Disability sailing opportunities with WASH Sailability

Sails up, out on Lackford Lake in Suffolk, it was impossible to discern volunteer, sailor or sailor with a disability. As part of BT "All Join In" week, David Moorcroft, Britain’s former 5,000m world record holder and now head of sport at Join In, took part in a volunteering session at WASH Sailability at St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association. Situated at a nature reserve near Bury St Edmunds, the club is one of many disability sports clubs that are thriving thanks to its volunteers. As Moorcroft stressed, clubs always need more helpers. “There is still more that people can do to help disability sports clubs and I think people still find that a difficult area, so I came to see how big a difference volunteers can make. The range of things people can do to help out is huge – you don’t have to be qualified or skilled in any particular areas.” Moorcroft had never sailed before. “Sailing isn’t a sport I know much about and I’ve never volunteered at a disability sports club but I found there was so much I could do just to help out.” Join In, whose patron is the comedian, actor and writer Eddie Izzard, was created in the wake of London 2012 because some previous Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers had felt the chance to create a legacy feature had been lost. It campaigns to get more people involved in volunteering to help grass-roots sport – in Moorcroft’s words, “to get people to turn up, take part and join in”. WASH Sailability, which runs weekly sessions at Lackford for people with a wide range of disabilities, epitomises that ethos. The participants include amputees, a group with learning disabilities, a visually impaired group and three generations of a family who take to the water with their grandfather, who has recently suffered a stroke. They use boats with a water-filled keel, which makes them very stable, and steer from a fixed seat. “In the year after the Games, and this year,” said Moorcroft, “there’s been much more emphasis on volunteering, much more emphasis on trying to maintain the spirit of Gamesmakers (the London 2012 volunteer helpers) because, for that period, something very special was created around volunteering. “But if you trace it back, volunteers created formalised sport, clubs, events and ultimately the Olympics. Look at 1908 and 1948.” As a volunteer at Lackford, Moorcroft sailed a dinghy with Cris Barlow. They came back to dry land having swapped life stories. “I’m 69 on September 20. I’m from a village just outside Bury,” said Barlow, who lost a leg above the knee through an aneurysm 30 months ago. ‘‘I’m a chartered accountant practising in Colchester. It wasn’t possible to get to work once I lost my leg. I have about 10 clients that I keep in touch with. I have always played golf and squash and sailed.” Sailing, he said, remains very important to him. “I said to Dave that I forget I only have one leg when I get out there. It’s lovely. This is about giving time, not money. It’s life-enhancing and enjoyable “This club is well-supported by volunteers. But I need help when I play golf,” he said. Barlow has played the sport for more than 50 years and has a 12 handicap. “I need someone in case I fall over. I go out with some old boys and they help me. I have the buggy behind me to grab if I fall over. My friends are brilliant. They’re effectively volunteers.” Volunteer Rachel Warren, 22, is a recent English graduate from Lincoln University. “Once in the boat it doesn’t matter that the person is disabled. They are free. It’s very rewarding but I’ve become more active, too, and taken up climbing.’’ Martin Cable, 55, lost a leg and the use of an arm in a motorcycle accident five years ago. “It’s been great to have a reason to get out in the fresh air. I used to go off-road motorbike riding and this is a new challenge.” He started sailing with a volunteer, but now goes out alone. There are about two million volunteers in British sport. “But there are probably a lot more who volunteer and don’t even know it,” added Moorcroft. “Some of the most enjoyable things I’ve done I wasn’t paid for. You feel rewarded by giving up your time.

Parasailing: Great Britain claim double world silver in Canada

Great Britain claimed two silver medals and the maximum three qualifying places for the 2016 Paralympic Games on the final day of the Disabled Sailing World Championships in Canada. Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell just missed out on a sixth consecutive world title in the two-person SKUD class. And Helena Lucas claimed second place in the 2.4mR class in Nova Scotia. "I'd be lying if I said we weren't disappointed, but the reality is that we can be proud," said Rickman. "At the end of the day, we knew it was going to be difficult. We already have five world titles - the only one that we really care about now is Rio, and this is all part of the learning towards that." John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas came fourth in the Sonar. This ensured that GB earned qualification across the three Paralympic classes for the Rio 2016 Games at the first time of asking.

