Sailing towards boating success

Sailing in Scotland appears to be avoiding the stormy seas of the economic downturn, as harbours and marinas invest in the future For Warren Scott and his wife Jill, there is nowhere better on earth to sail than the west coast of Scotland. The couple, who have circumnavigated the globe twice, have returned to Scotland to enjoy the area's cruising waters. They keep their boat Swn-Y-Mor (Sound of the Sea) moored in Tarbert Harbour at Scotland's longest sea loch, Loch Fyne. From there, they can share their passion with a seemingly growing band of sailing enthusiasts from home and abroad. Mr Scott considers the local waters the "pinnacle of cruising worldwide". "From the English people we meet who come here, some of them are totally knocked out," he said. Mr Scott says the west coast is the "pinnacle of cruising worldwide" "And it's not just the English. On the continent they are becoming more aware of the west coast as a cruising ground - it's not so crowded as it is down on the south coast. "The added advantage is that it is like having your own wee cottage in the highlands if you have a boat here." The Scotts are not alone in their passion. Leisure boating is fast becoming a cornerstone of local economies and the sailing community are hoping to see the industry burgeoning further over the next few years. A Scottish Enterprise report in 2010 suggested more than £100m is generated by sail and power boat tourism activity in Scotland alone. And last November, a guide published by Tourism Intelligence Scotland predicted market share for the sailing industry could increase to £145m in the next 10 years. Growing interest Mike Balmforth, from the Scottish Boating Alliance, commented: "People, whether they have large boats or small boats, have a capital investment and therefore they continue to use it. "This means the service side of the industry and the facilities are continuing to be used." Tarbert Harbour is hoping to capitalise on the growing interest in sailing. This year it secured a £200,000 grant from the Scottish government's Enterprise Growth Fund to create 40 additional berthing facilities that will allow it to accommodate up to 160 boats. Work is under way to expand berthing capacity at Tarbert Harbour The chairman of the Tarbert Harbour Authority trustees, Alan MacDonald, said the economic downturn had done little to put people off sailing. "Despite the recession, a lot of the boats coming in are bigger than they used to be so half the new berths will be to accommodate these bigger vessels," he said. "The other half will be able to relieve the system and allow us to take any growth that appears over the next few years. At least we will be ready to make the most of it once the recession goes." The local economy is already benefiting from the growth in interest, with a number of businesses opening in the harbour area, included an optician, two supermarkets and several restaurants. Transformation Tarbert's success is not a one-off. Across Loch Fyne is Portavadie, where millions of pounds have been spent in recent years on a marina, boatyard, shore facilities, a restaurant and holiday accommodation. Portavadie Marina now has 65 full and part-time staff in an area where there was virtually no employment five years ago. General manager Iain Jurgensen explained how Portavadie had been utterly transformed over the past few years. Heavy investment has transformed Portavadie in recent years "In 1975 this place was blasted out to create a dry dock and at that time oil rig construction, and the fabrication of it was based around cement as opposed to steel," he said. "So at the very time this facility was finished, the construction material changed, which actually made this place redundant. "It largely remained a white elephant for 30-odd years until the current owners embarked on this vision." Mr Jurgensen said Portavadie did not see itself as being in competition with other harbours and marinas on the west coast. He argued: "We are in competition on a global market. We are hopeful we have tapped into a market that has not perhaps existed." Having started a few years ago with about 25 staff, Portavadie owners expect to employ between 100 and 120 within the next two to three years. But some local business people would like to see more done at a national level to encourage faster growth. Loch Fyne Gallery owner Steve Bleasby said: "I think the sailing clubs by and large do a good job - they obviously sell it the best they can. "But in terms of the government, I really don't think they understand the significance of the economic impact of sailing to small communities like this, and the west coast in particular. "When people people step off the boat, they are on holiday. "By and large they like to go for a drink, something nice to eat and then they like to browse around and go shopping. They are looking to spend some money - quite a lot of money in some instances."

Accrington stroke survivor sets sail thanks to charity

A STROKE victim has enjoyed a day of sailing, thanks to the Stroke Association’s East Lancashire branch. Seventeen staff, volunteers and members of Stroke Association’s East Lancs Communication Support service, visited Hollingworth Lake for a day of sailing recently. The event was organised by Link4Life, to give people with disabilities the opportunity to lead healthy, creative, and active lifestyles. Andrew Graham, 45, from St James Street, Accrington, had a stroke in November 2009. He said: “Hollingworth Lake took me straight back to my youth, and conjured up memories of long summer evenings. I had a great day. It has been a long time since I have been there. “The day was a resounding success, despite not so glorious weather! A few of us are now hoping to complete the level one sailing certificate.” Stroke Association’s Andrea Walsh, who runs the service, said: “Everyone had a fantastic time, and it’s great to be able to offer exciting days out like this as part of the service. "We like to offer our members a variety of opportunities to rebuild their confidence and learn new skills.” A stroke is a brain attack which happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, caused by a clot or bleeding in the brain. Around 150,000 people have a stroke in the UK every year and it is the leading cause of severe adult disability.

Junior sailing mums set sail at Middle Harbour Yacht Club

The Junior sailing program at Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) is going through a rapid growth spurt and now the Mum’s are getting in on the action too. A local group of mum’s with children who are currently part of the MHYC junior sailing program, or racing with Redlands school from Balmoral Sailing, have recently completed a week long Dinghy Sailing - Learn to Sail course with Flying Fish Sail Academy located at Middle Harbour Yacht Club. The group includes Larissa Kelloway, whose eldest son, William Scott-Murphy (10) is into his second year at MHYC and nearly through Tackers 3, having participated in the school program with Redlands and the holiday camps. Youngest son, Zachary (8), has seen the fun that his brother has been having and decided to give it a go for the first time in the April school holiday program. Also joining Larissa for the week were Helen Roberts, whose son Lachlan is in Year 7 at Redlands, and is involved in the senior program for racing from Balmoral Sailing Club, along with Cherand Gray, whose daughters Charlotte (14) and Ella (10) both sail for Redlands. Larissa said the group was inspired to get more actively involved with sailing and learn the basics because all are mothers of child sailors and felt it was hard to help their children when they were unaware of the sports requirements, safety considerations and equipment. “On a much more personal level, my husband and both my children sail, and my husband's family are very involved in the sport. Frankly, the dinner table discussions were leaving me behind,” larissa said laughing. “The program offered through Flying Fish was comprehensive and pitched at the right type of learning, unlike other programs that seem more focused on yachts or racing. Plus the Junior sailing program at MHYC is such a good program that it seemed a logical conclusion that the Flying Fish program would be of equal calibre due to its association with the Club,” she added. The group enjoyed a week of theory and on water practical application of theoretical skills learnt in light winds ideal for beginner dinghy sailors. Although, by the end of the week, the ladies would have liked the chance to test their new-found skills a little further in stronger breeze. “We had the most enjoyable week. I don't remember laughing so much in a long time," Larrisa said. "Despite not leaving Sydney for a ‘break’, I felt very much like I've had one. I loved the mix of theory and practical and would love to have had a little bit more wind to really get the boat going." Cherand commented, “We had an extremely knowledgeable coach in Russell from Flying Fish. I felt that although the practical side was unfortunately slow, due to the light to no winds, Russell was able to accommodate ‘quite nicely’ other aspects into the program. In other words, we now feel comfortable knowing what happens in a capsize - lots of bruises! “I did feel I came away ‘knowing’ how to sail from a lot of the theory we picked up. The Bahia’s are great boats for learners too. I will definitely be sailing again on a dinghy, because the kids will be making sure it happens!” The women are all keen to continue their own personal involvement with the sport and expand on the confidence the course gave them: “I do feel that I'm capable of getting in a boat now and having a go, and also feel confident that I could get out of trouble if necessary. I will be out in a dinghy again for sure, but maybe not until the weather warms up,” Larissa said.

Cork Week on Track to Deliver a First Class Sailing Regatta

#CORK WEEK – With just under two months to the 18th edition of Cork Week entries are beginning to build momentum. With the Euro 20% down on the pound sterling and promises of better value for competitors writes Louay Habib. Cork Week is on track to deliver a first class sailing regatta, especially to sailors visiting Ireland's most prestigious yachting regatta from overseas. Cork Week's Chairman, Pat Lyons sums up what Cork Week is all about. "Cork Week comes along every two years and offers an occasion to celebrate all that is best about how we can enjoy the wonderful facilities that our environment has placed on our doorstep. In Cork Harbour, we have a world class maritime playground and by bringing together a sailing event of international quality, the Royal Cork provides an opportunity for both sailors and spectators alike to meet old friends, engage in a top class sailing competition, and enjoy the waterside hospitality and entertainment for which Crosshaven is renowned." A bevy of Cork 1720s are expected for Cork Week and rumour has it that several professional sailors will be making an appearance to take on top Irish competition. In the IRC racing classes, several winning yachts are returning to defend class wins from 2010 including; Paul Kirwan's Sigma 38, Errislannan, who was jointly awarded Cork's top award of Boat of the Week last time out. Conor & Denise Phelan's Kerr 37, Jump Juice will be returning to defend their hard fought class victory in 2010 and a large contingent of Corby Yachts is expected including Richard Goransson's Inga from Sweden with round the world sailor, Matt Humphries calling tactics and four time Volvo Ocean Race veteran, Richard Mason amongst the crew. Earlier this year, The Royal Cork Yacht Club became the first club in Ireland to be awarded Five Gold Anchors by the Yacht Harbour Association. Gavin Deane is the new General Manager of the Royal Cork Yacht Club and he lives in Crosshaven and his family have been part of the fabric of the RCYC for generations. With 20 years of experience in the luxury hotel industry, Gavin is highly accomplished hotelier that is deeply passionate about Cork Week. "It is a common misconception that Cork Week is expensive. The entry fee for Cork Week includes your mooring fees and if you want to arrive a few days before the event and stay a couple more after, there will be no additional charge. As far as catering facilities, Anthony McCann and his team have been doing a fantastic job for the club this year and will have a variety of menus available, including breakfast each morning. In the Tented Village, we will also have BBQ food as well as a food court with gourmet fast food and oriental cuisine, all at competitive prices. We are determined to deliver a memorable event." In addition to top class racing, the fabled on-shore craic in the tented village has become one of the main ingredients in the success of Cork Week with some of Ireland's best bands performing live each evening. However, Cork Week 2012 will have a few changes. There are many people attracted to Crosshaven during the regatta who do not get out on the water and the Cork Festival will give the event village a more interesting agenda for them and the racing crews at the end of the day. A large exhibition tent has been earmarked for the festival, which takes place on the first weekend of Cork Week. Plans include a whale workshop, an aquarium touch tank and other attractions. The festival will also host cultural and artistic flavours of the region including the work of local artists and vendors of local fayre. Many sailors who work in the marine industry have not been to Cork Week due to the strict policy of not allowing professionals to race in most classes. However, this year the rules have been totally relaxed, one upshot of this change has attracted sailors from the Volvo Ocean Race to Cork Week. The round the world race ends in Galway shortly before Cork Week and several sailors involved in the Volvo Ocean Race have already entered for Cork Week. However, there will be no change to course variety at Cork Week Regatta this year and Cork Week scoring will include Progressive ECHO so results will be provided on a dual scoring basis with results and prizes for both IRC and ECHO. "It is still a 5 course Dinner for 2012! Desert on the final day will be the Harbour Course for all and the possibility of a start line from one of the three historic forts of Cork Harbour" confirmed Cork Week Racing Chairman, Anthony O'Leary. "Cork Week has had a separate race team for each course for many years. In many cases race teams have managed same course for a number of Cork Weeks so they have the confidence that goes with plenty of practice!"

