Sail Scotland brings results for marine tourism

A REVAMPED Sail Scotland is delivering results for marine tourism, according to a survey just published. Sail Scotland, the national marketing organisation, is one of the core bodies behind the development of the National Marine Tourism Strategy – "Awakening the Giant". A new report highlights the progress made by Sail Scotland over the past two years including increased membership which has grown by over 30 per cent, bringing total membership to over 60 businesses, and revenue up by over 70 per cent. Supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Sail Scotland aims to attract more domestic and international sailing visitors to Scotland. Originally set up in 1994, Sail Scotland has seen a positive turnaround in the last two years since the appointment of chief executive Daniel Steel. Sail Scotland launched a new website earlier this year which forms a central part of its activity and includes information such as news about sailing in Scotland, tides, navigation and events. Mr Steel said: "We have fantastic members and a strong, committed industry board. "Over the past two years we have strengthened governance, grown revenue streams, built new strategic partnerships, created a new digital platform, and delivered international marketing campaigns generating over a million pounds of economic benefit to the Scottish economy. "We have just been voted as the best sailing destination in the world. "We will not be resting on our laurels though. We have big plans for the next few years as we bring the entire marine industry together to work with one voice to market Scotland globally." Ian Philp, development manager at HIE, added: "Funding from HIE has enhanced Sail Scotland. Having a well organised board and a chief executive who has produced great results has enabled the industry to have a louder voice. "It has also brought together a fragmented industry of small businesses and relevant organisations and opened up sailing in Scotland to an international audience as well as national." Last week, it was also announced that Scotland was voted the World’s Best Cruising Ground in the prestigious Sailing Today Awards – beating the warm weather destinations of Greece, Turkey, Canaries, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Blind sailor from Washington wins sailing silver medal at world championship

Blind sailor Chris Albert has brought home a silver medal after representing Britain in a racing world championship. The 49-year-old, who lost his sight in 2008, was part of a four-man GBR blind sailing crew, which competed at the Blind World Fleet Racing Championship in Chicago this month. He was sailing in the B3 class and was handling the mainsheet of the boat. The crew also included another visually-impaired sailor, who was at the helm, and two members who could see. They took part in a number of races, competing against teams from countries such as America, Canada and New Zealand, and came away with a silver medal overall. Team Great Britain also secured the Squadron Cup for their combined performance across all sections. Chris, of Washington, said he had suffered an injury before he set out for Chicago. On top of that, the sailing conditions were challenging during the competition. He added: “We spent the first day just trying to get used to the vessel - a Chicago Match Race Tom 28 boat. We had never sailed in it before. “And the weather conditions were very challenging. It was quite windy and there were 7ft waves washing through the boat. “The most difficult thing was to cope with the varying conditions and getting the communication right, especially in the strong winds when you can’t hear each other’s voice. “We put tactics in place to deal with different situations. “I’m absolutely over the moon that we won a silver medal as well as the Squadron Cup. We were up against tough competition with teams from around the world. “And considering the fact that I had a trapped nerve in my neck before the event, I think we didn’t do badly.” Chris, who used to work as an automotive and aerospace engineer, lost his sight as a result of diabetes. He had a number of laser treatments to try and stop the deterioration but to no avail. He is classed as severely visually impaired. However he did not let his condition stop him from taking up sailing. He bought his own boat and joined the South Shields Sailing Club around two years ago. Chris, who now works for South Tyneside Council and helps to educate children with sight or hearing problems about modern technology, wants to encourage youngsters to take up sport. He said: “I hope to inspire children to try different things and get them interested in sailing.”

Student who could not walk to spend a year at sea sailing around the world

Three years ago, student Ana Downer-Duprey could not walk. A car crash had shattered her body and she had certainly never set foot on a yacht; yet this afternoon, the 22-year-old, from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, will sail away from St Katherine’s dock in London to spend a year on the high seas. Ms Downer-Duprey is one of the youngest crew members ever to have attempted the challenge of the biennial Clipper race, in which a dozen yachts sail 40,000 miles in a circumnavigation of the globe. The vast majority of those taking part in the race, which has eight stages, opt to complete just a part of it. But she is going all the way round. After the first stage ends in a month in Brazil, the race takes in South Africa, Australia, Vietnam, China, the US, Panama, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. The finish is in London next July. Ms Downer-Duprey is one of many taking part who have never sailed before. To say she’s had a rough few years would be an understatement: her plan had been to study sports coaching at university but four years ago she fell during a rugby-training session, leaving her with a brain injury and left leg paralysed for six weeks. She dropped out of college and suffered from depression. Less than 18 months later, during a trip to see her father in Trinidad, she was involved in a car accident. “I had multiple fractures to my hip, broke my pubis, shattered my shoulder and I hit my head again,” she said. “I went back to forgetting things and was in a state of confusion; my confidence went again.” She has come a long way since then. “Physically I’m pretty good, although I still get some pains from the breaks especially,” she said. “The thing that really affects me most is the brain trauma; I still get confused and sometimes have a bit of trouble understanding what people say. My short-term memory is not great She found a job at the River Café restaurant in London and was slowly getting her life back when a poster she saw on her way to work one day prompted her to give up her job and move back in with her mother in Gloucestershire. “I just saw an advertisement on the Underground and it said something like: ‘Adventure of your life’ and ‘no experience necessary’, and that’s what really got me, because I have no experience. I called up straight away.” The “experience of a lifetime” does not come cheap; it costs £49,500 to do the whole route. In Ms Downer-Duprey’s case, her father has lent her the money, which she plans to pay back over the next five years. She stepped on to a yacht for the first time a few months ago. “I loved the boat, it looked amazing ... I was a bit in awe of it,” she said. Since then she has completed four levels of training, encompassing everything from how to tie knots to sea-survival skills, yacht maintenance and racing tactics. “It’s been a very steep learning curve; I have had to learn everything very quickly.” There were low points, particularly when the crew were practising the watch system they will use at sea. They work in shifts, spending a few hours on deck throughout the night. “I got so tired and was thinking ‘What am I doing?’ I’m getting tired, I have no personal time,” she said. But Ms Downer-Duprey managed to pull herself together, partly motivated by the money she wants to raise for charity during her trip. “I said to myself: ‘You’re doing this, you’re going round the world – go for it’.” She is one of 21 crew who will be on the Visit Seattle yacht, skippered by Huw Fernie. For all the training, the fact remains that she is still very much a rank amateur. The longest she has spent at sea has been six nights and the furthest she has sailed has been from England to France. “It’s going to be intense. It’ll be good and it’ll be bad; it’ll be an experience,” she said. “My biggest fear is probably personal injury, because of my history, and that I won’t be able to continue with the race because something happens.” Missing her friends and family is another concern. “I’m not too worried because I think my team will support me. I know them really well and get on with them really well, and feel like I have got a big support system on board,” she added. The Clipper Round the World Race, which began in 1996, is bigger than ever this year: about 700 crew from 44 countries are taking part. It is also the “longest around the planet”, according to its founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first sailor to make a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. “The race has always attracted a high proportion of novices, who are not necessarily into sailing but looking for an adventure far removed from the comforts of everyday life,” he said. “About 40 per cent of the crew members have never set foot on a sailboat before.” Selling the dream of ocean adventure has proven profitable for Sir Robin. His company, Clipper Ventures plc, has more than £23m in assets, including more than £2.5m in cash, and made more than a million in profit last year, its latest accounts reveal. But money is not the motivation for those who take part. As far as Ms Downer-Duprey is concerned, the race is about recovery. “I think it’s going to be life-changing for me. I’ve had quite a low confidence and feeling of self-worth since the accident,” she said. “Going round the world, and sailing, and really having to know myself, I think I’m going to come back with the self-confidence that I should have had originally. “And then I’ll feel really good about myself, because I will have accomplished something.”

