Hot News
16/05/13 • ULLSWATER Yacht Club has launched a new RYA sail training programme. Ben Tye, manager of UYC and RYA senior instructor says courses at the newly formed Ullswater Sailing School will be fun and hassle free and will make sailing open to all. ‘The training courses will be run to the highest standards and courses will be available for novices through to refreshers and intermediates, or people can come and have a simple two hour session to see what it is like to go sailing.’ Ben continues: ‘What could be better than learning to sail in one of the UK’s most beautiful locations. UYC, which was voted Sailing Club of the Year, has excellent clubhouse facilities and has a fleet of 16 training boats to suit all levels of experience and ages.’ After the success of the 2012 Olympics, UYC is keen to link up with local schools, youth groups and associations in the area to carry on the success of Team GB sailors by offering group training.
16/05/13 • THE 2014 Brewin Dolphin Commodores’ Cup, based in Cowes, will start on Saturday 19 July and follow a similar format to previous years. A mixture of inshore races in the Solent, an offshore race in the English Channel and a race around the Isle of Wight, will finish with a final race and prizegiving on Saturday 26 July. The Commodores’ Cup, which started in 1992 is an international three boat team event using the IRC Rating system, is open to boats rated between 1.020 and 1.230, with only one boat rated above 1.150. It is a vigorously protected Corinthian regatta where the number of Category 3 sailors is restricted to one per boat, except for the boat rated above 1.150 which can have two. The Notice of Race can be viewed http://commodorescup.rorc.org/
16/05/13 • KEVIN Suchmilch’s Mefisto won the 25th Anniversary Sigma 38 National Championships. Mefisto had previously won ten years ago in 2003. Despite two days of light wind all races of this three day regatta at Lymington were completed in impressive style with Mefisto taking bullets in four of the seven races. The young team of mainly under 25 year olds on Gambit skippered by Tim Goodhew, 23, finished second. The 25th celebrations continue with the David Thomas Regatta on 2 June hosted by the Royal London Yacht Club who are inviting other David Thomas designed boats to race.
16/05/13 • BASKING Shark Scotland, the only operator to run trips out to the islands of Mull, Coll and Tiree with the aim of snorkelling with basking sharks, is running single, two and three day trips to see the sharks, as well as watch the abundant wildlife in the area such as whales, dolphins, eagles and otters. Along with exploring the stunning Scottish islands, remote beaches, natural wonders such as Fingals Cave and the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, being based in Oban makes the journey only a couple of hours drive from the Scottish central belt. The boat is a new 12m cabin RIB, with 14 suspension seats, all round windows, toilet and galley. • www.baskingsharkscotland.co.uk
16/05/13 An incredible Tall Ship sailing opportunity is coming up! Michael Byrne from Sail Training Ireland and the Ocean Youth Trust Ireland has spaces available on a Tall Ship voyage from Belfast to Dublin that starts on 25 May. It’s open to all 18 – 30 year olds and includes two nights at an adventure camp in the north, five nights on a stunning Tall Ship sailing to Dublin and one night in a hostel in Dublin. All for just €150 (around £125) http://eepurl.com/zyPYD There are about 15 places still available.