Otley Sailing Club receives £50,000

An award-winning Wharfedale sailing club is celebrating winning a £50,000 award to improve its facilities. Otley Sailing Club has secured the Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund. The club’s groundbreaking Sailability work to train and enable people with disabilities to sail on Weston Water earned it a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service last year. It will use the money to make extensive alterations to its clubhouse so that it is even more accessible for disabled sailors. The club’s Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sailability co-ordinator, Peter Fox, said: “The award is fantastic news for the club. “We will be creating better disabled facilities and integrating them into the entire clubhouse. “We are already an RYA Sailability Centre of Excellence and we plan to build upon our 25 years of experience to make our sailing centre as inclusive as possible.” Otley's MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West) added: "The award is great news for the inclusivity of the sport of sailing.”

Broadfield woman hoping to become first person from Crawley to sail around the world

A BUSINESSWOMAN from Broadfield who suffers with ME is hoping to become the first person from Crawley to sail around the world. Trudi Bubb is planning to cross 40,000 miles of water over 11 months, taking in destinations such as Rio and Cape Town and raising £20,000 for a Crawley charity in the process. She is fulfilling a dream of 15 years by taking part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and is supporting The Golden Lion Children's Trust, which helps disadvantaged young people and children with special needs. The 47-year-old said: "I attended the 40th anniversary of The Golden Lion Children's Trust last year. "They said they wanted to take 20 children to Lapland but couldn't afford it. I thought wouldn't it be fantastic to raise £20,000 to enable them to do it." Trudi, of Millais Close, used to work as a corporate consultant but had to leave her career behind because of illness. She explained: "It has been a dream of mine for 15 years but I couldn't do it back when I was in corporate life. Four-and-a-half years ago I had to leave the industry due to illness. "I always wanted to take part in the race, so when I lost my career I said, 'right, I have to pick myself up'." Despite suffering from ME, which causes constant fatigue, Trudi is ready to take on the challenge of sailing round the world. "Absolutely, it's a tough challenge," she admitted. "I have never done anything like it in my life. "Climbing 95-foot masts, going overboard, hoisting sails – I will be doing all the things I thought I'd never do." Trudi applied to take part in the race last year and went through a four-hour interview process. Having been accepted, she passed her "level one" sailing training at the end of March, which confirmed her place in the race. Trudi learnt basic sailing skills, in Gosport, Hampshire, such as what to do if she finds herself in the water. "The excitement of being told I had passed my training when more than 48 per cent of people fail was overwhelming, to say the least," she explained. Trudi, who now runs her own health and nutrition business, will complete two more levels of training in July and October and a fourth when she starts training with the rest of the crew. She has been training hard to build up her strength for the race, in which 14 72-foot racing yachts are crewed by amateurs with no sailing experience, but who have undergone training specifically for the race. She will join 600 crew members from all across the world when she leaves from London on September 1 next year. Trudi said: "I have been training at the K2 at Crawley three or four times a week, on my own. "I do weights, cardiovascular work, swimming; everything I believe it will take to physically get me on that boat." Trudi is only currently signed up to take part in four of the eight legs of the race. But she hopes that businesses and entrepreneurs in the area may be able to sponsor her to allow her to stay for the whole voyage, which is televised, with cameras on each boat, to an estimated audience of 60 million. When she returns, Trudi hopes to write up her experiences in a book called "Me". She said: "The race is the top of the sailing world. Those boats are on steroids. I will be living with people I have never met before. "I can't tell you how excited I am." Anyone wishing to make a donation towards Trudi's voyage should visit www.justgiving.com/Trudi-Bubb

Hutton Rudby man's dedication to making sailing open to disabled is rewarded

A SAILING Club member has been presented with an award for his work in helping people with disabilities experience sailing. John Tate, a member of Scaling Dam Sailing Club, was chosen from finalists across the UK who had been nominated for their time and expertise in enabling people with disabilities to master the art of sailing. The contest was organised by the Royal Yachting Association’s (RYA) Sailability initiative, an international organisation which supports people of all ages to learn sailing and encourages the participation of disabled sailors. Mr Tate, from Hutton Rudby, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire, was presented with the award by members of Scaling Dam’s Sailability scheme, based at the reservoir on the A171 in North Yorkshire between Guisborough and Whitby. Scaling Dam has four purpose-built boats designed for disabled sailors, two Hansa Dinghies and two Challenger Trimarans. Its recently refurbished club house has also been fitted with disabled facilities, including hoists to allow wheelchair-users access the boats. A spokeswoman for the sailing club said: “Some of John’s students have progressed to racing in national championships for the disabled, bringing home a trophy. “A sight-impaired junior member has advanced to the RYA zones quad training, whilst others have become family or individual members and sail or just enjoy the beautiful surroundings most weekends. "John is often seen racing with a disabled person at the helm instead of racing in his own dinghy.” Scaling Dam Sailing Club will be hosting an open day on Sunday, April 27, from 10am. For more information visit; www.scalingdam.org

Top award for sailing star

Welwyn Garden City Sailing Club’s Annabel Cattermole has added to her considerable trophy haul by winning the RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards. Along with her crew, Bryony Bennett-Lloyd, the 18-year-old won the 2013 420 Ladies World Championship in Valencia, their biggest achievement to date, and this week added the Eastern Region award at the first ever RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show. Cattermole said: “It’s such a privilege to be chosen as RYA Eastern Youth Champions and to have our name up there with other amazing young sailors. “To have our success recognised is the icing on the cake after all the hard training and effort we’ve put into the sport, so thank you RYA for selecting us.” Bennett-Lloyd, from Norwich, added: “It’s a real honour to receive the RYA Regional Youth Champion Award as recognition of the hard work we put in in order to achieve the progression and success that we did in the 420 fleet over the last year. “We’re also proud to represent the eastern region because here is where the journey began for us and it’s exciting to see who might be next.” Because of their sailing commitments the duo were unable to attend the awards ceremony at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show, where the awards were presented by the British Sailing Team’s Dylan Fletcher. He commented: “It’s really important to recognise people on every level and these youngsters are all so passionate about their sport and they all put in the extra effort.” All awards winners were selected by the RYA’s 13 regional committees. For more information visit www.rya.org.uk/go/youthchampion

WEYMOUTH: Charity sailing group need your help!

CHESIL Sailability based at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is appealing for volunteers to make their work run as smoothly as possible. Skills needed include a database co-ordinator to develop and manage their database because of growing membership. A maintenance team is also needed to maintain the Portacabin, boats and equipment. This is an urgent requirement to get ready for sailing and then to create an ongoing team to keep Chesil Sailability going. One early job will be building a ramp for the Portacabin. Admin support is also needed with a variety of roles-tasks such as minutes secretary for the committee and general admin help for the membership and sailing co-ordinators. Anyone able to help should contact Chesil Sailability as possible on 07543-656390 and they’ll get back to you.