'Ladies wanted' to enjoy some relaxed sailing in the Bay with Torbay Royal Yacht Club

THE LADIES of Royal Torbay Yacht Club have started weekly sailing evenings with the aim of introducing more women into the world of sailing. Organiser Julia Waddington said: "The idea is to get as many women out on the water as possible in an enjoyable, fun and friendly way. "We don't plan on doing any racing, there are no exams to pass or tests to revise for, we just have several lovely boats and keen female skippers looking to share their love of being on the water. "It's informal, and there will be no shouting on board. "There is no need to commit to each session, so even if you just come along for one sail we're sure you'll love it so much you'll want to come again." The first evening sail took place on Monday, August 3, and ladies will be able to enjoy regular Monday events, beginning at 4pm, right into September. There are plans for ladies to meet in the winter, too. "We are also thinking of how we can get together throughout the winter and still keep up our fitness – so that we can be ready for next year's sailing season," said Waddington. "All women are welcome – whether experienced or complete novices – and all they need to bring is warm clothes, soft non-slip shoes and a waterproof top. "They do have to be members of RTYC for insurance reasons – but there are substantial membership discounts available currently. The cost per session is just £10 to cover fuel costs, repairs and a kitty for an end-of-season night out. For more information, please email organisers at carolineaisher@hotmail.com or Jules.waddington@btinternet.com.

‘Confidence boosting’ sailing trip for Rougham twin girls who fought cancer

Gracie and Megan Garwood, aged 10, of Rougham, enjoyed a four-day yacht adventure with 24 other young people recovering from cancer around the Solent on the south coast. The pair finished treatment in February 2012 for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) at Addenbrooke’s Hospital after each being diagnosed in the space of about a week in September 2009. The sailing trip, organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, allowed them to spend some t ime apart on separate yachts so they could each develop their confidence. Their mum Emma, 44, said: “Being identical everything they do is together. Before they went on the trip we had a conversation about putting them on separate boats and it was a really big thing. “They so benefitted from having a bit of time away from each other and to be with other children who’ve had similar experiences. When we picked them up they were just buzzing and said ‘we’ve only seen each other twice in four days.” While both admitted to being nervous before the trip, Gracie said she enjoyed the sailing and being the given the chance to steer the boat. Megan said she ‘made loads of new friends’ and felt ‘comfortable with others who understand what you have been through’. The trip followed a family holiday to Spain - their first holiday abroad in three years and is part of their journey back to normality. Mrs Garwood said: “At the school summer holidays we wouldn’t have done half of what we’ve done this summer because of having to stay close to home. “Our lives did go on hold for probably a couple of years and you don’t appreciate how normality is quite nice. “It seems like a life-time ago we went through all that. “They’re doing so well now. In the last couple of years they’ve really come into themselves - especially at school with their learning and confidence. They’re just like normal little 10-year-olds.” The twins plan to carry on taking part in activities with the Trust, which offers young people, aged eight to 18, who are in recovery from cancer, the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing. Visit www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org

New Shannon class water jet lifeboat arrives at RNLI Montrose station

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's (RNLI) Shannon class vessel is powered by water jets rather than traditional propellers. The boat has now arrived at the charity's Montrose station in Angus. The cost of the lifeboat was bequeathed to the charity by supporter Ruth Grant Smith who died in 2005 She left left money to fund an all-weather lifeboat to be named after her husband Ian Grant Smith. The new lifeboat is 50% faster than RNLB Moonbeam, the vessel which has been used by Montrose crews for the past 25 years. Water-jets allow the vessel to be more manoeuvrable, able to operate in shallow waters and be intentionally beached Ray Wilkie, lifeboat operations manager said: "We're very pleased to finally have the Shannon on station so that the crew can really get to grips with the new boat." Coxswain Scott Murray said: "The new boat is faster and more manoeuvrable than Moonbeam and the way it handles is very impressive. All this means that we'll be able to reach casualties more quickly." Each Shannon costs £2.1m and has an operational lifetime of 25 years but the life expectancy of its hull and wheelhouse is 50 years.

10 top tips for shorthanded sailing – from leading British Figaro sailor Alan Roberts

We sailed with UK solo sailor Alan Roberts at Cowes Week 2015, where we were able to glean some valuable advice for the growing fleet of sailors that are taking to shorthanded sailing. Solo sailor Alan Roberts had the best British result in the Solitaire du Figaro in June 2015 Credit: Mark Lloyd During Cowes Week 2015, I had the chance to sail with rising star Alan Roberts on his 33ft Magma Structures sonspored Beneteau Figaro. Roberts finished 9th in the gruelling Solitaire du Figaro earlier this year, the best result for a British skipper in the last 40 years. Here are 10 top tips he gave during our day together. 1. Use processes. Think through every manoeuvre you will do, what the process is and practice it. 2 Have checklists. When you are tired, your thought process doesn’t work well. So I have checklists printed out. ‘I’m going slowly, what should I do?’ Check stack is up; stack more? Is trim correct? etc It is useful to be able to revert to basic trim settings, where you know you should be at a certain speed and trim. Basic ones like this I print off, the rest are on my computer. 3. Get to know your autopilot. Getting the trim of the autopilot right so the boat can sail quickly, and having confidence in it, is key. This year [during the Solitaire], I probably hand-steered 10 per cent of the race – the top guys maybe five per cent. 4. Consider emergency procedures. I spend a lot of time thinking about worst-case scenarios. “What happens if I lose the rig or keel? How will I stay safe? How will I keep the boat afloat? If so, can I finish the race and achieve a good position.” I don’t want to find myself in a scenario where I am tired and in an emergency without having thought about that process. I carry an EPIRB PLB and an AIS PLB on me at all times, plus a Gerber knife, electrical tape and a 2m length of Dyneema so I can lash or fix most things quickly. Sail ties always live in the companionway in case emergency lashing is needed. 5. Have a positive attitude. When sailing solo you don’t have someone to motivate you, to bounce ideas off. So you have to have the right attitude, and stay motivated. (“Choose your attitude” is Roberts’ motto, inscribed on his navstation). Keep cool. Don’t get frustrated. Everyone has bad days. 6. Self-preservation is key. There is no point going really quickly for 24 hours if it means you will go slow for 90 hours. Balance your energy levels; it is better to take a little speed hit before attempting a big manoeuvre. 7. Talk to others. Learn from their experience. Roberts, who speaks Spanish and French, has been trying to fit in more with the French Figaro sailors. French sailor Gildas Morvan, for example, has done 20 Solitaires, more than all the Brits put together this year. who have accumulated 18 in total. 8. Be prepared. There is a lot you can do in advance. Tides can be researched a year in advance, along with what channels to use for local forecasts etc. I started prepping for the June start of the Solitaire in January, looking at local effects, tides and weather. I like to run of lots of routings on Adrena using different wind strengths and directions to give an idea of best routings. The other side of preparation is food, accommodation, rig checks and system checks. 9. Calibrate your running rigging. All my lines are marked, including for different conditions so that I can quickly grind them in and know it’s at the right setting. 10. Keep records. Throughout my training I record everything I can. I always have a camera on me and shoot looking up at the mainsail and jib to see sail sections, then the spreader calibration, kicker area, in-hauler area and picture the aft area to see mainsheet, traveller and backstay settings. I record all these to compare trim and speed settings once ashore. I keep a record of any rig changes and rudder changes I make during racing, noting the time, date and reason for change. So even if I’m really knackered I can see why I made each change. It helps remove any random factors.

Crowds expected at Nithraid event in Dumfries

Thousands of people are expected to watch a boat race along the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway this weekend. Sailing boats will race from the Solway Firth to Dumfries as part of the Nithraid on Sunday. It will be a test of skill and stamina for those taking part and it has been organised by local artists' collective The Stove Network. They have invited families, art lovers and sailing fans to watch the spectacle from the banks of the river. A pop-up village will be built on Mill Green in Dumfries. There will be sails designed by a young artist, as well as music and stalls selling local produce. The Salty Coo, which has become a symbol of the race, will also feature. A procession will carry it from the High Street to Mill Green, where it will be ceremonially dunked in the river once the first boat crosses the finishing line. Stove curator Matt Baker said: "Nithraid developing from a first idea to now being part of the town calendar is something The Stove Network is properly proud of. "4,500 people around the river at last year's event was an amazing spectacle and showed just what an asset the Nith is for Dumfries. "Nithraid 2015 promises to be an amazing public artwork and another amazing day."

