Sailing adventure bringing 'life changing' opportunities returns after Covid restrictions

 An organisation providing funded training opportunities alongside one of the biggest challenges in the world, the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, will return this Spring to deliver further programmes on the West Coast of Scotland.

The Our Isles and Oceans mission statement is 'Youth Opportunity and Professional Development for Sustainable Livelihoods'. The initiative intends on, through the vehicle of sport and business, providing a variety of opportunities for personal and professional development for young people through activities and partnerships with sustainable, educational and adventure organisations and enterprises.

Our Isles and Oceans is privately funded and was created in response to the employment difficulties faced by people in the 18-35-year age bracket because of the pandemic and lockdown. The programmes within the organisation focus on building confidence and resilience, finding opportunities and creating a community where mentorship, advice and support is at the core.

As the first new British Team Entry in the Clipper 2023-24 Race, Our Isles and Oceans will race alongside 10 other yachts in a circumnavigation around the world. Through the programme those who have taken part in the initial sailing training will then be able to apply to secure a funded position on the 2023-24 race, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

With young people being particularly impacted over the last couple of years, Our Isles and Oceans Founders, David Stewart Howitt and Anthony Stodart, hope this new programme will continue to make a positive change in young people's lives.

"We are really excited to be heading into our second season of programmes for 18-35yr olds who need a hand getting the ladder of life re-erected after the last two years. I can't wait to welcome them on board once again.

"Our Isles and Oceans offers applicants the chance to learn from experienced professionals and to push themselves outside their comfort zone to equip them for the challenges of today's marketplace.

"The success of the first programme this summer, the ambassadors coming off the programme with smiles on their faces, makes all the hard work worthwhile. We want to encourage young people to get back out there, to live their lives and we hope we're giving back after all the sacrifices they have made since the pandemic begun."

Our Isles and Oceans is once more looking for individuals who want to make a change in their lives and who might never have the opportunity to learn to sail, or to become part of a unique community such as this. Applications are now open on their website at ourislesandoceans.co.uk.

UK Sailor Guy Waites to compete in 2022 Golden Globe Race

 Yorkshire resident and Scarborough Yacht Club member Guy Waites is competing with around twenty-five other international competitors to win the Golden Globe Race 2022.

Guy Waites Sailing sponsorship is essential to get Guy to the starting line, and Guy is keen to see this as broadly a North Yorkshire people and small business powered attempt. The opportunity for local people and organisations to identify with the race was a particular aim, and large brand contributions are being eschewed. However, international people and organisations Guy has collaborated with over the years have donated towards his campaign.

Fuller details about Guy, Guy Waites Sailing, Sagamartha the yacht, Guy's background, the Golden Globe Race itself, and Guy's home club, Scarborough Yacht Club, are included below, along with press contacts with all organisations involved.

Guy Waites Sailing will issue regular progress updates to the national UK media, and it is hoped that sports readers throughout the country will be interested in reading about a uniquely British challenger as the corona virus pandemic and economic challenges get left behind.

Find out more at guywaitessailing.com

Youth sailors benefit from Jon Emmett champion coaching at Royal Lymington

 The Royal Lymington Yacht Club ILCA (International Laser Class Association) fleet was a welcoming host of the champion laser sailor and coach, Jon Emmett, at an open training session for youth sailors recently.

The session drew in not only a strong local cohort but also participants from further afield, including five sailors from the famous GCA Sailing, the first inner-city London comprehensive school to have its own sailing club that is famed for its successful Fastnet journey in yacht Scaramouche and other impressive feats.

RLymYC ILCA/Laser Coach and Fleet Captain, Nik Froud said: "It was a good weekend of development. All the sailors learnt a lot and had a great time together on and off the water. We look forward to welcoming sailors from the GCA to future training weekends at RLymYC."

Celebrating its centenary in 2022, Royal Lymington Yacht Club provides regular coaching and open training all year round for junior and youth sailors in seven fleets following the RYA pathway, under the leadership of Head Coach Hugh Styles (British Sailing Team Coach of the Year 2019).

