Young flying into European Championships despite Olympic blow

 

Young was unable to earn Olympic selection in the Formula Kite class, with European champion Ellie Aldridge getting the nod for Paris 2024.

This is despite Young winning bronze at last year’s World Championships and finishing fourth at European level.

The south coast star will have to wait until at least LA 2028 to make her Olympic debut but is zeroing in on the next best thing: becoming world champion in Hyeres, France next month.

"It feels weird coming third in the world and not going to the Olympics,” admitted Young. “I know that I’m better than 80% of the sailors who are going to the Olympics.

“But that’s what you sign up for, in our sport only one can go and if you’re not the best of the best, there is the risk that you won’t.

“I got over it pretty quickly, because I can still win a World Championship. Worlds are almost harder than the Olympics because absolutely everyone is there, there is no limit per nation.

I’ve been able to reset to helping Ellie towards her goals for the Games and we’ve got a really nice balance. I’m super motivated to keep progressing because I know I can still improve the colour of my medal.”

Young is part of the strongest Formula Kite women squad in the world, one of four British sailors who finished in the top 10 at last year’s Worlds in the new Olympic boat class.

“We can basically recreate the standard of racing of Olympic finals in our training group,” she said. “We also have the youth lads who come and sail with us as well.

“We decided this winter just to sail as a British squad and keep all of our information to ourselves without having to share with other nations.”

Young and team will get their first indication as to how winter training, spent mainly in Mexico and Fuerteventura, has progressed at the Europeans in Mar Menor, Spain

Spring Maintenance for your Boat

 

Maintaining your boat in the spring is crucial for a smooth sailing season. Here are some essential tasks : - 

**Inspect the Hull**: Check for any signs of damage, cracks, or blistering on the hull. Repair as necessary.

**Clean the Exterior**: Remove any dirt, grime, or salt buildup from the exterior of the boat using appropriate cleaning products.

 **Check the Propeller and Shaft**: Inspect the propeller for any damage or dings, and ensure it is securely attached to the shaft.

**Inspect the Engine**: Check oil levels, fuel lines, belts, and hoses. Replace any worn-out parts and ensure proper lubrication.

**Test the Electrical Systems**: Check all lights, gauges, and electronics to ensure they are functioning correctly.

**Inspect Safety Equipment**: Check life jackets, fire extinguishers, flares, and other safety equipment for expiration dates and functionality.

**Inspect and Lubricate Moving Parts**: Grease fittings, hinges, and other moving parts to prevent corrosion and ensure smooth operation.

**Check the Bilge Pump**: Ensure it is working correctly and clear any debris from the bilge area.

**Inspect the Trailer**: Check tires, bearings, lights, and brakes on the trailer to ensure safe towing.

**Verify Registration and Documentation**: Make sure your boat registration and any required permits are up to date.

**Test the Battery**: Charge the battery and test it to ensure it holds a charge and functions properly.

 **Stock Up on Supplies**: Check inventory and restock supplies such as fuel, oil, and cleaning products.

By following these maintenance steps, you can ensure your boat is in top condition and ready for a successful season on the water.

Torbay Dinghy Regatta 2024

 

The Torbay Dinghy Regatta will take place over the weekend of July 27 and 28 in Torquay, with guaranteed fun and competitive racing for PY Dinghies – Asymmetric, Non-Asymmetric and Junior Classes. Incorporating the Albacore Southern Area Championships.

The Bay will be welcoming sailors from around the country to come and join Torbay RYA at this summer weekend and enjoy racing on some of the finest sailing waters in the world.

Over many years, the Royal Torbay Yacht Club has established an enviable reputation in hosting top class regattas and championships. Sailors and their families can be assured of a friendly welcome and an enjoyable weekend on the English Riviera.

Entries are now open at Torbay Dinghy Regatta 2024 | Royal Torbay Yacht Club (rtyc.org). For further information please contact Bob Penfold events@rtyc.org

The 2024 Torbay Royal Regatta will take place from August 24 – 26 with racing over three days for IRC, Cruisers, J/24’s and Sports boats.

