2023 J/70 Europeans bound for Weymouth

 The j/70 uk class association are delighted to announce that weymouth and portland national sailing academy (wpnsa) has been awarded the rights to host the 2023 j/70 european championships.

The event will take place from 2nd to 9th september 2023 and is expected to attract in excess of 100 entrants and capable of hosting significantly higher number

The j/70 has become the most prolific one design sportboat in the world with 1500+ boats sailing in 25+ countries. seventeen countries in europe and scandinavia have j/70 class associations. teams from all over europe, and further afield, are expected to compete at the 2023 j/70 european championships.

WPNSA is an internationally renowned sailing venue which was host to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions. Typical windspeed in early September is 10-17kts with minimal tidal effects making for great racing.

Located on the spectacular Jurassic Coast, the only natural World Heritage site in England, WPNSA regularly hosted major World and European Sailing Championships.

Further information, including the notice of race, will be made available later in the year.

Steering the Course kicks off festival of women’s sailing

 Female-led sailing sessions and courses have been organised in Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Hungary, Slovakia and the United Kingdom, China and Japan, South Africa, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Cuba, Grenada, St. Kitts, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, along with many more, making this the biggest edition of Steering the Course so far.

Activities include ’Sail with Her’, ‘Beat Your Fear – Just Sail’ and ‘A Boat Goes by a Female Gender’ sessions in Slovakia led by female coaches, Hansa sailing and remote-control sailing in Japan, and ‘No Buoys Allowed’ in Scotland offering tasters in windsurfing, paddle sports, dinghy, keelboats and power boating all run by women.

Response has been incredible. We are so pleased to see so many Member National Authorities (MNAs) and sailing clubs around the world sign up to the event and organise activities aimed at having fun, showing the full range of opportunities available and encouraging greater participation in sailing,” Catherine Duncan, Training & Development Executive at World Sailing, said.

Our aim is to open up new possibilities for women in sailing, either on the water or as a coach or instructor, see where the sport can lead and perhaps inspire the next generation of world champions.”

The activities held around the world show that not only is there huge interest in learning to sail and becoming a coach but great dedication from coaches and volunteers within the sailing community to growing the sport and building a pathway for talented women in sailing.”

Steering the Course runs from 20 May to 29 May 2022. A Southern Hemisphere edition of Steering the Course will be held from 30 September to 9 October. To get involved, please contact training@sailing.org for more information.

British Billionaire Joe Lewis Arrives in Thailand on His US$250 Million Super Yacht

 British billionaire and owner of Tottenham Hotspur football club Joe Lewis arrived in Koh Samui, Thailand, on his US$250 million super-yacht Aviva .

Lewis and his family are the first group of tourists to visit Koh Samui via yacht since the government scrapped the Test & Go entry requirements on May 1st.

The SuperYacht Aviva was built by Abeking & Rasmussen, who had to create a special system and pontoon to launch the superstructure 33 months after signing the contract.

A special feature of her hybrid drive is that she uses only electric power instead of the main engines and can cruise at 11 knots. Using an eco-friendly system that needs less engine output and reduces fuel consumption, she can reach a maximum speed of 20 knots.

The vessel sleeps 16 guests in eight cabins and accommodates 25 crew members in 12 cabins.

The 85-year-old owner Joe Lewis launched his career at the age of 15 by joining his father’s catering company in London.

Following the sale of that company in 1979, he moved to the Bahamas and became a currency trader. He now owns over 200 businesses and is a majority shareholder of Tottenham Hotspur FC.

A Big Day for a Big Man at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

 Our friend Mark Ninnim was a special person. A great character who managed to secure fantastic sponsorship for our club and always got a round in. He died last year after a short illness and we want to have a special day for him here at Bass, a place he loved.

On Friday 3rd June we invite you to a day of racing followed by a prize-giving, pie and peas and a band in the evening. Camping is available. The racing starts at 11am. Three races, three mass starts. Suggested donation is £20 for a double hander, £15 for a single hander and £5 for a junior entry. All money raised is going to The Ellen McArthur Trust. A charity which enables children who are suffering from cancer and their siblings to go sailing. Mark loved sailing and he loved children so this seemed a good fit.