It was a great day for the British sailors on the second day for the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Finn Gold Cup in Falmouth, with Ben Ainslie winning the opening race to take the overall lead, while Ed Wright dropped to second and Andrew Mills had another good day to move up to third. Race 2 was won by Chris Cook (CAN) and the big question for the sailors today was whether to favour the left or the right. With dark clouds, moderate to strong winds and intermittent rain all day, there were some big gains to be made by choosing the correct side. Race officer Peter Reggio was delighted that the 94 sailors got away cleanly on both starts at the first attempt; perhaps an indication that they didn't want to hang around any longer than necessary in the inclement conditions. The left side was favoured on the first beat with overnight leader Ed Wright (GBR) leading round the top mark from Andrew Mills (GBR) and Anders Pedersen (NOR). Jonathan Lobert (FRA) then found more pressure on the right on the first downwind to take the lead at the gate from Ainslie and Wright. On the second upwind, Ainslie and Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) favoured the right side and rounded the top mark in the lead. Mills moved from third into second on the final downwind with Ainslie extending for a second race win to the overall lead of the Championship. Race 4 started very quickly, with the left side again proving popular. This time Mark Andrews (GBR) led Ainslie round the top mark, but they went the wrong way on the first downwind, while Pieter-Jan Postma (NED) found more pressure in the right to round the gate ahead of Lobert and Chris Cook (CAN). The second upwind sealed the fate of many, with a big right hand shift as the clouds cleared. Cook was just under the leading bunch and lifted up to the mark to lead down the final run. Lobert went high and Postma went low, but Ainslie found a way through in third. At the finish, they were separated by no more than 20 boat lengths, with Cook taking a well-deserved win from Lobert and Ainslie. Ainslie said, “It was really tough today. It was quite windy, a lot of rain and low visibility, so it was a difficult day for everyone, and physically a real challenge. In the first race a front came through with quite a big wind shift to the right hand side, and made it a little bit difficult, but that’s part of the challenge of sailing in these conditions. “In the second race I went the wrong way, there was a big clump down the right hand side and also the wind shifted a little bit to the right. It was a difficult run but I managed to contain the loss and then catch up with the rest of the race so I overall I’m happy with my day. It was great racing out there despite difficult conditions.” After a good day, Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) moved up to fourth overall. “It was pretty shifty out there, but actually pretty good racing. In the last race we got a big shift in the end and that kind of ended the race for most but I think pretty much the both races were fair. I got a terrible start in the first race but I managed to claw my way back and finished in fourth. “The second race was pretty much the same story, but I lost a couple because of that big shift and had a sixth so it was a pretty good day, could have been a little better, but I’m pretty satisfied.” Race four winner, Chris Cook said, “On the first beat I thought that the right side was going to have something in it, I think it’s the typical thing that’s been happening in all the races is a little bit of left and a little bit of right, it’s just how you play your side. “I got to the top in decent shape, and I got to the right side of the run as fast as I could and the pressure filled in from there and it sort of set up the opportunity to round with the top guys. “On the second beat again, I was worried about the right side and I was forced to the left gate, I was up quite a bit on the right so I just had to wait. I got in front just in time for that big right shift and then it was a nice easy reach on the way in.” After two days of racing in Falmouth, British sailors fill the top three places, while behind them the form is beginning to establish itself. Several top sailors had better results today so there could be a significant change after Tuesday's two races, again scheduled for 11.00. The forecast is for some sunshine, and strong winds. At least some in the already tired fleet will be thankful for the sunshine. Top 10 after four races 1 GBR 3 Ben Ainslie 8 2 GBR 11 Edward Wright 15 3 GBR 85 Andrew Mills 25 4 DEN 2 Jonas High-Christensen 33 5 FRA 112 Jonathan Lobert 35 6 CAN 41 Christopher Cook 37 7 POL 17 Piotr Kula 42 8 FIN 218 Tapio Nirkko 45 9 NED 842 Pieter-Jan Postma 51 10 AUS 1 Brendan Casey 54

Suffolk sailing barge at Queen's Jubilee Thames pageant

School children from Suffolk are set to crew a sailing barge which will be representing the county at the Queen's Jubilee pageant on the Thames. A flotilla of boats will sail down the river on Sunday 3 June. The SB Victor from Ipswich will take part in the spectacle with a crew made up of a dozen pupils from the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook. Steve Godwin, the boat's manager, said: "We'll be carrying the flag of Suffolk with pride." The SB Victor, which is 82ft (25m) long and has four sails, was built in Ipswich docks in 1895 for the linseed trade along the east coast ports. It also worked out of Chatham, in Kent, moving munitions in World War II. It returned to Suffolk in 2005 for refit and now operates as a charter vessel. 'Treacherous' route Victor will leave Ipswich for the pageant on Wednesday 30 May. Mr Godwin said: "The chaps who do it routinely will make it look easy, but the east coast is a pretty treacherous place if you don't know what you're doing. The bow of HMS Fame is in the grounds of the Royal Hospital School "The skipper is not backwards in coming forwards and will make his views known, but as long as everybody understands the rules of the game then we'll have a great time." Victor will be moored near HMS Belfast on the Thames as part of a static avenue of boats which the Queen will sail along. "We'll probably be doing a salute in our naval uniform and lots of smiling, waving and cheering," said Alex Slatter, a Royal Hospital School pupil. Rebecca Taylor, another pupil, said: "I've spent up to three weeks before on a boat, so I think I can do this, but, depending on the weather, it could get very tough at times. "It's going to be amazing just to see the Queen." 'Fantastic showcase' Alex Alderton, another member of the school's sailing squad, said: "I should imagine the day itself will be a mass of red and white sails and more boats than you can see. "It's a fantastic showcase of the country and how great we are." The Royal Hospital School was founded in Greenwich in 1712 as a charity school for the offspring of those injured in naval warfare and is currently celebrating its 300th anniversary. It moved to Holbrook in 1933 and the Queen's father, George VI, laid the foundation stone at the new site in 1928. Rob Mann, the school's tercentenary co-ordinator, said: "With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee coinciding with our tercentenary, it was just an excellent opportunity to celebrate together. "It's a fantastic opportunity to work together as a team out on the open water learning techniques from old sea dogs."

Hannah Mills on a mission to become a golden girl of Olympics

SHE has quickly become the silver lining of the British sailing team. Now Welsh ace Hannah Mills is looking to become its Olympic golden girl this summer. Mills and partner Saskia Clark have forged a formidable partnership after only linking up 15 months ago, winning silvers at the Olympic Test event and the World Championships in Perth. Mills and Clark will be aiming to go one better at this year’s World Championships in Barcelona which starts on Sunday. But the Dinas Powys ace already admits Olympic gold is the medal she craves. “We have had quite a few second places,” said Mills. “It is important to keep getting consistent results and keep pressure on other teams. “We want to keep proving we are the team to beat. “While we seem to keep coming second, different teams keep winning. “That is encouraging for us because we are not struggling to beat one particular team. We have the ability to beat anyone.” Great Britain were the leading sailing nation in the last three Games and Mills admitted there was pressure to emulate the achievement. “There will be expectations of us and that is good,” she added. “I would never want to go to an Olympics and just have an outside chance of a medal because you go to a Games to win. “There are high hopes of the team and we can deliver in a number of events. “Saskia was one of only four people who did not win a medal which she explained was so hard. We don’t want to have that feeling.” Ben Ainslie remains the sailing standout performer after winning three Olympic golds and challenging for a record fourth this summer with Mills admitting he is an inspiration. “Ben is a great person to have in the team and it is a real honour to be in the same Olympic squad as him,” she added. “When I was younger he was an idol of mine so to be in the same team as him is amazing. “He has this aura and is a huge figure within the sport. “There is a lot of pressure on him from outside but he copes with it. “He has not changed and hopefully he will nail it this summer.” Mills is also backing Ainslie to recover from the controversy he suffered last December at the World Championships in Australia after he was disqualified for an altercation with a media boat. “Sailing is getting bigger in the media and people are trying to get the sport more exposure which is great,” she added. “But there are going to be occasions where you are impeded by press boats. “We had a bit of that in Miami last year where we almost crashed into them. I am not sure what the answer is. “All you can do is concentrate on your race because it is not something you can control.” Hannah’s profile has risen since she became the first Welsh sporting star to be selected for the Games last summer. Mills told the Western Mail last year about her reaction to American rapper Snoop Dogg’s backing for golden glory, while the 24-year-old has already been labelled one of the new blondes in a boat by the Sun. “We have done a few cool things and had a few interesting interviews,” she smiled. “We have seen the headline ‘Two blondes in a boat’ and that is fine. “It is a bit of fun and we like the media side of things. “We love what we do and it is great to get to speak to people about that. “Things have not changed massively since we have been selected. But it will go mental and we are preparing ourselves for that. “I can’t imagine what it is going to be like because it is the Olympic Games and it is going to be insane.” The racing experiences will be confined to the Weymouth and Portland Harbour in Dorset where she lives and trains. So the British sailors will benefit from home advantage with Mills admitting it will be more Weymouth 2012 than London 2012. “Our schedule allows us to go to the opening and closing ceremony,” she added. “Other than that we are not going to go to London because our event lasts nine days.”

Britain completes sailing team for London Olympics by filling last 3 available spots

The British Olympic Association has confirmed the Royal Yachting Association’s nomination of 2008 veterans Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes in the 49er class. Alison Young will make her Olympic debut in the Laser Radial event. RYA Olympic manager and sailing team leader Stephen Park says “we’ve got people who’ve got potential to medal in every single event. We’ve never had that before.” The BOA also rounded out its Paralympic team with the addition of Helena Lucas.

