Traveller series is West Riding Sailing Club on 23rd October.

Overall Results:

Pos Rig Name Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 5.3 Erin Young Scaling Dam SC ‑5 1 2 1 4

2nd 5.3 Jasper Bramwell Hollingworth Lake SC 1 (UFD) 4 2 7

3rd 5.3 Ava Harris‑Scott Elton SC ‑9 5 1 3 9

4th 5.3 Lewis Bacon Leigh & Lowton SC 2 2 (UFD) 7 11

5th 5.3 Rosanna Joyce Budworth SC 3 ‑6 3 6 12

6th 5.3 Chris Hampshire Ripon SC 4 ‑7 5 5 14

7th 5.3 Tom Moss Scaling Dam SC 8 4 (UFD) 4 16

8th 5.3 Harriet Wood Elton SC ‑10 3 10 8 21

9th 5.3 Seren Green Ullswater YC ‑13 13 7 9 29

10th 5.3 Matthew Baird Budworth SC ‑21 11 6 13 30

Finn Open and Travellers' Series at Highcliffe Sailing Club

 Over the final weekend of September nineteen Finns descended on Mudeford Quay for the penultimate event in the Travellers Trophy series, hosted by Highcliffe Sailing Club.

Highcliffe Sailing Club and its volunteers put on a fantastic weekend's sailing for the class and thanks must go to all of those that sat in RIBs, set courses, pulled boats up slipways, baked (exceptional) cake and served sandwiches and tea to a very appreciative Finn class - thank you all for a great weekend's racing!

 Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club Category R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts

1st GBR49 James Downer Gurnard SC Open (23‑39) ‑5 4 4 1 1 1 11

2nd GBR 567 Martin Hughes Warsash SC Great Grand Master (60‑69) 1 1 (DNC) 2 4 3 11

3rd GBR 581 Alex Atkins Christchurch SC Master (40‑59) 2 2 5 3 ‑10 10 22

4th GBR 11 Paul Blowers Gurnard SC Grand Master (50‑59) 4 9 3 ‑13 3 5 24

5th 635 Simon Percival Christchurch SC Master (40‑59) ‑13 5 6 9 5 6 31

6th 21 Miichael de Courcy Mengeham Rythe SC Grand Master (50‑59) 8 (OCS) 8 11 2 4 33

7th 33 Kieron Holt Warsash SC Master (40‑59) 3 7 10 10 ‑15 7 37

8th 13 Roman Khodykin Mengeham Rythe SC Master (40‑59) 16 6 1 7 8 (DNC) 38

9th 76 Fred van Arkel Mengeham Rythe SC Great Grand Master (60‑69) 11 3 7 5 12 (DNC) 38

10th GBR 68 John Mackie Winsford Flash SC Grand Master (50‑59) ‑14 12 9 14 6 2 43

Scots marina increases capacity

 A MARINA near Edinburgh is expanding to increase its berth count and accommodate larger yachts as demand for boat ownership soar.

After receiving a six-figure loan from HSBC UK, South Queensferry’s Port Edgar Marina, formerly a naval base, will dredge a disused part of the marina and reinstate the old pier.

Demand for moorings has grown “considerably” since the start of the pandemic and increased capacity will allow it to offer an additional 50 mooring spaces – up from 320 – and accommodate yachts over 100 feet, up from the current maximum length of 50ft.

Located between the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing, Port Edgar Marina sits less than 30 minutes outside of Edinburgh city centre. The marina, which is home to a sailing club and a wide range of water sports activities, has seen a growth in footfall over the past few years following continued investment in its surrounding buildings, as well as the opening of the 200-cover licensed restaurant Scott’s.

RS200 Open at Papercourt Sailing Club

 Eight teams representing four different clubs arrived at Papercourt on Sunday 26th September to be greeted by a flat calm, hot coffee and bacon rolls. Fortunately - for once - the weather forecast proved to be spot on, delivering a progressively increasing breeze from the SSW, the best possible direction for the lake.

