Bath Robe team racing event at University of Bath Sailing Club

 Last weekend saw the first ever Bath Robe team racing event on the waters of Chew Valley Lake. Two teams from the host club, University of Bath Sailing Club, took to the water as part of the 18 team fleet. Whilst most competitors were students from the south west, there was also representation from non-university teams, and students from as far away as East Anglia.

Most teams attended a social in Bath on the Friday night which saw numerous karaoke performances as a warm up to the big event on Saturday morning. Moderately high winds greeted the sailors at Chew who enjoyed a complimentary snacks, attended a briefing and launched the boats - all to a backing track supplied by a Red Bull DJ.

Despite an increasing in wind resulting in a few capsizes and the need to change the three flights of fireflies to cutdown sails, the sailors completed 75 races of the round robin on day one. The race course was positioned just in front of the club house and the high winds made for exciting spectating.

The teams were split into gold, silver and bronze fleets, providing close and incredibly competitive racing across the board. This proved ample entertainment for those competing and watching whilst the members of Chew spectated the unfolding events after their Sunday racing.

Bath would like to thank all who came to the event. Special appreciation goes to Martin Smethers for running such excellent racing and the whole organisation team.

Following the success of the Bath Robe (a name which transcended the event into becoming a borderline dress code for many during the weekend), UBSC are planning returning with the Robe as an annual competition. Hopefully this will only continue to build on the good foundations established this weekend.

Overall Results:

Gold Silver Bronze

1 Bristol Black Imperial Castaways Bath Bubbles

2 UEA Yellow Imperial Red Plymouth White

3 Rutland Raiders Cardiff Chilli Flakes Swansea Green

4 Exeter Yellow UWE Post Modern Grey Bath Ducklings

5 Exeter Red SUSS (Among Us) Plymouth Blue

6 Bristol White Cardiff Blue

7 OTRA    

The Brass Monkey at Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club

 The rescheduled Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club's Brass Monkey is now the first event of the Selden SailJuice Great British Sailing Challenge, so you have still time to get your entry in for the one and only true Northern event in the series.

You are guaranteed a typical warm Yorkshire welcome to our underfloor heated clubhouse and renowned galley fayre. We pride ourselves in never running out of hot water for the showers! The event has been full to capacity with over 100 entries for the last few years, so worth getting your entry in soon. We have kept our entry fees again low this year at only £30 for a single hander and £40 for a double hander. This includes food and refreshments all day, post race punch, and nibbles afterwards! The best value in the series.

There will be lots of prizes kindly supported by the club.

There are two handicap races scheduled, and most dinghies (PY between Mirror - 49er) are welcome, but sorry no multihulls or keelboats. As previously, we will hand out bow numbers and trackers at reception.

Thanks to all the recent rain the reservoir is now full to the brim!

Camping on Saturday night is free and of course no charge for sailing on Saturday. Food available all day.

Please enter at www.sailingchallenge.org

See you there!

Visit yorkshiredales.sc and also see our Facebook group for immediate information on weather conditions.

Fireball Training Event at Draycote Water Sailing Club, 2-3 April

 The UKFA is putting on a full weekend's training at Draycote Water with coaching from ex-Fireball World Champion, Adam Bowers. Adam has a knack for explaining what makes the Fireball go, in an entertaining and easy to understand way.

On the Sunday, Adam will be joined by Richard Anderton. Richard is a double World and multiple National Championship winning crew, so this is a fantastic opportunity for crews who want to up their game to pick his brains!

The weekend will be subsidised by the UKFA for members of the association. two days training will cost members £75. Non-members will need to cover the full cost (so it's a no-brainer to join the Association).

Places will be limited to ensure a quality weekend's training. Sign up now by emailing committee@fireballsailing.org.uk.

Budworth Sailing Club plans to build new store to house safety boats

 A SAILING club in Northwich is looking to create a new purpose-built boat store and improve its access to the water.