GREAT Britain claims victory after tough crossing of the North Pacific

It’s been one of the toughest legs of the 2013-14 edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, but crossing the finish line, even in the dark, under San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge, is a moment to savour after 5600 miles of ocean racing across the mighty Pacific GREAT Britain crossed the finish line of Race 10 in the 16 stage global series at 21:42:56 local time (UTC-7) on April 9 to take line honours ahead of rival Henri Lloyd who slipped back into second place around 1.30pm local time today. Henri Lloyd crossed the line two hours later at 23:45 local time. A battle had ensued for the last five days between Henri Lloyd and GREAT Britain with the teams both alternating between first, second and third place on the leader board. Invest Africa crossed the line at 05:26am local time on April 10 taking the third line honours place. All results are provisional and the final positions will be confirmed by the race office after redress is applied. Simon Talbot, skipper of GREAT Britain, said: "We have had a very good race with Eric and Henri Lloyd, its always great to have someone to spar against. It's no fun if you are 500 miles ahead. It's a real sense of achievement battling it out. Coming out of the windhole yesterday I just couldn't see how we would claw it back. "They managed to pull 15 miles on us by running inshore, then we pulled it back by running deeper and came in first under the bridge. I know Eric will be very pleased with his team's performance and he has had a very fine race with a crew of 13. We had a crew of 18 and we worked really hard. "This was not the Pacific crossing that it was billed to be. We had no storms, we had no frontal systems passing over but the wind was gusting at 50 knots at times and we love sailing in that. We had a very fast downwind race and had 20 days of sunshine - that is what you call luck. "There is a constant battle in a long race like this to keep performance up, but the crew like winning so it is easy for my crew to get out of bed each watch." Henri Lloyd skipper Eric Holden said his team had fought with GREAT Britain right to the bitter end for several races in a row now. "It was their turn this time and they got the better of us. We tried as hard as we could but we just got a little tired towards the end. It was a long race and you can’t push full on the whole time, so you have to pick when you really go for it and when you sit back a bit. You could tell a lot of boats did that and we found the right times."

SOS for Herefordshire Sailing

LEFT holding paddles, but without a creek, Herefordshire’s sailors are leading a campaign to reopen and run Bodenham Lake themselves. With the closest sailing lake over now an hour away, Steve Lloyd is heading up the project to ensure youngsters throughout the county have a centre where they can try the sport. Bodenham Lake, the county’s sailing centre, fell victim to Herefordshire Council budget cuts in April. But Mr Lloyd, along with around 12 other local boat owners, wants to reopen the facility, using their own boats to make sure the next generation of sailors are not left in the doldrums. He said: “I’ve got a very good response from people around the county, and people are now getting into talks with us. “We are all very interested in sailing – many of us are experienced sailors – and we all have one aim; we really want there to be sailing locally.” Those talks could see a not-for-profit group take over the running of the 21-acre site on behalf of the council, similar to the New Leaf proposal at Queenswood. However re-launching sailing at the lake would require several upgrades after the council sold off the county’s boats; top of the list is a rescue boat that would cost around £10,000. The teaching boats would be provided by the volunteers, 12 of whom have already offered their boats for use. Mr Lloyd’s boat however would not be appropriate for beginners. The engineer was the victim of a hit and run on the Kinglsand to Hereford road that broke five vertebrae, leaving him disabled. However, he was able to continue sailing by carrying out modifications to his boat that allow him to control it from a set position. He regularly makes the 37-mile trip to Llangorse to sail, but hopes to soon have a shorter commute to the water from his home in Leominster. Until it closed, Bodenham Sailing Centre was able to accommodate up to 40 boats, and hosted groups from schools, Scouts and Guides. However it is now closed down, with its two cabins left abandoned. As a sport, sailing received a boost in popularity with Ben Ainslie’s gold medal-winning performance at the London Olympics and it is still among the best-funded at elite level by UK Sport. Mr Lloyd’s plan aims to harness that and provide both a local centre for leisure cruisers and a starting point for the next generation of Ben Ainslies.

Princess Anne to visit Weymouth and Portland for prestigious sailing event

Princess Anne will visit Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy to watch a prestigious youth sailing event. The Princess Royal will be attending the premier event on the RYA's youth racing calendar next week, which will see talented young sailors battle it out on the Olympic waters to be crowned RYA Youth National Champion 2014. Youngsters will be able to showcase their talents in front of the Royal audience after it was confirmed that the Princess Royal, who is also President of the Royal Yachting Association, will be attending the event on Thursday April 17. The youth championships run from Monday, April 14 to Friday, April 18, and this event will see the largest number of competitors in the event's history. Nearly 400 dinghy, catamaran and windsurf racers in the six youth classes will compete across four race areas in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour. The event will see some fast and furious action as the youngsters battle it out for championship honours and the chance to be selected to represent the British Youth Sailing Team at a range of international competitions this year. Throughout the week, young sailors will also have the chance to impress a number of the British Sailing Team's London 2012 Olympic medallists, who will be attending the event to inspire the next generation of Olympic hopefuls. This year, Sarah Gosling will be among the panel of RYA selectors at WPNSA. Sarah progressed through the youth ranks to represent Great Britain twice at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in the Laser Radial class. She then went on to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals at Athens and Beijing. RYA Racing Manager and Performance Director, John Derbyshire, said: “We are very much looking forward to welcoming the nations brightest and best talent to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for a great week of competition. “Not only is the event a high profile multi-class selection opportunity, it's also a huge spectacle, great fun and a fantastic showcase for our sport and platform for young sailors to develop their skills.” N To follow all the action, search for British Youth Sailing Team on Facebook or follow @RYAyouthracing on twitter.