Kiteboarding to replace windsurfing at 2016 Rio Olympics

Kiteboarding will make its Olympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio after the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) dropped windsurfing. The decision has been met with surprise and frustration within windsurfing and an online petition has been set up to keep it as an Olympic discipline. British sailing's John Derbyshire said: "We're disappointed for windsurfing. "[But we are] looking forward to working with kiteboarders to develop the talent pathway for this new event." The decision was made by the ISAF at a meeting in Italy on Saturday and Derbyshire added: "While an exciting prospect for a new discipline, the decision to replace windsurfing will of course be a huge blow to the windsurfing community. Kiteboarding v windsurfing •Kiteboarding - a wind powered surface watersport using a kite and a board to move across the water. •Windsurfing - a wind powered surface watersport using a sail attached to a board to move across the water "We're disappointed for all those who are working at the coal face of the Royal Yachting Association's windsurfing programmes to deliver activity and British success on the world stage who will be affected most by this decision." However, he added: "Kiteboarding made a solid case for its Olympic inclusion at the March trials and, although a surprise that ISAF has voted it into the Olympic programme at this stage, it appears they wished to seize the opportunity, rather than wait until 2020." Britain's Bryony Shaw, who won bronze in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics, said on Twitter: "Windsurfing is me... I am windsurfing!" before adding: "My focus on London now seems heightened!! New discipline for Rio... New challenge...!" Compatriot Nick Dempsey, who was fourth in the men's event four years ago, commented on Twitter: "Wow, unexpected. That was a big decision and a very sad day for windsurfing. My heart goes out to all the aspiring champions and kids with dreams of windsurfing at the Olympics." Meanwhile, following sailing equipment trials held in Santander, Spain in March, the 49er FX was chosen for the new two-person women's skiff discipline while the Nacra 17 will be used in the two-person mixed multihull event.

How sailing helped autistic boy

Last year, Bonnie Monroe searched tirelessly for a summer camp that would enroll her autistic son, Mark. She found Clearwater Community Sailing Center and Rich White, an instructor who taught Mark to sail. "Rich told me to bring Mark out," recalled Monroe. "After Mark went out with Rich in a Hobie, he said, 'I'm ready to sail, Mom, let's go.' Rich didn't know about working with children who had autism, but he was willing to learn." The encounter changed Mark's life forever and became the catalyst for Camp Awesome, a new summer camp at the Sailing Center that will be aimed at helping children with disabilities. This evening, the center at 1001 Gulf Blvd. on Sand Key will hold a silent auction and cocktail party to raise money for the camp. "We will start out this program in a small but phenomenal way and work up to the best way of moving forward," said Sue Steward, the Sailing Center's director. "I'm overwhelmed by the amazing local support and donations we've received." Mark Monroe, 12, has high functioning autism. By the end of last summer, not only had he learned to sail and paddleboard by himself, he had joined the Sailing Center's regular summer camp activities. "After meeting him and evaluating him to make sure I could teach him, I started with one-on-one instruction three half-days a week," said White, the sailing instructor. "Within two weeks we went to full days. Mark is amazing. Not only does he sail alone, but he has become much more social." Monroe was so pleased, she told White she wanted to stay connected with the Sailing Center and become a member. "That's when the idea about a program that reached out to the community began," said Monroe. She wants to help make the sailing program for children with special needs a success. She's working for it to become financially self-sustainable and able to offer help for families that might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Young carers get on board sailing barge

A PROJECT designed to give young carers a bit of their childhood back, has allowed eight youngsters to embark on a trip onboard an historic Thames sailing barge. The Rotary-sponsored trip left from Faversham's Harty Ferry on Friday as part of a two-day voyage to Gravesend, stopping off in Southend. The young carers, aged 12-16 from Faversham, Sittingbourne and Sheppey, were able to take the wheel of The Cambria, which was re-launched after undergoing a £1.5million makeover last year. Rotary Club District Governor Lynn Mitchell said: "We had an idea to do a project for young children and we felt there were a lot of forgotten young carers out there. "It means that they can just switch off, they can just forget and get their childhood back. Last year one of the trips was forced to leave at night and everyone came back and said it was just magical. "Now we are looking to have static weekends in the creek for the little ones who might not have the strength to steer it." But it's not all been plain sailing. Rotarians from 56 clubs across Kent, South East London and East Sussex, raised £20,000 to sponsor 10 trips this year. Some of the total came from Rotary clubs across Whitstable, Herne Bay, Canterbury and Faversham. Chairman of the Cambria Trust Bruce Richardson said he hoped the excursions would become part of the "bread and butter" of the barge's activities for the next three years, and explained that the Rotary's symbol would now decorate its sail. He said: "We want to help communities. We piloted the trip last year and the young carers had a ball. "For us it's so satisfying to see how much they're enjoying it. It's a brilliant project that really chimes with needs of our time as we rely on the work done by these people." The youngest sailor onboard was 12-year-old Jack Pike from Sheppey. He cares for his mother, who is limited by a back injury, and his brother who suffers from ADHD and autism. As the ship set sail he said: "I'm absolutely excited about this. I have sailed dinghies and boats but nothing like this before! "At home I spend a lot of time cleaning to help my mum and have to look after my brother because he can be a bit of a handful!" The trip was supervised by David Lloyd from Rotary and David Scoones from FACES, an organisation supporting carers in East Kent and Canterbury. He said: "These kids have to grow up quickly and for the older ones who have left school it can be a full time job, so it's nice to give them this opportunity."

Blind Sailor to sail the Irish Sea

This summer sees blind adventure-athlete Mark Pollock and local sailor Tiffany Brien aim to sail across the Irish Sea to raise money for the Mark Pollock Trust and Belfast Lough Sailability. Sailing across the Irish Sea would be a big enough challenge for any regular sailor, but for 36-year-old Mark, who has been blind since the age of 22 and paralysed in a freak accident in 2010, this challenge is quite significant. Luckily enough, Mark is not shy of a challenge. He has survived sub-zero Antarctic temperatures to become the first blind person to reach the South Pole, suffered scorching heat running six marathons in the Gobi Desert in one week, and has even competed at high-altitude in the Everest Marathon. Mark has competed against many able-bodied athletes, including Olympic gold medalists, Special Forces personnell and professional explorers, such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes, all in a world of total darkness. After a threatening fall two years ago, Mark is fighting against his spinal cord injury, with the aim to defy the odds to walk again. The Mark Pollock Fund hopes to raise enough funds to assist with the capital and on-going costs associated with his spinal injury, including new wheelchairs, a team of care specialists and physiotherapy equipment. Mark says: “This will be my first big physical challenge since I was paralysed so I am really looking forward to giving it my best shot. I used to sail before my accident so I can’t wait to get back out on the water.” The challenge is scheduled to take place at the beginning of June, where Mark and Tiffany will be sailing in a specially designed SKUD Yacht that Tiffany purchased for the Belfast Lough Sailability following her individual challenge in 2007. She said: “Mark is a real inspiration so I am honoured to have the chance to participate in this challenge alongside him. His determination is infectious and I have no doubt we will achieve our goal of crossing the Irish Sea to raise valuable funds for the Mark Pollock Trust and Belfast Lough Sailability.” Belfast Lough Sailability helps those people with disabilities to learn new skills, while being able to enjoy the art of sailing, with the potential to reach their goal of taking part in the Paralympic Games. To support the Mark Pollock Irish Sea Challenge you can donate online at www.irishseachallenge.co.uk.

Sailability

'Untrained' sailors who bought £3,000 yacht on eBay hit the rocks on their 'first' voyage

Two 'untrained' sailors who bought their yacht on eBay smashed their boat onto rocks after getting lost just 400 yards into what was believed to be one of their first voyages. The hapless pair went out in their £3,000 24ft vessel but were soon left teetering on a reef near the entrance to St Peter Port harbour in Guernsey. These unnamed sailors had 'little or no knowledge' of the area or sailing and were attempting to move the yacht from one marina to another - only 700 metres away - when they ran it aground in the dark. Unaware of the rocks until their pale blue boat Ardel crashed into them, they were forced into a Mayday emergency call to the coastguard and a lifeboat was sent to rescue them.

Weymouth 2012 Sailing

Thrills,Spills and Close Racing to Open America's Cup World Series in Naples

Naples opened in spectacular fashion on Wednesday as strong winds and big waves created menacing racing conditions. The AC45 catamarans, powered by their powerful wing sails, were leaping out of the water, launched into the air by the heavy sea state. It's cool, the sailing is pretty awesome, you can't complain when you're sailing in conditions like that," said Emirates Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker, who sits at the top of the leaderboard after two fleet races. "But it's very challenging for the boats and very taxing for the crew. The goal was to get back to the dock in one piece, which we did - it's nice to be back in good shape." Barker and his team clawed back from deep in the fleet in race one to finish in third place. In the second race, they were able to secure a win, putting them on equal points with ORACLE Racing Spithill who also have a 1-3 on their scorecard. Barker's team gets the nod on the tiebreak by winning the last race. Close behind are two teams who put in an outstanding performance on a challenging day. Team Korea, with young skipper Nathan Outteridge sailing his very first AC World Series regatta posted a 4-2 to sit equal on points with Energy Team, who mirrored their score. "We couldn't expect much more than that," Outteridge said. "The big guns are ahead of us. But we're overachieving compared with expectations, so we're very, very happy." Not surprisingly in the difficult conditions, there were teams who finished the day less content. Terry Hutchinson was leading his Artemis Racing team to a solid second place in the first race when both bows buried in impressive fashion as he rounded the top mark. The front of the boat kept going down, the wind pushing the wing over, until they capsized. "It was a balance between racing the boat hard and not putting ourselves in a position of risk," Hutchinson explained. "I don't really feel like we put ourselves at risk but still we ended up on our side. It's just very frustrating… Luckily no one's injured, but the wing is absolutely broken… It's a real bummer, the boat was so well prepared and sorted for the regatta, and we've been going well in training, so all in all a pretty big disappointment." China Team too suffered minor damage to its wing and didn't finish the first race, or start the second. ORACLE Racing Bundock suffered some damage to one of its hulls after flying off a wave and landing hard in race one, which ended their day. But skipper Darren Bundock said he was confident his shore team would have them ready to race for Thursday. Both Luna Rossa crews, making their AC World Series debut turned in solid, if not spectacular performances to sit mid-fleet after the first day. The program for Thursday starts with Match Racing, the pairings determined by today's results, followed by two Fleet Races and the Fleet Racing Championship continues. The first Match Race start is 1330 local time (CEST). Provisional Standings after Day One: 1. Emirates Team New Zealand (Skipper: Dean Barker) 2. ORACLE Racing - Spithill (Skipper: James Spithill) 3. Team Korea (Skipper: Nathan Outteridge) 4. Energy Team (Skipper: Yann Guichard) 5. Luna Rossa - Swordfish (Helmsman: Paul Campbell-James) 6. Luna Rossa - Piranha (Helmsman: Chris Draper) 7. ORACLE Racing - Bundock (Skipper: Darren Bundock) 8. Artemis Racing (Skipper: Terry Hutchinson) 9. China Team (Skipper: Fred Le Peutrec)