New Mills youngster sets sail for charity trip

New Mills youngster Isobel Lewis has taken part in an inspirational sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The nine-year-old joined up with 20 other young people between the ages of eight and 18 who are in recovery from cancer, for the trip. Joining the crew of one of four yachts, Isobel set sail from the trust’s base at Largs in Scotland for a four-day yacht adventure. The trip was her first time sailing with the trust, and Isobel, who finished treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in March 2011, was apprehensive beforehand. “I felt nervous but excited as well,” she said. “My friend had been on a trip and said it was really good fun.” Sailing onboard 42-48 foot cruising yachts, the trips provide a chance for the young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment, encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking. “We sailed to different places, played card games, watched magic tricks - it was great to sail the boat and go crabbing and fishing,” Isobel said. The trip navigated the waters of the Firth of Clyde, taking the youngsters to various stopovers including Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute and the National Sailing Centre at Great Cumbrae. And Isobel thoroughly enjoyed her trip: “It feels really nice to talk to other young people and we all made friends really easily. The trip is really good.”

Whisky sailing holidays in Scotland

Sailing-Five challengers confirmed for next America's Cup

Five yachting syndicates have been confirmed as challengers for the next America's Cup after they met the deadline to lodge their intention to compete for sport's oldest trophy earlier this month, organisers said on Friday. Teams from Britain, Sweden, France, Italy and New Zealand will compete against each other before they face software billionaire Larry Ellison's holders Oracle Team USA at the next event, which will be held in 2017 in either San Diego or Bermuda. The original Challengers of Record, Australia's Hamilton Island Yacht Club, withdrew their challenge last month over concerns about the costs involved. "It's exciting to look at the roster of teams who are lining up against us," Oracle skipper Jimmy Spithill said in a statement. "We're facing five strong challengers who have a lot of resources, talent and experience." Organisers have said that late challenges could be accepted. The 35th America's Cup format has changed from previous years where syndicates gathered in one venue to race each other before the winner of that regatta went on to face the holders. Instead the next event will consist of races in an America's Cup World Series in venues around the world, before it narrows to the 2017 America's Cup when the top challenger will meet Oracle. Instead of the massive AC72 foiling catamarans used for last year's event, where Oracle produced a remarkable comeback on San Francisco Bay to storm back from an 8-1 deficit to beat Team New Zealand 9-8 in a winner-takes-all final race, smaller AC62 yachts will be used in the next regatta. Teams will race the even smaller AC45 yachts in the America's Cup World Series. New Zealand's challenge, which had been partially funded by the Government, had been in jeopardy earlier this year with uncertainty over sponsorship and the format and location of the competition. They confirmed shortly before the deadline, however, they would challenge for the Cup. "New Zealand has a long and proud history in the America's Cup," skipper Dean Barker said. "We see some formidable opposition taking shape in the 35th America's Cup and we have no illusions about the job ahead. "We have been working quietly behind the scenes towards this day almost since the last day of the 34th America's Cup. "Now the real work begins." Multiple Olympic champion Ben Ainslie will head the British challenge. Ainslie was widely credited with turning around Oracle's defence last year when he moved onto the boat as tactician before he left the team to set up the British challenge. "We are delighted that Royal Yacht Squadron Racing's challenge for the 35th America's Cup has been officially accepted," Ainslie said.

Sailing: UK Duo bidding for six world titles

ALEXANDRA Rickham and Niki Birrell will aim to win a sixth straight world title when they line up at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Champ-ionships, which start tomorrow in Halifax, Canada. The Paralympic bronze medallists, who train at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are among the 11-strong British Sailing Team contingent set to compete across all three Paralympic Classes – the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD and the one-person 2.4mR – over six days of competition at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. The Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas enter their World Championships in fine form,having claimed podium positions at all five events they have competed at this year, including a bronze at last week’s Sonar North American Champ-ionships at Lunenburg Yacht Club. The Sonar fleet will see 16 entries competing for event honours, with British Sailing Team Podium Potential sailors Craig Wood, Steve Palmer and Ed Suckling also joining their British counterparts in Canada. Helena Lucas and Portland’s Megan Pascoe are expected to be among the front-runners in the race for silverware in the one-person 2.4mR event, and will also be joined by up-and-coming Podium Potential squad sailor Will Street. The three British boats enter the regatta off the back of a clean sweep at the 2.4mR Pre-Worlds Regatta with Lucas taking gold, Pascoe silver and the bronze going to Street. For 27-year-old Pascoe, her European victory in the Netherlands in July capped off a consistent year and provided a timely boost to her World Championship campaign. “It has been a pretty awesome summer,” she said. “Identical to what I had last year but I feel I have made some really big gains since then. “Being crowned European champion last month was great and a lot of fun. I had to work quite hard for it but it was nice to come away with the title before heading over to Canada. “I am happy with the way I am sailing and hopefully I can carry my momentum from Sail for Gold in Weymouth and from the Europeans into the Worlds.”