 Thanks go to Papercourt's excellent volunteer catering team, who laid on a first-class lunch and post-race cakes, and to the race team who got 4 races away without a hitch, whilst also dealing with a large Aero fleet who were sharing the water for their own open.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 1019 James Williams Sarah Tuppen Lymington Town SC ‑3 2 1 1 4

2nd 1608 Jon Paton Sue Michelmore Papercourt SC 2 1 (RET) 2 5

3rd 1395 Nigel Bird Andy Bird 1 5 2 (RET) 8

4th 1659 David Jessop Louise Sheridan HISC ‑5 4 4 3 11

5th 211 Mark Thomas Fiona Harrington Weir Wood 6 (RET) 3 4 13

6th 626 Will Taylor Matt Taylor Lymington Town SC 4 3 (DNC) DNC 16

7th 845 Simon Hamment Jess Harman Papercourt SC ‑8 7 5 5 17

8th 1331 Judith Palmer Molly Palmer Papercourt SC ‑7 6 6 6 18

Horning Sailing Club Open Dinghy Weekend 2021

 Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th September saw a good turnout enjoy Horning Sailing Club's Open Dinghy Weekend, many of the sailors coming from HSC's youth training programme. There was close competition in the light winds, with racing across Allcomers B and C fleets, sailing in a variety of dinghies from Lasers, Solos and Splashes to Toppers and Teras.

Cadet Class Clemenson Nautillus Trophy at Royal Corinthian Sailing Club, Burnham

 The UKNCCA was delighted to return to Royal Corinthian Sailing Club, for so many years the spiritual home of the Cadet Class not just in the UK but around the World.

The forecast for the weekend didn't look too inspiring so Arky our PRO made it clear that if he could he would get four races in on Saturday in anticipation of some rather sketchy conditions on Sunday.

A huge thank-you to Royal Corinthian for hosting us. We always either seem to get too much or too little wind when we visit but the welcome is always a warm one and we are reminded that the club does the best cheesy chips on the circuit so for that reason (and many others) we will be back. Prize giving was wrapped up just in time before a downpour of biblical proportions took hold - presumably as Arky called upstairs to tell him he could turn the taps back on.

Overall Results:

Pos Fleet Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts

1 Gold 10032 Amelia Mayhew Hettie Thorogood WSC 1 ‑7 2 2 7 2 14

2 Gold 9877 Hamish Collingridge Rhone Enkel WSC ‑7 1 5 1 4 4 15

3 Gold 10001 Toby Bush Kemmel Thorogood WSC 6 (OCS) 4 3 2 1 16

4 Gold 10012 Edward Fletcher Alex Enkel WSC 4 4 ‑6 4 6 5 23

5 Gold 9321 Ines Green Tom Krailing WSC 2 8 1 6 8 ‑9 25

6 Silver 9876 Robert Stewart Dylan McArdle WSC 5 3 ‑9 9 1 8 26

7 Gold 10007 Evan Harris James Vellacott WSC 9 2 ‑10 7 5 6 29

8 Silver 9985 Gwen Thorogood Primrose Denny‑Pickes WSC 8 6 3 5 ‑11 7 29

9 Silver 7231 Monty Hampton Tash Davidson SCSC 3 5 11 8 9 ‑12 36

10 silver 9964 Sofia Sfaxi Elliot Chapman FPSC 10 (NSC) 8 11 3 10 42

11 Gold 10092 Brandon Barker Kali Karaskas Stone 11 (OCS) 7 12 12 3 45

12 Gold 9027 Phoebe Barr Amy Shepherd/Thomas Pontet Corinthian Otters ‑12 9 12 10 10 11

Entry now open for North East Youth Championships at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club

 Entry is now open for the North East Youth Championships at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club for competitors from across the region and beyond.

The event - also known as The Big One! - will take place over the Bonfire Night weekend of 6th-7th November 2021, with competitive racing and a warm welcome guaranteed.

An eight-race series is scheduled and entries are invited from ILCA (4,6 and 7), RS Aero (5,7 and 9), RS200, 29er and 420 sailors, who are aged over 14 and under 22 on 31 December 2021.

The timing as ever coincides with the club's Saturday evening bonfire night social with food and fireworks, and there is free camping for tents and motorhomes from Friday afternoon to Sunday. In keeping with the club's tradition for social events, there will also be a hot tub on the patio.

The North East Youth Championships is supported by the RYA North East Regional Volunteer team and over its two editions to date has proved a popular fixture, offering a premier venue at Yorkshire Dales SC and attracting competitors from as far as Scotland, Wales, the Midlands and South coast.

