Just the two of us - Upffront.com sponsors United Kingdom Double Handed Offshore Series for 2022

 UKDHOS is coming back for its second year and Upffront.com is proud to be a sponsor! The 2022 season promises to be bigger and better than 2021, and we can't wait to see these competitive boats and sailors back out on the water.

UKDHOS - That's a lot of letters. What does it mean? Well it's an acronym for... take a deep breath... United Kingdom Double Handed Offshore Series.

Rather than running new races, the series instead combines a selection of the existing high-class offshore events run by RORC and other clubs in the UK. 2021 saw the first year of the UKDHOS with 30 teams competing in six intense races across the season. Accomplished shorthanded sailors, newcomers and even some sailing royalty, all jostling for position on a new double handed leader board.

Upffront.com is pleased to announce sponsorship of the UKDHOS for 2022. Our partnership will contribute financially towards the running of events and coaching. We are also offering additional benefits to members of the class who can sign up to receive exclusive discounts on all their hardware and rigging.

The 2022 season promises to be bigger and better than 2021, with more boats, a new selection of events and updated scoring - all promising for even closer racing. One partnership we are particularly excited about is that of six-times round the world sailor Dee Caffari teaming up with double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson.

Throughout the season we will be bringing dedicated content on how to setup your boat for double handed racing and hopefully sharing insights direct from some of the sailors.

As Bill Withers once said: "Just the two of us, We can make it if we try..."

Visit UDKHOS website

RS400 Southern Tour at Chichester Yacht Club

 A cold grey day greeted 23 visiting boats from all over the country for the first event of the season for the Rooster West Country Boat Repairs RS400 Southern Tour 2022.

The spirited Northerly breeze ensured some spectacular reaches providing excellent spectator sport as the powerful gusts swept through the fleet around the windward/leeward course.

In the first race Ben and Roz McGrane, from Netley SC, opened up a commanding lead with Jack Holden and Jono Price from Arun YC holding second place securely throughout. Sam Knight and Chris Bownes from Bartley SC near Birmingham climbed through the fleet to finish third, while there were some spectacular capsizes among the rest of the fleet.

In race 2, the McGranes swiftly established a lead and were never headed while there was considerable place changing behind them. Steve and Sarah Cockerill worked their way up from 5th to 2nd with Jon Heissig and Nicky Griffin, from Llangorse SC in the Brecon Beacons, sailing well to make up from 7th to 3rd.

In a series with no discarded results, the McGranes needed to sail the final race and had to work a little harder having followed Jack and Jono until part way through the second lap. After that Jon and Nicky sailed fast to recover from 5th to finish 2nd ahead of Jack and Jono.

The final results show 1309 Ben and Roz McGrane in first place with the perfect score line total of 3 points, followed by 1505 Jack Holden and Jono Price second with 10 points just ahead of 1502 Jon Heissig and Nicky Griffin in third with 11 points and 1502 Sam Knight and Chris Bownes with 12 points.

A brilliant day of exciting and skilful sailing!

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st 1309 Ben McGrane Roz McGrane Netley SC 1 1 1 3

2nd 1505 Jack Holden Jono Price Arun YC 2 5 3 10

3rd 1502 Jon Heissig Nicky Griffin Llangorse SC 6 3 2 11

4th 1376 Sam Knight Chris Bownes Bartley SC 3 4 5 12

5th 1515 Stephen Cockerill Sarah Cockerill Stokes Bay SC 10 2 4 16

6th 1235 Sam Pickering Emily Heath Itchenor SC 5 7 6 18

7th 1312 Ian Walker Chris Fox Warsash SC/Itchenor SC 7 6 7 20

8th 1509 Jack Munnelly Trisha Clancy Bartley SC 11 10 8 29

9th 1377 Neil Bevington Alan Skeens Lee on the Solent SC 8 11 10 29

10th 971 Simon Kitchen Abbi Hooper Grafham Water SC 12 9 9 30

11th 1472 Douglas Clow Ian Peace Island Barn SC 14 15 11 40

12th 1479 Mick Whitmore Sarah Whitmore Eastbourne Sovereign SC 4 12 DNF 41

13th 1489 David Swift Rob Burgess Warsash SC 15 13 13 41

14th 1175 Fred Lord Louise Gale Carsington SC 9 8 DNF 42

15th 1384 Trevor Newley Martin Wilson Emsworth SC 13 14 15 42

Starcross Steamer 2022 to be held on 27th March

 The thirty-first annual Starcross Steamer sponsored by Exe Sails and Covers will be held on Sunday 27th March 2022. With up to 100 monohulls able to enter and the classic pursuit race format, with boats starting in slowest to fastest order and all finishing together this is a race not to miss.