Burton Sailing breakthrough for special needs youngsters

Children with severe learning difficulties and behavioural problems have been benefitting from OnBoard sailing sessions at Burton Sailing Club this summer. Led by the club's Training Principal, Keith Pallett, progress has been exceptional for youngsters from Pingle School in Swadlincote who have learned to sail on Foremark Reservoir. RYA OnBoard is the national grassroots sailing and windsurfing programme providing low cost opportunities for schools and youth groups enabling kids aged eight to 18 to learn to sail and stay in the sport. Two groups of Pingle School youngsters attended OnBoard sessions at Burton SC on Wednesdays and Fridays for six weeks after Keith had visited the school and spent time learning about the young people and their needs and how to plan appropriate sessions to ensure each individual youngster benefited. The children had constant support from the club instructors and school teaching staff throughout the sessions and the sessions were a huge success. Keith said: "The children with behavioural problems sailed, and completely changed their mannerisms and attitude to each other and the tasks they were given. Those with learning difficulties started out not wanting to put on buoyancy aids, they wouldn't walk on the jetty without aid and encouragement, and many were simply fearful of the water. In the end they would swim, walk on the jetty unaided with buoyancy aids, and sail in the dinghies. "Our instructors enjoyed working with the kids immensely. Teaching Special Educational Needs and young people with learning difficulties is a new skill set for our instructors and we have now contracted with another SEN school. "There is no doubt OnBoard works really well not just for the kids but also the carers and parents, who could see the benefits the sailing experience had on the wellbeing of the young people and how, together, we can develop sailing into the curriculum as an aid to child development." The youngsters too were very positive about their experiences. Callum Richardson, a Year 7 student, said: "It was my first time sailing. I was scared but after a bit I was leaning back to balance the boat." Jake Crawshaw, a Year 9 student, added: "We were also taught how to rig and sail a sailing boat, which I really liked. If I could I would like to have a boat of my own, a little sail boat that I could set up easily. Going to Foremark has been one of the best things I have done." Burton SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. RYA OnBoard has got an impressive track record – over 480,000 OnBoard beginner sessions have been run across Britain since 2005, with almost 40,000 young people taking up sailing or windsurfing on a regular basis. There are over 240 OnBoard clubs and centres nationwide, with several more joining the programme during 2014. To find out how your school or youth/community group can get involved in OnBoard at Burton SC visit www.burtonsailingclub.co.uk

UK teenager sails to Appledore using boat controlled by her mouth !!

A TEENAGER with cerebral palsy who is sailing around the South West coast in a specially adapted boat she controls by her mouth has arrived in Appledore. Natasha Lambert, 17, arrived with an escort from the Appledore RNLI on Friday evening on part of her 430 mile journey. So far she has raised nearly £10,000 for three charities – the RNLI, The Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust, and the RYA Foundation which helps disabled sailors. Natasha arrived from Padstow into the harbour and is looking to set sail on the final leg of her journey to Swansea this week. She first tried sailing ages nine at the Calvert Trust and loved being on the water. Since then Natasha sailed model boats using a sip and puff mechanism to control the vessel with her mouth. This sparked her interest and her father developed a system where she could control and sail a boat using a single straw. In 2010 Natasha sailed around the Isle of Wight in her boat Miss Isle, and last year she sailed from France to England across the channel. During this adventure after reaching Swansea, Natasha will then climb Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales, using a specialised walking frame. Follow Natasha’s Sea and Summit adventure and track her progress at www.missisle.com.

