Blackwater Sailing Club Open Day to be held on 7th May

 Blackwater Sailing Club, based at Heybridge Basin near Maldon is holding its annual Open Day on Saturday May 7th between 11.30am and 5.30pm. We extend a warm welcome to everyone and will be delighted to show visitors all the wonderful facilities and activities on offer to members at our recently refurbished club house.

This event is supported by the RYA Try Sailing in May Campaign which aims to get as many people as possible on the water to try sailing

There will be opportunities for dinghy taster sails on the lake, buoyancy aids will be provided. Blackwater cadets will be demonstrating their skills and showing what fun there is to be had on the water. There will also be rigged examples of the boats generally used by the cadets and adult sailors.

Blackwater is one of the largest sailing clubs on the east coast and provides traditional dinghy and cruiser sailing and racing and was very proud to be awarded Eastern Region Club of the Year 2019 by the RYA and Yachts and Yachting magazine. It is also an RYA British Youth Sailing Recognised Club, a scheme to promote sailing for youngsters at grass roots level. It boasts a strong cadet section that offers sail training, coaching and racing for youngsters from the age of 8 years alongside social activities.

With access to a large section of foreshore that accommodates over 100 moorings, a ramp, pier and pontoon for mid tide access, extensive safety boat cover, ample boat storage and car parking, the club provides more facilities than any other on the east coast. There is even a sea wall bungalow for hire. There's much more on offer; go along on Saturday May 7th and see for yourself. It's a family friendly club; we look forward to seeing you. Meanwhile, if you need more information about joining our club please contact our membership secretary membership-secretary@blackwatersailingclub.org.uk, or see our website.

For more details about events like this see blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

Discover Sailing Day at Dovestone Sailing Club

 Dovestone Sailing Club are hosting a Discover Sailing Day at the club on 7th May. This is part of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Discover Sailing initiative.

It is your chance to get out on the water with an experienced sailor and see if the sport appeals to you. If you've walked around the reservoir and thought it would be fun to get out on the water, now's your opportunity. If you would like to book a place then contact the club commodore by email, Andrew Robinson: andrew.j.robinson@arcadis.com.

If after 'dipping your toe in the water', pun intended, you would like to take it a stage further there are a handful of places left on the weekend May 21/22 RYA Dinghy Level 1-2 training course. Level 1 is an introduction to sailing dinghies for complete beginners, covering everything you need to know to get afloat under supervision. Level 2 builds your confidence and develops your skills. By the end of this course you'll be a competent sailor in light winds.

The Beaufort Cup - The heart of Volvo Cork Week

 Volvo Cork Week is going to be a spectacular regatta this July, with teams from all over the world racing with the Royal Cork Yacht Club in celebration of their 300th birthday.

The Beaufort Cup is at the heart of Volvo Cork Week with €10,000 going to the chosen charity of the winning team. The Beaufort Cup pitches teams that have at least half the crew from Service or Voluntary Organisations.

While military teams will be taking part, the Beaufort Cup is suitable for all manner of service organisations including medical professionals, charity organisations, emergency services plus local and national Government Authorities. The early entry list already boasts over ten teams from Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The racing schedule for the Beaufort Cup starts with a 24-hour race around the famous Fastnet Lighthouse, which starts and finishes in Cork Harbour. The inshore race series, set on stunning coastal courses, will be held from 13th to 15th July in conjunction with Volvo Cork Week. Beaufort Cup teams will race under the IRC time correction rule, providing a level playing field to boats of different sizes and speeds. The Beaufort Cup is open to all yachts with a TCC between 0.990 and 1.060.

The overall winner will be presented with the Beaufort Cup at the Grand Prize Giving and will also be in contention to be named Volvo Cork Week 2020 'Boat Of The Week'. Entry for the Beaufort Cup is from €540, which includes event berthage and eight crew tickets for the Beaufort Cup Gala Dinner.