The club's 'Lymington Youth Lasers' fleet includes young sailors in the 4.7 and radial rigs and aims to provide the knowledge and confidence to sail this technically challenging and rewarding single-handed dinghy, to sail it well, to make friends, to have fun and develop lifelong skills that are common to many aspects of sailing.

Many local sailors join the fleet from the junior fleets, having sailed previously in Optimists or RS Teras or in the Club's award-winning community Wednesday Junior Sailing programme. The club has a laser dinghy that members can hire for several sessions before committing to the class.

Find out more about Royal Lymington Yacht Club's ILCA fleet at rlymyc.org.uk/lasers.

For more information about junior and youth sailing at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, please contact sail@rlymyc.org.uk. Visit Royal Lymington Yacht Club's open day on Saturday 26th March between 10am and 4pm to find out more about the club and getting into boating!

The RWYC 'Original Lonely Rock' race course and its colourful history

 The Original Lonely Rock race was first sailed in 1925, since then the course has enjoyed a very colourful history with some real stand out moments.

The first ever boat to win was called 'Jolie Brise', stamping her name on yachting history in the process. To this date, five boats have won the race outright two times but there is only one who has won three Fastnet Races, that is 'Jolie Brise'.

A number of designers have won the race over the years but the one that stands out by far is Sparkman and Stephens with no fewer than 10 race wins.

2022 will see the next episode in the history of the Original Fastnet course when the fleet start in the area of Ryde, as it did in 1925 and 2020. Following this the RWYC will honour and respect all those who have sailed this world-wide recognised classic over the years in running the original course in 2025 to celebrate the 100years of the Original Fastnet course.

Entries for this year are open;

Discounted early entry fees are available up to May 4th.

For further information, please refer to rwyc.org/lrr or email lrr@rwyc.org

Royal Windermere Yacht Club eager for 2022 Season

 After being one of the first clubs in the North West to resume racing and sailing activity in 2020 after the first lockdown, the club has since seen a significant increase in membership and sailing activity.

For 2022 we are eagerly looking forward to a packed programme of sailing, racing and social events, both club based and Open.

In April, the club will be hosting the Flying Fifteen Northern Area Championship, which will also be the first UK qualifying round for the forthcoming World Championships in Fremantle, Australia, March 2023. The fleet has had a welcome influx of new boats and members in the past 2 years and is one of the premier fleets in the country, boasting a 25 boat fleet.

The Windermere 17 foot fleet are also gearing up for a busy racing season. Sailed only on Windermere, these classic 2 person Yachts, which are challenging and exciting to sail, are an impressive sight as they glide serenely across the lake. First raced on the lake in 1904, some of the fleet are approaching 90 years old, the newest being circa 9 years old.

There is also an active and diverse dinghy fleet sailing/ racing 3 times a week, with open meetings during the season for both the GP14 and Solo Classes.

Cruiser racing has also seen a resurgence at the club with our own fleet regularly competing in club racing and also in inter-club events with the Windermere Cruising association throughout the season.

The club is an RYA training centre running courses throughout the summer and youth squads most weekends. A great family club which is looking forward to a busy sailing and social season and welcoming new members.

National 12 2022 Season Preview

 The N12 fixtures list for 2022 contains a variety of events with the aim of getting as many N12s out sailing as possible. Within recent years there has been an increase in demand for 'Admirals Cup' N12s and the class association is working hard to promote events for this group of National 12 sailors.

The season will kick-off in its usual fashion at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, on 26th & 27th February. N3551 - 'Over The Rainbow', a Simon Hipkin built 4-Plank Dead Cat Bounce will be on display. We will be next door to Allen's stand, our title sponsor for Burton Week 2022 and you must look out for the competition on our stand, supported by our friends at Dinghy Shack who again are sponsoring the N12 National Series this year.