Sneak peek at Extreme Sailing Series ahead of its return to Wales

Decorated stars from the world of sailing are set to descend on Cardiff as the a major international inshore racing series returns to Wales for a third consecutive year. Five-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie will be among the competitors as the Extreme Sailing Series once again takes over the waters in Cardiff Bay. The event has captured the imagination of the public in previous years and drawn crowds of thousands to the race village in the shadow of landmarks like the Senedd and the Wales Millennium Centre. The free three-day event is set to begin on Friday with a fleet of high-performance Extreme 40 catamarans due to make their return to the city. Cardiff is Act Five of the Extreme Sailing Series, which takes in iconic locations across the world from St Petersburg to Singapore and Sydney. The Welsh capital is the only city in the UK the sailing series will visit. The competition features 11 elite teams battling it out in front of spectators and attracts some of the world’s best sailors. Olympic and America’s Cup legend Sir Ben – the most successful sailor in Olympic history after bagging gold at five successive Games from 1996 to 2012 – will be skipper of the British entry JP Morgan BAR. “The style of the courses, the speed of the boats and the number of boats on any side of the course at one time means there is a lot of action and a lot of potential for crashes and incidents there. “It makes for exciting racing and you really have to be on your toes.” Spectators will be able to take advantage of stadium-style seating to watch the action while there will also be live music and family entertainment as well as market stalls. Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “We look forward to welcoming Extreme Sailing back to Wales for a third year. “The event has provided Cardiff with a global position alongside other premium venues such as Singapore, Istanbul, Nice and Boston. “It has given us the opportunity to promote Cardiff Bay internationally as a world-class sailing and water sports venue and to promote Cardiff and Wales as an attractive and diverse visitor destination.” * For more visit www.extremesailingseries.com

Terminally ill woman from Topsham completes epic voyage around the UK

A terminally ill mum from Topsham has finally completed her voyage around the UK - just over a year after she was forced to abandon the trip when her appendix burst. Inspirational mother-of-three Lori Murdock has an aggressive form of skin cancer and was initially given only months to live. The 59-year-old retired solicitor and law lecturer decided to spend some of the time she had left sailing and raising £10,000 for cancer charities FORCE, Hospiscare and Macmillan. With her Patterdale terrier Betty for company, she set out from Falmouth in May 2013 on board the Kasuje III, a 1953 Yeoman Classic gentleman's racer cruiser. They sailed anti-clockwise, with friends joining them for various legs of the trip, and had reached the West coast of Scotland when disaster struck at Ardrishaig on the Crinan Canal. “I had peritonitis and was rushed to Oban Hospital for an emergency operation to remove my appendix so that was that,” said Lori. The boat had to go back to Dartmouth on a low loader and Lori eventually returned home to recover and continue her battle against cancer. Since July 2012 when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 malignant melanoma and given less than a year to live, Lori has been on a clinical drug trial and is now having treatment in Southampton using a new medication that has just been introduced into the UK. “I’m on borrowed time but I’ve learnt to live in the moment and sailing gives me such a lovely sense of well-being that I wanted to finish my big adventure,” said Lori. In May she set out from Totnes on the penultimate leg of her voyage, sailing Misty with a friend via the Isles of Scilly to Holyhead. And earlier this month she joined fellow Topsham Sailing Club members Gill and Godfrey Whitehouse aboard their boat Rebecca to complete the final 200-odd miles from Anglesey back to Ardrishaig. So how did she feel at the finish? “Certainly mixed emotions. So, so pleased to have done it, so very, very blessed still to be alive to sail it. As I sailed across the line I thought of all those that I have met through melanoma that are no longer with us. I am very fortunate indeed. Good to remember that I planned this sail six months into a prognosis of nine months to live. I am extremely grateful,” she said. Lori is now back in Devon where she continues her battle against cancer while working hard to raise awareness of malignant melanoma. “I gave out literature everywhere I went on my trip. Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer but it can be cured in most cases if you catch it early. I encouraged everyone I met along the way to check their skin, get to know it so you can spot any change, however small. Get it checked out straight away,” she said. To donate to Lori’s appeal please visit virginmoneygiving.com/lorimurdock