Mylor’s disabled sailing school opens in May

A SAILING school owner has taken the first steps on a long road to develop one of Cornwall’s first specialist facilities to teach disabled people. Mylor Sailability, which opens part-time in May, has received more than £20,000 for equipment and running costs from various local and national bodies. The new company, a charitable arm of Mylor Sailing School, has received £4,300 in start up and project running costs – £3,000 from the West Cornwall Youth Trust and £1,300 from Cornwall Sports Partnership’s Sportivate fund. A supporter of the charity donated a old punt with outboard, which is due to be over-hauled by Falmouth Marine School students as a project. It has also received support from a specialist boat maker, the Wheelyboat Trust, which designs, manufacture and raises funds for disabled projects. The company has agreed to fund 75 per cent of a new boat design costing £24,000 for the charity. “The motor boats are especially designed to take wheelchairs, also allowing the wheelchair user to drive,” said owner Tracey Boyne. “It will be of fibreglass construction and has a drop down bow for wheelchairs to access the boat from a beach or slipway.” Andy Beadsley, director of the trust, said: “Access to the water for disabled people is important and that can only be achieved with the right facilities. “Mylor Sailability is a project which we are very pleased to support because of what they plan to do.” The charity has received planning permission to build a classroom on Admiralty Quay in Mylor Yacht Harbour. It also wants to build a section of pontoon by the sailing school in Mylor to help with launching and landing, plus a hoist to help wheelchair users – who cannot sit unaided – in and out of boats. The recent support has been welcomed by Ms Boyne who suffered a number of funding set-backs with the project. “There have been some highs and lows recently as bids for public funding can often bring,” she said. “We applied for two large Sport England Funding Streams totalling £120,000, but sadly both were turned down. “It was a great disappointment not to get any of the funding but somehow the knock-backs make me more determined. “It’s been a roller coaster of emotions but this recent support is good news for Mylor Sailability.” The school is hoping to start running part-time in May. “It’s been a lot of hard work but it should be fantastic once we are up and running,” said the sailing school owner.

Sailing centre in tribute to Andrew 'Bart' Simpson to open on Olympic waters

A NEW sailing centre in tribute to Olympic star Andrew Simpson is set to open on the Olympic waters. The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation is behind the new centre. The foundation was set up in memory of Olympic medal winner Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, who tragically drowned last year while training for the America’s Cup. Their aim is to inspire the next generation through sailing. The Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre will open its doors in May at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Iain Percy, trustee of the foundation and Andrew Simpson’s sailing partner, said: “Andrew was very passionate about encouraging people to make the best of the opportunities that they were given. “Through the foundation's activities we intend to provide opportunities to thousands of young people, and those who grasp it with both hands and show dedication, will be given significant support to reach their potential in the sport of sailing and the wider maritime industry through apprenticeships.” Based in Andrew’s home county and at the London 2012 Olympic sailing venue, the new RYA accredited centre will act as a hub for all the foundation’s activities. It will deliver a range of sailing courses for young people, community organisations and adults - including programmes for schools, as well as club sailors. Working closely with the Chesil Trust and the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the centre will also deliver the highly popular and successful 'Rod Shipley Sail for a Fiver' scheme. Now in its 10th year, the scheme has enabled more than 12,000 Dorset children between the ages of 10 and 11 to experience sailing on the Olympic waters and is currently introducing 1,500 children a year to the sport. Trustee and Olympic medal-winning sailor Sir Ben Ainslie said: "Reflecting the foundation's objective to inspire the next generation through sailing, the centre will be a place where we can inspire Andrew's drive and determination through delivering everything from taster courses to longer term development and mentoring. “It will offer schemes to provide opportunities for deserving young people, something that Andrew himself was always so passionate about."

Charity helping disabled people to sail needs volunteers

A CHARITY that teaches disabled people to sail had a record-breaking year last year, taking 250 people on the water. New Forest Sailability made 2,421 outings in its small dinghies, sailing on Tuesdays and Fridays with a beginners’ course and a race team as well. Demand is such the club is hoping to open for a third session on Wednesday mornings when the season starts again soon. But to help them achieve their goal they really need more volunteers to help with everything from rigging boats to serving drinks. Newsletter editor Jenny Monget said: “If you can spare some time, whether you are a sailor or not, please join us. “ There are many jobs: receptionist, serving drinks, rigging boats, pontoon work hoisting people into and out of boats, taking people sailing, etc. “You will bring happiness to many people and help them to achieve their full potential through the friendly world of sailing, and have fun yourself, too. “All training will be provided as necessary. “We are a friendly club with many interesting members. We have won several awards including the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and RYA Centre of Excellence.” The club’s volunteers have been busy over the last week fitting out at Blashford Lakes, and on Tuesday held their first refresher session of the year for their volunteers. The season won’t get underway till May due to the refurbishment of the Spinnaker Sailing Club’s building, which has been delayed. This season volunteers are also hoping to take people out from Christchurch. For more information on New Forest Sailability go to www.newforestsailability.co.uk or contact Stefan Hart on 01202 760477 or membershipsec@newforestsailability.co.uk.

Helena Lucas: British Paralympian wins sailing gold again

Paralympic gold medallist Helena Lucas has won sailing gold in the Princess Sofia Trophy in Majorca. Fellow Britain Megan Pascoe followed her home in second in the 2.4mR class. For Lucas, 39, from Weymouth, her success added to a bronze she won at the Miami World Cup in February and was sweet revenge over Pascoe. On that occasion, Pascoe edged out her fellow Brit to take victory. Pascoe said: "It was a tougher event than Miami. Helena was sailing well." There is great rivalry between Lucas and Pascoe, 27, who lives in Portland, with Lucas taking the only British place available in the class at the London Paralympics. Saturday sees the conclusion of the Sailing World Cup event, with 15 British boats qualifying for the final 10-boat medal races for each of the 10 Olympic classes.

YOUNG people in Hartlepool are being offered an opportunity to learn how to sail.

Hartlepool Council's Sport and Physical Activity Team has joined forces with Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club to stage two two-day courses suitable for both advanced sailors and beginners. The courses run from 9.30am-4.30pm on Monday April 7 and Tuesday April 8 and on Monday April 14 and Tuesday April 15. People wishing to take part have the option of attending on April 7/8, April 14/15 or both. The course costs £60 for two days or £100 for all four. Daniel Garthwaite, Sport and Physical Activity Officer with Hartlepool Council, said: "The courses will cover sailing theory, rigging, rope work, sailing techniques and manoeuvres, boat launching and recovery, meteorology, clothing and equipment and capsize recovery. "Those who successfully complete a course will have a basic understanding of boat handling techniques and a range of other background knowledge. They will also obtain a recognised qualification, while those attending both courses will obtain further qualifications." Anyone wishing to book a place or who wants to find out more should contact Micky Early on 07743462763 or email: training@thyc.org.uk