Three days of racing will see the IRC fleet competing for the prestigious Addison Gold Cup and with other classes in the Torbay Admirals Cup team racing. Entries now open.

RYA Scotland : - On Course for the future

 

Over 70 people attended the RYA Connected Scotland event on 2 March at the Dewars Centre in Perth. It was a fantastic day of information sharing and networking, including our first ever Young Sailors Chatroom.

Save the date for our next event on 2 November 2024.

One of the Connected Scotland sessions was the launch of On Course for the Future, RYA Scotland’s new development framework for RYA-affiliated clubs and centres. The framework is comprised of several guides to help you continue to develop and effectively steer the direction of your organisation. Explore the document yourself or with your fellow organisation leaders, then reach out to your Regional Development Officer to discuss how and where to get started with it.

RYA Scotland may support your event

 

RYA Scotland is aiming to provide support to several clubs/centres in running first-time opportunity events such as open days, tasters, or transition days. The support offered will be bespoke, based on the request, RYA Scotland’s available resources, and follow-up conversations. Register your interest before 26 March 2024.

 

Big Crowds Turnout for Tenth Kinsale St. Patrick's Maritime Festival

 

The picturesque town of Kinsale Harbour in West Cork was packed with spectators over the weekend as it played host to the tenth annual St. Patrick's Maritime Festival. Despite a gloomy and wet day, the town was buzzing with excitement as the festival kicked off on Saturday night, March 16th. The highlight of the evening was the dazzling fireworks display, and yachts, boats and commercial craft lit up overall, which drew huge crowds from all over the region.

As the gloomy day turned into a foggy evening, the organisers faced a difficult decision—whether to proceed with the parade and fireworks. However, they decided to take the plunge, and the event was a resounding success.

Kinsale Yacht Club played an important role in the event, with members' boats involved in the on-the-water parade. The RNLI Kinsale lifeboat featured along with inshore and offshore fishing vessels, as well as yachts led by Kinsale Yacht Club Commodore Tony Scannell on board his yacht, "Hansemer." This resulted in a wonderful display as the boats emerged from the mist and passed by James' Fort. The coinciding fireworks provided great entertainment for all.

Commodore Scannell welcomed Festival organisers back to the clubhouse after the parade, where awards were presented to the best-dressed boats. 

Irish solo sailor Tom Dolan takes 11th in Solo Guy Cotten Offshore

 

Tom Dolan overcame a torn spinnaker to finish in 11th place on the 370 miles offshore race of the Solo Guy Cotten-Concarneau, the Irish solo skipper's first offshore race of the 2024 season.

The spinnaker tear happened within the first couple of hours of the race. With a small initial cut threatening to open up the sail completely Dolan hung on adeptly until the big gennaker finally tore its full length.

Required then to use a smaller sail on the longest downwind leg of the course he lost a few places, but ultimately this morning he was moderately happy with the way he had sailed and, especially the strategic choices he had made.

Skipper of Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan was objective "Mea culpa, that's operator error in a mechanical sport like this and you can't get away with it in this fleet. I was lucky it held on as long as it did. I had hoped to repair it on the long leg to Rochebonne but it was too far gone. But, otherwise I sailed well and made some good calls."

Around the midpoint of the course Dolan was between fifth and sixth having called a windshift correctly on the long leg south which allowed him to make his expected gains. But, lacking sailpower, he had no way of holding off his rivals who could still fly their big sails.

" I tore the kite when I was launching it at Penmarch. Initially there was a little hole. I thought I would repair it on the long reaching leg between Occidentale de Sein and Rochebonne but shortly after Pierre Vertes, it broke. It's a shame because I really liked that sail."