Starcross Yacht club situated on the Exe estuary turns 250 years old in 2022 and enjoys an active and competitive club racing. Usually joined by boats from all over the south west and indeed the country this event is indeed popular and with a beautiful sheltered venue providing stellar sailing conditions, its not hard to see why.

The first start will be at 14:00, with a 150 minute race, sailing through high water at 15:30 (height 2.7m). You can be sure of a warm welcome at the club, food and drink will be available from 10:30, so why not bring the family. The club will be open from 9:30, with the competitor briefing at 13:00.

The entries to the Steamer can only be made via the website, and this will open on 1st of March. The Sailing Instructions, Notice of Race, Handicap Numbers and Consent Forms are also available on the club website; you will also be able to check who else has entered. See www.starcrossyc.org.uk/open-events

Due to the popularity of the event we are limiting the number of entries to 100; the website will automatically advise you if you are placed on the waiting list. Should you enter and subsequently find that you are unable to attend we would appreciate you letting us know so that your entry can be given to the next person on the waiting list. The website will not accept entries after midnight on the 25th of March, so please get your entry in as soon as possible.

Each classes exact start time will be calculated on the day, using the Great Lakes Handicap system, when we know the handicap of the slowest boat.

We look forward to seeing you.

SORC 2022 ready to launch!

 Solo Offshore Racing Club, SORC, open the 2022 season with two races in the Solent on the weekend of April 23rd and 24th. Starting off Cowes on the Gurnard cardinal mark line skippers will enjoy two 'round the cans' races each of about four hours duration.

This will be SORC's twelfth season as the organisers of solo yacht racing in the Solent. The popular Inshore series comprises ten races spread over the year from April to October including a fleet visit to Poole on May 7th/8th and the highlight of the season is the 50 mile round Wight, RIOW solo, on Saturday July 23rd.

Offshore racers will enjoy the challenge of the longer passages, some with night hours such as the Cowes to Weymouth races on the weekend of May 20th, Cowes to Dartmouth on June 10th and the Channel Islands weekend comprising three races beginning August 26th.

Channel Week is a testing regatta for solo racers which heads out from Dartmouth on June 12th and will continue down west with options to visit Brittany and Guernsey depending on weather and covid rules at the time, the fleet returns to the Solent on June 18th.

SORC sailors enjoy a strong social element to the sporting weekend with results and prizes presented at the pontoon party after racing. There is generally a supper ashore on Friday before races in Cowes and on the Saturday night at the destination.

Full details of this year's programme can be found on the website, www.offshoresolo.com.

Merlin Rocket 2022 season kicks off with Class Training at Itchenor Sailing Club

 The 5th and 6th March was the opening weekend for the Merlin Rocket Class in 2022 and 17 eager teams arrived at Itchenor Sailing Club ready to get a jump start on the season with a weekend of training led by multiple Championship winner Christian Birrell supported by Tim Saxton, Ian Dobson and George Yeoman, with special guest appearances from Alex Warren and Caroline Croft.

Both days were gusty affairs with a 12-15 knot northerly, with squalls over 20, testing the finesse and fitness of the teams. Some new pairings appeared with Chris Gould & Rob Allen, Ian & Chris Martin, Caroline Croft & Faye Chatterton and Jack Norton & Dave Royce, and also the stunning 3506 of Graham Webb & Simon Pollard adding some class to proceedings.

Saturday started with a few short sharp warm up races before we split into groups. The groups were set with three stations:

a triangle course set to practice manoeuvres at the corners (hoist, gybe, drop)

tacking and gybing on the whistle

lane holding

A couple of the squalls caught a few people out, with a few remembering why they should tie rudders on, but all in all the short sharp exercises kept everyone warm and happy as they came off the water to pasta bake and a video debrief focussing on how boats set up differently to make it easier to sail in the gusty conditions.

In the evening, Itchenor Sailing Club then put on a great two course dinner, beef featherblade/veggie wellington with dauphinois potatoes and followed by sticky toffee pudding, before everyone retired in front of the fire in the bar retelling the screaming reaches from earlier in the day.