Berry Creek couple talk about seafaring life

To some, living at sea and sailing the world might seem exotic. To Robert Lipkin and his wife Jody it can be humdrum, but they're living a dream. For him, it's one more chapter in a life filled with adventure. "When you're out in a storm in the middle of the ocean, a lot of people would think it's an ordeal," said Lipkin, who returned home to Berry Creek from a sailing trip Monday. "For me, that's when the juices start flowing — when you're alive." Bob Lipkin, 68, is widely known as longtime sailor and author Bob Bitchin, whose 68-foot ketch, Lost Soul, will be open for guided tours Saturday and Sunday at the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show at Jack London Square in Oakland. When they aren't sailing, the Lipkins live on 40 acres atop a ridge near Berry Creek that boasts a splendid view of Lake Oroville. On Tuesday, the two talked about life at sea, and his exploits before that. "For 20 years, I rode on motorcycles and wrote about the outlaw life," he said. "I sold my bike in '86, and haven't looked back." It was Tommy Chong* of Cheech and Chong fame, who nicknamed Lipkin "Bob Bitchin" when the two worked out together at a gym in Santa Monica in the 1960s. The name stuck for good when Cheech referred to it in the movie, "Up in Smoke." Using the name professionally and as his biking moniker in the '70s, Lipkin wrote and published two magazines, "Biker Magazine" and "Tattoo." He later sold those to the publisher of Easy Rider. Change began in 1979, when he went to Tahiti with a friend. The friend ended up staying. Lipkin flew home to work on the magazines. The friend wanted Lipkin to join him and some others who wanted to set out sailing, but at the time he couldn't. "I owned a head shop," Lipkin said. "I was working evenings at the store and days on the magazine." One day, he was having lunch at the harbor where he lived and saw a "for sale" sign on a 51-foot boat. He bought the boat, and hasn't been the same since. "I loved it," he said, his blue eyes twinkling. "It probably saved my life. Back in the '70s I did drugs. You can't do drugs and sail." "I was there when the motorcycle lifestyle was starting ... but it got to the point when (I thought), 'Nah'," he said. "I didn't like it when it changed. But I love adventure." Jody, 53, met Bob in the late '80s when she was bartending at the Portofino Yacht Club. "I said, 'Wow, I wouldn't want to run into him in a back alley'," she said. "He was rough looking." They've been together for 20 years, married 15. In 1993, the couple set sail for Samoa, the South Pacific, the North Pacific and the Caribbean. He said they sailed 75,000 miles in 10 years, "the equivalent of sailing three times around the world." Lipkin said that when you're out at sea, only 18 to 20 days are spent sailing. After that, they'd anchor and sail through various islands. Since he has always been a writer, Lipkin began another magazine while sailing, called "Latitudes & Attitudes." He recently sold it, but still has an interest in it and writes. They also produce a television show of the same name, but they're looking for a network to run it. He has also published seven books. Through the magazine, the Lipkins started an endeavor called Share the Sail, where readers can sail with to such places as Greece, Thailand, Tahiti, New Zealand, the Virgin Islands and the Pacific Northwest. Lipkin found their property near Berry Creek 10 years ago through a friend, bought it, and built their house six years ago. "We love it in the mountains," Jody Lipkin said. "For sailors, they need open spaces. Sailors love the mountains." The seafaring lifestyle isn't idyllic, the two said. "The picture of it is probably better than the reality," Bob Lipkin said. "It's not the escape people think it is. It's 90 percent boredom, and 10 percent sheer terror." "It's a quiet, calm, free way of living," Jody Lipkin added. Most of the time at sea, their thoughts are on who will keep watch, their schedule, maintaining the boat, whether they've checked in with officials at their next stop, and "what's for lunch." They have met some rough seas, including a 10-day storm. The boat was once hit by a water spout in the Atlantic Ocean. Another time it was knocked down by an 80-foot wave in Hawaii. "When it happens, it may be scary, but that's what you remember," Bob Lipkin noted. "That's the adventure. The adventure begins when something goes wrong." Bob Lipkin has an adult son (his daughter died), six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. When he's home, he spends five or six hours every day working. He doesn't plan to retire, but he does plan to take a motorcycle trip with friends at his 70th birthday. He admitted he's "immersed in sailing." Still, the two enjoy their time at home and on land. "When you're out there and a storm comes in, you prepare for it," he said. "When a storm comes here, we put a log on the fire." "It's nice to have both," she concluded. "I'm thankful to have land and a beautiful piece of the ocean. I love both."

As Gold Medalist Found Out, More Coverage Is Mixed Blessing for Sailing

Ben Ainslie of Britain is on the cusp of becoming among the most decorated Olympic sailors ever. A victory in his Finn dinghy on his home waters of Weymouth at this summer’s Olympics would give him four consecutive gold medals, tying the sailing record of Paul Elvstrom of Denmark. So successful was Ainslie that there was speculation he could lead the British delegation at the opening ceremony in London. One thing could have stopped Ainslie, the clear favorite: his temper. At the Finn world championships in December in Perth, Australia, Ainslie was disqualified from two races after an altercation with a media motorboat driver and a cameraman. The penalty cost him a sixth world title. He was cited under the sport’s Rule 69, a sportsmanship violation akin to receiving a red card in soccer. The penalty led to reviews and investigations by governing bodies in Australia and Britain and by the International Sailing Federation. Britain’s Royal Yachting Association and sailing federation had the power to suspend his eligibility for the Olympics. All eventually cleared the way for Ainslie, 35, to continue his Olympic quest, with the International Sailing Federation announcing its decision last month. But the incident in Australia brought into focus the sport’s relationship with television coverage, which it desperately needs but which sailors have struggled to adapt to. From the current Volvo Ocean race to the America’s Cup and Olympics, sailors’ every move and sound are now being recorded. NBC recently acquired the rights for next year’s America’s Cup, which will be the first one broadcast on network television since 1992. “Sailors are not used to playing their game under the spotlight,” said Gary Jobson, the president of U.S. Sailing and an ESPN and NBC commentator. “Sailors have a long history of salt-and-pepper language. If sailors as a whole want media coverage, they have to be accepting.” Ainslie, having just started his own America’s Cup team, said that the use of helicopters and motorboats to capture the racing was important for the future of the sport, but that “there just has to be clear boundaries and a mutual agreement between the sailors and the media.” According to several international judges, verbal and even physical altercations between sailors in races are not unusual. But the fight between Ainslie and the camera boat at the 2011 world championships was. In the ninth race of the 11-race series, Ainslie was straining as he rocked his boat and pumped the sail rapidly while trying to overtake Pieter-Jan Postma in first place. On the final leg, a camera boat, broadcasting the racing live, weaved in front of him to get a close-up of Postma, and possibly slowed Ainslie’s boat with its wake. Inspection of images of the incident and reports by witnesses revealed that after finishing second in the race, Ainslie raced to the camera boat, jumped aboard, grabbed the driver and shouted at him. He then moved to the cameraman, lifted him, and yelled at him before pushing past and diving into the water to retrieve his boat. In sailing, misconduct is dealt with by the broadly written Rule 69 under the international Racing Rules of Sailing, which deals with competitors accused of “gross breach of a rule, good manners or sportsmanship,” or who “may have brought the sport into disrepute.” Standard rules infractions between boats are handled through written protests by competitors, and are heard by a committee or jury off the water. Rule 69 violations result in penalties given to individuals, not boats, in a regatta. Juries are not required to act on a Rule 69 report, but can initiate a hearing themselves. On shore, Ainslie and the camera crew apologized to each other. According to the event manager in Perth, John Longley, the media boat violated race guidelines for support boats. But the international jury at the championship held a hearing and decided that Ainslie committed “gross misconduct.” The jury disqualified him from Race 9 and the subsequent Race 10, in effect ending his run at the title.

The GPS built JUST for sailing with Bluetooth Wind Monitoring

One of the problems of using GPS chartplotters on a sailboat is that it is extremely difficult to calculate accurate arrival times given the amount of tacking often involved. Now there's a purpose-built Sailing GPS that not only accounts for the tacking that sailboats do, but can can tell you the optimal tacking angles and your Tacking Time to Destination (TTD). Standard GPS chartplotters do not account for the fact that sailboats tack back and forth, so it makes sense that if they don't know your tacking distances, how can they calculate your Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) correctly? The Sailing GPS solves this problem. It displays exactly how far each tack is, how long it will take to sail each tack, and the optimal tacks to arrive earliest. Pretty amazing. You can also use Google Maps to easily mark waypoints, connecting via Bluetooth with the Sailing GPS, which is much easier than manually entering long strings of numbers for the latitude/longitude of multiple waypoints. The Sailing GPS can even learn the unique "polar plots" for your individual vessel. This is not just a generic polar plot for all sailboats of a certain type, or estimates from a simulation - the Sailing GPS learns your unique vessel's actual performance on all different points of sail. It can then calculate your optimal tacking routes and Tacking Time to Destination (TTD). Later, you can transfer the polar plot data via Bluetooth to a PC, if you want to see your boat's unique speed profile across wind angles and wind speeds. SailTimer Inc., the manufacturer of The Sailing GPS, received final patent approval in March of this year for its pioneering R&D. "This technology is a big step forward for sailors" said Dr. Craig Summers, the President of SailTimer Inc.: "People assume that since GPS satellites can pinpoint our location on the Earth, everything shown on a GPS chartplotter must be very accurate", said Dr. Craig Summers, the President of SailTimer, "but if you head upwind on a tack, standard GPS units view your tack as cross-track 'error'." "They also don’t account for tacking distances in your ETA, and even if your speed remains constant VMG decreases all by itself the longer you stay on the tack. In the digital age, sailors need a GPS that displays simple, safe, correct information." The new patent, titled 'Navigational Planning and Display Method for the Sailor's Dilemma When Heading Upwind', was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office this year, and originally filed in 2006. The navigation functions in The Sailing GPS include support for the new wireless, solar-powered SailTimer Wind Vane which will be available this (Northern Hemisphere) summer, offering the ability to continuously update your optimal tacks with real-time wind data via Bluetooth. The Sailing GPS comes with a free waterproof DryPak soft bag with tie-downs. Unlike smartphones and tablets, the Sailing GPS is just as easy to see in direct sunlight, and with polarized sunglasses on. The screen of the Sailing GPS is protected by Lexan, which is very strong and won't break if it's dropped, and ... it floats. The polycarbonate Sailing GPS case is scratch- and UV-resistant, small enough for a coat pocket, and durable enough to remain unharmed with a bit of rough treatment, which is much easier than trying to protect and view an iPad in the cockpit (and the ETA won't go blank every time you tack). The Sailing GPS displays your tacking angles in a diagram and in degrees for each heading, but is not intended to replace a chartplotter. Nevertheless, even fully-equipped cruising yachts will not have the features provided by The Sailing GPS, including the quick and easy display of your optimal tacks and Tacking Time to Destination (TTD). The Sailing GPS costs US$399 and can be purchased online.