The suggested entry donations for the event are £30 for single handers and £40 for double handers. Entry is online only in advance and closes at midnight on 31 October 2021.

For further information - including the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions - and to enter, visit yorkshiredales.sc/ne-youth-champs-21

Cherub Open at Itchenor Sailing Club

 For the first Cherub open meeting held at Itchenor SC, Usagi, Nautilus, King Tubby and Eleanor made the trip to down to join four International 14s for some close racing in Chichester Harbour in the Autumn sun.

Each Cherub lead a race at some point on Saturday, in wind that nicely varied from light and shifty to entertaining and powered up. The back-to-back races were well organised by Itchenor SC, who decided after the fun of first start that having separate fleet starts was preferable. International 14s were interesting boats to race with Cherubs; In the light to medium wind on Saturday the i14s had significantly more boat speed upwind, however were similar speed to the Cherubs downwind.

After crew changes for Nautilus and Eleanor, all four Cherubs launched again on Sunday. Forecast for day two looked light, and even more of the entertaining short tacking against the tide through moorings was between us and the racecourse. Thankfully Itchenor's RIB towed all the Cherubs to the start line, where the wind magically arrived, and eventually built to more wind than the previous day. The new wind direction meant a longer course could be set, which all four boats enjoyed for another three races. Sunday was another day of close racing, with team Eleanor finding their pace and winning the last race.

Overall Results:

Pos Boat Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts

1st Usagi Yojimbo 3202 Andrew Peters Jill Peters Queen Mary SC ‑1 1 1 1 1 ‑2 4

2nd Eleanor 3208 Dave Ching Simon Jones / James Hughes Poole Yacht Club ‑4 ‑2 2 2 2 1 7

3rd Nautilus Pompilius 2680 Chris Haslam / Oliver Goolden Oliver Goolden / Will Symonds Covenham SC 2 ‑3 ‑3 3 3 3 11

4th King Tubby 2650 Martyn Denchfield Jay Williamson Staunton Harold SC 3 ‑4 ‑4 4 4 4 15

Phantom 50th Anniversary Nationals at Stone Sailing Club

 Celebrating their fiftieth birthday at Stone Sailing Club on the Blackwater Estuary in Essex on 17th to 19th September was always likely to attract a good entry and the Class Association was delighted with the final entry of 76 boats.

The class had been delighted that Moira Nash, the daughter of designer Brian Taylor and her family were attending the event. Also representing the family of Paul Wright the co-designer of the boat back in 1971 she had presented the class with a new trophy on behalf of the designers wives to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the class. The trophy was to be the awarded to the best placed helm who had completed all races and this was fittingly won by Dean Sexton of local club Maylandsea Bay. He was coincidently sailing a classic wooden boat and it seems likely that the designers would have approved of this. He also collected the trophy for first classic Phantom as a consequence.

At the Saturday night AGM Class Secretary John Wayling announced the future venues for the next five years - with the next venue for 2022 being a particular class favourite - Lyme Regis Sailing Club in glorious Dorset.

Trophy Winners:

1280 Ian Stone (Maidenhead Sailing Club) - under 30 trophy

1233 Ben Harden (Burnham Sailing Club) - 30-40 age category

1456 Andy Couch (Blithfield Sailing Club) - Two score trophy

1312 Lawrence Crispin (Stone Sailing Club) - Half Ton Cup

1334 Bob Portway - Three score trophy

1461 Graham Dale-Jones - Over 70 trophy

949 Dean Saxton (Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club) - Classics and Designers wives trophy

Contessa 32 National Championship 2021 to be held from Cowes on 1-3 October

 RORC are the hosts for this year's Contessa 32 Nationals which will mark the end of another hotly contested summer inshore series for these classic cruiser/racer yachts.

The elegant design has now turned 50 and whilst the planned birthday celebrations had to be postponed until next year due to the pandemic, the standard of racing has remained as competitive as ever.

Currently 19 boats have registered to take part with the inability to assemble a full crew proving no barrier to entry - in addition to fully crewed boats, a number are raced, highly effectively, double handed.

The racing is due to take place mid-Solent over 3 days, with a pontoon party on Friday night and dinner at RORC's magnificent clubhouse on Saturday evening.

Late entries are still welcomed, the Class Association can be contacted at race@CO32.org for more details; race reports will follow after then event.