Sunday was focussed on starting and the first beat with rolling starts and sailing the first 30 seconds before resetting and racing the third start. The coaches gave each boat individual focus around various parts of the course, and in some cases took them away for a private session.

Itchenor Sailing Club loves hosting the Merlin Rockets and it was another very successful event for both the club and sailors and the next one is highly recommended for a (maybe slightly warmer) warm up at Blithfield Sailing Club on 26th March. Register online to save your spot today.

The Craftinsure Silver Tiller starts this coming weekend at Shustoke Sailing Club on Sunday 13th March.

60th Hamble Warming Pan less that two weeks away

 Hamble River Sailing Club's Hamble Warming Pan on Sunday 20th March will be the 60th edition and welcomes all non-trapeze dinghies rated PY 970-1275, plus 420s, RS400s and Foxer dinghies, with starts from 1130 and three back-to-back races organised in fast and slow PY fleets plus one-design starts for classes mustering 8 boats or more.

An Early-Bird entry rate is available online with late entry also available on the day. The morning briefing will be at 09:45. Entry details and the NOR are at the HRSC website.

With the continuing success of dinghy racing and training for all ages at HRSC the separate 'Junior Warming Pan' for under-18's is three weekends later on Saturday 9th April with racing for all Junior and Youth classes with PY 1100-1642 split into two starts plus a Regatta fleet for Optimist and Tera classes.

Entry details and Notices of Race for both Warming Pan events are now at the HRSC website and please enter soon for the Early-Bird entry rate, www.hrsc.org.uk

Allen 29er Grand Series Round 5 at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

 37 boats made the trip to Weymouth for the fifth and final GP of the year. It was set to be a wonderful weekend of racing with a cracking forecast.

Saturday opened with a bang as the fleet were greeted with 25 knot averages and some gusts well into the 30s. Race officer Ian Bullock made the brilliant decision to launch on time and soon the first race was away. 

The breeze and chop had built and the decision was taken to send the fleet in for the day after race 2. 

Sunday dawned with an hours postponement, before launching into a fresh, freezing northerly breeze and choppy seas.

Thank you to everyone who made the event happen, especially the safety fleet and race committee for giving us great racing in testing conditions. Finally a huge thanks to Allen for sponsoring the GP series and providing some brilliant prizes.

Overall Results:

OPEN

1 GBR 2903 FREDDIE WESTWELL & FREDDIE LONSDALE

2 GBR 2736 CHARLIE GRAN & SAM JONES

3 GBR 2849 FINIAN MORRIS & OSCAR MORGAN-HARRIS

4 GBR 12 BEN MUELLER & SAM WEBB

5 GBR 3081 OLLY PETERS & BEN BRADLEY

6 GBR 2898 JAMES CROSSLEY & NOAH FITZGERALD

FEMALE

1 GBR 2787 KATY JENKINS & AMELIE HISCOCKS

2 GBR 2924 KARRIE CLARK & MILLIE ALDRIDGE

3 GBR 2477 LAURA ELMS & JESS CHARLESWORTH

MIXED

1 GBR 3079 ANNABELLE VINES & RAULF BERRY

2 GBR 2929 GWEN SARGENT & HARRY KENNEDY

3 GBR 2743 MORVEN WOOD & OLLIE BULL

JUNIORS

1 GBR 2849 FINIAN MORRIS & OSCAR MORGAN-HARRIS

2 GBR 2122 HARVEY JENKINS & TOM ARMSTRONG

3 GBR 2225 MAX SYDENHAM & FREDDIE COVELL

420 Selection Series Starts

 After a winter of training interspersed with a number of racing events the UK 420 Class starts its 2022 selection series this coming weekend ahead of the Junior Europeans in Portugal and the World Championships in Hungary.

There are three events at Rutland Water, Hayling Island, culminating in the Youth Nationals at Pwllheli in a month's time. Additionally from the Youth Nationals the RYA will select a male/mixed crew and a female crew to attend the World Sailing Youth Championships in the Hague in July. Everything is to play for with 37 boats entered for the first weekend, with a wide range of new and experienced partnerships and with 41 of the 74 sailors female, demonstrating the strong enduring attraction of the 420 class to attract and include a diverse group of sailors.

The GB fleet has 15 spots available for the Junior Europeans and 25 spots available for the World Championships. The detailed selection criteria can be found on www.gbr420.uk and it provides for a diverse selection of female, male and under 17 sailors to be selected.