Woman sets sail after cancer treatment

A young woman who has battled cancer set sail on a new adventure in Scotland on a four day yacht expedition. Amber Aspinall, 22, from Todmorden took part in an inspirational sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, along with 14 other young people in recovery from cancer. She joined the crew of one of the Trust’s yachts, to sail on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. For Amber, who finished cancer treatment in May 2014 for Medullablastoma at The Christie Hospital, this was her first time sailing with the Trust. She said: “Despite first day nerves, it was soon like everyone here was a great big family. I loved meeting everyone here, meeting other young people who have had cancer makes you feel normal again.” Sailing onboard 42-48 foot cruising yachts, the Trust trips provide a chance for the young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment, encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking. “When we played rounders, I ran for the first time in two years, the first time since I was diagnosed. This trip has played a big part in convincing me that I can do whatever I want as long as I put my mind to it.” During the trips, the Trust fleet navigates the waters of the Firth of Clyde, making various stopovers including Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute, the National Sailing Centre at Great Cumbrae and back to Largs, giving the young people the opportunity to test their new skills on the water. Launched in 2003, the aim of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is to give young people in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing. In its 12th year, the Trust has grown beyond every expectation into a national charity.

Ainslie starts British bid in Portsmouth

Sir Ben Ainslie will begin Britain's bid to win the 35th America's Cup as the opening leg of the series gets under way in Portsmouth. The Olympic champion's team Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) hopes to be the first British challenger to win the trophy. A four-day event in the city will open with a sailing parade later, with racing taking place at the weekend. Six teams will battle it out at Word Series regattas around the world ahead of the final races in 2017. Sir Ben told BBC News: "There's so much history with this cup, 1851 it started around the Isle of Wight and we've never won it in Britain. "That's what we're all working towards with our team, to right that wrong, and get the trophy back here where it belongs. "For us to now go out and race in front of our home crowd is absolutely fantastic. "[The crowd] is going to be pretty wowed, these fly over the water. Everyone's going to be going for it 100% and it will be an amazing spectacle." Events have also been scheduled in Gothenberg, Sweden, in August, and Bermuda in October. Four to six regattas are expected in 2016, including a second event in Portsmouth in July. The last America's Cup took place in San Francisco in 2013 Defenders Oracle Team USA - which Ainslie helped to win the cup in 2013 - will also take part, as well as crews from Sweden, France, New Zealand and Japan. Their overall placement will affect the seeding and starting score they take into the America's Cup qualifier events in 2017. Following the opening ceremony in Portsmouth later, practice racing will follow on Friday when teams will familiarise themselves with the race course. Competition takes place on Saturday and Sunday, culminating in the "Super Sunday racing showdown". The headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing was recently completed in the city The event is expected to attract up to 500,000 spectators. A race village has been set up in Southsea Common and will provide a free viewing platform and large screens during the event. Organisers said the course is "amazingly close to shore". There will also be an on-water spectator area for small boats.

Woolverstone Project celebrates 20 years of helping disabled people to sail

On the face of it, sailing is something of a physical activity, requiring patience, dedication and a bracing pair of hardy sea-legs. But the Woolverstone Project in Suffolk has spent the last 20 years dispelling that myth, with its extraordinary band of volunteers who have turned taking to the water into an opportunity of a lifetime for so many disabled people. Formed in 1993, the Woolverstone project began life as a branch of the Royal Harwich Yacht Club. The brainchild of then commodore Margaret Howard, she was keen to provide the opportunity and facilities for any person, with any disability whatsoever to take up sailing. But with the huge popularity the project received, it became its own registered charity in 1995 and now 20 years later, it is still a centrepiece hobby for hundreds of youngsters. “When the people who started it dreamed it up, they didn’t know a thing about disabled sailing,” says senior instructor Peter Hibberd. “They got their initial experience through working with the Thomas Wolsey School, and we have grown with the help and experience of people like the Thomas Wolsey.” Be it sensory difficulties or physical limitations, the project is proud to say that it has never turned anyone away, and as a chat with senior instructor Peter Hibberd reveals, there are no signs of work on the project letting up soon. “We have a fleet of various specially designed boats allowing people to sail whatever their disability,” he says. “From 2012 to 2014 we saw a 45% growth, with 1,500 sailing opportunities from 237 sessions increasing to 2,178 opportunities from 264 sessions. “We are proud of this because sailing is a great leveller. Our specialist boats allow sailors the freedom of sailing on the same basis as any able-bodied sailor.” One of the schools to work with the Woolverstone Project regularly is Stone Lodge Academy in Ipswich, where staff have been impressed by how much the sailing tuition does for their pupils’ confidence. Claire Hale, PE co-ordinator at the academy, said: “We have been coming every year for the last 10 years or so. We have got eight of our older children on six or seven week sailing courses and the instructors are fantastic because our children have moderate learning difficulties and they work with them so well. “They can listen and learn from other adults, and the confidence they get is invaluable – last year one parent couldn’t believe her son had taken to the water and sailed by himself.” Now for its 20th year as a charity, the Wheelyboat project has been launched to help the club acquire a new state-of-the-art craft that will transform the way they can help disabled people go sailing. Allowing those with wheelchairs easier access, the Wheelyboat will complement improvements to the pontoon at Alton Water to get more people out on the water at a time, and join other recent acquisition Venture, which gets more people out on the water, and has greater stability to prevent capsizing. Mr Hibberd added: “It’s a fantastic boat, and it extends the bounds and the variety of the sailing experience we provide.” For a first taste of the new boat, the club appeared at the East Anglian Boat Show at Woolverstone Marina in June, where the Wheelyboat made an appearance. And to kick off the 20th anniversary celebrations, a special event was held in May to launch the Friends of the Woolverstone Project, and included the Seamark Nunn Cup which saw teams from 10 local sailing clubs take part in a race to help raise money for the cause. As part of the Friends, supporters will be helping to maintain boats and safety equipment and help the project develop new opportunities for young and adult sailors, while the Friends themselves can attend regular events, help provide assistance and keep up to date with the project’s work via a newsletter. But it is clear how much the opportunity to sail means for many people who thought they may never have been able to take part in such activities. It’s a fact that is not lost on patron and TV personality Paul Heiney, pictured left. “I have been lucky enough to sail for most of my life, so I know the deep sense of freedom that comes from being on the water, and the satisfaction it gives,” he said. “I have seen people return from trips, and even though they might not be able to speak the words to express it, the look of triumph on their faces says it for them.” Indeed, such is the project’s established place in the community, that in 2003, the cause received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee award for services to the community, and it is the community feel that Mr Hibberd feels is at the heart of what the project is all about. He adds: “The way we all feel is that we all realise we are part of one big community – there’s no definition for someone to be a part of the community whether they are disabled or fully able. Equality is our watchword.” But with the way the project has gone from strength to strength, they are always on the lookout for volunteers, regardless of their experience. For anyone interested in volunteering, or to find out more about the project, visit woolverstoneproject.org.uk

Moray pupils sailing to international success in boat race

Pupils from a Moray public school are hoping to sail to victory in an international boat race after triumphing in its first leg, from Belfast to Norway. Seven youngsters from Gordonstoun boarded the school’s 80ft Ocean Spirit of Moray vessel to compete in the 2015 Tall Ships Race, organised by the Sail Training International group. The crew defeated more than 50 other teams to cross the finish line in the contest last Friday, reaching the town of Alesund on the Norwegian coast. The group, which boasts seven students among its members, sailed 707 nautical miles at an average speed of 8.1 knots. Related Articles The crew is now journeying through Norway’s famous fjords and will embark on the second leg of the race on Saturday, July 25. Teams will depart from Kristiansand, in the south of Norway, to Aalborg in Denmark. Gordonstoun skipper and sail training coordinator Ian Lerner said: “The trip has been pretty tough, we had some very strong winds and very rough seas. “But the crew all worked very, very hard to help us win a fantastic first leg.” Gordonstoun principal Simon Reid added: “It is excellent to hear of the success of our students in the first leg of the Tall Ships Race. “Taking part in something as unique as this is a wonderful opportunity for them, and we are all really proud of their achievement. “The race is a great way for young people to learn teamwork and it’s a great adventure.” Sail training has been part of the Gordonstoun curriculum since the school was founded in 1934. The Ocean Spirit of Moray yacht is owned by the school and is mainly used for sea training. Students undergo a programme of seamanship on the school’s locally built cutters at Hopeman harbour prior to taking part in week-long voyages on the Ocean Spirit of Moray.