Sailing adventures to Greece and the Galapagos

Call it a ‘sail sale’: G Adventures (formerly GAP Adventures) is offering up to 50 per cent off Greek Island sailing adventures, as well as discounts for sailing trips through the Gulf of Thailand, the Galapagos Islands and the Maldives, plus kayaking excursions in destinations as diverse as Crete, Yellowstone and Brazil. It’s all part of the company’s ‘Bazaar’ sale, an ongoing promotion with new deals every two weeks. In the Greek Islands, itineraries range from eight to 15 days on small but comfy yachts - it’s just you, the skipper and seven other ship-mates - from Athens to Mykonos, (April 29 departure), Santorini to Mykonos (May 13), Santorini to Kos (May 6) and more (promo code G12GRKSAIL50). In the Gulf of Thailand, four and seven day itineraries are sale-priced at 20 per cent off (promo code BZ-THAISAIL20). Both the Galapagos and the kayaking trips are on sale to the tune of 15 per cent (BZ-GPS15 for the Galapagos and BZ-KYK15 for kayaking). And the Maldives discount comes in at 10 per cent, for seven-day cruises (BZ-AFMS10). The booking deadline for the Greek Islands sale is April 28, and for the rest, it’s April 9. See www.gadventures.com.

Intrepid sailors prepare for £50,000 fundraising challenge, sponsored by Ramada Plaza Southport

A pair of sailors whose plans for an extreme nautical challenge were scuppered last year due to bad weather are preparing to try again, with backing from the Ramada Plaza Southport. The hotel is sponsoring former Southport man David Summerville and fellow sailor Steve Cockerill as they attempt to cross the Irish Sea in two single handed Laser class dinghies – which are only 4m in length each. The duo had planned to make the crossing last September, but 50 knot gale force winds and a 12 foot tidal swell sadly forced them to cancel their plans. Now, they will be attempting the challenge from mid-April, waiting for a window of good weather before they begin the voyage. Ramada Plaza General Manager Enda Rylands said: “David and Steve will be covering 115 nautical miles during the challenge. They will set off from my own home town of Dublin and finish in Southport, aiming to raise £50,000 for mental health charity Mind and the John Merricks Sailing Trust. “It was a real shame that they had to postpone the challenge last year, but they have had several months to ensure they are at the peak of physical fitness for the challenge, which is a really epic endeavour. “David actually learned to sail on the Marine Lake which the hotel overlooks - so it is very fitting that the Ramada Plaza should sponsor him in this challenge.” David, who grew up in Rawlinson Road and attended Christ the King Catholic High School in Stamford Road, is a championship sailor, winning regional and national titles in the UK and the Middle East. The 53-year-old grandfather of two explained that he was keen to raise money for Mind having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder 16 years ago. “Mind has really helped me control my condition,” he said. “A fellow sailor friend from Dublin has also lost two friends to mental illness, so together we formulated the idea to sail from Ireland to England in aid of Mind. “I have also been a supporter of the John Merricks Sailing Trust for a long time. It helps many young sailors and youth sailing organisations to achieve their goals and fulfil their dreams.” David, who now runs a boat repair business in Hertfordshire, said the date of the challenge would again depend on the weather and tidal conditions. “We will be fully prepared and ready to go from mid-April through to mid-September, which will give us a possible 65 days for the crossing over this five month period.” Enda added: “We wish David and Steve all the very best in their challenge and hope that the weather proves to be kind to them. We’d also urge as many people as possible to donate to the cause and raise thousands for Mind and the John Merricks Sailing Trust.”

Yacht Club Spotlight Erith Yacht Club

Sailing clubs awarded

SOMERSET Youth & Community Sailing Association (SYCSA) and Durleigh Sailing Club have gained full status as a clubs that delivers safe, efficient racing and race training. The clubs were awarded the Volvo Champion Club award at the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace. The award was presented by Saskia Clarke and Hannah Mills from the women's Team GB Olympic 470 sailing team. SYCSA chairman Peter Branson said it had taken three years to achieve the award. He said: “We are so proud of all of our young sailors and volunteers who have helped us achieve full VCC status. “It has taken a while to get there, but now we are there we can savour the moment. We are sure that the publicity will attract more youngsters into sailing.”

Sailors To Attend World Record Regatta In Italy

The 30th Lake Garda Optimist Meeting in Italy runs from 5th – 8th April, and with the largest number of single-class boats in the world taking part, the event will be officially classified as a “Guinness World Record”. Over 1,100 Optimist sailors are already entered to race and e26 nations will be represented including Bermuda. Sailors are entered in the Juniors Fleet for kids aged 12-15 and the Cadetti for under 12 age group. 15 of the sailors have competed in Bermuda recently at the Ren Re Junior Gold Cup and the Bermuda National Championships. While the Bermuda Team of 5 older and more experienced Optimist sailors compete at the IODA South American Optimist Championships in Argentina, The Bermuda Optimist Dinghy Association has encouraged the up and comming Development Squad sailors to attend the Lake Garda Regatta. Youngsters Campbell Patton (11) and Matilda Nicholls (10) are both Junior Squad Sailors from from the Royal Bermuda YC Sailing Academy and Junior Members of Sandys Boat Club. They will be travelling to Lake Garda in Italy to compete in this Guiness World Record Regatta over the Easter weekend. Campbell and Matilda have both won their classes at International Regattas in the past 12 months and have been training hard in the build-up to Lake Garda. Patton won his age group at the Canadian National Championships in August 2011, while Nicholls won the Regatta Racing Fleet at the UK National Championships in July 2012. Their Coach in Bermuda, the Director of Sailing at RBYC, Tom Herbert-Evans said “This is an huge undertaking by these youngsters, they will have an experience of a life-time to be sailing in a fleet rapidly approaching 1,000 boats. Here in Bermuda we think a Fleet of 20 boats is a good turnout, the Under 12 Fleet is ten times that amount…. just image the spectacle of racing against 1,000 boats!” Former Olympian and now Olympic Coach Zizi Staniul will assist the Bermuda sailors on the water in Italy, they will be joining his elite squad of Internatrional sailors from Germany, Poland and Switzerland. After 4 days of practice on Lake Garda just prior to the event, they will compete for 4 solid days against some of the world’s best Optimist sailors. Coach Zizi said “It is important that Bermuda’s talented sailors travel to larger overseas regattas to gain the all important big fleet experience. Development is all about focused practice and gaining experience, many of the World’s top Olympians regard Lake Garda as one of the best sailing venues in the World and the Fleets do not get any bigger than the Lake Garda world record breaking Optimist Regatta! Not only will it be good experience, it will also be very good practice for the 2013 Optimist World Championships at the same venue.”

Job Vacancy At ISAF - Connect to Sailing Administrator

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is pleased to announce that the Training and Development Department is expanding and searching for a new staff member to work at the ISAF UK office in Southampton. This exciting opportunity to join the World Governing Body for the sport of Sailing has come about through the success of the ISAF Connect to Sailing Initiative and the successful applicant will be required to assist the Training and Development Manager with all areas of administrating the various innovative projects that are helping to grow participation in sailing within the 137 countries that make up the membership of the federation. For information on all Connect to Sailing related activity please visit the dedicated ISAF website pages here. Applicants are asked to provide a covering letter stating the reasons that they would be suitable for the job and what makes them suitable a role within International Sport. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing a full employment and formal education history as well as sports related qualifications that can add value to the role as outlined in the description provided on the ISAF website here should be attached to the covering letter. Deadlines for application are 31 April with candidates successfully chosen to come for a formal interview being informed at the beginning of May. If you think you have what it takes or know of someone that may fit the profile then please pass on this information and ask them to contact ISAF via the address provided on the Job Description.

Disabled sports group sails towards fund-raising target

A £500,000 boathouse for disabled sailors is nearing completion. Rudyard Lake-based Sailability needs to raise £90,000 to finish work on the long-awaited store. It will be a dream come true for the charity, which fought a long-running fight for planning permission for the boathouse. The building work has been done by volunteers, who overcame disabilities to help out. They formed a human chain to tile the roof with 14,000 Welsh slates. The scaffolding will come down after the finishing touches have been put to the exterior and a footpath will then be re-instated. Work started in October and the charity hopes it will open by May. Secretary Jackie Griffiths said: "It has been a triumph over adversity. "When we started, we needed just shy of £500,000, and now we are looking for the last £90,000. "We are so tantalisingly close. It is fantastic. We are so indebted to so many organisations and our hard working volunteers. "It has been very moving. In spite of some volunteers being disabled, they have braved the weather to keep the show moving. It has been amazing. "We are now looking forward to the day when it will be finished and we can once again offer gold standard sailing." Members missed out on sailing last year and several of them also saw their hopes of taking part in this year's Paralympics dashed. It came after the charity was refused permission for a temporary base on the lake, which is managed by Rudyard Lake Ltd.