Llandegfedd sailing club faces uncertain future

LLANDEGFEDD Sailing Club faces an uncertain future after an appeal for Welsh Water to re-consider closing their popular reservoir to water sports activities until March 2015 was unsuccessful. With a financial loss of around £5,000 from members leaving, less grants, and other costs, there is considerable concern for the club which was founded 1968 and produced world and UK champion racing sailors. Welsh Water have cited financial constrains, alongside health and safety concerns, for closing the site near Pontypool, to work on a brand new £2.5 million water sports and visitor centre. The project was due to be completed later this year, but bad weather around the turn of the year had an ‘adverse effect’ on the construction programme. When complete it will be one of the top inland sailing spots in the country, but the club fear the interim period could have a ‘devastating’ effect for them. Racing secretary of the sailing club, Mark Williams, said: “The club has promoted sailing at the lake for decades and now all the good work may be undone by the closure. Also, no offer of compensation from Welsh water so the club needs to find £2,700 just to cover insurance for equipment we can’t access, let alone the cost of losing members to other clubs. “Building work routinely takes place adjacent infant schools, live highways and pedestrian areas but Welsh Water can’t build a building within a huge two-hectare site without closing the whole reservoir. It’s very frustrating.” Peter Perry, chief operating officer of Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, said: “This is currently a construction site. As a result, given that the safety of our staff and users is our first priority and will always guide all our decisions, we are working with the sailing club to scope how members may be able to temporarily access the site safely until it is complete. “The new water sports centre will make Llandegfedd a prime sailing venue in the UK and hopefully encourage an increased interest in sailing and other water sports.” He said he looked forward to welcoming people to the new “flagship site”, which will cater for more than 150,000 visitors each year. But Mr Williams said it was unlikely ‘temporary access’ would persuade members to remain at the site.

Cheddar Sailing hosts open day at Cheddar Reservoir

Cheddar Sailing is holding an opening day on Sunday. The club will open its doors and invite people of all ages and abilities to find out about the sailing club on Cheddar reservoir. “Whether you’re completely new to the sport, looking to get back on the water or sail regularly, you are very welcome to come down and meet the committee,” says Cheddar Sailing vice-commodore, Karen Turner. “Our annual adult sailing course starts later this month and courses for children start in May. The open day is an ideal opportunity to find out how to join in." From 1-4pm, there will be free taster sailing sessions (weather permitting) and power boat rides hosted by club members. Participants should wear old shoes that can get wet, but buoyancy aids will be provided. The clubhouse will be open for tea and coffee, with members on hand to answer questions about sailing at Cheddar. Contact Karen on karenj.turner@tiscali.co.uk for more information about the open day or visit www.bcyc.org.uk to find our more about the club.

Penarth sailing charity celebrates fifth birthday

PENARTH-based youth sailing charity Challenge Wales celebrated its fifth birthday with a well-attended event at the Senedd last month. Volunteers, supporters and youth group leaders attended the evening together with guests including the Vaughan Gething, Assembly Member for Cardiff South and Penarth, who sponsored the event on Thursday, March 20. The charity’s 72-foot round-the-world yacht, also called Challenge Wales, is primarily used to teach 12-25 year olds social skills such as teamwork, communication and discipline as well as improve self-confidence. Relying on a group of more than 120 active volunteers who have donated 30,000 hours of their time, almost 1,000 young people have sailed on Challenge Wales since its first voyage in 2009. Vicky Williams, Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees used the event to formally thank volunteers and acknowledge their hard work and commitment: “The Challenge Wales charity would not be where it is today without our volunteers and we thank them for being there when we need them and their continued support”. Challenge Wales has had a lot to celebrate over the last five years including taking part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant in 2012, winning trophies in youth sailing events and being the winner of the ITV People’s Millions Award last year enabling it to start working with visually impaired young people. Vaughan Gething AM said: “It is great that locally we have such an innovative learning experience through Challenge Wales. Sail training enables young people to develop life skills which are vital for employment. I look forward to talking more to the volunteers and following the progress of Challenge Wales during its fifth year.” Challenge Wales is looking forward to sailing further afield this year, not just to West Wales and North Wales but is pleased to be part of the Commonwealth Games flotilla in Scotland and a Tall Ships Regatta, racing with other youth sailing vessels, from Falmouth to London during the summer. The Challenge Wales Bursary Scheme (for Welsh residents aged under 26 years) which helps reduce the cost for young people’s berths onboard the boat will also continue this year enabling more people to get involved in life-enhancing opportunities onboard.

Sailing school yacht destroyed in latest boat fire

A sailing school that lost a 36ft Jeanneau yacht to a devasting blaze has praised the firefighters and marina staff who attended the incident. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the cruiser, which belongs to the Hamble School of Yachting, at 12.30pm on Monday and extinguished the fire using four breathing apparatus and two jets. A spokesman for Hamble School of Yachting praised the rescuers, saying: 'The fire brigade were fantastic, so was the marina. Luckily the yacht was in front on our mooring area and the fire didn't spread to any surrounding boats. 'We're still operating our business as usual. Nobody was on the boat at the time and we don't yet know the cause. 'Originally it was thought that the engine had caught fire but the insurers discounted that yesterday.' Hamble School of Yachting is based at Mecury Yacht Harbour, which was originally built by Sir Robin Knox Johnston, and is situated where the shallow waters of Badnam Creek join the River Hamble. This latest boat blaze comes just days after PBO published a warning from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service for boat owners to pay attention to electrical items and the use of liquids and gas following a yacht fire at Hythe Marina. A spokesman for the service said: 'Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) have seen an increase in boat fires in recent weeks. 'We would advise all boat owners who are getting their boats ready for the sailing season, to pay attention to electrical items and use of liquids and gas.' Find boat fire safety advice on the HFRS website: www.hantsfire.gov.uk/boat

Grantham’s Val battles to fourth in ‘Beastie’

Grantham sailor Val Millward was back on the water in the Exmoor Beastie event held at Wimbleball Lake in Somerset last weekend. The three-hour pursuit race was held in sunny conditions with a strong wind that was forecast to increase. As the slowest boat entered, Val and her ‘Red Jester’ Challenger 257 set off first, chased by the faster classes according to their relative speeds. It looked as though Val could be in with a shout as her Challenger led the 41-strong field for two-and-a-half hours and four laps of the lake. But then the wind began to drop and she was overtaken by a K1, followed by a Phantom, and then a Contender. Val said the race officer’s forecast that the wind would increase during the afternoon and unfortunately not come to pass. She said: “Alas, the wind is a fickle thing. Fourth was a good performance when you know you are passed by exceptionally sailors. “Perhaps the wind will be better for the Challenger next year.”

