Fully crewed class now open for entries in the Round Britain & Ireland Race

 A fully crewed class is now open for entries and will run alongside the classic Double Handed RB&I. At approaching 30 entries, 8 of which are multihulls, this will be a great race for all those competing. With limited spaces of just 50 for the entire fleet, the RB&I is expected to be a sell out.

Early entry fee discounts have been extended for the RB&I and will now close on March 1st. The maximum LOA has also been extended to 70ft. Whilst not compulsory, crew changes of up to 50% can be made during the stop overs in Galway and Blyth. This is ONLY applicable for fully crewed boats.

The fully crewed class is an exciting addition to the original RB&I race, allowing many more sailors to be part of a team racing around the British Isles without the need to take excessive time off work but able to experience some of one of the toughest races in the offshore calendar.

Starting on 29th May 2022, the new course will have stop overs in Galway, Lerwick and Blyth, making this the most accessible race of its kind to date.

Current entries and notes of interest will soon be posted on the website.

For further information and to enter either race please contact the organising team on rbandi@rwyc.org

Kinsale Yacht Club's Squib Nationals Has 42 Early Bird Entries for June Event

 Preparations at Kinsale Yacht Club for the Bandon Co-op Squib National Championships 2022 are off to a fabulous start with 42 teams entered to date from the UK and Ireland. Entries thus far availed of an attractive early bird entry option which closed at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Entries have been received from Squib strongholds across the UK and Ireland and include many past and present champions, together with long-standing supporters of the class, all the ingredients to serve up a top-class National Championships.

The National Squib Owners Association (NSOA), Chairman, Dick Batt, expressed his delight at the early uptake. “It is clear Kinsale is an attractive proposition for Squib owners to come together to race and socialise as one fleet. This early momentum should be a clear signal to those who have not yet entered, not to miss the party.”

The Bandon Co-op UK and Irish Squib National Championships are scheduled to take place in Kinsale from 19th to 24th June 2022. With nine races over six days, the event offers the perfect balance of close one design racing on the water with the unique shoreside experience only Kinsale can offer.

The Notice of Race, online entry and current entry list are available at Bandon Co-op Squib National Championships 2022 - Kinsale Yacht Club (kyc.ie). Further information is available by emailing squib2022@kyc.ie

Community groups in Buchan have been celebrating after being given grants from an energy company to help support their activity.

 Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust: £1,500 to fund 14 weeks of the disability sailing club in 2022, with two sessions per week, providing opportunities for disabled children and young people to enjoy sailing.

RORC Transatlantic Navigators Predict Fast Race 2022

 Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club, in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA) and the Yacht Club de France. The eighth edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race will start from Lanzarote on Saturday 8th of January 2022.

The favourite for the IMA Trophy is the 100ft Maxi Comanche, skippered by Mitch Booth. Comanche is very capable of breaking the Monohull Race Record, set by Pier Luigi Loro Piana's Supermaxi My Song in 2018 of 10 days 05 hrs 47 mins 11 secs. Comanche’s Australian navigator Will Oxley has racked up 300,000 ocean miles, including three editions of The Ocean Race.

The value of training "A lifetime of enjoyment on the water"

 More than 270,000 people of all ages and abilities undertake some form of RYA training each year.

Our courses are recognised the world over for delivering the skills and knowledge to stay safe and enjoy our time on the water. But with no legal requirement to hold a licence to skipper a vessel in UK waters, why is RYA training so popular?

From sail and motor cruising to powerboating, small boat sailing, windsurfing and wingsurfing, inland waterways and personal watercraft, specialist short courses and navigation and seamanship theory. There are more than 100 different courses covering every boating activity looked after by the RYA.

With many of our theory courses now available online and with more flexible options for practical courses to fit in around busy lifestyles, it is becoming more and more convenient for people to take courses wherever and whenever works for them.

Although you don’t legally need a licence to skipper a vessel in UK waters, RYA qualifications are highly respected worldwide and can be used as proof of competence. So whether you want to charter a yacht on holiday or start a career at sea, an RYA certificate will prove your experience and ability as a skipper.

For other activities, having a qualification is law. For example, if you have a VHF radio on board your boat, or carry a handheld VHF whilst out on the water, you need to hold an operator’s licence to use it.

Whatever your motivation, RYA courses and qualifications offer an opportunity to build confidence, have fun, and are often the starting point of a lifelong love of sailing, powerboating or watersports.

They also make our waters a safer and more enjoyable place to be – for everyone that uses them.

Bough Beech SC Open Icicle Series

 Bough Beech SC's Open Icicle Series got off to a cracking start on 2 January with nearly 50 boats on the water, including some twenty visiting crews from ten clubs. This event in the beautiful Kentish Weald, which runs over January and February, continues to be as popular and well-supported as ever.

A further 16 races are planned over all the Sundays until the end of February with a number of discards allowed, so late entries are possible.