learning to sail in Cornwall

With the Olympic Games appearing on the horizon, one of Britain's strongest medal hopes is triple gold-medal-winner Ben Ainslie, hailed as "Britain's greatest sailor since Nelson". I think of him as I make my way along the jetty in the bright Cornish sunshine, clad in thick waterproofs and a lifejacket, ready to embark on my RYA Start Sailing Level 1. Ainslie learned to sail here in Falmouth, while yards away is the dock where Dame Ellen MacArthur was greeted by thousands of people after breaking the solo round-the-world record in 2005. Years before her, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston also returned here to a hero's welcome. My friend Fiona and I may not incite such heady levels of excitement among Falmouth's locals as we take to the water, but we can dream. Majestic ships The sun is blinding and the air is crisp, while the wind is a steady force 4/5. We start with a classroom session on safety and the principles of sailing before being transported, along with our instructor Chris, to Goldie, moored on a nearby pontoon. Goldie is a keelboat – a 20ft keeled sailing boat, ideal for beginners because of its stability. We spend the first 30 minutes getting the feel of Goldie under motor, taking turns to manoeuvre it under the gaze of the majestic ships being repaired at Falmouth docks. Fiona and I master steering – or pushing the tiller the opposite way to the direction we want to go. Finally, we hoist the sails. With the mainsail and the jib (the foresail of the boat) raised, we switch the throaty motor off to be greeted by a welcome stillness. The sails catch the wind, snapping and cracking before filling and propelling us along, silently. Falmouth unfolds in front of us, sprawled along the coastline. High on the hill is the prepossessing Observatory Tower – our home for our stay and the town's highest point. Behind us, the Carrick Roads waterway reaches the open sea. The first lesson is tacking: turning the bow of the boat through the wind to alter its course. I am at the helm and I call: "Ready about," as instructed, which prompts Chris and Fiona to take up position on the jib sheets (the ropes attached to either side of the jib). I shout: "Lee ho," push the tiller away and Goldie's nose turns through the wind. We duck, in readiness for the boom swinging overhead. Fiona releases the jib sheet and Chris hauls his sheet in on the other side. There is something very therapeutic about this. We happily tack all morning, swapping roles and barely noticing the sky growing ominously black. Before lunch we are pelted by a short, sharp hailstorm, but it fails to dampen our enthusiasm. After warming up with a welcome Cornish pasty, we tackle the art of gybing – turning the stern through the wind to change course. Chris teaches us to bring in the main sheet and, heads down, we complete a gybe. We continue to tack and gybe our way around a series of buoys under a brooding sky, but, as we head towards Trefusis Point, a squally wind hits us, heeling the boat over sharply and propelling Chris and Fiona across the deck. Fiona's look of horror subsides as Chris adjusts the main sheet and Goldie returns to a more pleasing angle. Buzzing, we return to the pontoon and learn how to secure Goldie for the night. Panoramic views As for us weary sailors, we seek respite in Falmouth's five-storey Observatory Tower, an incredible former meteorological tower built in 1868. It has been recently refurbished as a self-catering property, with wooden floors, nautical lights, reclaimed fittings, funky weather instruments and a lavish wet room and bathroom. But the icing on the cake is the fifth-floor lounge, with its panoramic views over Falmouth, taking in the seas we have sailed – and miles beyond. We feed our raging appetites with a tasty fish-and-chip supper from nearby Harbour Lights. We eat, drink and watch, mesmerised, as the port is transformed into a mass of twinkling lights. Stunning morning Rejuvenated, and buoyed by another stunning morning (not to mention homemade porridge cooked on the sleek Neff hob), day two has us practising our tacking and gybing. After a couple of hours, we head to nearby St Mawes, rounding its handsome castle 45 minutes later to carefully manoeuvre Goldie alongside a buoy. On land, we sit outside the Rising Sun pub supping hot soup, our cheeks glowing. We sail back to Falmouth, the impressive form of Pendennis Castle welcoming us home as we glide past. Right on cue, a rainbow appears. It is not quite what Ellen MacArthur must have felt on her return, but it must be close.

Sailing Club Spotlight Thorpe Bay Yacht Club

Hobie 18 going 20 MPH

Australian Sailing Team looks to London and beyond

Defending world champions, returning Olympic Gold medallists and stars for the future have all been named in the 2012 Australian Sailing Team, racing against the best sailors in the world in the coming year. While the focus is firmly on the year’s two major events, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Australian Sailing Team athletes will compete at world championships, European championships and ISAF Sailing World Cup events around the world. The 2012 Australian Sailing Team features 20 athletes competing in eight Olympic and two Paralympic classes, with the European season beginning this week with sailors competing in the RS:X World and Finn European Championships. Included in the Australian Sailing Team are the six athletes who have already booked themselves a seat on the plane for the London 2012 Olympic Games. Triple Laser world champion and current world number one, Tom Slingsby, will continue his campaign towards the Games having most recently stood on the top step of the podium at the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships last December. Slingsby will be joined in the team by fellow world number ones and 2011 world champions, Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page. Belcher and Page have kicked off their year in style, winning the recent ISAF Sailing World Cup round in Miami, the first time an Australian crew has won an Olympic class at the event in its 22 year history. The 49er crew of Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen round out the current Australian world champions, with the pair picking up their second title together, and Outteridge’s third, in Western Australia just before Christmas. They will be keen to continue a great run in Weymouth, once the Games comes around, having been undefeated in the four regattas they have contested there so far. Jessica Crisp is the final sailor who is already confirmed for London 2012. The windsurfer to contest her fourth straight Olympic Games and her year begins with the 2012 RS:X World Championship in Spain this week. Yachting Australia High Performance Director, Peter Conde, said that after a very successful 2011, the Australian Sailing Team will be out to push both themselves and the competition over the coming year. “With the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games just around the corner, attention is firmly focused on Weymouth, but for the Australian Sailing Team, every regatta they contest is an important opportunity to monitor their progress,” Conde commented. “This year there is a good mix of youth and experience with Olympic gold medallists and world champions combined with up-and-coming champions and I’m looking forward to what will be a busy year on and off the water.” This year, 470 Women's team Elise Rechichi and Belinda Stowell, are both returning to the team, with Rechichi back for the first time since 2009 and Stowell since 2004. The pair, who teamed up just prior to the Perth 2011 ISAF Sailing World Championships, qualified for the team following their ninth place finish on home waters. Rechichi and Stowell, gold medallists in 2008 and 2000 respectively, are busy preparing for their first European campaign together as they work towards booking themselves a place on the team for London 2012. The Australian Sailing Team will feature Women’s Match Racing crew - Olivia Price, Nina Curtis and Lucinda Whitty - continuing towards representing Australia at the one and only Women’s Match Racing appearance at the Olympic Games. Getting off to a strong start with a silver medal at the Sailing World Cup in Miami, 2012 is another busy year ahead for the trio. Krystal Weir qualified Australia in the Laser Radial class and aims to get herself to a second straight Olympic Games after competing in the three-person Yngling class in 2008. Australia has great depth in the Laser class, with three sailors in the team for 2012. While Tom Slingsby continues to hold down the world number one spot he’ll be racing with two team mates this year, with Tom Burton and Ashley Brunning also joining the Australian Sailing Team. This will be Burton’s second year in the team after debuting in 2011, with the Sydney based sailor qualifying for 2012 with his top 10 finish in Perth. He’ll be joined in the Laser class by Brunning who is making his debut in team after a great finish to 2011. Brunning finished seventh at Perth 2011, his best ever result at a Laser world championship after being in the mix all regatta. Two Paralympic crews have qualified for the 2012 Australian Sailing Team after having strong performances at January’s IFDS World Championships in Florida. Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch continue to develop as a crew in the Skud 18 class, winning Bronze at the IFDS Worlds, their second straight third place finish at the event. The pair then went on to win Gold a week later at the Sailing World Cup in Miami. A new addition to the team this year is the Sonar crew of Colin Harrison, Stephen Churm and Jonathan Harris, who finished fourth at the IFDS World Championships, an impressive result in their first ever regatta together. Harrison is no stranger to the team, having won Silver at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games and will be keen to take a new crew to the podium in London.

Hunter's Yard cabin yachts sail into 80th year on Norfolk Broads

In the past few days the "lovely ladies" of Hunter's Yard, as they are affectionately known, have slipped back into the water of the Norfolk Broads - ready to embrace another season of visitors looking to adventure on the Broads in the style of a bygone era. Celebrating their 80th anniversary, the boats are the only fleet of traditional Norfolk Broads mahogany cabin yachts and day boats powered by sail alone still operating on the Broads. Cared for by the Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust, the 20-strong fleet is lavished with attention during the winter months by a small group of dedicated craftsmen at Hunter's Yard, based on its own dyke off Womack Water near Ludham. Continue reading the main story History of Hunter's Yard Percy Hunter, with his two sons Cyril and Stanley, designed, built and launched the first two cabin yachts of the fleet in 1932. The fleet grew before the outbreak of war, with the last two boats completed in the late 1940s. The Hunter family operated the yard until 1968 when it was sold to the Norfolk County Council and renamed the Norfolk County Sailing Base. In a need to make savings, the council decided to sell the yard in 1995 and break up the fleet, but a group of people agreed to form a trust to keep the fleet intact. On 1 April 1996 the Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust took over the yard, thanks to £100,000 of public donations and a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £200,000. It re-established its original name, Hunter's Yard. As spring arrives, so does the delicate job of coaxing the "ladies" from the warmth of the boat shed back into the water via a wooden slip so they can be rigged and ready for Easter. 'It's magic' Jennifer Mack, granddaughter of the yard's founder Percy Hunter, has watched the annual launches since the mid-1940s. She said: "Every time I come in the spring and see the boats launching it's magic. Gleaming varnish, the wake-up of a new season and the start of another flourishing year - with luck, it's very special. "During the season I remember my father [Cyril Hunter] was always a bit worried when the boats were due back in case they were damaged. "If they were he'd often rush home and borrow my hair dryer so he could repair them, dry off the varnish, and get them back out as quickly as possible. At this time of year, all those memories come flooding back to me." Lifetime experience Little has changed in the boat shed since it was built by Percy Hunter & Sons in 1933. A heady aroma of sawdust and varnish hangs in the air as if suspended in time, the walls are densely packed with rigging, blocks and tackle - all lovingly hand-crafted and labelled with old-school brown swing tags showing the name of the boats to which they will be fitted for the new season. Looking after the fleet has "been a lifetime" for Tom Grapes, 82 Tom Grapes, 82, started working in the yard in 1947 after serving with the Royal Marines. He retired a couple of years ago but still spends many happy hours at the yard surrounded by a lifetime of memories of Percy Hunter's "lovely ladies". "I worked with them for so long over the years, it was just a way of life - the years just rolled by. No sooner are you pulling them out at the end of the season, you're getting them all refitted and back in at spring," he said. "With these boats you just fall in love with them and that's it - you try to look after them the best you can. When Percy Hunter designed them he so got it right. You can sail one up the river and they'll spin round on the spot. "I worked 21 years for Percy, he used to be in the top of the shed with his old pipe going - always surrounded by a cloud of smoke. He was a real gentleman to work for. "It's been quite an experience looking after the fleet, it's been a lifetime." 'Overwhelmed and humbled' Jennifer Mack with her father Cyril Hunter (left) and grandfather Percy Hunter at Hunter's Yard in 1947 With plans to expanded private moorings at Hunter's Yard to help generate income, the running of courses in keel boat sailing and the ongoing hire business, Jennifer Mack is confident the family fleet will be navigating the tranquil waters of the Broads for years to come. "We have this niche market that's amazingly good. They [the clients] can't have a motor and don't have electricity, so it's gets them away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday world. If we can still appeal to them it'll be the best way to go forward. "Most of the time when I come here I ask myself what would Percy, my father and uncle think about everything. "I think they'd think like I do - absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by the massive support we've received."