There are celebrations all weekend for the Queen's Jubilee and the Sailing Club's 70th birthday. You are welcome to join in and participate with the weekend's activities and more importantly the racing!

Entry can be found at webcollect.org.uk/bass-sc/event/big-marks-big-race

You can also donate here on our Just Giving page.

Contact em.rydal@btinternet.com for more information.

50th Anniversary Abersoch Dinghy Week 2022 entry open

 Entry to Abersoch Dinghy Week is open and there's now less than two weeks to go before the early bird discount finishes, on 1st June.

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 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 meal 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.

Sponsors are Orca Bay, Abersoch Boatyard, Pelle P, Gill and English Braids.

With Orca Bay launching their new 'Abersoch' deck shoe this summer, which of you will be lucky winners of a pair of these iconic shoes??

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

For more information and to enter before the prices go up on 2nd June, go to scyc.co.uk/event/dinghy-week

Entries open for the BYS Regional Junior Championships

 Entries are open for the BYS Regional Junior Championships held over the weekend of 11th and 12th June 2022 for windsurfers and the 18th & 19th June 2022 for dinghies at various venues around the UK.

The BYS Regional Junior Championships event is a festival for all junior sailors who are learning to sail in club boats, through to racing sailors in Recognised Junior Classes. There are three fleets, Championship Fleet, Coached Regatta Fleet and OnBoard Fleet. With the three different fleets there should be something for your level of sailing.

Enter at regionaljuniorchamps.rya.org.uk/en/default/races

Events

South & South West Regions Junior Championships

11/12th June - Oxford SC - Windsurfers

11th June - Coaching and OnBoard Fleets

12th June - Championship Racing

18/19th June - Dinghies - WPNSA - Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy

Championship Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, RS Feva XL, Tera (Sport Rig), ILCA 4s

Regatta Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, Tera (Sport Rig), RS Feva XL (no spinnakers)

OnBoard Fleet

East Region Junior Championships

Windsurfers - go to LSE event

18/19th June - Grafham SC - Dinghies

Championship Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, RS Feva XL, Tera (Sport Rig), Cadets, ILCA 4s

Regatta Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, Tera (Sport Rig), Cadets, RS Feva XL (no spinnakers)

OnBoard Fleet

London & South East Region Junior Championships

11th June - Queen Mary SC - Windsurfers

18/19th June - Datchet Water SC - Dinghies

Championship Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, RS Feva XL, Tera (Sport Rig),

Regatta Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, Tera (Sport Rig), RS Feva XL (no spinnakers)

OnBoard Fleet

North Region Junior Championships

11th June - Glossop SC - Windsurfers

18/19th June - Ullswater YC - Dinghies

Championship Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, RS Feva XL, Tera (Sport Rig), ILCA 4s

Regatta Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, Tera (Sport Rig), RS Feva XL (no spinnakers)

OnBoard Fleet

Midlands Region Junior Championships

11th June - Glossop SC - Windsurfers

18/19th June - Draycote Water SC - Dinghies

Championship Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, RS Feva XL, Tera (Sport Rig),

Regatta Fleet - Optimists, Toppers, Tera (Sport Rig), RS Feva XL (no spinnakers)

OnBoard Fleet

Kinsale Marina Will Become 'Unusable' Unless Silting Issue is Addressed

 One of the country’s leading marinas will become unusable for keelboats unless urgent action is taken to address increasing silting in the harbour area.

Matthias Hellstern, Commodore of the Kinsale Yacht Club said that the issue had become much more serious in the last few years and the rate of silting in Kinsale Harbour seemed to be increasing.

“During Covid there was obviously a lot less activity at the marina and in the harbour in general because of the restrictions. It has been happening over a number of years but seems to be getting much worse now. It is something that we really need to address urgently,” he said.

The 200 berth marina brings in some 3,500 visiting boat nights to the town every year contributing an estimated €525,000 to the local economy according to the yacht club’s own estimates. A non-profit organisation run by volunteers, it is one of only three yacht clubs in the country that owns its own marina, the others being Howth Yacht Club and the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.