Musandam-Oman Sail shatters world record sailing around the UK

It was close, very close, but a new world record for sailing around Britain and Ireland is a record to savour – and one likely to stand for some time. After 1,956 nautical miles and three days, three hours, 32 minutes and 36 seconds, the MOD70 trimaran Musandam-Oman Sail yesterday crossed the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race finish line at Cowes to break the record by a mere 16 minutes and 38 seconds. The previous record had been set in 2011 by Banque Populaire 5 – a yacht almost twice the length and therefore significantly faster. Musandam’s multinational crew, led by Sidney Gavignet, has set a record-breaking pace since the race’s postponed start on Monday morning. The remnants of Hurricane Bertha blasted the striking-looking multihull, along with the rest of the fleet, out of The Solent and down the Channel. Indeed, the manner in which the weather pattern evolved meant the leading yachts were able to broad reach all the way up Britain’s east coast in breeze which rarely dropped below 25 knots, often hitting 40 knots. And then as they rounded Muckle Flugga on the northern most tip of the Shetland Islands the south-westerly breeze obligingly veered to the north, providing another downwind sleigh ride along the west coast of Ireland. The giant tri’s progress was only slowed by having to frequently gybe along England’s south coast, with the only upwind section of the entire race coming in the final sprint to the Cowes finish line from the forts off Portsmouth. Attention now turns to Warsash skipper Ian Walker as he aims to break the monohull race record. His Abu Dhabi Racing Team has a healthy 50-mile lead over the other four Volvo 65s taking part Yesterday, Walker said: ‘We are just rounding the Blasket Islands off the south west tip of Ireland, which seems incredible seeing as we only left Cowes less than three days ago. ‘We have wriggled away from the chasing pack overnight and now have a nice lead which we will aim to defend from here. ‘It seems clear that the prize at stake is not just the first Volvo 65 but will also be the race record for whoever gets there first.’ Meanwhile, Portsmouth skipper Sam Davies, leading the all-women SCA team, is neck and neck with two other Volvo 65s, Dongfeng and Alvimedica, having come back into contention after losing ground having to avoid east coast wind farms. SCA’s Hamble-based navigator, Libby Greenhalgh, blogged: ‘It becomes quite tactical as we gybe down the west coast of Ireland – there will be about one hour between each gybe.’ For the smaller yachts in the 28-strong fleet, the change in wind direction which so benefited the larger leaders has given them a hard upwind slog to the Shetlands. That tough challenge means some are unlikely to round the islands until the weekend.