Notts County Sailing Club First of Year Race 2022

 After an absence in 2021 due to Covid the Notts County Sailing Club First of the Year Race for the Geoff Parker Memorial trophy and Phil Davies Memorial trophy took place on a very warm New Year's Day (14'C). The entry fee was donation to charity for Nottinghamshire Mind over 40 boats entered, which raised £350.

 It was soon apparent who the leaders were with Jamie Mawson (Notts County) dominating in his RS600, and Fireball Kevin Hope (Notts County) returning after a shoulder operation with Andy Stewart in second along with Pete & Rachel Gray (Staunton) in a Scorpion to complete the fast fleet leaders.

The Slow fleet saw 420s, Lasers, Aeros, Solos all near the top. Sam Grayton and Raife Piggott (Notts County) winning in their 420 and also winning the Junior prize, Joe Scurrah was next in a Laser Radial (Carsington), with Andy Ritchie (Hykeham) third in an OK.

Windsurfers were represented by Ian Pilkington from Notts County who won the windsurfing trophy.

Prize-giving was with a depleted audience with many understandably leaving after racing to avoid mixing, however they had had a great day on the water.

The next event is the start of the Midlands Mini series at the end of January at Notts County.

Overall Results: (top three)

Fast Fleet

1st Jamie Mawson (Notts County SC) RS600

2nd Kevin Hope and Andy Stewart (Notts County SC), Fireball

3rd Peter and Rachel Gray (Staunton Harold SC) Scorpion

Slow fleet

1st Sam Grayton and Raife Piggott (Notts County SC) 420

2nd Joe Scurrah (Carsington SC) Laser radial

3rd Andy Ritchie (Hykeham SC) OK

Topper

1st Sammy Mason (Notts County SC)

A host of the British Sailing Team’s Tokyo 2020 stars have been recognised in the New Year Honours List for services to sailing.

 Hannah Mills is made an OBE after winning gold in the women’s 470 class in Japan this summer, becoming the most successful female Olympic sailor of all time in the process.

Mills’ award also recognises her environmental campaigning with her charity the Big Plastic Pledge.

Eilidh McIntyre, who won gold alongside Mills in the 470, is made an MBE, as are 49er Olympic champions Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell.

British Sailing Team boss Mark Robinson, who led Team GB’s sailors at Tokyo 2020, is also made an MBE.

Prior to joining the British Sailing Team in 2017, Robinson was performance manager at Australian Sailing where he led the country’s Paralympic sailors to the top of the medal table at Rio 2016.

“I am truly honoured to have received an MBE for services to sailing and very happy to see a number of our Olympic medallists also recognised,” said Robinson, Olympic Performance Manager at the RYA.

“However none of these successes are down to one person. Success in these pursuits only comes from a group of highly dedicated and relentless individuals that form a team and work as one to execute the task at hand, which we had in abundance within the British Sailing Team throughout this Olympic cycle.

“This is equally shared with all the outstanding individuals I have had the pleasure of being alongside in this pursuit of excellence.”

The full list of honours can be found at www.gov.uk/honours/honours-lists.

Eighteen Classes to Race at Poole Regatta 2022 - Starting in just four months

 Eighteen classes have committed to be out on the water providing close competition between keelboats of all shapes and sizes. The VPRS and 2.4mR classes will be hosting their National Championships at Poole, alongside the IRC Southern Area Championship. The J24 racing will be a Worlds Qualifier event and the J70's will be sailing as a part of their UK Grand Slam.

The classes now confirmed to be competing at The International Paint Poole Regatta are:

IRC 1,2 & 3 inc IRC Southern Area Championship

VPRS 1 & 2 inc National Championship

Performance 40

Cape 31

HP30

Quarter Ton Class

J70 part of UK Grand Slam Event

J80

J24 inc Worlds Qualifier

2.4mR inc National Championship

Flying 15

Redwing

XOD

Shrimper

R19

With high performance racing fleets such as the Performance 40, Cape 31 and HP30's travelling to Poole, the regatta has cemented itself as one of the not to be missed, premier UK yacht racing events, whilst also remaining a down to earth and accessible weekend of action for everyone who enjoys serious, but friendly competition. The fantastic post racing socials hosted by the welcoming combined yacht clubs of Poole, may also hold slight appeal!

With only four months to go and 2022 calendars now on the wall, get in quickly and mark the 30th April - 2nd May as "Racing at The International Paint Poole Regatta" now.

For further information visit pooleregatta.co.uk

Royal Lymington Yacht Club to celebrate 100th anniversary with year of events

 NEW Year’s Day will mark the 100th birthday of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club which is preparing celebrations throughout 2022 to mark the milestone.

Formed initially as the Lymington River Sailing Club, it boasts of producing Olympic gold-winning sailors, including Sir Ben Ainslie, Pippa Wilson and Sarah Gosling, and world match-racing champion Ian Williams.

“The club has come a long way in its 100 years, from a somewhat elitist organisation to one which nowadays embraces everyone active on the water,” a spokesperson said.

At the outset, members sailed everything from small dinghies to the biggest cruising and racing yachts, with many initially seeking the advice and skills of Dan Bran, a Lymington boat-building legend who had his shed near the seawater baths.