Events which count towards the various N12 Series:

Dinghy Shack National Series:

Burghfield SC - 9th April

Salcombe YC - 30th April - 2nd May

Mountbatten Centre - 3rd June - 5th June

Yorkshire Dales SC - 18th & 19th June

Royal Harwich YC - 16th & 17th July

Felixstowe Ferry SC - 27th - 30th August

Solway YC - 10th & 11th September

Ripon SC - 1st October

Northampton SC - 5th November

Vintage Series:

Trent Valley SC - 14th & 15th May

Yorkshire Ouse SC - 5th June

Ripon SC - 1st October

Northern Area Series:

Yorkshire Ouse SC - 5th June

Yorkshire Dales SC - 18th & 19th June

Solway YC - 10th & 11th September

Ripon SC - 1st October

Yeadon SC - 2nd October

Eastern Area Series

Royal Harwich YC - 20th March

Waldringfield SC - 17th & 18th April

Royal Harwich YC - 16th & 17th July

Norfolk Week - 24th & 25th July

Felixstowe Ferry SC - 27th - 30th August

Thames Area Series

Burghfield SC - 9th April

Henley SC - 25th September

Twickenham YC - 16th October

Full fixture list available at www.national12.org/events/2022orrls:tyylhs:rrreel12.org/events/2022

Steve Nicholson Trophy in aid of Asthma UK

 The Steve Nicholson Trophy is a key open meeting in the UK winter sailing calendar and is held annually at Northampton Sailing Club. It was a welcome return for the event, which raises money for Asthma UK in memory of Steve Nicholson, a young, popular and talented sailor at Northampton who tragically died after an asthma attack in 2000.

A Beautiful January Morning

Visitors were greeted by a very bright and sunny morning, but with a low mist and no wind. As more people arrived the mist cleared and the windsock started to wake up.

The PRO Martyn Emerson held a short briefing at 10am and set out the trapezoid course with many laps planned so he could shorten the race, as required.

This was the window between storm Malik and storm Corrie and the forecast was for 7-10 knots. A combination of the weather forecast and covid meant that numbers were down on previous years, but there were still 50 boats competing, evenly split between single and double-handers.

Between races the sailors enjoyed an excellent choice of hot food from the galley, and the bar was open all day for the spectators to enjoy.

The winners

The prize-giving, sponsored by Pinnell & Bax and Harken was held nice and promptly with some very good prizes presented to the youth fleet and the top three in both single and double-handed categories. Andy Couch of Blithfield took the single-handed honours in his Phantom and Thomas Gillard/Rachel Gray of Staunton Harold took the double-handed victory.

Olympic champion Q&A

After the prize-giving followed a Q&A session hosted by Dylan Fletcher-Scott - 49er Olympic Gold Medallist in Tokyo. He was pleased to return to Northampton, where he sailed from the age of 11 and started racing from 13 years of age, trained by several of the existing club members in his Hobbie 405.

Dylan talked about his memories of the club as well as giving a fascinating insight into Olympic experience.

Thank you to all the sailors and volunteers

The final amount of money raised, including donations, for Asthma UK is still to be confirmed.

Thanks go to all the sailors who took part as well as the many volunteers. These included members of Northampton Sailing Club and Northampton Sailability, who ran the racing, provided rescue support, collated the results, organised the prizes and ran the bar to make this another successful and very enjoyable event.

For more information about Northampton Sailing Club, go to www.northamptonsailingclub.org or check out the facebook page at www.facebook.com/NorthamptonSailingClub

Overall Results:

Pos Class Sail No Helm Crew Club PY R1 R2 Pts

Singlehanders

1st Phantom 1456 Andy Crouch Blithfield 1004 1 2 3

2nd RS Vareo 621 Luke Fisher Emberton 1093 3 4 7

3rd Phantom 1337 Richard Nurse Northampton 1004 9 1 10

4th Solo 5954 Oliver Davenport Northampton 1152 2 9 11

5th Streaker 1972 Veronica Falat Waveny & Oulton Broad 1155 5 6 11

6th Solo 6017 Mike Dray Littleton 1152 4 8 12

7th Phantom 1485 Rob Cook Northampton 1004 8 5 13

8th Phantom 1489 Paul Childs Hayling Island 1004 13 3 16

9th Phantom 1492 Jim Hopton Shustoke 1004 10 7 17

10th RS Vareo 443 Paul North Milton Keynes 1093 6 15 21

,Doublehaders

1st Merlin Rocket 3759 Thomas Gillard Rach Gray Staunton Harold 980 1 2 3

2nd RS 400 1376 Sam Knight Chris Bownes Bartley 953 4 1 5

3rd RS 400 1500 Nick Craig Adam Craig Frensham Burghfield 953 2 4 6

4th 505 9238 Ian Pinnell Alex Davies Northampton 883 3 3 6

5th 505 8935 Michael Sims Andrew George Carsington 883 5 5 10

6th GP14 14238 Fergus Barnham Jasper Barnham Northampton 1130 6 7 13

7th Flying Fifteen 3918 Paul Busby Neil Barford Northampton 1021 9 6 15

8th Scorpion 2034 Alan Krailing Simon Forbes SHSC 1030 8 11 19

9th Scorpion 2039 Nev Herbert Karl Thorne Lymington Town 1030 12 9 21

10th Lark 2468 Samuel Bailey Finlay Morgan South Staffordshire 1073 11 10 21

Jubilee Sailing Trust joins Cowes Week as one of the Official Charities

 Cowes Week Limited is pleased to welcome the Jubilee Sailing Trust as one of the Official Charities for the 2022 edition of the Regatta. They will be joining the Scaramouche Sailing Trust who became an official charity partner in 2020.

The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) began 43 years ago in Southampton with a mission to change lives through adventure and exploration. The charity operates the tall ship SV Tenacious, which was built and maintained by volunteers, and designed to be sailed by a mixed ability crew.

The JST aims to provide inclusive sailing experiences through voyages and day sails to both disabled and non-disabled people of all ages. Since the charity began more than 50,000 people have sailed with the JST and the charity has transformed numerous lives.

Tenacious will be in attendance for the duration of the regatta and the JST team will also have a presence on shore hosting a number of activities for visitors.

Laurence Mead, Regatta Director at Cowes Week commented "Looking out from the Royal yacht Squadron platform on a Cowes Week race day we can see boats of all shapes and sizes enjoying the regatta. It's wonderful that this year the Jubilee Sailing Trust will be joining us with their tall ship, SV Tenacious which, although they won't be racing, will add to the fabulous spectacle on the water this year. Sailing is one of the great ways for people to learn responsibility and self-reliance and to learn to interact with others in a team and the Jubilee Sailing Trust has been helping people of all ages and abilities for the past 43 years to enjoy those benefits. We are very excited to have them join us and look forward to being able to see their ship Tenacious during the week."

Patrick Fleming, Chief Executive of the JST said: 'We are honoured to have been chosen as one of the two charities to be supported at Cowes Week 2022.

Cowes Week is such an iconic and highly anticipated event on the yachting calendar and we are very excited to have our tall ship Tenacious present. The Jubilee Sailing Trust has a unique mission, to give people of mixed abilities and circumstances the freedom to explore their ability, potential and place in the world through inclusive tall ship adventures.

"We do not receive any government funding and rely on fundraising to enable us to continue our mission, so any awareness and support we receive is hugely appreciated'

www.cowesweek.co.uk

Gallagher Insurance renews sponsorship of popular Royal Lymington Spring Series

 The Royal Lymington Yacht Club (RLymYC) is delighted to announced that Gallagher Insurance has renewed its sponsorship of the popular Spring Series. The 2022 Centenary Spring Series will take place on four Sunday mornings in April and May, starting on Sunday 3rd April.

40-50 boats of all sizes and crews of all ages and levels of experience complete against each other in the Spring Series each year, with keelboats including cruiser racer yachts, J/80s and Nordic Folkboats. The series provides a great warm up for the Club's Thursday Night Racing Series, which starts in late April.

This year RLymYC is celebrating its Centenary and there has never been a better time to join them out on the water!

Entry is now open!

Find out more and register your entry online at www.rlymyc.org.uk/springseries

Sailing Manager of RLymYC, Vicky Leen said: "The Spring Series provides a great start to the season for our keelboat racers. We would like to thank Gallagher Insurance, sponsor of our Spring Series since 2019, and before that as Portmore Insurance from 2013-2018.

Sponsorship enables us as a club to make events and series even more exciting, whilst providing sponsors with an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of their company or brand. Our events reach a wide audience, not just the skippers and crews, but also our membership and the wider sailing community."