The latest UK 420 rolling ranking is published today and the leading sailors are now Alice Davis and Oliver Rayner who, having come first and second in the last two events, have now taken the top spot from the 2021 National Champions Ella Lance and Will Martin.

420 GBR Class Rolling Rankings:

Pos Helm Crew Itchenor GP2 Chew Valley GP3 Grafham End of Seasons Winters WPNSA Inlands Draycote Pts

1 Alice Davis Oliver Rayner 0 20 38 35 33 106

2 Henry Heathcote Hector Bennett 27 17 36 33 32 101

3 Megan Farrer Ellie Rush 26 0 37 28 29 94

4 Ollie Meadowcroft Oscar Cawthorne 28 0 27 31 34 93

5 Joe Warwicker Hugo Valentine 25 21 35 27 30 92

6 Mathias Potter Ellie Thomas 24 14 30 32 22 84

7 George Creasy David Bromilow 15 0 33 30 18 81

8 Oli Hale Tom Clayton 21 15 26 24 31 81

9 Imogen Wade Teddy Dunn 0 0 28 26 26 80

10 Ella Lance Will Martin 0 0 39 34 0 73

11 Harry George Ralph Cawthorne 22 13 32 0 19 73

12 Kt. Byne Lia Horne 0 18 0 25 28 71

13 Freya Sewell Arlo Braund 16 7 23 21 27 71

14 Ellie Creighton Bea Greenfield 1 0 29 19 17 65

15 Emily Smith Charlotte Beardsall 0 8 24 22 8 61.9

Join the Team: Andrew Simpson Foundation are hiring a coach and sales & communication co-ordinator!

 The not-for-profit ASC Performance Academy is looking for an individual to join the team in an exciting and unique combined role of ASC Performance Academy Coach and Sales & Communications Co-ordinator.

The role

They are looking for a passionate and driven individual who would like to join the ASC Performance Academy team. The ASC Performance Academy has now been operating for 2 years, with the aim to provide high quality training for sailors to achieve success at every level. This is realised by offering and supporting transition training, class specific training and performance programmes. International event support and international training camps at our European HQ and at various locations globally is also offered.

What are they looking for?

The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to think creatively. They will report to the ASC Performance Academy Manager, and maintain the following duties:

Develop & maintain relationships with new & existing customers

Manage and process customer bookings

Drive sales and ensure the management of day-to-day processes

Assist the Performance Academy Manager with co-ordinating staff and resource requirements, including liaising with external providers (Freelance Coaches)

Work alongside the wider Sales & Communications team to create Promotional and marketing materials (social media / newsletters etc)

Communicate regularly with ASC staff on session details and resources required.

Identify and develop opportunities for further support from key stakeholders and potential partners and/or donors

Deliver high quality coaching and event support as a part of the ASC Performance Academy Programmes

This role is a full-time position of 40 hours a week, with flexible working arrangements. This will be approximately 2 days on the water and 3 days office-based work each week. This will change throughout the year to meet demands.

The role would initially be offered as a 12-month contract, with the opportunity to extend on a permanent basis.

This role can be based at any of their UK centres and Foundation head office, with optional home working considered. The candidate will be expected to deliver ASC Performance Academy programmes across the UK and overseas and therefore regular travel is a key requirement.

The salary will be dependent on experience but starts from £21,000 per annum with many additional perks, such as:

Use of Centre kit and equipment

Opportunity for training and development

Friends and family discounts on courses

Discounts with watersports clothing companies

Company pension scheme

Pro-rata annual leave allocation

Fun, friendly and supportive working environment

To apply, or for more information, please send your CV along with a covering letter outlining why you feel you meet the requirements of this role to James@andrewsimpsoncentres.org

The closing date for applications is 18th March 2022, with interviews likely to be held w/c 21st March. ASF would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity as the closing date may be brought forward at any time. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. Telephone interviews may be conducted prior to the interview dates and will be done so via Microsoft Teams or Skype with interviews to follow. These will be arranged based on availability.

Osprey Class announce New Headline Sponsor

 The Osprey Class Association are delighted to announce a new headline sponsor. In an arrangement agreed at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show Craftinsure will become the Osprey Class preferred insurer.

This agreement with one of the UK's major insurance providers for small boats will ensure that members of the Osprey Class Association will be able to access first class insurance cover for their boats while the Class Association will use the agreement to enhance the experience for their members at the National Championships and major open meetings.