Two Belfast teens recovering from cancer get a taste for sailing thanks to Dame Ellen MacArthur

Danielle McGriskin and Craig Lindsay took part in a sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust After months of gruelling treatment, two Belfast teens recovering from cancer were given a treat on the high seas. Danielle McGriskin and Craig Lindsay were both invited to take part in the sailing trip organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust which was set up to give young people in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing. The pair joined 13 other young people to make up the crew of one of the Trust's yachts for a four day adventure on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland earlier this month. Danielle, 18, from Lisburn, finished cancer treatment in January last year for a Grade 2 Astrocytoma Tumour at Bristol Children's Hospital. This was her first time sailing with the Trust and she said it had been brilliant. "We've sailed around some beautiful islands and worked together very closely – we've really become like one big family," she said. Craig Lindsay, 20, from East Belfast, finished treatment in June last year for Testicular Cancer at Belfast City Hospital. He said the trip had given him a taste for sailing and helped him move out of his comfort zone. MORE: "Check yourself - I am living proof it can happen at any age" says East Belfast teen who survived testicular cancer "This trip was recommended to me by my social worker from CLIC Sargent who knew I was going through a tough time and thought it would be beneficial to meet people my own age with cancer," said Craig. "I've got a taste for sailing now – I've gained confidence by speaking openly with others about cancer. To be out of my comfort zone with people who have been through similar experiences has been great." Craig Lindsay Craig Lindsay Sailing onboard 42-48 foot cruising yachts, the Trust trips provide a chance for the young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment, encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking. During the trips, the Trust fleet navigates the waters of the Firth of Clyde, making various stopovers including Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute, the National Sailing Centre at Great Cumbrae and back to Largs, giving the young people the opportunity to test their new skills on the water. Launched in 2003, the aim of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is to give young people in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing. Dame Ellen, who tries to spend a day on as many trips as possible, said: "The mental and social fall-out from cancer can be just as devastating as the physical illness. Everything we do is about building confidence, self-esteem and having fun together." In its 12th year, the Trust has grown into a national charity, taking young people aged between 8-24 who are recovering from cancer on four-day sailing trips.

MSP makes a splash at St Mary’s Loch

Borders MSP John Lamont visited St Mary’s Loch Sailing Club to see – and christen – the club’s new RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) rescue boat. During the visit, which took place during the club’s annual training camp for junior members, Mr Lamont was taken out on the rescue boat. He also watched some of the training sessions and met sailing instructors and junior sailors. The club was able to buy the boat as a result of funding from Awards for All Scotland. Club commodore Alison Robertson Morrish told The Southern: “The RIB will be particularly useful in enabling instructors to get much closer to sailors to highlight teaching points. “It will be used on a regular basis for training and coaching purposes, and will be of great value during our annual summer camp, which we run for younger members (eight to 16-year-olds). We are currently working with RYA Scotland with a view to running a youth regatta for sailors across Scotland in 2016. “In addition to supporting the training needs, the RIB will provide us with improved rescue cover.”

Marazion Hosts Major Sailing Contest

Mounts Bay Sailing Club in Marazion has announced it will host the Neil Pryde UKLA National and Open Laser Championships in August. The competition will be intense when the three Laser fleets start their National Championship races on Sunday 2nd August at 12 noon. The week-long event involves two Olympic sailing classes of dinghy, the Laser Standard and the Laser Radial so the standard of sailing promises to be very high indeed. The third fleet involves the 4.7 fleet which is for younger or lighter sailors and will include some of the stars of the future. Approximately 200 of the single handed dinghies will be taking to the waters with two races scheduled for each day with a midday scheduled start on the first day and 1100 each day thereafter until Friday 7th August. The boats are strict one design dinghies and as identical as manufacturing tolerances allow, meaning that tactics, boat handling skills and fitness are paramount in all three fiercely contested fleets. Entrants will be travelling from all corners of the British Isles to sail in Mount's Bay and already there are entries from New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Serbia and a large contingent from Ireland. In addition to the three types of boat participating there are a number of other categories of competition within the racing relating to age and experience and there is even a family prize which will involve parents and their offspring competing in their respective fleets. Local interest will focus on Denzil May (Mount's Bay SC) who is the current Masters National Champion and a National Youth Champion in the 1990's. Denzil will be a strong contender for the overall trophy in the Standard fleet and he is shortly off to Canada to compete in the World Masters Championship so he will certainly be "match fit" by the time the local event starts. Mount Bay SC member John Woolcock, who usually sails in the warm waters of Dubai (UAE), will be worth watching as he usually features at the front of the fleet. Other local contenders include Kian Andrews (Mount's Bay and Penzance Sailing Clubs) who is a young sailor with a very bright future. Kian has been making impressive progress over the last couple of years and Nick Stoten (Mounts Bay SC and Nick Downing (Penzance SC) are also expected to feature in the Standard fleet. The other fleets have entries from Mylor, St. Mawes and Restronguet Sailing Clubs so there is a strong local participation as well as a national and international interest. The sporting action is also supplemented by a full social programme to ensure that the competitors fully enjoy their visit to West Cornwall and Marazion and the warm welcome and keen competition has resulted in Marazion being a very attractive destination with a worldwide reputation for top class dinghy championships.

Windsurfer Cameron Coghill helped by council grant

A talented windsurfer is one of the beneficiaries of a Nottinghamshire County Council grant that helps to fund athletes at the highest level. Cameron Coghill, 18, of Bleasby, who has been competing for eight years, first received support from the Sports Fund six years ago. His mother, Julie Coghill, said: “The grant is a small but useful contribution and helps towards the cost of travelling equipment and entry fees. “Cameron has been in the national squads for the past five years and competes regularly around the UK and Europe, so something like this can be vital.” Coghill, a member of Notts Sailing Club, was 34th in the Youth Men Open Trophy at the RSX European Championships in Sicily, the second-highest British competitor. He will next be in action at the World Championships in Poland later this month. The council grant totals £400 and talented athletes who have represented their country in a sport recognised by Sport England in the past eight months can apply. Other athletes in the Advertiser area to have received funding include 16-year-old tennis player Dominic West, of Newark, ranked 800th in ITF Junior Tennis. Another windsurfer to have received help from the fund is Emily Hall, 17, a member of the British Youth Sailing team, who has represented her country at both the World and European junior championships. Joyce Bosnjak, chairman of the council’s grant aid committee, said: “Our Sports Fund grant schemes play a vital role, both in creating opportunities for people to take part in sport at a grassroots level and through funding our most talented athletes. “Nottinghamshire’s reputation as the sporting county is well deserved, but it’s important to remember that the success being enjoyed by our athletes and teams does not come about by accident. “Only through the dedication and hard work of our athletes — and just as importantly, their families, coaches, clubs and schools — has the county been able to enjoy the level of success that it has in recent years. “I am proud that Nottinghamshire County Council continues to value sport and play an important role in helping local athletes and clubs succeed, as it has for many years.”