He explained "After that I had anticipated the big right shift. It is something I had worked on a few days ago. It worked well. I had fun and made sure to sail as fast as possible because I knew that then I was going to lose out when they were back under big spinnaker and me the wee one. After Yeu I limited the damage but without the right sail, the loss was two knots of boat speed and 5 degrees of VMG."

"Overall I felt very good in terms of speed. It's a real shame about that big spinnaker."

Looking ahead Dolan says, "Next thing is the Laura Vergne Trophy. I have Class40 training this week before that."

Musto Skiffs return to WPNSA in the UK for 2024 Worlds

 

Musto Skiff sailors from across the globe are invited to participate in the ACO 13th Musto Skiff World Championship 2024, which will be hosted in the UK by Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) over 14th - 20th July.

Entry is now open for the annual regatta, which typically attracts between 70 and 100 skiffs representing several nations within Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the USA. With the largest fleet coming from the UK, the class organisers are anticipating a record entry for this year!

The planned event schedule for the Musto Skiff 2024 Worlds includes a Pre-Worlds on the 14th of July followed immediately by World Championship racing over 15th to 20th of July, which includes 5 days of racing and 1 lay day.

As detailed in the NOR, entry is available online at webcollect.org.uk/msca. A tiered price structure is in place to encourage early entry. This starts from £435 if entered before 15th May. A 50% discount for youths (aged 25 or under on 1st of January 2024) is available until the entry closes.

The 2024 regatta will be supported by long-term World Championship sponsor, ACO, a global market leader in drainage technology, who will once again be the Event Title sponsor. Class Title sponsor, Musto, will also support the 2024 Worlds with a range of merchandise for prizes.

More event details can be found on the Musto Skiff class website, which includes a dedicated event guide available at  : -    www.mustoskiff.com/2024-worlds

Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club to Host 2026 GP14 Worlds as Championships Returns to Ireland For Second Time in Four Years

 

Ireland will stage the GP14 World Championships for the second time in four years following a decision by the International Committee to relocate the 2026 World Championship from Sri Lanka.

Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Belfast, has agreed to host the championships following a review by the GP14 International Committee in early February.

Skerries Sailing Club last hosted the GP14 championship in Ireland 2022 after a number of cancellations caused by COVID.

The GP14 International Committee is delighted to announce today that the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Belfast, has agreed to host the 2026 GP14 World Championships. The Club was already earmarked to host the 2026 UK Nationals, so it was ideally placed to step into the breach. More details and revised dates will follow.

Great Yarmouth Yacht Club to host Acle Regatta once again

 

Great Yarmouth Yacht Club is organising this year's Acle Regatta for the first time in 87 years.

The club launched the event in 1890 and it was a popular fixture on the Broads calendar, attracting up to 150 sailing boats, some with professional crews.

It also drew large crowds, with schools given the day off so children could attend, and fun fairs and carnival activities organised on the banks of the Bure

An historic sailing club is back at the helm of a popular Norfolk Broads regatta after almost nine decades.

Great Yarmouth Yacht Club is organising this year's Acle Regatta for the first time in 87 years.

The club launched the event in 1890 and it was a popular fixture on the Broads calendar, attracting up to 150 sailing boats, some with professional crews.

It also drew large crowds, with schools given the day off so children could attend, and fun fairs and carnival activities organised on the banks of the Bure.

Wagers on the races saw bets of hundreds of guineas (more than £10,000 today) placed. Pp

The regatta continued until 1937.

The following year, Great Yarmouth Yacht Club merged with three other clubs to form the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, based on Wroxham Broad, and the Acle event was scrapped.

It was later revived in 1978 when five men, including the then landlord of the Acle Bridge Inn, formed Acle Sailing Club, to reinstate the regatta and raise money for charity.

The event has continued since then, raising more than £20,000 for good causes.

But Acle Sailing Club members are now handing the helm back to Great Yarmouth Yacht Club, which itself was only re-established 10 years ago.

The regatta will be held on May 18-19, with races for keelboats and river cruisers held upstream of Acle Bridge.