From Dan came the Lymington Pram which, together with the smaller Lymington Scow, were seen on the river for many years. Nowadays, the Lymington Scow is raced on the river in large numbers together with many modern dinghies.

XOD dayboats also continue to be raced, while Nordic Folkboats, J80s and cruiser racers contribute to a thriving keelboat racing scene.

But it is the junior sailing programme which is regarded by many at the club as its “jewel in the crown”.

Wednesday junior sailing began over 30 years ago as a community project and continues to be as popular as ever.

Its aim is to teach youngsters in a fun and engaging way everything from tying knots to sailing small dinghies.

New members are welcome and the club is hosting an open day on 26th March. Visit www.rlymyc.org.uk

Pwllheli Christmas Special Series 2021

 Last Monday saw some great weather which attracted a large fleet for an ad-hoc Christmas Special race at Pwllheli. The race followed the Commodore's Challenge course, from the Pwllheli Sailing Club start line, around St Tudwals Islands and back, roughly a 12 Nautical mile race in a straight line.

The forecast for the day was 10-15 knots from the East, which brought some choppy seas with it, all boats crossed the start line, where both Nigel Ingram's Farr 30 - Wild Haggis and Peter Dunlop's J109 - Mojito immediately went for launching their kites and sailing high with hopes of bearing down as the islands became closer. Paul Sutton's J109 - Jaydreamer sailed lower on white sails before launching their kite around 10-15 minutes into the race.

With the Wind direction it meant St Tudwals sound was in the lee, leaving the boats having to sail on constantly changing light winds and momentum. Coming out on the South Side of the Sound, both Wild Haggis and Jaydreamer sailed out on port tack, whereas Mojito tacked in.

Sailing from the St Tudwals Islands West saw some choppy seas and after the entertainment of the ever changing and light winds in the sound, left the leaders shocked to see Flair IV steaming out of the sound and having made up a lot of ground on the leaders.

With one tack needed to cross the finish line close off the beach, saw Wild Haggis crossing first, followed by Jaydreamer, Mojito, Flair IV and Wil Partington's Hunter 31 - Honey Bee. Leaving Jaydreamer wining the race on corrected time, with Mojito in second, Wild Haggis in third and Honey Bee fourth.

A similar New Year Special is now being considered if forecasts allow, before boats are laid up for winter.

Scheduled racing resumes the first weekend of April 2022, with some light-hearted racing to test boat tuning after their relaunch.

For results and more information visit the Pwllheli Sailing Club website racing section.

South Windermere Sailing Club moves to a new location

 It's very rare for a sailing club to move location, but pretty much unknown for one to move a mile and a half to a new location - and even stay on the same lake.

But after 60 years of operating from Fell Foot that is exactly what South Windermere Sailing Club are doing. For 2022 SWSC will start operating from its new fantastic location at the YMCA North Camp, at Lakeside on the west side of Lake Windermere.

SWSC Commodore Angela O'Donnell says, "We are incredibly excited about our move. The lake is much wider at the YMCA and the surrounding hills are lower than at Fell Foot so will not have the same disturbing effect on the wind. This will result in a much better sailing area. Our new base will give us better racing courses, cleaner winds and with beach launching for dinghies and a new jetty for keelboats, the access will be much better. You can stand on the beach and watch the racing. And we now have our own clubhouse overlooking the lake.

If you are interested in joining SWSC in its beautiful location on the south western shore of Lake Windermere then go to www.swsailing.co.uk

Clevedon Sailing Club Lunatics Trophy 2021

 Clevedon Sailing Club rounded off the 2021 season with its annual 'Lunatics Trophy' race on 27th December. Eleven boats took to the water on a rainy day with a Southerly wind off the shore which inevitably leads to very viable and gusty conditions. Race Officer Mike Batchelor set a starboard hand triangular course with the first buoy set out in the tide to avoid windless areas close to the shore.

The two Aeros of Martin Gibson and Stuart Turner got away cleanly from the first start and took advantage of the gusty off wind legs to open out a lead from the following bunch of boats. The beat back inshore proved tricky with Gibson slowly pulling away from Turner. Jon Summers led the following Laser Radials with Chris Cooper in pursuit ahead of Seamus Ryan and Jayne Haden in the 505 and Sarah Hotchkiss in her Solo. Gibson held the lead to finish with Turner 2nd and Summers 3rd on corrected time.

Race 2 saw most of the fleet bunched together with the 505 getting to the first mark just ahead of the Aeros with Martin White's Laser Radial close behind. The three leading boats stayed together down the first beat but Gibson managed to break free in the fickle conditions inshore at the end of the leg. The following boats enjoyed better wind conditions on both beats and Cooper and Hotchkiss were never far behind.

'Newbie' Laser sailors Amy Turner and Adam Davies did well in the trying conditions to finish both races. Gibson took first place again with Hotchkiss 2nd and Cooper 3rd.

Overall Results: (corrected to handicap)

1st Martin Gibson (Aero)

2nd Sarah Hotchkiss (Solo)

3rd Chris Cooper (Laser Radial)