The Osprey Class Association and Craftinsure look forward to a long and fruitful association.

Salcombe Yacht Club Commissioning Race 2022

 Sailors were greeted with a brisk north-easterly and a spring low tide which limited the Race Officer, Barney Greenhill's, course selection. Barney opted for an initial beat to Mark 3 then onwards for a blast to Gerston and back before looping around Crossways, followed by a short lap in front of the Club.

Two months out of action certainly highlighted some rusty boat handling and judgement of depth, leading to a very entertaining start for the spectators with capsizes, groundings and a lot of shouting!

Fresh from her winter overhaul with new sails and new colour scheme, 'Loki', the Merlin Rocket of Ross Borne and John Burn, nailed the start leaving the kerfuffle in their wake. The pair were out in front for the entire race, with a commanding lead, and took the overall win.

William Wall was in touching distance of being the first Solo, holding off the chase from Seasoned Pros, Tim Law and Chris Cleaves, only to fluff his lines on the final gybe opting for a quick dip. Tim Law took full advantage, being the first Solo to cross the line taking 4th on corrected time.

Less drama, but equally exciting, saw the Aero 7's of Tim Fells and Dan Bridger in a close head-to-head. Whether it was down to skill or possibly a weight advantage (or pure luck - you decide!), Tim got the better of Dan on the final downwind leg. This pairing finished 2nd and 3rd overall.

Regardless of all the dramas, multiple capsizes, and lost (new) burgees, it was a great start to the season.

Thank you to Barney and his team; the rescue boat crew were certainly kept busy!

Also, a special thank you to The Sailing Committee for providing a Commissioning High Tea back at the Clubhouse which saw a great turnout with a wonderful atmosphere. Let's hope the post racing social gatherings continue to flourish throughout the season.

Grantham sailor Val finishes third in national sailing series

  Competing as last season’s lady champion, Grantham sailor Val Millward sailed as many events as possible to achieve a final placing of third Lady Helm in the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series 2021-22.

Val received her award at the prizegiving of the series which took place at the RYA Dinghy and Water Sports Show, held this year at Farnborough.

More than 200 competitors took part during the dinghy handicap series, from all over the country in their chosen boat.

Val said: "I really feel I am flying the flag for disabled sailing and hope my success encourages more disabled sailors to take part in the future."

Star studded entry list, star venue for the Noble Marine Rooster RS400 Nationals

 Just two weeks after entry opened the Noble Marine Rooster RS400 National Championships at East Lothian YC, 8th-12th August already has a star-studded entry list, including sailors from the south coast of England and Ireland, as well as the far north of Scotland and the north of England.

Others in the fleet have booked their accommodation but are still to finalise crew/helm/boat details etc before entering.

The last time the fleet held the RS400 National Championships at ELYC in North Berwick was in 2013, and the venue is an undiscovered gem for many current RS400 sailors, so we asked Steve Cockerill, who placed 3rd last year and 2x winner Stewart Roberston what makes East Lothian YC so special, and so worth the trip up from the South and South West of England, where it is actually only an hour or two further than the 2021 venue, South Shields.

Steve says "East Lothian Sailing Club offers a traditional Scottish Welcome. The air is fresh, the sea is clean and a number of great sailing areas can be used depending on the wind direction.

The boat park is on the grass a short walk from the harbour where a cosy, welcoming club house is situated. Launching is easy on a sandy beach which is sheltered by all but a Northerly and a bustling main street is a short walk away.

The waves can vary greatly depending on wind direction, so every day is a challenge, but the evening walks along the sandy beaches as the sun sets, does it for me."

Stewart agrees, "as Steve says - The Sailing can be on the east course or west of Craigleith Island. There is a tide to be considered but does not dictate tactics entirely. In an easterly there can some great waves in the East Bay.

The early entry deadline is not until 15th May, so sailors have plenty of time, but we encourage early entry, not only because all those entered by 31st March will be receive a fabulous event-branded Rooster dry bag, but also because it will help the Class Association and club plan the very best possible Nationals for everyone.

The RS Class Association's two demo boats will be in use at the event, to encourage new sailors to the fleet. Ben Hay will sailing one of them and says "Thank you so much for lending us the 400 for the nationals. We are really looking forward to trying out a different class and experiencing a new fleet and the boat, it will be looked after as if it was our own." At the time of writing the other demo boat is still available - contact sally@rs-association.com if you are interested.