"The format is the same as the two previous editions, you get the chance to race around the Fastnet Rock, enjoy a great dinner, and then race in and around Cork Harbour for the last two days," confirmed James Fegan who besides being the Volvo Cork Week Committee member for The Beaufort Cup, will be racing with the Crosshaven Lifeboat team.

AIX Rosé RS200 Women's Weekend at Itchenor Sailing Club

 We are extremely excited to announce that we will be running our first RS200 Women's Weekend at Itchenor Sailing Club on 9/10th July.

Better still, we have RS200 legend and 2018 National Champion Maria Stanley on board to help run the weekend - we cannot thank Maria enough for her support.

The weekend will allow the females of the RS200s to get together for some informal racing and training, celebrating the talent of the women in our fleet. It will be inclusive, collaborative, and a great time all round. Included in your weekend fee will be an AIX Rosé -sponsored reception at Itchenor Sailing Club on Saturday, followed by a dinner in the clubhouse.

We are incredibly lucky to have Maria along. She will be able to provide the very best insights into sailing the RS200 as a female whilst bringing more positive energy than you think is possible.

This is an exciting initiative for the class which we hope will give more females the confidence to helm. It is set to be a thoroughly enjoyable weekend and we extend huge gratitude to Maria Stanley, Itchenor Sailing Club, and AIX Rosé.

Further details and entry information will be released soon.

Bethan Matthew

RS200 Committee

Get set for a summer of Match Racing

Entry is now open for the RYA Summer Match Racing 2022 series with a sparkling season of events for all lined up at venues across the country.

The #rockupandrace series will include three summer open events plus three championships for Under-19s, Women and Youth sailors, and taking part is easy as there will be a fleet of one-design keelboats rigged and ready-to-go at each location.

Details can be found in the Notice of Race and entry for the first four events in the series is now available here. There is an early bird discount available for teams entering Summer Match Racing Qualifier 1 before 23.59 on 3 June 2022.

RYA Summer Match Racing events will take place as follows:

2-3 July 2022: Summer Match Racing 1, 707s at Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch

9-10 July 2022: Under-19 Championship, RS21s at Queen Mary SC, London

3-4 September 2022: Harken Youth Championship, RS21s at Cardiff Bay YC, Wales

10-11 September 2022: Marlow Ropes Women's Championship, Elliott 6m at Bartley SC, Birmingham

24-25 September 2022: Summer Match Racing 2, venue to be confirmed

8-9 October 2022: Summer Match Racing 3 for the Ceilidh Cup, Sonars at Royal Northern & Clyde YC, Scotland

The 2022 series will conclude with an invitational RYA National Match Racing Championship Grand Final in RS21s over the weekend of 21-23 October at the Royal Southern YC in Hamble, Southampton. Find out more about RYA Match Racing and events, including NOR and entry, at www.ryamatchracing.co.uk

Osprey Class 2022 Season begins

 The 2022 season starts with three events in April and continues through to October when the final event, Scottish & Northern Championship hosted by Carsington SC, closes the season.

The first event on the 2nd & 3rd April the Blithfield Open is a popular event in the class. Blithfield SC look forward to welcoming visitors old & new. The Saturday night hog roast and local beers from the barrel are always well received by the competitors. The Saturday night partying has in the past had a result on the Sunday sailing results! This event will test the early season boat handling skills with lots of mark rounding practice and spinnaker handling exercise.

The following weekend, 9th & 10th April, the Welsh & Midland Championship is hosted by Tata Steel SC in South Wales. This is the first of the five Championships in the class. This venue can also prove challenging depending on the wind direction. The home boats look forward to welcoming other South Wales based boats and those from father afield. It will be 40 years since the club hosted their first Welsh & Midland Championship back in 1982 and the 9th held at the club. There will be a social at a local venue on the Saturday night.

The first coastal event of the year will be a return to Hayling Island SC after an absence several years on 23rd & 24th April. How will a returning Osprey helm get on sailing with his son in a well known and successful Osprey they bought over the winter? They at least know the local waters well! As do a father & daughter team, as both crews are members of Hayling Island SC.

The class extend a welcome to anyone interested in the Osprey to come to any of the events to watch the racing and talk about the boat.