The event is the first open regatta of the season and in recent years has only been for cruisers.

But the new organisers are keen to restore the racing programme of yesteryear, by offering races for other vessels, including Broads One Designs, Yare and Bure One Designs, Great Yarmouth One Designs, half deckers, International dinghies, Norfolk Punts and Norfolk One Designs.

Entry fees are £15 per boat for the whole weekend, with all profits going to charity.

Races will start at 13.30 and 15.30 on Saturday and 10.30 and 12.30 on Sunday.

There will be trophies and beer to be won for all races, including the Acle Regatta shield for the overall winner.

An evening event will be held at Acle Bridge Inn on Saturday with a fixed menu.

GBR IRC Championships and IRC Nationals entry

 

Sailors are in for another treat this year with a wide selection of regional and National Championship events around the UK.

IRC's 40th year sees the GBR IRC National Championship leave the Solent for the first time; in 2024 it will be held at 'International' Poole Regatta over the spring bank holiday 25-27 May, with 3 days of racing in beautiful Poole Bay plus après race entertainment every day. Early bird discounted entry fees apply until 13 April so those wishing to be part of this special event are advised to enter soon!

NOR and Entry at pooleregatta.co.uk

Do you fancy a change from your local club racing? GBR IRC Championships offer a variety of opportunities to race within different fleets and discover exciting new racing venues and challenges, as well as have the chance to win Spinlock prizes.

In addition, GBR IRC Regional Champions have the opportunity to race for free at the following year's GBR IRC National Championship.

To whet your appetite, here is the 2024 Championship calendar:

May

IRC Welsh National Championship

Pwllheli, Cardigan Bay Celtic Regatta

17-19 May 2024

www.ircwelshchamps.com

IRC Double Handed National Championship

RORC, Cowes

18 May 2024 - De Guingand Bowl

25 May 2024 - Myth of Malham

www.rorc.org

IRC Scottish Championship

Tarbert, Loch Fyne; Clyde Cruising Club

24-27 May 2024

www.scottishseries.co.uk

IRC National Championship

'International' Poole Regatta, Combined Yacht Clubs of Poole

25-27 May 2024

www.pooleregatta.co.uk

June

IRC Bristol Channel Championship

Portishead: 15-16 June 2024

Cardiff: 29-30 June 2024

www.shanghaicup.co.uk

July

IRC Two Handed European Championship

RORC

5 July - Cowes to St Malo

11 July - Drheam Cup, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to La Trinité-sur-Mer

www.rorc.org

IRC South West Championship

Plymouth, Royal Western Yacht Club

12-14 July 2024

www.rwyc.org

August

IRC East Coast Championship

West Mersea, Mersea Week 50th Anniversary Regatta

18-23 August 2024

www.merseaweek.org

September

IRC Channel Islands Championship

Jersey Regatta

14-15 September 2024

jerseyregatta.com

November

IRC Inland Championship

Windermere Cruising Association

November 2024 - March 2025

www.windermere-winter-series.co.uk

RS300 Rooster National Tour Round 1 at Bowmoor Sailing Club

 

Strong in number and in spirit - probably the best way to describe the enthusiastic band of 17 RS300 sailors that descended on Bowmoor SC for the first Rooster National Tour event of 2024.

Plans for the weekend included six races and a promise of a hot lunch, evening curry, rugby, beer and games. What could possibly go wrong?

Saturday's races were sailed in pleasant sunshine with a less savoury Easterly of 8-15 knots and evil wind shifts. The pin end was the place to start all day and a sweet spot had developed down the middle of the lake with the best compromise between wind shift and pressure. Overtaking was hard.

The excellent (and free!) breakfast baps didn't do much to distract from the lack of wind on Sunday morning. The day was likely to require much skill, patience, local knowledge and a lack of weight. 