Burton Sailing Club bids to build on boom year

Burton Sailing Club may have celebrated their most successful year ever in 2013. But the Foremark Reservoir club is refusing to rest on its laurels as it bids to get even more local people out on the water in another record-breaking effort this year. The local community, including schools, Sea Scouts, Cubs and Scout troops, plus many families and Loughborough University students, contributed to three times as many people learning to sail at Burton SC last year compared to 2012. The club's success was thanks in part to the opening of its new training centre, as well as efforts to foster innovative and mutually beneficial relationships with local authorities and community groups to make sailing as accessible as possible for all. Work has continued over the winter to help the club build on the impetus of its boom year, with Burton Sea Cadets and Pingle and William Allitt schools set to engage in the club's RYA OnBoard grassroots programme, while favourites such as Pink Sailing Ladies' Nights and its Youth Academy continue to flourish. On Bank Holiday Monday 26 May, Burton SC is offering you and your family the chance to try sailing for FREE, as the club hosts an all-comers welcome Open Day. And on 21 September, Burton will bid to get as many people out on the water as possible as part of 'Bart's Bash', a global attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for 'The Largest Sailing Event in the World'. This is organised by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation in memory of the much-loved Olympic champion sailor, Andrew 'Bart' Simpson, who lost his life in a training accident last May. If you already want to learn to sail this year, and get involved in a fantastic, social outdoor sport where everyday life really does get left on the shore, Burton's next adult (12 and over) RYA Start Sailing course starts on Saturday 31 April, with the first of three Youth courses (8 and over) starting from Monday 26 May. Keith Pallett, Burton SC Training Principal, said: "2014 has even more to offer with a massive calendar of training and coaching, which means we have something happening on the water every evening of the week throughout the season, with only three afternoon sessions free! We're already looking forward to welcoming the new groups and individuals that come sailing with us, and having lots of fun with them. "It's our aim for absolutely anyone to be able to learn to sail and regularly go sailing. We do this by creating low cost options, having boats people can use to practice, and creating an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere." As well as club-based activities, Burton sailors ventured further afield last year too, with club-organised yachting trips in the Solent and English Channel to really give members something new to enjoy and get their teeth in to. Keith added: "2013 was simply the best I can remember in many years. The effort and hard work of all those people who were responsible isn't forgotten and the club is reaping the benefits as it continues to go from strength to strength." Burton SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. RYA Start Sailing introduces people to the basics and gives them the best first experience in the sport, while also providing opportunities for them to then stay involved and keep improving their skills at friendly, welcoming sailing clubs. For full details of everything going on at Burton SC this year, and how you can get involved, visit www.burtonsailingclub.co.uk

500th club signs up to Andrew Simpson race

The Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation announced on Monday that more than 500 clubs have now signed up to their race in memory of the Olympic sailor. Organisers of Bart's Bash are attempting to set the Guinness World Record for the largest sailing event in the world. The Point Yacht Club in Durban, South Africa, was the 500th club to sign up. The event will see hundreds of sailing clubs host simultaneous races later this year on 21 September. Trustee Sir Ben Ainslie said: "The 500th club announcement is a significant milestone as we continue to work on the preparations for this colossal event. "Andrew was a true inspiration for those who knew him and those who competed against him; we hope a touch of that magic is reflected in Bart's Bash, inspiring all sailors across the globe." 36-year-old Simpson lost his life during training for last year's America's Cup in San Francisco.

Round the World at 75, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is set to sail solo again

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston is to attempt to sail solo across the Atlantic 45 years after he became the first man to sail alone non-stop around the world. Sir Robin, who founded the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, is to return to his solo ocean-racing roots by entering his Open 60 yacht Grey Power into the Route de Rhum Transatlantic race. The pensioner, who is the oldest participant to have entered so far, last competed in the 3,500-mile race in 1982 in his 70ft catamaran Olympus. He said: ''Participating in the 2013 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Race reminded me how much I enjoy the excitement of an ocean race. ''Solo sailing is where I feel most at home, no one else can benefit you or let you down, it is all in my hands. The Route de Rhum is one of the classics - it is a very well-run race.'' The grandfather of five set his circumnavigation record when he completed the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race on April 22, 1969. The other seven competitors dropped out at various stages leaving Sir Robin as the victor as he sailed into Falmouth aboard his 32ft boat Suhaili, 312 days after he left the Cornish port. For his latest challenge, Sir Robin will compete in the 10th anniversary edition of the Route de Rhum race which starts in St Malo, France, on November 2, and finishes at the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. In 2006 Sir Robin Knox-Johnston set off on board his yacht Saga Insurance from Getxo, northern Spain to start the single-handed around-the world Velux 5 Oceans race (AP) Sir Robin dismissed questions about his age and said he was not coming out of retirement to take part as he had never actually retired from racing. "I just feel like it, why shouldn't one, there's this attitude I find that once you have passed the retirement age of 65 the next day your brain turns to porridge and you have a heart attack every time you come up the stairs, it doesn't happen like that," he said. "If you keep active and keep fit, you keep active and fit, it's as simple as that. "I lead quite an active life which I enjoy, I wouldn't want my life any other way and I have a very low threshold of boredom hence when I get bored I think of something to do and then I spend the next year regretting I thought of it. "Age is just a measure, it's not a measure of your physical ability, that varies between human beings. "I could drop dead tomorrow or I might last another 30 years, who knows, in the meantime I'm going to get on and enjoy the life I have got." He also insisted that he will not be using one of the most modern boats, as he "does not have a spare £5 million", and will be using his Open 60 Yacht Grey Power. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston's sailing career He said he decided to take part in the Route de Rhum after the Sydney-Hobart race made him realise he missed racing. He also added that it's "getting a bit cold in England at that time of year and rather warmer in Guadeloupe" - where the race finishes. The inaugural race in 1978 was won by Canadian Mike Birch after a nail-biting finish but was marred by the disappearance of French sailor Alain Colas, who was lost at sea. The 2014 race is open to mono and multihull boats across four classes with almost 80 entrants. Sir Robin will be racing in the Rhum class and will start serious practice once the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race finishes in July. Sir Robin, of Portsmouth in Hampshire, is the chairman and founder of Clipper Ventures which runs the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the biennial event which sees amateur sailors from around the world completing a 40,000-mile global circumnavigation. Some pay up to £30,000 to take part in the race while others are sponsored. In 2006 he became the oldest yachtsman to complete a round the world solo voyage at the age of 67. And in 2013 navigated on one of two Clipper 68 yachts competing in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Last year Sir Robin said the country had forgotten about sailing amid becoming obsessed with football and cricket.

More disabled people can now have a go at sailing on Carsington Water.