COWES-BASED GIRLS FOR SAIL TO APPEAR ON SKY 1 SERIES

Cowes-based Girls For Sail, the UK’s only sailing school dedicated to teaching women to sail, is to feature in new Sky One series, Fright Club. The show, with the backing and support of psychologists, aims to help members of the public face down their fears. And the episode featuring Girls For Sail founder and sailing industry expert Annie O’Sullivan will air on Wednesday (24th June) at 20:00. The six-part series takes ten people who have agreed to face their fears using exposure therapy and introduces them to expert mentors and psychologists who help them to recover from their anxieties. Girls For Sail founder Annie, who is based in Cowes, was chosen by producers at production company Maverick TV for her experience in training novice sailors to become confident and comfortable on the water. Her mentoring programme with Girls For Sail has taken beginners from their first moments onboard all the way to trans-Atlantic sailors. She has trained thousands of women to sail since the company launched in 1999. Annie will feature in episode four, entitled WATER, where she helps two people to overcome their aquaphobia. She said: “It was incredibly rewarding to be able to help people face their fears and learn how to enjoy being around a body of water. “It was different from my day job of training women to sail but the same techniques of calm and careful tuition matched carefully to their needs on the day provided great results. It was a whirlwind action packed and surprising emotional experience.” A spokesman for Fright Club creators Maverick TV said: “Fright Club sees people with the same crippling phobia join forces to overcome their fear once and for all. “Each week ten fellow sufferers will take part in an extreme form of exposure therapy. They have just three days to tackle their fear head on but if they succeed it will change their lives forever.” In WATER Annie works with the group and two psychologists, Richard Reid and Becky Spelman, to help those overcome their fear of water. In this episode, ten people who are so terrified of water that they won’t walk by a river, get in a boat or, in some cases, can’t even watch nature programmes on TV if they include scenes of rivers and lakes, try to overcome their phobia by teaming up to fight the fear. To do this they, and the rest of the group, will tackle real-life jobs that will bring them into close contact with water – under the watchful eye of sailing expert and mentor Annie – manoeuvring a canal boat through a lock and undertaking professional lifeboat training in storm conditions. Finally, they will go out sea. Annie added: “In my everyday life I work with groups of strangers who all turn up to a sailing event full of anticipation, eager to learn and who leave refreshed and rejuvenated realising that they can do it. Fright Club was the same only the stakes seemed much higher. “As a yachtswoman, I regularly work with people who fear something and there is nothing more rewarding to have helped that person feel more confident as a direct result of your help. “The principles we applied to helping the group overcome their fears of water are the exact same ones we use onboard, everyday. The positive group dynamics helped each individual. It was fascinating to watch each person face their fears head on and beat them bit by bit.” Girls For Sail celebrates sixteen years training women to sail and race in the UK, across the Atlantic and in the Caribbean. Thousands of women have learned to sail with the Isle of Wight firm since its launch in 1999. For more information about Girls For Sail visit www.girlsforsail.com.

Sutton Mill Adventure base sailing open day for Cerebral Palsy with RYA

Sutton reservoir is hoping to welcome some new visitors in a special initiative backed by the national sailing body. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA)supported by London 2012 Paralympic medalist and British Sailing Team sailor Niki Birrell, is hoping to get more people with cerebral palsy into the sport. On Saturday 4th July from 10am, The Mill Adventure Base is opening its doors for people with cerebral palsy to have a go at sailing as the centre runs free taster sessions in specially adapted boats. The Mill is a recognised RYA Sailability centre aimed at introducing people with disabilities into the activity and encouraging them to sail regularly. Born with cerebral palsy, Niki, now 28, is a five-time world sailing champion, and, with his sailing partner, Alexandra Rickham, is currently training towards Rio 2016. Niki said: “Sailing is one of the few sports where people with disabilities can compete on a completely level playing field as able-bodied people. The Mill’s cerebral palsy taster day is being supported by CP Sport, the country’s leading national disability sports organisation supporting people with cerebral palsy to reach their sporting potential. The Mill Adventure Base is a purpose built, urban adventure centre which is part of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Outdoor and Environmental Education Service and conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. If you are an individual, family or local community group interested in getting involved in The Mill’s taster sessions call 01623 556110 or email:Outdoor.environmental@nottscc.gov.uk for more information or to book a place for the day. For more information about RYA Sailability visit www.rya.org.uk/sailability.

The Lizard lifeboatman to complete 900-mile solo sailing challenge

A MEMBER of the Lizard lifeboat crew is taking part in the Jester Baltimore Challenge single-handed yacht race from Plymouth to Baltimore in Ireland. Simon Fayers will then sail to a position just off the continental shelf, a round trip of almost 900 nautical miles, in his 26ft yacht. Simon, 53 and an experienced sailor who owns his yacht, Shebeca, has been a member of the lifeboat crew for years. He has taken part in a number of single-handed races but this time he will be completing his challenge without any electronic navigational aids, only using a sextant and compass. Mr Fayers hopes to complete the challenge in less than ten days, during which he will be celebrating his 54th birthday. He is also raising money for the lifeboat and the Fishermen's Mission. He said: "I've wanted to sail out to the continental shelf, where there's little commercial shipping, for a long time. "I always thought it would be really good to learn how to navigate using only a sextant, and this challenge was what spurred me on. "As a lifeboat crew member we get called to yachts which have been disabled and are unable to use their electronic navigational aids. "I think it's great to be able to use just the basics of a sextant, compass and chart." He is due to leave the Helford River on board Shebeca on Wednesday to sail to Plymouth before the race starts on June 14. Donations can be made at www.uk.virgingivingmoney.com/simonfayers

Hannah White sets Guinness World Record for solo crossing of English Channel

Hannah White has become the fastest person to cross the Channel in a single-handed dinghy. She completed the gruelling task in a foiling Moth. Starting from Cap de Gris in France, she landed in Dover, England, after crossing the 24 mile English channel in a record time of 3 hours, 44 minutes and 39 seconds. Hannah, a relative beginner in hydrofoil sailing, only started to learn how to master this unique boat in February. Training for this Channel crossing challenge is a precursor to her ultimate quest: to break the Women’s Speed Sailing World Record over one nautical mile next year in a unique, purpose-built sailing hydrofoil. A keen adventurer, Hannah has previously sailed the Atlantic solo three times, participated in the gruelling Haute Route Cycle Race across the French Alps and kayaked 205 miles across the rivers of England. She has been a Land Rover Global Ambassador since 2013. Hannah White said: “I’m much more used to an arduous 3000-mile slog across oceans as opposed to a 24-mile sprint across the Channel, so the transition has been a real eye-opener. Speed sailing requires a very different physiology to long distance races, so this was really an opportunity for me to build my skills over a shorter distance in a hydrofoiling boat”. Mark Cameron, Jaguar Land Rover Global Experiential Marketing Director said: “This Channel crossing highlights Hannah’s incredible ability to push herself beyond the limits of normal capability. As a global ambassador for Land Rover, Hannah embodies all the characteristics that are so central to our brand; strength, determination and an ability to go above and beyond.” Hannah will be attempting to break the Women’s Speed Sailing Record over one nautical mile in the first quarter of 2016 in Speedbird, her state-of-the-art, unique hydrofoil sailboat. Land Rover is collaborating in the development of the Speedbird boat, drawing from its unparalleled innovation, engineering expertise and industry-leading facilities to ensure the boat is capable of breaking the current world record. Hannah will be exhibiting the Speedbird boat at the Cardiff Act of the Extreme Sailing Series on the 18-21 June 2015.

Miss Isle sailor completes Capital Venture voyage

Inspirational disabled teenager Natasha Lambert has completed her voyage from the Isle of Wight to London using sip-puff technology. The young cerebral palsy sufferer, who is on a fundraising drive to start new sip-puff school for disabled sailors, reached central London’s only marina, St Katharine Docks today. Now the 17-year-old athertoid cerebral palsy sufferer, will swap her specialist boat for her Hart Wallker to complete a journey on foot around the Square Mile of the City of London. Natasha left her home port of Cowes on Saturday 23 May and sailed up the coast past Dover to reach London in her Artemis 20 Mini Transat boat Miss Isle, equipped with sip and puff technology designed by her father.The technology enables Natasha to manoeuvre her using a straw that turns the rudder right when sipped and left when puffed. Miss Isle’s Capital Venture aims to raise funds for a new charity being set-up to teach disabled people to sail using sip and puff technology at the ‘Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff sailing’. The event finale will be a charity fundraising reception held at St Katharine Docks. Capital Venture is the latest in what is becoming a long list of achievements for Natasha. In 2014, she undertook the ‘Sea and Summit’ challenge which saw her sailing more than 500 miles from Cowes to South Wales and climbing Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. William Bowman, marina director at St Katharine Docks, said: ‘Natasha is a truly inspiring youngster who is raising awareness and money to create a new charity to help others with disabilities to learn to sail. ‘We would like to wish Natasha and her team every success, and are only too pleased to host the London leg of this fantastic challenge.’