Budworth Sailing Club has submitted plans to Cheshire West and Chester Council to replace three old shipping containers currently being used to house its rigid inflatable safety boats (RIBs).

The club, off Warrington Road, also wants to consolidate two slipways accessing Budworth Mere into a larger slipway to create more space for preparation, rigging boats and training for all ages.

Worthing sailors win Round the Island Winter Fundraising Challenge

 A team from Worthing Sailing Club has won the Round the Island Winter Fundraising Challenge, supporting Tall Ships Youth Trust.

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are set to benefit from the challenge, which saw three sailing crews compete in a race around the Isle of Wight.

Around £10,000 has been raised for the Portsmouth-based charity, the UK’s oldest and largest youth development sail training organisation, providing young people aged 12 to 25 from across the UK with life-changing experiences.

Team Worthing on Challenger 4 was competing against Tide in Knots, a group of like-minded sailors led by Henry and Helen Scutt, on Challenger 2 and Team Excalibur, a crew of individuals who started out as strangers, on Challenger 3 on Saturday, February 12.

The TSYT’s Challenger yachts have famously raced several times round the world but the aim for these three teams was to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight, leaving the Needles, Ventnor, St Catherine’s lighthouse, Bembridge and the rest of the Island to port before finishing near Cowes.

Bob Hewitt from Team Worthing said: “What an event! Team Worthing set a high bar by completing the race in under six-and-a-half hours, hitting boat speeds of 10.5 knots. The average time a cruiser takes is eight-and-a-half hours.

“Thanks to the commodore Dan England and committee at Worthing Sailing Club for their help and support and for believing in us, and to all who have donated to Tall Ships Youth Trust.

“Special thanks to our skipper Ian Buchele, mate Amy Ferrier and our watch leader Sharon South for keeping us safe and the Island Sailing Club for hosting the prize-giving evening - a truly memorable event.”

Conditions were a bit flat for the training day in the Solent on February 11 but on race day, the sun shone and the wind picked up, giving the yachts more speed.

Team Worthing was first to cross the finish line and all crews celebrated their efforts with staff from TSYT’s fundraising team at a prize-giving dinner at Island Sailing Club in Cowes.

Starcross YC receive £15k John Merricks Sailing Trust Legacy Award to help retain junior sailors

 Starcross Yacht Club (SYC) in Devon has received £15,000 from the John Merricks Sailing Trust, to buy six new RS Teras to further boost its thriving junior section.

With upwards of 50 sailors out on Fridays in the summer, the club has a long history of developing enthusiastic sailors, both those who just want to have fun on the water and those who enjoy competitive racing. Sailing at this stage is really all about having fun, and whilst for many people that is being on the water with friends, for others, as they develop their skills, it becomes about competitive racing.

With a fleet of club-owned Optimists, Juniors have traditionally moved onto Toppers and Teras as they grow in experience. However, it has sometimes been hard to retain juniors who are keen on racing at this stage, because buying competitive boats can be expensive, and inevitably there ends up being a range of boats which are not evenly matched.

The six new RS Teras - which will have Sport sails as well as the smaller Mini sail - will add to the existing 12 Teras owned by members at the club, and strengthen the burgeoning one-design fleet.

The award is designed to provide an accessible step up to juniors as they grow in size and their knowledge and understanding of the sport deepens, to help keep them inspired, learning and having fun.

Now with a fleet of 18+ Teras at the club, this really strengthens SYC's ability to retain junior sailors in the sport. This year, events run at SYC will include an Open Meeting for Teras and Toppers on 11th June, and the opportunity to participate in the Junior Open Regatta, running for its second year from 18th-21st August, which is open to all levels of junior sailors. And finally, the RS Tera Worlds are at WPNSA in 2022, providing an amazing chance for one design racing in large fleets for those wishing to travel.

Ian Walker from John Merrick Sailing Trust said "The JMST Trustees know Starcross to be a well-run club which has historically produced some excellent sailors. We could see that the club had a clear need in order to retain young sailors and introduce them to racing and they had a good, sustainable plan to address that need. The Trustees had confidence that the new RS Teras would be well managed and would create a lasting legacy in John's name."