A SAILING school near Ashbourne has received a cash boost to encourage more disabled people to try the sport. Carsington Sailability, at Carsington Water, received the £10,000 grant award from Sport England to invest in new equipment. The money will be used to buy a hoist for transferring disabled sailors into and out of boats and a specially designed Access 303 dinghy. Malcolm Torry, of Carsington Sailability, said: "This award will support the club's push to get more disabled people taking part in sailing. There is a demand for sport among the disabled community in the area and the new equipment will enable us to make more sailing opportunities available through the season. "Having a second hoist will make transfers to and from wheelchairs quicker, enabling more sailors to get on the water. The new 303 Access Dinghy will provide two additional places per sailing session for people taking part in our programme, and increase the opportunities for Sailability members to sail more often." Lisa O'Keefe, of Sport England, said: "We know many organisations and clubs delivering sport struggle to provide sporting opportunities for disabled people because of a lack of access to specialist equipment. "We are delighted to award these vital funds to Carsington Sailability, which will play a transformative role in opening up sport to many people who previously found it inaccessible." Neil Wilkinson, RYA sailability regional organiser for the East Midlands, said: "Sailing is all about what people can do, not what they can't. It is a truly inclusive sport where people of all abilities can sail recreationally and compete on a level playing field. "There is a freedom found on the water that people often can't find in their everyday lives and this new equipment will open up even more doors to sailing in the region for people with disabilities." To celebrate the grant, Carsington Sailability is holding its annual open and fun day for families and children on Saturday, July 19, from 11am until 4pm. The pirate-themed event includes competitions and sideshows with proceeds going towards Sailability funds. Carsington Sailability is a recognised RYA training centre conforming to the highest standards of quality and safety. The award is part of Sport England's Get Equipped fund, which aims to build on the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. £1 million of National Lottery cash is being distributed to organisations across England so they can buy specialist equipment to encourage more disabled people to take part in sport.

Lucas bags fab four in Palma Bay

Paralympic champion medallist Helena Lucas remains unbeaten from four races so far in the 2.4mR fleet after a long and challenging second day of racing at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Mallorca. The London 2012 gold medallist won both her races for the second day running at this Princess Sofia Trophy, with British Sailing Team crews in the Olympic Classes also faring well in the light wind, testing conditions across Palma Bay. Lucas tops the 2.4mR standings with Portland team-mate Megan Pascoe in third overall after four races in the one-person Paralympic event, while six GBR crews are poised inside the top three spots at the end of the two-day opening series. Britain’s 49erFX crews had an impressive day, with Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth and Frances Peters/Nicola Groves picking up mirrored scorelines of a second and a third apiece from their two races, with both pairs remarking on the huge progress the fleet has made in the new class since their first World Cup regatta at this venue a year ago. Weymouth’s Dobson and Ain-sworth are in fourth place overall at the end of this third day of racing, and were pleased with their showing on the racecourse today. “We managed to come out of a real snakes and ladders day really well, so we’re really happy with that,” said Dobson of their racing. “We sat around on shore for hours watching the fight between the sea breeze and the gradient, and the gradient eventually won out. “We ended up having two snakes and ladders-type races in 8-11 knots so it ended up being quite a nice day of yachting when it didn’t look like it was going to be at 10 o’clock. “We’re really happy that we managed to stick it all together yesterday.” In the men’s 49er event, British crews impressed on the water after a long delay on shore. Three different British crews picked up race wins, and five British crews end the second day in the top 10 spots. Stevie Morrison and Chris Grube are second overall, Dave Evans/Ed Powys are third, Nic Asher/Fynn Sterritt fifth and Dylan Fletcher/Alain Sign are in sixth, with the European champions managing to win their first race of the day in spite of breaking a board and a pole before the race. The Finn fleet had the longest day on the water, being the first the leave the shore for a three-race, seven-hour stint afloat. Portland’s Giles Scott advanced to fourth overall amid the shifty conditions on the Finn course, admitting it was a ‘super tricky day’. The new 470 men’s pairing of Luke Patience, from Portland, and Elliot Willis picked up their first World Cup race win to end their day on a high and move them into second overall. Bryony Shaw is poised third in the RS:X Women’s windsurfing event, with Weymouth’s Nick Dempsey ninth after five events in the men’s event. An increase in wind speeds is expected to provide a new challenge for the first day of finals series racing today. Racing at the Princess Sofia Trophy continues today, with the final medal races scheduled for Saturday.

Jump out of the sky & raise money for the RNLI

Jump out of the sky & raise money for the RNLI! On 14 June we're attempting to break a world record; to complete the most charity tandem skydives in one day. We have events at four different locations, sign up now and do something amazing to help save lives at sea:

Chippenham Sailing and Canoeing Club to clean up with grant

Chippenham Sailing and Canoeing Club hopes to get improved hygiene facilities in a £107,000 refurbishment. A £20,000 grant from this month’s Chippenham Area Board has helped the club, in Long Close, on its way to getting three separate units for male, female and disabled use, each including a toilet, shower and changing room. Coach Julia Mannering said: “We don’t have any showers at the moment and just one unisex toilet in a shed. Most of the men just get changed behind their cars in the car park. It will be brilliant to have these facilities.” Plans also include a water treatment plant to replace the current cesspit by the river. Mrs Mannering said: “It’s a lot more green, it will clean the water from the hygiene units and discharge clean water into the river, rather than having nasty effluents sitting there in a big tank and waiting for a lorry to take it to Trowbridge.” The normal maximum grant from the area board is £5,000, but members made an exception as officers believe the facility to be “very special”. The club has also applied for grants from Chippenham Town Council, the Borough Lands charity and Sport England. It has just been awarded £1,800 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s flood relief fund to repair jetty and waterside railings that were badly damaged in the floods and storms over the last few months. Mrs Mannering said: “We are delighted that Sport England has awarded this funding to us which will allow us to repair our jetty and water access to make it safe before our summer season starts in April.”

Hollowell Sailing Club earns £10,000 from Sport England to promote dinghy sailing

A sailing club in Northamptonshire has been given a £10,000 grant from Sport England. The grant, awarded to Hollowell Sailing Club, to help buy a Wayfarer, a Hartley 12/2 and training equipment to increase the number of places available on courses in dinghy sailing. The club’s commodore, Nicola Wilkinson, said the grant was great news for the club. “We were inspired by the Royal Yachting Association’s winter workshops which introduced a ‘Jigsaw’ idea showing how all the activities of our club fit together and help people get involved.” Chris Heaton-Harris, MP for Daventry District, and Lisa White, chairman of the Hollowell Village Pocket Park Committee, visited the club last year and acknowledged the efforts being made by club members to create a healthy lifestyle by writing to Sport England to support the application. Nicola added: “We aim to attract newcomers to sailing by delivering new courses in 2014 helping people to get out on the water and give it a go. A full programme of informal sailing and competitive racing combined with enjoyable social activities for all ages make all the difference in whether people choose to keep on doing the sport.” According to the Sport England Active People Survey, 57 per cent of adult residents in the District of Daventry would like to start or do more sport and over 13 per cent of these would like to do an outdoor activity. A spokesman for the club added: “Hollowell Sailing Club aims to open up more opportunities that will attract new people to the sport showing them how to increase skills and knowledge, become more involved in a beautiful natural setting and build regular activity into their lives.”