Challenger sailing group given equipment boost

A HELENSBURGH sailing group for people with disabilities received a boost recently when it was given new equipment which will help members make better use of the water. Members and helpers from the Challenger Sailing group met to receive the launching trolley, which was made by Babcock Enterprises and given to the group free of charge. The trolley works by helping to launch the boats into the water and has a dolley wheel at the front, which allows for better manouevering into the water. Chris Jones, chief instructor at Helensburgh Sailing Club, said the new equipment would be a boost to the existing facilities at Helensburgh Sailing Club. He added: “Sailing is the only time they can compete on a level ground with able bodied people because once they’re in the water their disabilities don’t matter. “We cover a wide range of disabilities and we also have four men from the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme which is going to help out the users.” Helensburgh Challenger Group is a registered charity which was first formed 30 years ago and is the only group of its kind in Scotland. It currently has about eight active sailors and provides a range of facilities to enable disabled people to swim, including an RIB (rigid inflatable boat) – a kind of dinghy which the group purchased last year thanks to funding from the lottery, Waitrose and some contributions from local clubs. The RIB allows the instructors to go into into the water before the sailors so that they can guide the sailors back to shore if they get stuck. Aside from a team of instructors, the group also receives help from volunteers from schemes like the Duke of Edinburgh. Joanna Martin, the current chairwoman of the Challenger Sailing Group, said sailing was ‘therapeutic’. She added: “It’s absolutely a good thing to be involved with, it’s very social. "We hold a range of fundraising events throughout the year and have had barbecues as well as a swishathon, a ladies clothes swap event.” Joanna was a keen rower before she had an accident about nine years ago which put her in a wheelchair. She said it had been great to get into sailing. She added: “The trolley will be able to launch the boats into the water so it’s obviously something which we’ll be able to use for a long time to come.”

Stone dad takes well-earned rest during sailing challenge around the UK

DAD Michael Goodwin will take a well-earned two week rest as part of his bid to sail around the UK to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. The 59-year-old, from Stone, is one of a group of sailors taking on the challenge which is due to be completed in 2016. The team set off from Southampton on May 17 and has so far made it to Harwich, in Essex. Now the group will rest for two weeks before continuing on to Felixstowe, in Suffolk, on June 14. Michael – whose son Daniel, aged 34, suffers from Cystic Fibrosis – hopes to raise £6,000 for the charity.

Disabled teenage sailor, Natasha Lambert, is en route to London for her latest daring charity challenge.

In her specially-adapted boat Miss Isle Too, Natasha is sailing 231 miles to the centre of London.

Natasha, aged 17 from the Isle of Wight, set sail on Saturday, 23 May, from her berth at Cowes Yacht Haven, heading east towards the mouth of the river Thames. After passing through Tower Bridge to St. Katherine’s Docks, Natasha will then swap her boat for her special walking aid and walk the square mile of the City of London. Her latest challenge aims to raise funds and awareness for the Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff Sailing charity, recently launched by Natasha. Ben Ferris, marina development manager of Cowes Yacht Haven, said: ‘It is our honour to support Natasha and her incredible journeys. We are very proud to help give Miss Isle Too a home here at Cowes Yacht Haven. ‘She is a true inspiration to us all here and to all the people who berth with us. We do all we can to help her and the very worthy charity she has founded.’ Natasha was born with athetoid cerebral palsy that affects her limbs and confines her to a wheelchair. She had always enjoyed sailing as a passenger but was desperate to helm a boat alone. In 2010, her father Gary built a system that would allow Natasha to control her Artemis 20, Miss Isle, and Mini Transat, Miss Isle Too, with a single straw. She now wants to allow other youngsters to take to the water using her “sip and puff” method through her charity, The Miss Isle School of Sip-Puff Sailing. Natasha has since carried out three extraordinary challenges, including last year’s Sea and Summit challenge, which saw her sail 500 miles to Wales to climb the highest peak in Southern Britain, Pen Y Fan. Natasha’s mother Amanda, said: ‘We have to give our tremendous thanks to Cowes Yacht Haven for the support they have shown Natasha over the years. This challenge would not be possible without everybody’s help, it takes a whole team of passionate people.’ Follow Miss Isle on Facebook, sponsor Natasha at www.gofundme.com/t2frf8/donate Read more at http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/miss-isle-too-on-courageous-charity-challenge-21482#iQ6ixflAi17tDdt7.99

Fools Gold – to the victor the spoils: Silvers Marine Scottish Series 2015

Congratulations all round to Robert McConnell and the crew of Fools Gold on winning the Series overall trophy for their performance in IRC Class 2 at the 2015 Silvers Marine Scottish Series regatta. After four days, 11 races and some of the best sailing in Scotland, the crew certainly had the luck of the Irish taking the overall title, along with winning IRC Class 2. Race organisers awarded the coveted trophy to Fools Gold based on the best performance in the tightest class. And that’s not all, the Waterford Harbour Sailing team received the Crawford McInnes Trophy sponsored by Hempel Paints for the best under 25 helm. They also take home the trophy for the best IRC class boat. Fools Gold presentation copy 2 While Silvers Marine Scottish Series’ main sponsor, Jamie McGarry, may be disappointed to see the trophy go over the water to Ireland, you can be sure both he and Colin Moore will be back to fight for it again next year. Jamie, who has just announced Silvers Marine will sponsor the regatta again next year, praised the race officers Stuart Childerley, John Readman and Alan Cassels for their smooth management of the regatta. The race teams on both courses were excellent and it is testament to them that all races were sailed and none cancelled. In IRC Class 1 it was Steven Cowie’s Zephyr who came out on top. This was a hotly contested class all weekend and Jamie McGarry and Colin Moore’s Eala of Rhu, lying in third place overnight, had an outstanding final day. However, it was Zephyr who claimed the victory and it was wonderful to see Scotland’s three Commodore’s Cup team boats ending the regatta in the top three places, with Rod Stuart and William Ram’s Aurora taking the final podium position. In IRC Class 2, and there was just one point in it as overall champions Fools Gold stayed ahead of Sloop John T and Storm who both finished on 28 points. In IRC Class 4, Craig Latimer who has battled all week, settled for a single point victory over Trastada with Irish hopefuls Landbay Rules coming in in third on 22 points. Craig won this class last year in his previous boat Wildebeest IV and will be delighted to have snatched victory again this year. CYCA 5 This class was dominated by Geoff and Norman Howison in their new boat Local Hero. Consistent sailing by Enigma saw them in second and a great regatta for Ian McNair in First By Farr saw the crew clinch third. CYCA 6 and the veteran Valhalla of Ashton, competing in every Scottish Series, topped the table again this year. She looked strong all weekend and was followed home by She of the North and Garth Wilson’s Zebedee who took a very credible third. CYCA 8 Restricted Sail saw all change in the top two, with Windhound pulling out an ace in the last day to beat Jochr and with Eureka IV taking third. CYCA 9 Restricted Sail – well done to Halcyon who had a comfortable win over Lyrebird with Poppy in third. Sigma 33 Series had tight racing across the regatta but on the final day Bradshaw and Gallagher did what was needed to stay ahead of Leaky Roof 2 and Donald McLaren’s Sigmatic which took the third spot. National Sonata One Design and Steve Goacher’s Eric the Boat dominated this class all weekend. However Old School had a great regatta to end up a credible second with White Magic in third. Sadly, this class saw last year’s winner Murray Caldwell in Red Hot Poker have to withdraw on day one of the event with a broken rig. VX One, this class had some tight racing but Ovington Boats held their nerve to finish ahead of Robbers Dog and Zhik. J70 Iain Aitken in boats.com dominated this class with straight firsts across the regatta. He was followed home by Jacuzzi and Django to win the Scottish Championship. Hunter 707 More T Vicar stayed one point clear of Rammie to take the class ahead of Black Sheep in third.

Crews race across Channel from Falmouth

YACHTS lined up at Royal Cornwall Yacht Club for a race 95 miles south to Roscoff in France. The opening Coastal and Offshore Yacht Racing Series meet of the year saw seven crews take part with all making it across the Channel to the Brittany town. In almost perfect weather conditions, the boats crossed the shipping lanes in westerly winds and a misty night. Along the way, many of the competitors reported seeing dolphins and short-finned pilot whales in the sea. The first yacht arrived after 13 hours on the water with Sarabande, skippered by Rob Mably, winning the IRC Class. Just In Time and her captain Mark Humphrey won the Handicap race and IRC Two Class went to Afrita, manned by Andrew Leming and crew.