Join the RLymYC Crew Match!

You don't need to own a boat to get involved in the Spring Series! If you fancy racing as crew on a boat in 2022, visit the Royal Lymington's 'Crew Match' and Open Day taking place at the Club on Saturday 26th March from 10am to 12pm.

'Crew Match' is a relaxed and informal event enabling people to match their sailing experience, level of knowledge and racing ambition with club members looking for crew. Being part of a crew requires no financial outlay apart from some waterproof kit. Find out more at rlymyc.org.uk/CrewMatch2022

For more information about the 2022 Centenary Spring Series or Crew Match, contact Sailing Manager, Vicky Leen, at Royal Lymington Yacht Club on 01590 672677 or sail@rlymyc.org.uk

For more information about sponsorship at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, please contact Maria Shannon via the office on sail@rlymyc.org.uk.

Christchurch windsurfer Emma Wilson finishes as top British woman in iQFOiL at Lanzarote

 CHRISTCHURCH windsurfer and Tokyo 2020 medallist Emma Wilson finished as the highest placed British woman in her first international iQFOiL event.

Former Ballard School pupil Wilson, 22, had a string of top-two finishes, including two impressive wins in the marathon format, but ultimately missed out on a medal at the iQFOiL in Lanzarote.

In the first significant event of the year for the Olympic classes, the competitors contended with different formats from the traditional RS:X, taking on course racing, slalom and the gruelling marathon disciplines.

Tokyo 2020 was the final Olympic Games to feature traditional RS:X windsurfing event, with the organisers switching to foiling for Paris 2024.

Foiling refers to the use of hydrofoils attached to the hull of fast boats, which provides additional lift at planing speeds, often enough to lift the hull out of the water.

With the squads still getting used to equipment, formats and new coach Nick Dempsey, the games were seen as an event which could help shape the year ahead for the British Sailing Team.

Wilson, who finished in fifth, said: “I’m pretty happy with how it went. I had good speed in most conditions and had a lot of fun doing the different formats. We did slalom, a marathon and course racing on one day, which was pretty wacky but a lot of fun. The final day, I had a bit of a nightmare as basically where you finish in the final race is where you finish overall, so I finished in fifth.

Busy racing programme at Ullswater Yacht Club in 2022

 Ullswater Yacht Club launches into the 2022 racing season with a packed sailing programme for club members and ten major open events for visiting racers.

The opens include the 60th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy, the traditional April opener the Daffodil Regatta and the first 2022 heat of the prestigious British Keelboat League.

"It promises to be an exciting year for racers at UYC," said UYC Sailing Secretary, Graham Donkin. "We are offering something for all racing visitors and are delighted to be hosting the RYA Regional Junior Championships."

The award-winning Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy will be held, as usual, on the first full weekend of July - 2 & 3. This year will be an extra special diamond celebration as it is the 60th event - it was first held in July 1963.

And there will also be a warm welcome for visiting competitors at nine other opens held throughout the sailing season.

The competitive year kicks off on the club's opening weekend, March 19 & 20, with a heat of the national RYA Winter Match Racing Series when a fleet of RS21s will be battling it out on the water. This is followed by the SB20 and RS21 Northern Championships on March 26 and 27. Then it's UYC's traditional Daffodil Regatta on April 23 & 24, which is open to all classes with separate starts for VX Ones, Musto Skiffs, and Waszps/Moths and a Handicap Fleet. There'll be daffodils galore at the prize-giving as UYC joins in Ullswater's spring celebrations featuring Wordsworth's famous poem.

The Daffodil Regatta is followed by five more events - a regional heat of the British Keelboat League on May 21 & 22; the Birkett, July 2 & 3; Ullswater Ultimate Regatta on August 20 & 21; Laser Borders Travellers Open on Saturday, September 24, and Keelboat Weekend on October 22 & 23.

The Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy is UYC's most prestigious event, winning the Cumbria Tourism Event of the Year in 2016 and voted number eight in the world's top 50 regattas by Yachts & Yachting Magazine. It has become so popular that for the last few years entries have been closed at the 230 limit (160 in 2021) well before the event. Entry is online only and organisers expect it to again be oversubscribed so early entry is advised.