Disabled Sailing At Carsington Gets Grant Boost

Disability sailing in Derbyshire has received a welcome boost after Carsington Sailability, based at Carsington Sailing Club at Carsington Water, received a £10,000 grant award from Sport England to invest in new equipment. The money will be used to purchase a hoist for transferring disabled sailors into and out of boats and a specially designed Access 303 dinghy, which will open up more opportunities for disabled people in Derbyshire to try sailing for the first time. Malcolm Torry BEM, of Carsington Sailability, said: "This award will support the club's push to get more disabled people taking part in sailing. There is a demand for sport amongst the disabled community in Derbyshire and the new equipment will enable us to make more sailing opportunities available through the season. "Having a second hoist will make transfers to and from wheelchairs quicker, enabling more sailors to get on the water. The new 303 Access Dinghy will provide two additional places per sailing session for people taking part in our programme, thereby increasing the opportunities for Sailability members to sail more often." Lisa O'Keefe, Sport England's Director of Insight, said: "We know many organisations and clubs delivering sport struggle to provide sporting opportunities for disabled people because of a lack of access to specialist equipment. We are delighted to award these vital funds to Carsington Sailability, which will play a transformative role in opening up sport to many people who previously found it inaccessible." Neil Wilkinson, RYA Sailability Regional Organiser for the East Midlands, added: "Sailing is all about what people can do not what they can't. It is a truly inclusive sport where people of all abilities can sail recreationally and compete on a level playing field. There is a freedom found on the water that people often can't find in their everyday lives and this new equipment will open up even more doors to sailing in the East Midlands for people with disabilities." To celebrate the grant, Carsington Sailability hosts its annual Open and Fun Day for families and children on Saturday 19 July (11am-4pm). The Pirate-themed day includes competitions and sideshows with proceeds going towards Sailability funds. Carsington Sailability is a recognised RYA Training Centre, meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. The award is part of Sport England's 'Get Equipped' fund, which was designed to build on the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. £1m of National Lottery funding is being distributed to organisations across England to allow them to provide specialist equipment which will help make sport a practical choice for many more disabled people inspired by the Games. In December, Sport England's Active People Survey - an annual, in-depth measure of the nation's sporting habits – revealed a record number of disabled people in England now play sport each week. The number of disabled people aged 16 and over playing sport once a week has increased by 62,000 over the last year, bringing the total number to its highest recorded figure of 1.67m, 351,000 more than in 2005 when London won the bid to host the Games. But, non-disabled people are still twice as likely to play sport as disabled people - 39.2% to 18.5% - which is why Sport England continues to focus attention and investment to address this imbalance. For more information on how you can get involved in sailing at Carsington Sailability this year visit www.carsingtonsailingclub.co.uk/sailing/sailability

Rum and chocolate ship heads for Falmouth under sail

The first of what may become a new breed of commercial sailing ships will blow into a Cornish port next month laden with rum and chocolate. Like the Packet post ships of old, Tres Hombres is due to tie up at Falmouth on April 15 as part of a mission to promote a greener form of transporting goods by sea. Tres Hombres is the world’s only transatlantic, engine-less cargo vessel and is currently making her fifth journey from Europe to the Caribbean and back. Owned and operated by Fair Transport Shipping, the schooner-brig is leading the way towards reviving an industry in shipping goods under sail. Crewman Biz Bliss said: “There is an enormous sense of achievement that we are doing something unique and special by sailing without an engine and proving that it is still possible. It feels amazing to sail into harbour, all hands on deck, as we drop the sails fast and drop the anchor. When arriving and leaving ports under sail, with everyone working smoothly as a team in a heightened and stressful situation, the incredible skill of the captain and mates becomes apparent. These moments are always followed by a celebratory shot of Tres Hombres rum.” Setting sail from Holland in October, the emission-free ship called at ports in Norway, France, Portugal and the Canaries on her way to Brazil and the Caribbean – returning via Bermuda, the Azores and Falmouth before heading to her home port in The Netherlands. Carrying rum, cocoa, coffee, molasses, wine and chocolate bars, the voyage will feature in a BBC documentary. Working with New Dawn Traders, a Bristol-based initiative aiming to revive the UK’s sail cargo industry, Fair Transport Shipping is researching new trade opportunities in a number of countries. On the current voyage Tres Hombres picked up Norwegian stockfisk, Portuguese olive oil and Amazonian nut oils and butters. A barrel of rum will be unloaded in Falmouth for bottling. In its continuing campaign to encourage exporters to consider shipping their goods by sail, New Dawn Traders have organised a programme of events on shore in Falmouth, including a civic reception with the town mayor, chocolate workshops at the Eden Project and a film screening at The Poly. Tres Hombres and New Dawn Traders’ shared mission is to gradually create an emission-free fleet of sailing cargo vessels as part of the global challenge of removing fossil fuels from international supply chains. Summing up the ethos of the venture, joint owner Arjen van der Veen said: “How sustainable is a product if it is not also transported in a sustainable emission-free way?” Depending on sea conditions, the ship will be berthed at Falmouth from April 15 to 21.

£8m National Sailing Centre Underway in Pwllheli, North Wales

The main contractor for the new £8.3m National Sailing Academy and Event Centre has been appointed in Pwllheli, North Wales. The substantial dredging works has already started and the new dedicated visitor and event pontoons will be completed by June and be available for the IRC Welsh Championships in August just after the Dun Laoghaire to Pwllheli ISORA feeder race. The organisers, including ISORA Champion, Stephen Tudor, is keen to attract as many boats across the Irish Sea as possible. The IRC National Championship is an open event and will use the facilities of the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre and will draw on the skill and experience of the Academy's event team who regularly run World and European Championships. This work says Tudor will enhance and extend the events capacity in Pwllheli and will improve access to the world renowned sailing waters of Cardigan Bay with the provision of new dedicated visitor and events berths with cranes located adjacent to the marina.