Sevenoaks school pupil Cossie Lewis will represent Great Britain in sailing championships

A Sevenoaks school pupil will pit her wits against more than 250 of the continent's best young sailors after being selected to represent Great Britain. Cossie Lewis booked her place in the eight-strong British team for July's Magic Marine Optimist European Championships after impressing at the selection trails in 2012. The Optimist junior sailing class is widely regarded as the breeding ground for future international sailing success with four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie a former Optimist sailor. Cossie Lewis has been selected to represent Great Britain The championships get underway on Friday, July 17, with a total of five days of racing before the prizes are presented on Thursday, July 23. Some 255 sailors from 37 nations, including from outside Europe, will be racing on Cardigan Bay. Cossie, 13, who competes for both the Sevenoaks School Sailing Club and Bosham SC in West Sussex, admits she can’t wait to get to Pwllheli in North Wales, where the championships will be held. She said: “The Europeans is the biggest event I have been selected for to date. After last year's Nationals I sat down with my coach, Matt Rainback, and discussed my goal, which was to get to the European Championships. All my racing and training during the last few months was focussed towards this goal, so I was thrilled to achieve it! "I am really looking forward to the event, particularly sailing against such tough international competition. I’m still working out my goal, however ideally it would be to get into Gold fleet, which is the top third of all boats for the final series.” Cossie has previously been selected for British teams to compete in major Optimist regattas in Braassemermeer in The Netherlands (2014 and 2015), while she says her best recent achievement was coming 30th out of 538 competitors at the International Palamos Optimist Trophy regatta in Spain in February. This will be the first time in the Championship’s official 32-year history that the Optimist Europeans will be held in Great Britain, and only the second time the event has been hosted on UK waters since Belfast in 1993.

Push the Boat Out 2015 starts today!

This weekend marks the start of RYA Push the Boat 2015 with sailing clubs and training centres across the nation offering free and discounted taster opportunities for all to ‘have a go’. More than 340 venues will be taking part in the national event, providing everyone, regardless of age, background or experience, with the chance to get out on the water and discover the sport of sailing. The week-long Push the Boat Out 2015 will run from tomorrow, Saturday 9 May, to Saturday 17 May. All you need for any of the open days or ‘try sailing’ sessions is warm clothing, soft soled shoes and a waterproof if it’s raining. The clubs and centres will provide everything else! Booking may be required for some of the activities. Jackie Bennetts, RYA club support advisor, said: ‘RYA Push the Boat Out provides a fantastic opportunity to show people just how easy it is to get involved in sailing and windsurfing locally. ‘People think it’s an expensive sport but the reality is you don’t even need to own your own boat! A family of four can be members of a local club for as little as £10-£15 a month and most clubs have boats you can borrow for a morning, afternoon or evening from as little as £3-5 or sometimes free depending on the club or centre.’ Last year 260 clubs and centres in Britain hosted Push the Boat Out events with 17,000 people trying sailing or windsurfing for the first time over one weekend. For full details about what’s going on near you visit www.rya.org.uk/go/ptbo

Celebrations in order as Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre reaches first birthday

CELEBRATIONS are in order as the Andrew Simpson Sailing Centre reaches its first birthday. The centre is inviting the local community to take part in the celebration, which takes places next Saturday, May 9. From 11am, there will be opportunities to sail on the Olympic waters with free sailing tasters for children aged five and over. There will also be the opportunity to have a go at climbing and a cardboard boat race will take place at 2pm. The event offers a host of other fun free activities for all ages and a visit from Weymouth and Portland mayor Kate Wheller and her Consort Mr Michael Wheller. The centre is owned by the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation and operates as a not-for-profit sailing centre at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Dorset-based gold medal-winning Olympian Andrew Simpson, affectionately known as Bart by friends and family, tragically died in a training ground accident as he prepared for the Americas Cup in San Francisco in 2013. The foundation was set up by Simpson’s friends and family in his honour and aims to support programmes around the world which promote Andrew’s and the Olympic values. New centre manager, Alex Porter, who was appointed in February, said there were ‘some fantastic times’ ahead at the centre. Alex added: “I’m really looking forward to working with the experienced and enthusiastic team here, running not only exciting new sailing courses but also the variety of charitable programmes. These programmes include Bart’s Inspire programme, Sail for Life, Aiming High and the popular Rod Shipley 'sail for a Fiver' programme. “I’m particularly looking forward to meeting local people who may not have been to centre yet, and I’m sure they will love what we have on offer. "We have also introduced youth sailing clubs which take place on Saturdays throughout the year. “Bart’s Sailing Club on Saturday mornings and Bart’s Racing Club on Saturday afternoons will be an opportunity for young people to come along to the centre, to develop their sailing skills and make new friends.” The centre offers the charity the opportunity to develop sailing programmes in line with the foundations objectives. In the centre’s first 12 months, it has offered more than 1500 subsidised places on its charitable programmes and is aiming to double that number this year. The centre also receives an annual grant from the foundation, allowing it to support those aged five to 24 years from schools and groups to sail. For more information visit andrewsimpsonsailing.co.uk

Himley Hall Sailing Club getting set for fundraising race

HIMLEY Lake will be full of sails next weekend as people take to the water to raise cash for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. The six hour race on Saturday May 9 will be the first big event of the season for members of Himley Hall Sailing Club. Several teams from the club will take part in the sponsored long distance race, as well as pupils from Ellowes Hall School - which has recently introduced sailing as an option in PE - and Aldridge and Dudley Sailing Clubs. RNLI members will be acting as starters for the event, which is now in its 39th year and has raised more than £90,000 to date. Organiser Alan Dean said: “We’re hoping that this year’s event will be really big. The RNLI is such a worthy cause. "If there are other sailing clubs out there who would like to enter, there’s still time. Just contact the club, we’d be delighted to have you aboard.” The club is also hosting a taster day on May 16 for anyone who would like to try sailing. To book a place, call Tony Sutton on 07774 818449.

Rio Paralympics: Helena Lucas named on GB sailing team

Paralympic sailing champion Helena Lucas has been named as the first member of the Great Britain team for Rio 2016. The Southampton sailor, who turns 40 on Wednesday, is the first confirmed athlete on either the Olympic or Paralympic team. It will be a third Games for Lucas, who competes in the one-person 2.4mR keelboat event. "It's amazing that I'm the first athlete to be selected," she said. Lucas, who was born without thumbs and has limited movement in her arms, beat Megan Pascoe to the sole GB slot in the class. In 2012, she won gold in London to become the first GB sailor to win a Paralympic medal since the sport became a full part of the Games programme in 2000. "It's a massive relief to know I'm going to Rio and have the opportunity to defend my gold medal," she added. "It's a huge privilege, but also it means we can really focus on preparing for Rio and the specifics of the venue. Helena Lucas facts In 2006, Helena stood in for Shirley Robertson to helm in the Olympic class Yngling at the first Beijing Olympic Test Event, winning silver alongside Annie Lush and Lucy MacGregor. She made her Paralympic debut in Beijing in 2008, finishing in 7th place. She was the only woman competing in the 2.4mR class at the 2012 Paralympics and beat her nearest rival by nine points. "London was an amazing experience but no sailor has yet managed to defend their Paralympic title. It would be amazing to be the first sailor to be able to do that, so that's the drive and the goal for Rio." Lucas has been in superb form this year and is the only GB athlete in her class to have secured podium places in the Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) four qualification events, including silver at the 2014 IFDS World Championships and bronze in the 2.4mR Open World Championships. Her selection comes with sailing missing out on being part of the programme for the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Sailing team leader and RYA Olympic manager Stephen Park said: "By selecting at this early stage it allows us to focus our attentions on optimising Helena's performance and the specific challenges of Rio itself, which is a very difficult venue in sailing terms, while at the same time harnessing Megan's undoubted talent to aid the British team's medal-winning prospects across the Paralympic classes." GB has qualified a further five slots for athletes to compete in the Skud-18 and the Sonar class in Rio and competition for places in those classes will continue over the coming months.