2022 Events:

April

2nd/3rd Blithfield Open Meeting

9th/10th Tata Open Meeting - Welsh & Midlands Championship

23rd/24th HISC Open Meeting

May

1st/2nd Kielder Open Meeting - Dam to Dam. Sunday/Monday event

7th/8th Mounts Bay Open Meeting

21st/22nd Poole Open Meeting - Southern Championships

June

25th/26th Tenby Open Meeting - Combined with Tenby Regatta

July

9th/10th Weymouth Open Meeting - Combined with Weymouth Regatta

August

27th/28th Burnham Open Meeting

September

3rd-6th NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, Porthpean SC, Cornwall

24th/25th Sheppey Open Meeting

October

8th/9th Carsington Open Meeting - Scottish and Northern Championships

Entries open for the Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships 2022

 The Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships are being hosted by Mount's Bay Sailing Club from the 31st July through to 4th August 2022.

"Our target for the last few years has been building up to getting 100 boats on the startline this summer, and as a class we are offering a number of incentives with plenty of discounted entry options that are being supported by the class," comments Chris Kilsby Chair of the Merlin Rocket Owners Association.

The class is grateful for the wonderful sponsors who continue to support this event which attracts past and present Olympic medallist right through to the club sailor. Aspire Financial Advisers are returning as the title sponsor, and for the golfers amongst the sailors GK Engineering is looking to organise a round one evening, the HD Sails Spinnaker Auction is back and Triggernaut Sportsglasses will be doing the 'Hero Of The Day.' There is glassware for the overall winners, Silver Fleet and Bronze Fleet winners. Plus, an array of social activities on shore. There really is something for everyone.

If you have pre-entered, you will be receiving an email from the class so your entry can be updated.

Please visit the website to book your space www.merlinrocket.co.uk/index.asp?cp=nationalchamps

Black isle teen sets sights on sailing World Championships

 16-year-old Oliver Bull has been sailing for around eight years and is currently the best in Scotland for the category he competes in.

A Fortrose Academy pupil is aiming to reach the World Sailing Championships later this year.

Oliver Bull, from Culbokie, has been sailing for around eight years and is currently the best in Scotland for the category he competes in.

Alongside his sailing partner from Helensburgh, the 16-year-old wants to take part in the international event in Barcelona in August.

Further afield, Oliver's also hoping to one day compete in the Olympics.

"I got into 29ers almost by accident" - Oliver Bull

Oliver currently competes in the 29er class, which is a form of high performance two-person youth racing.

After training with Chanonry Sailing Club, he was selected in 2021 to join the Royal Yachting Association Scotland (RYAS) 29er Performance Team and more recently, the UK 29er Class Association National Squad.

Oliver admits how he didn't initially intend to compete in the sport.

He said: "I got into 29ers almost by accident.

"I was hooked on the 29er straight away - they are fast double-handed boats to sail with some really high-quality racing on the UK circuit."

Commodore at Chanonry Sailing Club, Sandra Hogg says they are "delighted" to see Oliver and his sailing partner's progress in the sport.

She said: "Sailing is a wonderful sport that can provide a sense of freedom and huge amount of enjoyment from a very young age and whatever level you are at.

"The club is delighted to see Oliver and Morven’s progress and achievements in the 29er squad and we wish them every success in their future events.

Falmouth Sailing Week under starter’s orders once again

 The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association has once again organised this week-long, prestigious regatta that has it’s origins in the latter half of the 19th Century. Seven days of racing are scheduled from Sunday, August 7.

It will start with a skippers’ briefing and competitors reception at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club on the evening before the first day of racing will be hosted by Helford River Sailing Club on the Sunday (with the Carrick Fleet competitors heading to the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club for their prizes and teas)

Monday sees Mylor Yacht Club host, followed by Restronguet Sailing Club on the Tuesday. Wednesday, August 10 provides competitors with a standalone long distance race. For the Bay Fleet, the Ancasta Champagne Race is well established and for the second year running the Carrick Fleet will battle for places in the Mainbrace Rum Race.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s format is for a three-day series for several classes but will be hosted on Thursday by the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club and on Friday by St Mawes Sailing Club finishing up at Flushing Sailing Club for regatta teas and overall prizegiving on the Saturday.