Great Britain SKUD sailors aim for super six at IFDS Disabled Worlds

Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell will aim to win a sixth straight world title when they line up at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships in Halifax, Canada, next week (19-24 August). The Paralympic bronze medallists are among the eleven-strong British Sailing Team contingent set to compete across all three Paralympic Classes - the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD and the one-person 2.4mR – over six days of competition at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. “The Worlds this year is a country qualification event for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and it’s the biggest Championships that we have had since London 2012, plus it will also be the first time we will see the Aussie Paralympic gold medallists. There are a lot of unknowns to be honest so we are just going in with open minds,” explained the 32-year-old Rickham. “We have got over 15 boats on the start line which is the biggest SKUD fleet we have seen pre-Games since the Worlds in Weymouth in 2011, so there will be a lot of jostling for the top spots. “The level of the SKUD fleet has raised, we are going to see potentially some different people moving up the scoreboard which is exciting to see. But as the fleet raises it’s game, Niki and I will also aim to raise our game and try to stay on top.” Looking to extend their unbeaten run to six regattas since winning bronze at London 2012, which included the European crown last year and victory at the recent North American Championships, the 28-year-old Birrell confirms the opportunity to race against a large international fleet is crucial in terms of their preparations for Rio 2016. “In SKUD sailing you don’t get to race against the top guys very often so it’s imperative that when you do come up against them that you see where they are at, see what you can learn and see what ideas they are using to help try and improve your campaign. “Every time you enter an event you want to win, you want to do your best and you want to compete at the top of the fleet. To win another world title would be fantastic, but the ultimate aim is to win in Rio in two years’ time so it is crucial that we are making progress and are on the right lines so come September 2016 we are on the top step of the podium.” With the pair competing for their sixth consecutive world title, having had their names etched on the SKUD World Championship trophy every year since 2009, Rickham admits when they teamed up over seven years ago they never imagined they would be in the position they are in now. “I don’t think either of us thought we would be together this long to be honest. After London 2012 and the disappointment there it took us a little while to consider whether we were going to continue or not, so I think after seven years down the line I don’t think either of us expected to be sailing together! It’s very exciting to be going in as reigning champions and to be competing for a sixth straight consecutive World title. “However, we still need to treat it like any other event, take one race at a time and see how we come out the other side. In some ways it puts added pressure on us but in other ways we have won the title five times in a row so I guess there is a level of confidence that we can go in with.” The Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas enter their World Championships in fine form, having claimed podium positions at all five events they have competed at this year, including a bronze at this week’s Sonar North American Championships at Lunenburg Yacht Club. The 37-year-old Welshman Thomas said: “We want to be seen as serious contenders for Rio and to be doing that we need to be medalling at the major events. We didn’t perform particularly well in Ireland at last year’s Championships but we have had a solid set of results since then and are now hoping that form can continue into the Worlds. “Winning a medal here is important to set an early marker as we move that little bit closer to Rio but it is also important for our confidence as a team and for our development to show that we are still improving and still moving forward in the boat.” The Sonar fleet will see 16 entries competing for event honours, with British Sailing Team Podium Potential sailors Craig Wood, Steve Palmer and Ed Suckling also joining their British counterparts in Canada. Thomas continued: “The Sonar fleet seems to be getting stronger and stronger. If you look at the last cycle there were probably five maybe six boats who could win a medal, there is now easily eight or nine who will be competing for the podium and that’s indicative of how strong the fleet is getting. “The boat handling is getting a lot better, the sail setups are getting quicker and the technical side of things is continually improving. Everyone is becoming more and more professional and that is what is happening in Paralympic sport generally now and we are seeing it in sailing – everyone is getting to the venues earlier and everyone is arriving better prepared and we have to up our game to meet those standards.” Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe are expected to be among the front-runners in the race for silverware in the one-person 2.4mR event, and will also be joined by up-and-coming Podium Potential squad sailor Will Street. The three British boats enter the regatta off the back of a clean sweep at the 2.4mR Pre-Worlds Regatta with Lucas taking gold, Pascoe silver and the bronze going to Street. For 27-year-old Pascoe, her Europeans victory in the Netherlands in July capped off a consistent year and provided a timely boost to her Worlds campaign. “It has been a pretty awesome summer, identical to what I had last year but I feel I have made some really big gains since then. Being crowned European champion last month was great and a lot of fun, I had to work quite hard for it but It was nice to come away with the title before heading over to Canada,” she explained. “I am happy with the way I am sailing and hopefully I can carry my momentum from Sail for Gold in Weymouth and from the Europeans into the Worlds which is the key event for this year.” Paralympic champion Lucas, who suffered gear failure on the final day of racing at the 2013 Championships resulting in a ninth place finish, is looking forward to competing at the Canadian venue for the first time. “I have never been to Canada before so am really excited. It’s the first opportunity we have got to qualify the nation for the Games so that’s the main priority and that would mean a great deal to get that box ticked. It is also a great chance for me to check in against the rest of 2.4mR fleet to see where I am at compared to them two years out from the Games. “After having a bit of a relaxed year last year it’s now time for me to start to knuckle down and put the hard work in. This event is an important stepping stone to the processes and any more development that we need building up to Rio 2016,” said Lucas. Racing at the IFDS Disabled Sailing Combined World Championships starts on Tuesday 19 August and concludes on Sunday 24 August. There are 11 races in total scheduled for each class (two races per day Tuesday - Saturday and one race on Sunday 14 August). For further information and results from Halifax, Canada visit www.ifdsworlds2014.ca/ For the latest news and information from the British Sailing Team follow us at www.britishsailingteam.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @BritishSailing.

Try Sailing For Free As Part Of Foremark Family Fun Day

Burton Sailing Club invites you and your family to try sailing and powerboating for FREE as part of the Foremark Family Fun Day this Saturday (16 August). Severn Trent Water's Foremark Family Fun Day has a seaside theme, with sandcastle competitions, donkey rides, fish and chips and much more and Burton SC will be one of the local community clubs and groups showcasing exactly what the reservoir has to offer. The club will be running sailing and powerboating taster sessions with experienced members and instructors throughout the day so enjoy getting out on the water while discovering the social side of what Burton SC has to offer regardless of age, gender, ability or experience. Burton SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre, meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. The club can be found off Repton Road near the village of Milton just south of Repton. For full details on everything going on at Burton SC this year and how you can get involved visit www.burtonsailingclub.co.uk