Ben Ainslie Racing teams up with Siemens PLM Software

In June 2017, the Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) team will join several other sailing clubs from across the world to compete in the 35th America’s Cup race in Bermuda in a bid to take the title from current champions Team Oracle USA. Led by British Olympian Sir Ben Ainslie, the UK team will sail in a 62ft wing-sailed AC62 catamaran designed to ‘fly’ above the water on hydrofoils at speeds near 50mph. Building a boat for such a demanding race is challenging. “Unlike most sports competitions which are held according to a fixed schedule, the America’s Cup takes place whenever a qualified yacht club challenges the current trophy holders – this means there could be one year between the races, or there could be a decade,” explains Andy Claughton, technical director at BAR. “The uncertainty surrounding the next race means that we only have one chance to get it right.” In addition, competitors are prohibited from sailing their boats until 150 days before the event, which means that BAR’s 22-strong engineering team will need to largely rely on 3D virtual modelling technology to design and optimise the boat’s structure and onboard operating systems. BAR has teamed up with Siemens PLM Software UK, and its professional services partner Majenta PLM, to leverage its product lifecycle management, NX, Teamcenter and Femap software to design, simulate, test and refine the boat’s structure and onboard systems before manufacturing it. BAR will have access to any new software updates and Siemens’ engineering expertise for at least three years. According to Claughton, this will offer multiple benefits. “Ideally, we want to spend as long as possible on the design phase to ensure that each component is optimised and that the boat will perform well in a variety of different scenarios before we finalise its structure,” he explains. “The beauty of the NX system is that we can quickly go from a paper sketch to a fully functional virtual 3D model that can be extensively fine-tuned and reworked.” Fundamentally, using the NX software will enable BAR to create the basic 3D structure of the boat, capture the dimensions and then link all of the different components using parametric modelling techniques. “This will allow us to experiment with the shape, size, thickness or weight of different individual components and be confident that each time we make an alteration – such as increasing the width of the hull – all of the other components will be updated in real time,” says Claughton, explaining that this will ensure the team always has access to a fully functional 3D representation of the boat. “Without these parametric capabilities, we would need to manually restart the whole design process every time we wanted to alter a component, which would waste time, resources and money.” Meanwhile, Siemens’ Femap software will be used to perform finite element analyses, allowing the engineering team to identify how they can improve the overall structure and aerodynamic performance of the boat. For example, they can pinpoint the components that need to be strengthened, or those that need to be lightweighted to increase balance. “Working with 3D models allows us to create computational fluid dynamics simulations to test how the boat will flow through the water and how it will perform in different sailing conditions,” says Claughton, adding that this will help the sailing team to train for different eventualities. Using simulation software will also help BAR to accelerate the final manufacturing processes. “Ideally, we want to be able to make the final race boat in as short a timeframe as possible because this will give us the maximum amount of time to fine-tune the structure of the boat,” explains Claughton. “NX allows us to simulate various manufacturing processes and accurately calculate how long it will take to build the final boat. Not only will this assist with planning our production schedule and meet our deadlines, it will also enable us to find ways to optimise these processes.” BAR has already used the NX system to build and launch its first 45ft prototype boat, and to mould the material for the second test boat, which it aims to debut in mid-2015. “We will continue to refine the structure of these boats and by the end of this year, we expect to make a lot of the major decisions about the final design of the AC62 competition boat.” While the BAR team has a long way to go before it finalises the AC62 boat, Claughton is confident that the America’s Cup trophy is well within BAR’s grasp. “Siemens’ software will enable us to design an aerodynamic boat that will perform well in various sailing conditions and we have a strong, talented sailing team – of course we will win!”

New home proves to be a vital lifeline for Walsall sailing club

A SAILING club that gives disabled people the skills to navigate the water has been handed a lifeline after moving into a new home in Walsall for the first time in 15 years. Walsall Sailability has moved five miles from its former base of Sneyd reservoir to The Swag, in Barns Lane, Aldridge, following affiliation to Aldridge Sailing Club. The move comes after Walsall Council – who ran the club as part of their outdoor adventure service – tabled a move to close the service among plans to save £97,000. Although bosses later removed the proposal from planned cuts, leaders at Walsall Sailability, which was formed back in 2000 as the Sneyd Sailability Group, decided it was time for the group to make the move to Aldridge Sailing Club (SC). It comes after club principal Jeff Moore also retired from his role of outdoor pursuit officer for Walsall Council's sports and leisure team. Mr Moore will continue to run Walsall Sailability with the help of Philippa Bryan, Royal Yachting Association (RYA) senior instructor and parents of young people with disabilities who have sailed or sail with the group. The group is now looking to attract further funding, participants and volunteers to support activities on offer, with an open day held this weekend. "Sailing is one of the few sports where people of all abilities really can take part alongside each other on a level playing field," said Mr Moore. "The affiliation to Aldridge SC is the way forward for the group in the long-term both in terms of the further opportunities Walsall Sailability can offer to sailors staying involved in the sport into the future and promoting true social inclusion. "The group is self sufficient with families owning their own specially-adapted access dinghies and powerboats, while we are working with Aldridge to secure funding to invest in facilities to accommodate people with disabilities on a regular basis." Andy Jukes, principal of Aldridge SC, has welcomed the move. He added: "We are really pleased to have the opportunity to support Walsall Sailability and welcome them to Barns Lane. "It is great our club facilities will be used more widely, and going forwards we aim to continue the development of the club to promote sailing for all in the community." Residents of all abilities, ages and backgrounds are invited to see what sailing has to offer when Aldridge SC with Walsall Sailability hosts its free annual open day on Saturday (April 25). There will then be another opportunity for newcomers to also have a go at no cost on Sunday, May 10 as part of the national RYA Push The Boat Out event. "The open day and 'Push The Boat Out' event will demonstrate that getting into sailing really is simple, fun and open to anyone and everyone," added Mr Jukes. Aldridge club members will give visitors the chance to get out on the water and sample sailing at both events. Walsall Sailability will also supply adapted boats for families with disabled children or disabled adults within the family to try sailing. Visitors can also enjoy a ride in a powerboat at both events. The events run from 11am to 4pm and visitors are asked to bring warm clothes, soft soled shoes and a waterproof. To find out more, visit www.aldridgesc.org.uk

Free taster sailing sessions at Rutland Water for people and children with disabilities

Organisers of a sailing project for people with disabilities are staging an open day tomorrow (Saturday) at Rutland Water. The event hosted by Rutland Sailability will give people with all types of disability and of all ages the opportunity try sailing free of charge. The event is part of a nationwide Push the Boat Out initiative being organised by the Royal Yachting Association, A spokeswoman for Rutland Sailability said: “The event has been organised to encourage people with disabilities to try sailing. “It is a chance to have a sailing taster session at the club free of charge.” Sessions will be conducted by fully qualified instructors in specially modified boats with the last session starting at 2.30pm. To book a session or to learn more about the sailing opportunities the club provides, contact Rutland Sailability on 01778 590338. Rutland Sailability was founded 20 years ago and is a recipient of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. Its members sail on Thursdays between 10am and 3pm, and (during the sailing season) on Saturdays between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

Yachtsman badly burned in boat explosion near Oban

A yachtsman managed to row himself to safety after being badly burned in an explosion aboard his boat last night. Oban Lifeboat launched to reports of an explosion aboard a yacht anchored in Puilladobhrain, Seil Island. During an evening meeting at the station, the lifeboat received a launch request from Stornoway Coastguard to locate and assess a yacht at anchor in Puilladobhrain. It was understood that the owner had been involved in an explosion aboard the vessel, a 20ft yacht named Zulu Hunter. A spokesman for the lifeboat said: “Fortunately, the lone yachtsman had managed to escape the vessel and row himself ashore, where he was able to make his own way to Oban hospital. He was later transferred to hospital in Glasgow suffering from burns. “Oban Lifeboat arrived on scene at 9.25pm to discover the windows and hatch blown out of the vessel. With the only person on board accounted for, the decision was taken to tow the vessel back to Oban where it could be more securely berthed. “The volunteer crew departed the scene at 21.45 and took the yacht under tow and, by 10.28pm, the vessel was safely berthed in Oban.” A spokesman for Stornoway Coastguard said: “We believe it was a gas explosion.”