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.