“We have visitors coming from France, the UK, Spain, Germany, the USA and all around Ireland,” said Matthias Hellstern, “and we run also run national and international sailing championships which we could not do without the marina facility.”

The KYC is due to host the upcoming Squib UK National Championships, Dragon Gold Cup and also hosts the biennial Sovereign’s Cup, but silting is already causing problems for events in Kinsale.

“We hosted the April Spring series recently and we were having yachts running aground at low tide,” said Matthias, “they simply couldn’t get out of the marina and obviously that’s a serious problem.”

Mr Hellstern said that already about 25% of the marina was not useable for keelboats at low tide.

We have to at all times ensure Kinsale continues being useable for leisure and also commercial and fishing, it’s all three. The Kinsale Yacht Club will help out with a survey that needs to be done on the silting and I would expect that the county council will also chip in if we can to help out in their endeavours to get that done as soon as possible.”

BELFAST SAILOR, LAUREN MCDOWELL, AWARDED BURSARY FOLLOWING BRITISH YOUTH NATIONALS TRIUMPH

 Lauren, 18, from East Belfast, has achieved multiple wins for sailing. These include second female boat at the Royal Yachting Association’s British Youth Nationals in 2022, second Female team 29er in the 2021 Irish national championships, fifth female team 29er in the 2021 UK National Championships and fifth Female Team 29er in the 2021 Royal Yachting Association’s Youth National Championships. She will also participate in the upcoming 29er World Championships in Spain.

A 29er is a two-person, single trapeze dinghy with an asymmetric spinnaker. Designed By Julian Bethwaite and First Produced In 1998, the high-performance vessel is able to reach high speeds quickly due to its aerodynamic hull.

Lauren, who has been sailing for nine years, balances training in yacht clubs around Ireland with studying for her A-levels.

Commenting on her bursary, she said: “I feel honoured to receive this bursary from the Mary Peters Trust and Hughes Insurance. It is a real privilege to have my hard work and dedication recognised and to know that I have been chosen from a large selection of candidates right across the country.

“My greatest achievement to date was second female boat at the Royal Yachting Association’s British Youth Nationals in April 2022 and I simply can’t wait to represent Ireland in the 29er World Championships in Spain this year.

I love competition and adventure and sailing provides me with both. Having the support of the programme is incredibly important and this funding will help me to get extra coaching sessions in the run up to the World Championships.”

Welland’s Open Day makes waves thanks to top turnout from the public

 Welland Yacht Club’s annual Open Day event proved a success on Sunday as a host of new faces gave sailing a try.

That meant there was no competitive action for the club’s members, with some instead being on hand to assist on the day.

Indeed, a few of the club members are also part of the volunteer coastguard service HM Coastguard Sutton Bridge – who were on site throughout the day with their support vehicle showing the role they play within the emergency services.

They also let people try their hand at rescue rope throwing, a tool that was, thankfully, not required on the day.

The day was well attended with both adults and children enjoying the experience of dinghy sailing for themselves, having been taken out in some of the club’s larger boats by an experienced club member.

Some stayed for the day and went out several times, as the weather kept fine for the duration and there was a reasonable breeze to make for a few exhilarating moments.

The day was also an opportunity for club members to invite friends and family along to show them what the the club has to offer.

Another highlight of the day saw Welland life member and renowned Spalding historian Keith Seaton in attendance to catch up with some of the members he’s known over the years.

Seaton has been a member of the club since the late 1950s and, as well as being an official measurer for various boat classes, he has competed at both national and international events.

Anyone wanting to discover more about sailing and what the club has to offer can contact the club via email at secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk and somebody will get back to you.

You can also viist www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk for further information.

Meanwhile, Welland’s junior sailing sessions start this Sunday.

You can find out more information about them by using the email listed above.

Kestrel Open at Maylandsea Bay Sailing Club

Fourteen sailors gathered for the first of the two Maylandsea Bay Kestrel opens for 2022, held on 14th/15th May. Long range forecasts had been excellent, but as so often happens in Blighty, by the time of the event, Saturday looked like being a no wind day and the sunshine was going to be missing on Sunday.