In the final race, Hanby shot off into the distance to claim the first event of 2024 as his own. Impressive pace and mastery of the seemingly random shifts made this a well-deserved win! Mackin held on the 2nd overall, ahead of Rob Kennaugh in 3rd. Matt Banbrook scooped a youth prize and fellow local Toby Banbrook claimed the title of Mid Fleet Hero. Cheryl Wood finished 16th and claimed the weekend's Endeavour prize.

Thanks to Bowmoor SC for being excellent hosts and giving a masterclass in value for money. Would you believe that everything you've just read plus camping (but minus the excellent curry) was £25? Amazing.

Our series sponsor Rooster Sailing provided excellent prizes once again. Thanks to them for supporting this growing class! The class demo boat was in use all weekend and resulted in the purchase of another RS300 just two days later. There's never been a better time to join the RS300 class. Get in touch to try before you buy!

The 2024 tour moves on now to Rutland SC for the RS Sprints on 20-21 April and the spectacular RS 30th Anniversary Regatta at Hayling Island SC on 18-19 May. Entry for both events is already open and more info is available at  : -   www.rs300.org

Overall Results:

Pos Sail No Helm Club R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 Pts

1st 545 Richard Hanby Beaver Sailing Club 2 1 2 ‑4 1 1 7

2nd 556 Peter Mackin Stokes Bay Sailing Club 1 2 1 2 8 (DNC) 14

3rd 507 Rob Kennaugh Midland Sailing Club ‑7 4 3 3 4 2 16

4th 371 Matt Banbrook Bowmoor Sailing Club 3 3 6 1 ‑11 8 21

5th 451 Matt Pedlow Great Moor Sailing Club 4 7 ‑10 6 2 5 24

6th 520 Luke South Emsworth Sailing Club 6 6 4 5 ‑7 6 27

7th 531 Tom Moore Shropshire Sailing Club 5 ‑11 8 9 5 4 31

8th 433 Will Powell Dabchicks Sailing Club / Stokes Bay Sail 8 5 7 (DNC) 13 7 40

9th 406 Toby Banbrook Bowmoor Sailing Club 13 13 ‑14 13 3 3 45

10th 528 George Bender MIdland Sailing Club ‑12 10 12 8 6 9 45

11th 513 David Nunn Bowmoor Sailing Club 11 ‑12 11 7 9 10 48

12th 530 Tim Le Couilliard King George Sailing Club 9 9 9 (DNC) 12 DNC 58

DBSC Introduces New Non-Spinnaker Rating to Promote White Sails Racing in Dublin Bay

 

Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) has recently announced the introduction of a new non-spinnaker rating for CR4 and CR5 to promote white sails racing in Dublin Bay.

The move comes following the success of the VPRS rating system in the Sports Boats Class, which has been expanded to other classes. With a certificate costing only €25 and no need to get a boat measured, it means that those who do not need IRC ratings can get certified at a much lower cost.

Commodore Ed Totterdell explained, "For the 2024 season, boats currently competing in CR4 and CR5 will be able to compete in a new VPRS Division. This will promote non-spinnaker racing in DBSC by opening another area of competition and fun for all."

Class Captain Catherine Day welcomed the initiative, saying, "I am delighted by the overwhelmingly positive response to trialling the new VPRS rating system for the 2024 season.

This initiative promises to offer a fair opportunity for all our class members, ensuring that boat characteristics, rather than crew performance, are the primary focus in DBSC racing. We will continue to support Echo throughout the class too."

Applying for a VPRS Certificate couldn’t be easier, say the organisers, and DBSC has put a link on their membership form for those who need to obtain one.

Any DBSC Cr4 or CR5 member who needs more information is welcome to contact DBSC by emailing  :  -   honorarysecretary@dbsc.ie.

The move is expected to promote non-spinnaker racing in Dublin Bay, offering a fair opportunity for all class members.

The new rating system will ensure that boat characteristics, rather than crew performance, are the primary focus in DBSC racing.

The initiative is expected to be welcomed by racing enthusiasts and could lead to more participants joining the races in the future.