Falmouth Sailing Week is an open regatta, so no matter if you are a relative novice to the racing scene or have a high performance IRC rated yacht there will be a class for everyone.

Divided into two fleets: The Bay Fleet and Carrick Fleet there will be seven classes for the Bay Fleet and nine classes for the Carrick Fleet This year we will be offering five class options for the dinghy sailors. The final allocation of classes will be announced on August 5.

Fowey to host International 14 Prince Of Wales Cup in 2022

 Fowey Sailing Committee is delighted to welcome the International 14 Prince Of Wales' 2022 Cup to Fowey on June 1-4 2022. The prestigious sailing event will take place in the stunning waters outside Fowey Harbour in Cornwall, with sailors from around the world expected to take part in the racing.

Hosted by Royal Fowey Yacht Club (RFYC) and Fowey Gallants Sailing Club (FGSC) and organised by Fowey Sailing Committee, this is only the second time the internationally renowned event has taken place in Fowey, the first time being over 25 years ago in 1996, when it was won by Andy FitzGerald and Matt Berridge, sailing Victoria.

Fowey Sailing Committee member, Andrew Dellow said: "We are thrilled to be hosting such a high profile racing event in Fowey. The sea and coastal waters in this area can provide challenging and exciting racing conditions for yachtsmen and we look forward to a great competition."

The Prince of Wales' Challenge Cup race is the National Championship of the International 14, the first race being hosted by the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes in 1927. The race takes place over a traditional long course, and over the years has attracted international competitors.

Race competitors and visiting sailors will be welcomed to enjoy the hospitality, facilities and fabulous harbour views from the Royal Fowey Yacht Club and Fowey Gallants Sailing Club. There will be a Gala Dinner and prize-giving on the Friday evening hosted by the Royal Fowey Yacht Club.

For those not taking part in the racing, spectators will be welcomed to enjoy the unique Cornish charm and atmosphere of Fowey Harbour and the surrounding area of outstanding natural beauty.

Full details of all Fowey sailing events can be found at www.foweysailing.org

Allen Contender Training Day & Open at Datchet Water Sailing Club

 The tune up day gave members of the class association the opportunity to learn from the likes of Jones, Langdown and Wilcox, firstly to have them on hand to help race rig boats in the fashionable style and discuss the pros and cons of various set ups, but secondly to get some training drills done in close proximity without the pressure of racing.

Out on the water a fruity 20 knots with nasty gusts allowed all to remember how glorious the Contender can be in breeze after a 2021 of barely a leg stretch. Gate starts, short courses with enforced 3 tack and gybe minimum allowed the fleet to test a number of variables and generally get the boat back in the groove. The wind strength meant that there were a few spills to behold as well.

Highlights included:

Seeing S Jones swan dive into the sail

Realising that the inflatable buoy was in fact rock hard on impact

Keeping eyes closed as the gate boat when starboard tackers bear down on you

Getting your mandatory tacks in early and feeling smug

Forgetting to tell Graeme that we had changed the short course

All of this lovely practice set us nicely for a day of racing in light breezes, for which most were thankful for whilst nursing delayed onset of muscle soreness.

The final results were a season opening win for Graeme Wilcox, secured after the two firsts. An astonished Stuart Jones was second with Ed Presley rounding of the podium. Great to be back on the road and better that it was under bright sunshine. Next up is Oxford.