The busy UYC season rounds off with the Open Winter Series from October 30 to December 18 - handicap racing over eight Sundays with three races per day.

All the open events offer the usual UYC hospitality with excellent food, camping on site, and great racing in lovely surroundings.

For more details contact Graham Donkin on uycsailingsec@gmail.com or visit our website ullswateryachtclub.org. Entry to the RYA events is through the RYA website.

This year's open events:

RYA Winter Match Racing, Sat & Sun, March 19 & 20

SB20 & RS21 Northern Championships, Sat & Sun, March 26 & 27

Daffodil Regatta, Sat & Sun, April 23 & 24

British Keelboat League, Sat & Sun, May 21 & 22

RYA NW Junior & Youth Travellers, Thurs & Fri, June 2 & 3

RYA Junior Regional Champs, Sat & Sun, June 18 & 19

60th Lord Birkett Memorial Trophy, Sat & Sun, July 2 & 3

Holiday Week, Mon to Fri, Aug 8 - 12

Ullswater Ultimate, Sat & Sun, Aug 20 & 21

Laser Open, Sat, Sept 24

Keelboat Weekend, Sat & Sun, Oct 22 & 23

Open Winter Series, Sundays, Oct 30 - Dec 18

50th Anniversary Abersoch Dinghy Week in 2022

 After a two-year gap as a result of Covid-19, South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club (SCYC) is looking forward to a momentous return for Abersoch Dinghy Week this July as we celebrate Dinghy Week's 50th anniversary!

Registration is Saturday 23rd July with racing from Sunday 24th till Friday 29th. This year we are introducing a new modern racing format with committee boat starts, and two shorter races per day with varied courses taking advantage of the fabulous waters of Cardigan Bay. The new format will still allow competitors to enjoy time on the beach or elsewhere on the Llyn Peninsula with their families/friends. We are also planning to run the Rookies (coached regatta fleet for U16s new to racing) again after its success in 2019.

We are working on a full programme of social events, with a celebratory dinner in the Cove on the Thursday evening, daily prize-givings, and a beach BBQ (fingers crossed for the weather!) and more... Competitors can look forward to the warmest hospitality at the Club as we welcome you all back.

To add some excitement to the event and to seek out some history SCYC is running a competition to see who can come to the week and bring with them the oldest piece (dated of course) of dinghy week apparel. We will of course be producing 50th anniversary t-shirts for competitors. There will be plenty of prizes for the winners and a lot of fun on the way. The week should have a real buzz about it as we celebrate the evolution of this special event.

Confirmed sponsors so far for 2022 are Orca Bay, Abersoch Boatyard, Pelle P, Gill.

If you have any questions or if we can help you with anything, please contact the office on 01758 712338 or drop us an email at abersochdinghyweek@gmail.com

A NoR and SIs will be available in due course.

The Finn Open Festival - celebrating 70 years of Olympic sailing excellence and history

 The Finn sailors at Bosham Sailing Club are inviting and welcoming you as competitors from all the Solent clubs and other parts of the UK, to join them in celebrating this iconic Olympic boat.

Bosham Sailing Club is the Finn's ancestral home the first fleet was in 1952. In the same year, Club member, Charles Currey famously won an Olympic silver medal in the Helsinki Games, sailing his Finn.

Bosham is a sailing village steeped in history. King Canute was here and King Harold who owned the manor house is depicted in the Bayeux tapestry.

As part of our Finn event programme, we're offering a training day pre-the two days' of racing for those wanting to 'up their game' on the water. All details are in the NoR that is on the YachtsandYachting.com calendar on the website.

Please join us in making this anniversary a success. Come and have fun racing and meeting other Finn sailors.

Please join us in making this anniversary a success. Come and have fun racing and meeting other Finn sailors.

The event:

Finn sailors from across UK compete in two-day racing event

Part of the BFA 2022 Traveller Series

Training Day 15th July with Olympian Finn sailor/trainer

Post-race teas and Anniversary supper with famous Finn sailors

The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation is our charity beneficiary. It gets thousands of young people into sailing.