Sailing Club Spotlight Reading Sailing Club

New 5 Series Brands Next Generation of Catalina Sailing Yachts

Catalina’s new designs, coined the Catalina 5 Series, is the new generation of Catalinas, a deliberate move to brand the line to a higher level of performance, finish, engineering achievement and sophistication. There are currently four models in the Catalina 5 Series, the Catalina 445, 385, 355 and 315 ­– cruising yachts that are designed and built in the United States with custom features not found on many of the world’s sailboats. The move created mass appeal in the global sailing marketplace. “When the first two yachts in the 5 Series, the 445 and 355 won awards, we knew that we had designed not just two new models in the line, but a whole new line of yachts with award-winning features that represent Catalina’s next generation of fresh, contemporary yachts,” reported Gerry Douglas, vice-president and chief designer for Catalina. In the new 5 Series, there is a bold emphasis on strength; a five-part construction with a dedicated structural grid insures ruggedly-built boats that stand up to the test of time. Design features unique to Catalinas are a watertight StrikeZone™ collision bulkhead forward; DeepDefense™ rudder system for failsafe steering, and a T-Beam MastStep™ structure, with all the benefits of a deck-stepped mast and the strength of a keel-stepped mast. The SecureSocket™ mast support/chainplate system facilitates perfect load resolution and watertight integrity. Knitted fabrics create a stronger laminate without additional weight. Catalina’s trademark lead keels absorb impact for safety and require less maintenance than other materials. “When we bought our boat, we found that we got more boat for the money than any of the other manufacturers we looked at,” reported Alan Valliere of Coventry, Rhode Island, who, along with his wife, Glenda Aronhalt, bought a 5 Series boat, the Catalina 385. “The more we looked, the more we liked it. Solidly built, smartly designed and functional, but with the rich, traditional style. Every time we looked at it, we found one more little detail that we thought made sense, from the deck layout, storage areas, mechanical and electrical systems and layout, to the large roomy cockpit, big enough for me to sleep in during overnight sails. We were impressed with how solid and strong the boat feels when walking around, as well as details like the metal doorframes and solid wood interior,” he said. On deck, low profile cabin designs have a sleek appearance and low windage, and a durable diamond non-skid pattern adds the element of safety. Ergonomically correct cockpits are optimized for efficiency, with great visibility from the helm. Internal flange hull-to-deck joints are capped with slotted toe rails, and wide deck designs allow effortless movement forward. Oversized travelers and winches ease sail handling in all conditions. All Catalinas larger than 30 feet are built to robust standards—rated CE category A Ocean, NMMA Yacht Certified, and follow all applicable American Boat and Yacht Council Standards. Catalina’s philosophy is straightforward: Design boats that stand up to real world conditions and sail well. They must be comfortable above and below, easy to maintain and hold their value. A commitment to owner satisfaction has enhanced customer confidence and loyalty, so that Catalina has become one of the most prominent builders of sailboats in the United States and the world. For more information, visit www.catalinayachts.com.

Sailing now on offer at Easton College, near Norwich

The Easton College Sailing Club was launched today with a celebratory event at the Whitlingham centre. Since last April, around 80 young people have enjoyed sailing at Whitlingham, many for the first time, through the RYA’s OnBoard Programme aimed at making young people regular sailors. Through funding from Sportivate, the RYA and the college, young people from the college undertook a six-week course last year, and have been able to continue sailing through a regular Wednesday club, which started again for the new year today. The college hopes that students will take an active role in the running and management of the club. OnBoard co-ordinator for East Norfolk, Holly Hancock arranged the link between the organisations, and said: “It’s great to see young people enjoying learning to sail. I look forward to the club going from strength to strength.” Over a 10-year period OnBoard aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting over 10pc of them into regular participants. Meanwhile, James Humphreys, a student on the college’s BTEC sport course, began sailing last year, and has enjoyed the experience so much he is now pursuing a career in outdoor education to put his new found skills to full use, rather than taking a physiotherapy degree.

Sailing under threat at Pitsford Reservoir if the drought continues

NORTHAMPTON Sailing Club has welcomed news of the impending hosepipe ban as water levels at Pitsford Reservoir remain “worryingly” low for this time of year. Anglian Water announced on Monday that a temporary hosepipe ban would begin on April 5 for the first time in 20 years, following the driest 18 months for a century. Pitsford Reservoir should be almost full at this time of year, but after two dry winters, levels are at 60 per cent and water treatment operations are working at half their normal capacity . Water sports principal at Northampton Sailing Club, Sam Green, said the hosepipe ban was desperately needed: “The water at Pitsford is the lowest it has been for a good few years and although we have been pumping extra in and it has been moving up it is not like it would normally be at this time of year. “Usually it would be full and it is nowhere near that at the moment. It is quite worrying. “If we get to summer and the water is still really low then sailing won’t be able to go ahead in the same way as normal.” Anglian Water last month warned it might have to shut down the treatment works at the site entirely if levels continued to drop and compromised water quality. The company was granted a permit from the Environment Agency last year to continue taking water from the River Nene at Duston Mill despite the low water levels. However, this runs out at the end of next month and is unlikely to be renewed because of the impact on the environment. Meanwhile, Northampton Garden Centre in Newport Pagnell Road revealed it was stocking up on water butts, which will help residents collect rainwater. Deputy manager Nigel Davies said: “Water butts are more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective than hosepipes and rain water is also much better for plants than water from the tap. “The hosepipe ban is important because we need to protect the water for drinking supply.” At present the ban will only apply to domestic use of hosepipes for things like gardening, washing cars and windows and filling paddling pools, with businesses and other commercial operations not affected.

Ten Tips to Make You a Better Sailor!

What top ten sailing tips will help you enjoy sailing in the most fun and safe way? You might be surprised to know that it all starts long before you step aboard your sailboat. Use these little known secrets for day sailing, weekend cruising, or for coastal and offshore sailing. 1. Pack the Right Clothes. There's a saying that goes something like this "There is no such thing as bad weather-only bad clothes". Makes a lot of sense-in particular in a dynamic environment like sailing. Put together a small duffel bag with the "must have" sailing gear. Include a foul weather jacket, complete change of clothes, wide-brimmed hat. That way, if you get spray or rain or stay out longer than expected, you will stay dry and warm (or cool) in most any sailing weather. 2. Bring Your Own "Grab Bag". Make up a personal "must have" bag. Match the contents to the type of sailing you do. Your grab-bag will be the one thing you grab in an emergency. If you need to leave the boat for any reason, you need common items like extra keys, wallet, cell phone, change, and identification in order to get home safe and sound. Pack your personal grab bag now to give you peace-of-mind for safer sailing. 3. Carry a Sailing Knife. Sail World carried a tragic story a short time ago about a young teenage girl. Her sailing dinghy capsized. She had attached herself by a hiking harness to the boat. When she capsized, the boat turtled (turned over--bottom up) on top of her. She was unable to untangle herself from the harness and drowned. It's understandable that folks tend to shun knives and similar equipment on their belts. It's a bit weighty, adds bulk on a hot day, and many like to sail unencumbered. Find a small compact knife that will fit into a sheath or has a clip that will fasten to your sailing shorts. Carry it when you go sailing. Not below packed in a bag--but on your shorts or pants. If you need to use it for cutting rope or in an emergency, it will be with you, ready in the blink-of-an-eye. 4. Build Up Wrist Strength. Did you realize that wrist injuries and soreness plague sailors? You use your wrists to steer the boat, crank on winches, hoist or lower sails, lower or raise the anchor, move forward or aft on the boat, or brace yourself below in the cabin when heeled over. Use a soft ball like a tennis ball and squeeze; hold for ten seconds; release. Repeat this while you walk or sit several times a day. This simple exercise will help build up this often-forgotten vital muscle fast and easy and lessen the chance of injury aboard any sailboat you sail aboard. 5. Listen to the 24-hour Weather Forecast. Expect to be out longer than you plan. Turn on the Weather Radio and listen to the forecast for the next 24 hours. How will the wind shift? Will this create a long hard slog to windward back to the marina slip or pier? If you go out for a day-sail, consider sailing to windward early on so the sail back will be an easy reach or run. Look for anchorages along your sailing route in case the weather turns foul. Become weather wise to keep your sailing fun and safe for you and your sailing crew. 6. Know Your Anchoring Techniques. No piece of vital sailing gear gets ignored more than the boat anchor. Make sure that the anchor aboard any boat you sail on will be ready to lower within 10 seconds. Check the parts of the anchor from the bitter end of the anchor rode where it ties to your boat, all the way down the rope rode, anchor chain, anchor shackles, and all parts of the anchor itself (ring, shank, flukes). Keep this #1 life-insurance gear in tip-top shape for worry-free sailing worldwide. 7. Inspect Your Sailboat from Bow to Stern. Start at the bow and check the anchor, lifelines, turnbuckle fittings, cotter pin integrity, standing rigging like boom vangs, traveler lines, mainsheet and Genoa sheets. Look for chafed line, missing cotter pins, bent anchor shank or distorted turnbuckle barrels. Take five minutes to check your boat before you get underway to save you the headache of an unexpected fitting failure underway. 8. Use Nautical Charts Along with Electronics. Read the opening screen of any electronic GPS or chart plotter and the disclaimer warns about total reliance on that gear. Purchase the paper charts you need for your sailing area. If you day sail, carry aboard a large-scale (magnified) chart of your sailing grounds. If you coastal cruise, you need navigational charts of the coastline, approaches to harbors, and inner harbor areas. Offshore sailors need the same and more. Paper charts back up the electronics. Electronics can never replace paper charts. Stay safe and sound when you carry the paper charts you need for sailing safety. 9. Practice Boat Maneuvers and Control. Spend part of each sailing day and practice one specific maneuver. Toss a fender overboard and tack or jibe to see if you can sail your boat up to the fender, stop alongside the object with the sails luffing, and retrieve the object. The more your practice intricate maneuvers the better you will be at sailing in tight quarters, turning your boat around in an emergency, or coming alongside a float, pier, or mooring buoy under sail alone. 10. Read and Learn About Sailing Each Day. Legendary sailor and author Hal Roth once said "A good sailor is always studying and learning and asking questions". Whether you are stuck in a place far from the coast, waiting for winter to end, or find that you just don't have time for sailing right now--never, ever stop learning. Each day, set yourself a goal to learn something new about sailing. Learn a new sailing term, read up on the latest sailing equipment, or visit a sailing forum like Sailnet or Sailing Anarchy to see what experienced sailors have to say. Discover something new each day to become more comfortable and confident in sailing. Follow these ten top sailing tips for smoother, safer, more fun sailing. This will give you the confidence and skills you need to enjoy one of the life's greatest pleasures--wherever in the world you choose to go sailing! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6907548