Overall Results:

Pos Helm Boat Name Sail No R1 R2 R3 Pts

1st Graeme Willcox Contender 695 1st 1st 4th 2

2nd Stuart Jones Contender 2706 2706 6th 3rd 1st 4

3rd Ed Presley Contender 2708 7th 4th 2nd 6

4th James Spikesley Pickled Doris 705 4th 2nd 7th 6

5th Gary Langdown Feel the Need 2484 2nd 7th 5th 7

6th Simon Mussell Contender 2420 3rd 6th 9th 9

7th Nick Curry Hurry Curry 2661 5th 5th 6th 10

8th Simon Dodds Laura 2423 8th 8th 3rd 11

9th Paul Ross Contender 2572 2572 9th 9th 8th 17

Musto Skiffs in the 2022 Ovington Inlands at Grafham Water Sailing Club

 Key Highlights:

Everyone swam at least once on Saturday (even Pete Greenhalgh, although he still managed to win all 4 races). I personally capsized in every race and was still in 5th place overnight!

It was nice for the fleet to celebrate with Serega Samus @toofittobeold as he turned 60 at the event. This sextengarian is the only Musto Skiff sailor (or sailor of any class that I know of) who is capable of physical challenges, such as flying superman burpees, you can follow his exploits on YouTube. Anyway, he became an official 'Legend' on Saturday (Legend is the aptly named over-60 Musto Skiff age-category).

Guy Rivington sailed a brilliant race on Sunday to score his maiden victory at an Open Meeting.

It was a pleasure to sail on the same course as the 505 fleet who all showed a deep understanding of how difficult it is to steer and control a Musto Skiff downwind in 25 knot gusts, when you can't see anything in front of you (they gave us a pretty wide berth). Of note: the top four 505s all included a top current or former Musto sailor in the boat.

Thanks to Grafham Water Sailing Club and their race team who put on a great event, with a very quick turnaround of races. Inland sailing at its best.

The lucky few are now off to Palma for some warm weather training and the Princess Sofía Regatta. The rest of us will try and ignore the overwhelming FOMO as we train hard for the next domestic event, which is at Stokes Bay Open on 23/24 April.

,Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 Pts

1st 609 Peter Greenhalgh Warsash Sailing Club 1 1 1 1 10 3 (BFD) 17

2nd 590 Andy Tarboton Henley Midmar Yacht Club ‑7 2 3 4 4 6 2 21

3rd 622 Dan Vincent Stokes Bay/ RNSA 4 5 ‑12 5 6 2 10 32

4th 624 Eddie Bridle Brightlingsea Sailing Club 2 4 9 7 (OCS) 5 5 32

5th 616 Dave Poston Medway Yacht Club 5 3 2 10 3 17 ‑22 40

6th 556 Bill Maughan Sunderland Yacht Club 8 ‑15 8 2 2 13 13 46

7th 574 Jason Rickards CVLSC 3 14 5 9 ‑22 8 8 47

8th 627 Ben Schooling Stokes Bay Sailing Club 11 10 6 (DNC) 8 10 3 48

9th 297 George Cousins Restronguet SC 10 7 7 11 13 ‑15 6 54

10th 610 Daniel Trotter SYC 19 6 (RTD) 3 7 7 16 58

Bala Sailing Club 2022 Massacre Pursuit Race

 17 boats returned to Bala SC for the 2022 Massacre 3-hour Pursuit Race, after a two-year break. Race officer Gary Darch set an interesting course by sending the boats 3 miles down the lake to the first mark followed by a zig-zag across the lake on the way back towards the club house.

The slower boats that started first enjoyed the best wind strength/direction which filled in during the first 20 minutes of the start and the Laser Radial from Budworth SC sailed by Faye Cleaver was first away followed by local solo sailor, and Bala SC Champion Hem, Dave Grube. These two headed the fleet for over two and half hours until caught by Dan Partington in his Devoti D Zero.

The faster boats which included a Flying Dutchman from Port Dinorwic SC sailed by Jon Williams/Alex Rogers, the two SB20, Fireballs and Nacra F18 catamarans were really struggling to gain momentum in the changeable wind strength/conditions.

Overall Results:

1st Dan Partington, Devoti D Zero (Bala SC)

2nd Andy Todd, RS100 8.4 (Bala SC)

3rd= Faye Cleaver, Laser Radial (Budworth SC)

3rd= Dave Grube, Solo (Bala SC)