For more information about Starcross Yacht Club see www.starcrossyc.org.uk

Frensham Frenzy to be held this Sunday

 The annual Frensham Frenzy Open takes place this year on Sunday 6th March 2022. An ideal season opener, the Frenzy comprises two pursuit races, for monohulls under 16ft hull length and with Portsmouth Numbers between 1445 and 940 (broadly RS400 to Cadet or RS Tera Sport).

Starts for the slowest boats will be at 10:30, and around 13:30 after a break ashore for lunch. Race duration is based on 75 minutes for an Enterprise (PY 1122). Courses will use up to 9 of the club's yellow and red marks, providing a range of beats and downwind angles. Launching is straight-forward: no wet feet required regardless of wind direction. Competition is invariably hot, which combined with Frensham's famously challenging conditions guarantees great racing; it's truly never over until it's over on the Pond.

Entries numbers are limited to 50 - to book you place simply register online.

Registration, NoR and SIs can be found on the Frensham Pond Sailing Club website, https://www.sailfrensham.org.uk

Entries open for Craftinsure Bass Week

 It's 150 days to Bassenthwaite Sailing Club's Craftinsure Bass week, held from 30th July to 7th August on one of Cumbria's largest bodies of water, Bassenthwaite Lake.

4 miles in length and ¾ mile wide, Bassenthwaite Lake is one of the Lake District's areas of outstanding natural beauty. From club sailors to world champions, for decades Bass Week has attracted visitors from all over the country, renowned for competitive racing on the water, a fantastic social programme for all the family, stunning scenery of the fells and the best view of Skiddaw mountain. Camping on site makes inclusive entry exceptional value, with 9 days sailing and 9 nights camping only £209 in total, for two people sailing a doublehander!

The regatta will see over 300 racers from up and down the country visit the area for the 9 day regatta. Throughout the week there will be multiple events for all the family, including 9 days of competitive racing, children's parties, nightly varied entertainment incorporating live music, a quiz night and the all important Commodores reception. The club council are hopeful for a restriction free event, further information will be shared nearer the event as the Covid picture becomes clearer. Some of the positives from Bass Week 2021, including the popular coffee stall and visiting food vans, will be returning!

Entry opens at midnight tonight via the Craftinsure Bass Week website which can be accessed via www.bassweek.org.uk. Significant discounts on entry fees are available before June 3rd 2022.

World Sailing statement concerning the situation in Ukraine

 World Sailing is very concerned about the situation in Ukraine and we are troubled about the safety of our friends in the Ukrainian sailing community.

Sport can be a force for good, bringing competitors from around the world together, united by the values of equality, inclusion, respect and fairness.

World Sailing joins many international sports organisations calling for an immediate end to all hostilities and a resumption of dialogue for a peaceful resolution in place of military action.

There are no World Sailing organised regattas planned to be held in Russia or Belarus in 2022, and the Executive Board are supporting the relocation of training and education events in Russia.

We remain in contact with all our Member National Authorities to offer our support at this incredibly difficult time.

Isle of Wight's Cowes Classics Week sailing event entry opens

 Entries are open today for the Cowes Classics Week sailing event, for 2022.

Racing will run from June 27 to July 1.

It is the world’s biggest classic yacht regatta of its kind and is open to a wide range of yachts.

There are multiple race courses, catering both for large one-design fleets and for all-comers in handicap fleets, say organisers.

What are classic yachts at Cowes Classic Week?

Classic yachts are those that were built in wood or steel before 1975, or GRP yachts designed at least 50 years ago.

Cowes and East Cowes organisations unite to commemorate sailor and boat designer Uffa Fox

A total of twelve organisations in Cowes and East Cowes have come together to plan Uffa Fox 50 - a celebration of Uffa Fox's life and to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.