Sailing Club Spotlight Hykeham Sailing Club

Boaters risk fines for sailing out of UK waters

New laws, which come into force on April 1, will require anyone moving into international waters to sign a declaration that their boat is not being powered by red diesel. The changes, being brought in at the insistence of the European Commission, will cause huge problems for up to 1 million recreational boat owners. Red diesel – diesel containing a red dye – is used by farmers and commercial fisherman at a lower rate of duty. It is also used by around recreational sailors and yacht owners. However since November 2008, have had to pay a full rate of tax for the fuel as a result of an EU Directive. But this has failed to satisfy Brussels, which is now seeking to outlaw the use of red diesel by recreational sailors, although Britain has been allowed to retain its use in domestic waters. The changes have alarmed the yachting community, which says using “white” – or unmarked – diesel will cause a raft of problems for weekend sailors. “White diesel is not currently available from the vast majority of marine suppliers in harbours and marinas,” the Cruising Association has warned. “It is not feasible to install a second tank and pump for white diesel in many of these locations. Where it is feasible, the proposed timescale is not sufficient to make the necessary changes in time,” In addition the white diesel currently available in Britain contains biofuel, which has been found to cause a number of problems in marine engines, including blocking filters. The potential engine damage poses “significant additional safety risks”, the Association has added. According to the Association, many owners will have to lie when they sign declarations saying that they are not sailing into international waters using red diesel, a situation which it described as “totally unacceptable.” It also voiced fears that the change will also deter foreign boat owners coming to Britain. According to the Royal Yachting Association the biggest risk of punitive action comes from Belgium where the authorities are likely to impose fines for the unauthorised use of red diesel. The French, Spanish and Irish have not imposed fines on UK boaters found to be using red diesel on which duty has been paid. A spokesman for the Royal Yachting Association voiced doubts about the changes. “The RYA does not believe that the continued use of duty paid marked red diesel in the UK constitutes ‘improper use. “The RYA gained specialist taxation advice to support recreational boating’s case. It has made that case to HMRC, the EC and the Belgian authorities directly and through a number of other channels, and continues to do so.”

Extreme Sailing Series - Thrilling opening Act

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2012 final day of Act 1 got underway today, 2nd March, in Muscat, Oman. There were massive Omani celebrations at The Wave, Muscat as Oman Air and The Wave score a one-two, squeezing out the French team of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild who had finished every day but the last on top. Going into the first Act of the Extreme Sailing Series 2012, the all-French team of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild led by Pierre Pennec were favourites on paper and few would have predicted the final outcome that saw Morgan Larson’s team on Oman Air triumph in their debut here in Muscat, Oman. Four teams were in contention for the podium going into the final double-points race – the new Danish entry, Team Trifork, won the race, but Oman Air did enough to secure victory after an intense battle with the favourites. Leigh McMillan’s team on The Wave, Muscat muscled their way into the two-way fight and raced brilliantly on the final day to finish second overall ahead of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild with Austria’s Roman Hagara (Red Bull) in fourth, having been just one point behind the French going into the final race. Fleet racing on the final day in Muscat - Extreme Sailing Series 2012. Act 1 - Lloyd Images_© 'It’s an amazing feeling! It was a challenging week and obviously our learning curve was quite steep,' said Larson. 'But this was really hard racing and any team could have won going into those last couple of races and we were just lucky they went well for us.' Morgan Larson’s team that includes four-time Olympian Charlie Ogletree and Max Bulger from the States, Britain’s Will Howden and Omani Nasser Al Mashari competing in his second Extreme 40 season, held on to a marginal lead from the opening race today but in the fourth race of the day the pressure mounted… Pushed over the line at the start, Oman Air had to restart and trailed the fleet, Larson’s team finished seventh leaving them on equal points with The Wave, Muscat and Groupe Edmond de Rothschild two points adrift. In the next race, won by Loick Peyron’s team on ZouLou, McMillan’s team finished ahead of their teammates and pulled ahead by one point. By the end of the penultimate race the two Oman Sail teams were back on equal points going into the final double-point decider and Pennec’s team had to win the final race with Oman Air and The Wave, Muscat finishing no better than sixth place. It was too tall an order for the French favourites who managed to get ahead of their rivals to finish the race in second but Oman Air crossed the finish line in third to clinch overall victory after four days and 29 races. 'Surely I feel disappointed about not having sailed well today,' said Pierre Pennec, skipper, Groupe Edmond de Rothschild. 'But this is the nature of the sport and even if this sounds strange, I feel very happy about this week’s competition. I really enjoyed being on the water and despite the fact that this is my fourth year in the Extreme Sailing Series, we have learned a lot in these last few days. My new crew sailed here for the first time and they have shown great human, mental and technical potential.?I think it’s fantastic that the two top crews here in Muscat are the local teams. They are going to be seriously competitive this season.' It proved to be a thrilling opening Act to the season and, after five years of Extreme Sailing Series competition, there is a feeling that 2012 is going to be one of the closest yet. 'It’s up to us to catch up and be competitive in China because the goal is to win overall. Third is still a good result – it could be worse! It’s a warning for us,' said Hervé Cunningham, tactician Groupe Edmond de Rothschild. Next stop China – Act 2, Qingdao 17th-20th April. Extreme Sailing Series 2012 Act 1, Muscat, Oman standings after Day 4, 29 races (2.3.12) Position / Team / Points 1st Oman Air (OMA) Morgan Larson / Will Howden / Charlie Ogletree, Nasser Al Mashari, Max Bulger 165 points 2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Ed Smyth, Pete Greenhalgh, Hashim Al Rashdi, Rachel Williamson 159 points 3rd Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA) Pierre Pennec / Jean-Christophe Mourniac / Hervé Cunningham / Bernard Labro / Adeline Chatenet 155 points 4th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans Peter Steinacher, Matthew Adams, Graeme Spence, Pierre Le Clainche 148 points 5th GAC Pindar (GBR) Ian Williams / Mark Ivey / Mark Bulkeley, Adam Piggot / Andrew Walsh 138 points 6th ZouLou (FRA) Loick Peyron, Philippe Mourniac, Jean-Sébastien Ponce, Bruno Jeanjean, Antoine Joubert 111 points 7th Alinghi (SUI), Ernesto Bertarelli, Tanguy Cariou, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey, Pierre-Yves Jorand 109 points 8th Team Trifork (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Kostner, Pete Cumming, Simon Hiscocks, Jonas Hviid 95 points

Sailing Club Spotlight Notts County Sailing Club

Local sailing team prepares for this summer's Paralympic Games

St. Petersburg, Florida -- Jen French's love for the water all started with a date. "My husband took me windsurfing on our second date," she says. Her sailing teammate, Jean Paul Creignou, started on the water when he was a child in Europe. "When you go sailing, you just step out in the water and you're in a different world right away," says Creignou. "It's just very peaceful." What they say brings an extra challenge to their sport is sailing with a disability. "We can go out sailing and actually racing against able-bodied people. We're all treated the same," French says. This summer, these St. Pete sailors are going to London, representing the United States at the 2012 Paralympic Games. Every four years, the games take place in the same location that hosts the Olympics. And the Paralympics come with the same prestige. "You have to find the right teammate that can help each other out and compensate for each others disabilities," says Creignou. The teammates both started honing their craft individually before developing a disability. They agree that paralympic sailing takes a certain amount of innovation. After suffering a spinal cord injury in a snowboarding accident years ago, Jen now uses a lifting harness to move her from the dock into the boat. She also uses sideguards from a wheelchair that were modified by a local welder in order to stay rigid in the boat. A few years ago, after finding it challenging to research adaptive resources for her own injury, she co-founded a nonprofit called Neurotech Network. It helps expand education and access to medical technology for people with disabilities. Meanwhile, Creignou is legally blind due to a degenerative condition. But disabilities aren't even noticeable as they glide and battle the wind on the water for hours at a time. "You really have to have a love for the sport," French says. And they do, no matter what splashes get in their way.

Sailing Club Spotlight Southampton Sailing Club

Extreme Laser Sailing

Buoyant sailing school launches new boats

A SAILING school that has taught thousands of youngsters the skills of getting afloat in Bristol has launched four new boats. The racing vessels were put onto the water at the headquarters of the West of England Schools Sailing Association (Wessa) during a ceremony at Baltic Wharf. Donations of more than £10,000 had allowed Wessa to increase its fleet of sailing and power craft. The school's spokeswoman, Gill Hannan, said: "We have formed a Bristol racing squad, which can take part in regional and national competitions. The new boats mean we can now develop the racing potential of our young people. "They will allow our promising young sailors to compete at regional regattas, as well as in national events organised by the National Schools Sailing Association, giving our club sailors something to which they can aspire." She said team racing involved two or three boats being raced against a similar number, with those sailing them working together to beat their opposition. It brought tactics, good communication and team work into play, as well as the sailors having to know the rules of sailing "inside out". The money needed for the boats came from health insurance firm Simply Health, which gave £5,000, and pound-for-pound match funding from Sport England. A further £750 was donated by a private trust fund. Wessa is a registered charity and voluntary organisation that promotes sailing among school children in Bristol and the surrounding area. It is run by a voluntary management committee and has been in operation for more than 30 years, in that time teaching 15,000 students aged seven to 19 to sail. In the 1980s it took over the Bristol Sailing School, which now operates as the trading arm of the organisation to help fund Wessa activities. In recent years it has also broadened its scope to incorporate Bristol Sailability, which was set up to help people with disabilities to learn sailing. Wessa is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association as a training and Sailability centre and aims to provide water-based coaching and recreation to the widest range of ages and abilities as possible.