As it happened, staying within the creek, Race Officer Bill and his team were able to get two decent races in on Saturday, albeit in shifty, often very light conditions. Whilst difficult for the Race team, it was far more so for the crews, as they struggled to find and stay in the bits of wind that came through the course, whilst negotiating the numerous tidal gates.

Sunday dawned overcast but with 10-12 knots of breeze, now coming from the East. 

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1st 1574 Howard Enkel Danni Tebbutt MBSC ‑3 1 1 1 3

2nd 1587 Glen Enkel Julia Batchelor MBSC 2 2 ‑7 3 7

3rd 1472 Chjris Grice Kenny Hobbs MBSC 1 4 3 (OCS) 8

4th 1600 Paul Gray Karin Grice/Sall Gray MBSC 5 ‑6 2 2 9

5th 1612 Dave Gibson Chris Harris/Peter gibson MBSC ‑7 3 5 4 12

6th 1593 Dean Saxton Mark Harman MBSC 4 (DNF) 4 DNF 16

7th 1605 Paul Wilkinson Jane O'Brien MBSC ‑6 5 6 5 16

More, intense, open Kestrel sailing due at MBSC at Maylandsea Week from 25th July and the Eastern Areas on 8th/9th October.

Craftinsure Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller at Whitstable Yacht Club

 28 Merlin Rockets arrived at Whitstable Yacht Club to bright sunshine but very little wind on the morning of Saturday 14th May for the next round of the Craftinsure Silver Tiller. 

Race 1 began in 12 kts, with the tide just beginning to build, pushing you upwind. Will & Alex Warren started well & led early on, before Christian Birrell & Sam Breary took the lead which they'd hold to the finish. Tom Gillard & Rach Gray came close on the final run, but had to settle for second, with Will & Alex third.

Races 2 and 3 were sailed in near perfect conditions: 12-14kts, sunshine & warm enough not to even need a spray top - regardless of how your results went, you can't not enjoy conditions like that! Tim Saxton & Mary Henderson led most of the race having started alone at the pin end after spotting it had moved considerably. However, Christian & Sam's downwind pace enabled them to sneak by on the final run to grab another win. David Winder & Anna Blake sailed well to take third.

Sunday dawned with the forecast promising a bit more wind, but this time it was wrong! The race team & sailors faced a really tough day with large shifts and huge ups & downs in pressure.

Race 4 was shortened to just 1 lap as the wind shut off, with many significant place changes towards the finish & even a few spinnakers up on the beat. Christian & Sam held their nerve to continue their perfect score line ahead of David Hayes & Jonny Ratcliffe. Ben Palmer & Mark Heather made the most of what wind was left to charge through into third in their borrowed boat.

Race 5 got under way. Ed Champan & Chris Kilsby mastered the first beat to lead ahead of a tightly bunched pack. After several place changes Tom & Rach extended to take the win, Alex Jackson & Pip Kilsby did the same for second & Tim & Mary came third, just ahead of Ed & Chris. Ben & Mark made the best of a variable last run to sneak into sixth and secure the trophy for best Sunday results.

Christian & Sam's grip on the event was not tested further as the wind completely went, forcing the fleet ashore. Tom & Rach were second overall, with Tim & Mary sneaking ahead of the rest for third.

No fewer than 15 different crews managed to secure a top five race over the weekend. Racing was tight, competitive and brilliant fun, reflecting the strength in depth of the Merlin fleet.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Crew Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 Pts

1 3788 Christian Birrell Sam Brearey 1 1 1 1 ‑10 4

2 3759 Thomas Gillard Rach Gray Staunton Harold SC 2 4 2 ‑9 1 9

3 3807 Tim Saxton Mary Henderson Itchenor 9 2 4 ‑16 3 18

4 3795 Alex Jackson Pip Kilsby Shoreham 5 7 5 ‑14 2 19

5 3791 Jon Gorringe Pete Grey Parkstone YC 8 6 6 4 ‑23 24

6 3775 Chris Jennings Pete Nicholson Burghfield SC 6 12 3 ‑15 7 28

7 3763 Mark Barnes Rebecca Bines Whitstable YC 4 10 7 ‑18 8 29

8 3747 Ben Palmer Mark Heather HISC ‑15 8 13 3 6 30

9 3793 James Goodfellow Richard Cornes Ardleigh ‑17 5 9 6 11 31

10 3796 William Warren Alex Warren Shoreham SC 3 9 10 11 ‑13 33

Next up the Craftinsure Silver Tiller heads to Tamesis on Sunday 22nd May 2022.