The focal point will be Cowes Parade where there will be a display of around 50 dinghies designed by Uffa Fox, a number of which go back to the 1920s, with some out racing for a couple of hours for the sailing regatta on the Friday and Saturday.

At the Parade visitors will also be directed to the Uffa Fox trail around Cowes and East Cowes where examples of Uffa's history and heritage can be seen at a number of exhibitions. The trail begins at Uffa's place of residence at Commodores House with an exclusive exhibition of his life where families and children will be able to enjoy fun interative activities.

The journey continues with trail stops at the Sir Max Aitken Museum, Cowes Heritage, Cowes Library, the Classic Boat Museum and the Shepards Marina where 60 or more Uffa-designed yachts and keelboats will be berthed. Organisers also hope to have on display Coweslip - a Flying Fifteen K192 gifted by Uffa to the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. A memorial service is being planned on the morning of Sunday 21 August at Uffa Fox's grave in St Mildred's Church, Whippingham.

The Royal London Yacht Club will be running a sailing regatta on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 August for Uffa Fox designed dinghies, keelboats and yachts. So far over 100 boat owners have expressed interest in the event including Firefly, National 12, International 14, Redwing, Albacore, National 18, Jollyboat, Flying Fifteen, Fox 18 and 24 and Atalanta.

The Notice of Race will be published in March. For expressions of interest in the static display and/or racing and for further information contact saling@rlyc.org.uk

You can find out more information at https://www.uf50.org/ including the provisional programme.

 

Budworth Sailing Club crowned RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2022

 The North-West based club was one of ten finalists selected by the RYA Awards Panel and ultimately crowned by the public vote. The coveted trophy was presented by The British Sailing Team's Sam Whaley at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, Farnborough International.

BSC were awarded for implementing changes which have attracted more members of all ages and backgrounds into the sport including volunteer run open days and dedicated sessions for newcomers. Having been recently recognised as an RYA training centre, the club are also now able to offer a range of RYA courses.

Commodore, Bill Kenyon, said: "It feels amazing to be announced as the winners. The award is not just for us - it's for the sailing club, all the people that make the place what it is. It's an amazing achievement".

Rob Clark, RYA Director of Sport Development said: "A huge congratulations to BSC. It's been great to have the opportunity to recognise the amazing efforts of clubs and the volunteers who are central to success, especially at a time when we we're seeing an unprecedented amount of people wanting to get out on the water. Every club recognised are worthy finalists and it's been wonderful to be able to celebrate their success".

RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year finalists for 2022:

RYA Scotland: Aberdeen & Stonehaven Yacht Club

North West: Arnside Sailing Club (Heart of the Community)

RYA Northern Ireland: Ballyholme Yacht Club

RYA South: Brading Haven Yacht Club (Sustainability)

RYA Midlands: Chelmarsh Sailing Club (Inclusive and Open to All)

RYA South West: Exe Sailing Club

RYA South West: Flushing Sailing Club

RYA South: Lymington Town Sailing Club (Modern and Innovative)

RYA North East: Teesdale Sailing & Watersports Club

Bartley Sailing Club, Filey Sailing Club and Warsash Sailing Club were also awarded a Certificate of Commendation for their work over the last year.

Pwllheli Sailing Club J/109 'Mojito' is First UK Entry to Howth's Wave Regatta in June

 Peter Dunlop and Victoria Cox’s champion J/109 ‘Mojito’ is the first UK entry for this year's Wave Regatta in Howth Yacht Club in June.

The Pwllheli Sailing Club boat from North Wales is a regular and prominent force on the ISORA circuit and will add spice to the Class 1 competition entry list which already includes local J/109s ‘Outrajeous’ (Richard Colwell and John Murphy) and ‘Indian’ (Simon Knowles).

Wave Regatta gives competitors a choice of either the full weekend (3 days) or Lambay Races (Saturday only) with all keelboat classes invited to compete, including one-designs such as the 1720s and J/80s.

The early-entry discount is available from now until the end of March..