Truro estate agent sponsors local Olympic sailing hopefuls

Savills Truro office has stepped up to sponsorlocal Olympic Games sailing hopefuls Tom Phipps and Zennor Pascoe. Tom and Zennor, who are both from Falmouth, are on a campaign to represent the UK at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the mixed multihull sailing discipline. They will be sailing a boat called the Nacra 17 which will make its Olympic debut in the 2016 Games. Last week saw Team Phipps Pascoe complete their first training regatta in Palma where they finished a very promising seventh overall out of 30. The pair will have to compete in various regattas on the Olympic Classes Circuit over the next three years. In order to secure selection for 2016, Tom and Zennor need to perform consistently as the best British team, as only one team from each nation will ultimately go to the Games. Jonathan Cunliffe of Savills Truro office, a keen sailor, said: “Over the years I have seen Tom develop into a world class sailor, under the tutelage of his champion father and catamaran supremo Brian Phipps. I have also known Zennor for a long time and seen her amass an impressive sailing CV that, while very different, is complimentary to Tom's own sailing background. “Though Team Phipps Pascoe are a Cornish team, they are talented and driven athletes and have a really strong chance of being selected to represent Team GB at Rio 2016. This would be a fantastic achievement, and we are delighted to help make that ambition a reality.” Healey’s Cyder is also sponsoring Tom and Zennor’s 2014 campaign.

UK Disabled Sailor Keith White’s World Challenge 2014

The World Challenge is to sail single handed and non stop around the world. It sounds simple enough doesn’t it? The route itself is straightforward, Disabled sailor Keith White will sail around the world from west to east via the great capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn. Be in no doubt, this will be the biggest challenge of his life. With one working hand, for 10 months Keith will sail alone, heading south in the Atlantic, across the bay of Biscay, the Doldrums at the Equator and into the southern hemisphere. Keith will brace himself for the perilous voyage across the Southern OceansIndian and Pacific Oceans with its huge swells, savage storms and tumultuous seas. Keith will then take on the mighty Cape Horn before finally sailing north up the Atlantic back to Great Britain.

Farrow's flag bid

SAILOR Andrew Farrow is planning to fly the green and white of the Wiltshire flag at this summer’s international 2.4 metre class European Championships in the Netherlands this summer. The 48-year-old, from Devizes, tasted top class competition for the first time at last year’s World Championships and after being presented with a £1000 grant from Wiltshire Council at Trowbridge’s County Hall last week, Farrow is ready to book his place at July’s Europeans, which take place on the Sneekermeer lake. “Getting the grant from the council was fantastic because it shows that they’re not just interested in the younger athletes – it’s going to pay for me to go to the European championships and without it, I simply wouldn’t be able to go,” said Farrow, who has been wheelchair-bound since 2006. “Getting the chance to compete among the best sailors around is thrilling and I can’t wait to represent Team Wiltshire there. “I’m definitely taking a Wiltshire flag along with me to competitions this year. “I don’t think that I’ll be allowed to put it on the boat when I’m competing but definitely when I’m in the harbour – I can’t wait to show a few people the Great Bustard.”

Schools sailing regatta attracts record number of entries

Sailors from schools across the county made waves in this year’s Surrey Schools Regatta. Almost 100 students, aged eight to 18 and from more than 20 schools, competed at Papercourt Sailing Club in Ripley in the biggest meeting in the history of the regatta, which was set up 10 years ago. There were three races in the event, which featured a mixed fleet of one-man Laser, Topper and Optimist boats and two-man Feva, Firefly and RS200 craft. Individual medals were handed out for the best performing sailor or crew in each type of boat. However, the main focus was on the school trophies, awarded for the cumulative scores of the best four sailors representing each school. The winning team was from the Royal Grammar School in Guildford. The runner-up was Reeds School in Cobham, while third place went to Tormead School in Guildford. Jeremy Riley, head of youth development at Papercourt Sailing Club, said the record number of entries was due to a renewed publicity drive since he took over the running of the regatta two years ago. Mr Riley said there used to be several school regattas in Surrey but this is the only one remaining. The sport is enjoying a resurgence thanks to strong interest among members of Papercourt’s youth section, who made up half of the competitors in the regatta. “This is a friendly local regatta and a very enjoyable day for the sailors, who tell their friends to come,” Mr Riley said. “Sailing can appeal to students who are not interested in mainstream school sports like football or rugby.” He praised the efforts of the 30 parents who volunteered to help with the running of the regatta. “I hope we can keep building the popularity of this event,” he said. “It takes a lot of organisation, but it is great to give something back to the community and seeing the smiles of the sailors makes it all worthwhile.”

Hilary Lister hits the record books again,brave disabled sailor crosses ocean

Quadriplegic sailor Hilary Lister today set a new trans-ocean record by becoming the first paralysed woman to complete the 850 NM sea voyage from Mumbai in India to Muscat, Oman. Her sailing partner, Omani yachtswoman Nashwa Al Kindi, also set a record of her own as the first Arab woman sailor to complete the trip. The pair sailed into port at the end of their voyage which started from the busy port on the western coast of India and crossed the Indian Ocean. Back on dry land, Hilary says the hardest part was getting off the boat: "I never wanted to get off!" She adds: "We had a few challenges, but for me it's all about pushing yourself to the limit. It's meeting those challenges that gives me so much pleasure. "We had some fun moments too. There were dolphins and whales along the way - and I even got slapped in the face by a flying fish. And at night, the sight of phosphorescence on the water and clear starry skies is absolutely beautiful." It was the latest in a series of challenges that Hilary has set herself. She first made it to the record books in 2005, when she sailed the English Channel, and again in 2009 when she sailed solo around Britain. Hilary and Nashwa's arrival in Muscat was well-timed, as the port is currently playing host to some of the elite of competitive sailing whilst it hosts the 2nd Act of the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series. The GAC Pindar team, skippered by Australian Seve Jarvin, is among the crews vying for a place on the leader board.

Brixham sailing charity to appear on Adrian Edmondson's TV show

A BRIXHAM-based charity is sailing to fame in the first episode of a new prime-time television show this week. Trinity Sailing Foundation is appearing on the ITV programme Ade at Sea on Thursday, March 20. Television presenter Adrian Edmondson spent a day filming on Trinity’s 1892-built vessel Leader last summer. The star of The Young Ones and Bottom sailed six miles out from the Torbay coastline with Trinity’s crew and operations manager Matt Gilchrist. Matt said: “It was a nice day for it and everyone seemed to have a good time at sea. Ade was a nice guy and took a real interest in the history of the vessels, as did his film crew.” Ade at Sea producer Simon Paintin said it was a pleasure to work with Trinity. He said: “We filmed our presenter learning the ropes at sea and experiencing the wonderful work Trinity are doing, supporting the development of young people and keeping the heritage of the old Brixham trawlers alive. “The whole Trinity team were so accommodating, organised and helpful. I don’t think you could find a more passionate, enthusiastic and friendly group of people.” Trinity aims to support the personal development of disadvantaged young people through off-shore sail training and to conserve the nationally important historic sailing vessels in its care. The organisation’s fleet of vessels, based in Brixham, also provides opportunities for traditional sailing holidays around the UK and Europe.