Andrew Simpson Foundation and World Sailing work together to support para sailors and #backthebid

 On Sunday 8th May the Andrew Simpson Centre in Portland ran the annual Children in Need (CiN) Aiming High Open Day for children Aged 6 to 13 with special educational needs as a pathway into watersports.

IMPROVING PHYSICAL & MENTAL WELL BEING

Research shows that being on and around the water has an incredibly positive effect on physical and mental wellbeing. For young people struggling with their mental and physical health, Aiming High provides a regular sailing programme which focuses upon boosting their sense of self-worth. Aiming High, funded by the Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) and Children in Need (CiN), helps young people deal with stress and emotions, alongside the excitement and challenges of learning a new skill.

#BACKTHEBID // GET SAILING BACK IN THE PARALYMPICS FOR LA 2028

World Sailing has launched a global campaign for sailing to be reinstated at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Since the #BacktheBid campaign began in October 2021, the global sailing and sports community has come together to show its support for sailing to be reinstated.

2022 is critical - this year the International Paralympic Committee will decide which sports make it onto the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games programme. Sailing is a sport for all - for athletes around the world of all sexes and with a broad range of impairments.

David Graham, CEO of World Sailing said: "Our para sailing athletes are some of the most accomplished sailors in the world, inspiring the next generation. Our para sailors also represent one of the broadest ranges of physical and sensory abilities that I have ever seen in global sport."

HOW ASF IS SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE PARA SAILING

In addition to the opportunities provided for grassroots sailing, the ASF is campaigning for #backthebid and supporting UK para sailors through ASC Performance Academy coaches and the use of a RS Venture Connect in ASC Portland, based at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. This is the class of boat selected for the U25 Para World Championships this summer, run by World Sailing and supported by the RYA.

Show your support and #BacktheBid

Yachting World Dayboat Open at Avon Sailing Club

 A Yachting World Dayboat (YWDB) open meeting was held on the 14th May 2022 at Avon Sailing Club (ASC) on the river Severn near Tewkesbury, featuring a new YWDB trophy.

Visitors and members were greeted with traditional ASC hospitality, a beautiful sunny morning and absolutely not a breath of wind! A total of 7 YWDB's attended the event with 5 visitors and 2 from the home club. After bacon butties and a briefing from Race Officer and Club Commodore Peter Keighley, a course was set, more in hope than expectation. Happily, the forecast was wide of the mark and a reasonable south westerly breeze set in! Two back-to-back races were held in the morning and two more after lunch, with 3 out of 4 results to count. A sizeable contingent of Youth crews joined the event with some experiencing their first competitive racing.

A superb day's competitive sailing in the sunshine with barbecue and camping, was enjoyed by all and the merriment continued well into the evening. Congratulations to Michael Hewitt and Steven Creasey on winning the inaugural event (together with the constructor's championship!) and to the Junior crew of Stanley, Henry and William Hewitt on achieving 3rd place overall in their first competitive event.

Next Up for the YWDB's is the Bosham open meeting 21st & 22nd May, followed by the Poole open meeting 18th & 19th June and the National Championships in Brixham 23rd to 28th July.

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm R1 R2 R3 R4 Pts

1 678 M Hewitt 1 2 1 2 4

2 669 P Hewitt 2 1 2 4 5

3 676 J/A Hewitt 4 6 3 1 8

4 677 S Bullingham 3 3 4 6 10

5 621 M Straker 5 4 6 3 12

6 565 T Parkinson 6 5 5 7 16

7 648 J Lutton 7 7 7 5 19