31 Grangemuir Road Prestwick Ayrshire KA9 1SN Commodore - Chris Clow 01292 265646

RYA SCOTLAND MONTHLY E MAIL NEWSLETTER
Issue no 96, December 2008

Welcome to the December issue of RYA Scotland's free monthly newsletter. Please pass on to as many people as possible, and print it for your club notice board. You can also take pieces out of it to use in your own club newsletter. The newsletter is for individuals as well as to clubs and centres, and is now published every month on the RYA Scotland website. If you would like to receive an e mail alert that the new newsletter has been placed on the website, just go to www.ryascotland/aboutsct , click on monthly newsletter and send an e mail requesting alerts.
Highlights of this month’s issue include;

Dates for your Diary

RYAS Club Development meeting, Dalgety Bay SC, 11 December

RYAS Club Development meeting, Oban SC, 17 December

Christmas Regatta, Strathclyde Loch, Sunday 21 December

Boxing Day Regatta, Royal Tay YC, 26 December.

New Year Open, Largo Bay, 2 January
Fairlie New Year races, at Largs and Kip, 2 January
RYAS Cruising Symposium, 8 February
RYA Scotland and sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde & Cumbrae tie up three year partnership

RYA Scotland and the National Centre, Inverclyde & Cumbrae have signed a formal partnership agreement committing to working together to the benefit of Scottish sailing for the next three years. This agreement will help continue the development of ideal conditions for effective coaching and learning by RYA Scotland’s squad members and coaches at two of Scotland’s leading sporting and training facilities.

The centre at Cumbrae will host Scottish Squad training weekends, Summer Camps and Coach Education, while fitness testing and conferences will be provided at Inverclyde. The new fitness suite at Cumbrae further enhances the services for squad members and coach education.

Agnes Barclay, Chief Operating Officer RYAS welcomed the agreement. “We’ve worked closely with the teams at Cumbrae and Inverclyde for many years and look forward to continuing and developing RYAS sailing activities at the National Centres.”

John Kent, Principal of Inverclyde & Cumbrae commented at the signing “this further seals the existing partnership between RYAS and the Centre, which confirms sportscotland’s commitment to invest and develop the National Centres, with the support of the Scottish Governing Bodies. This partnership agreement will significantly contribute to the development of sailing in Scotland and enable the Scottish sailing community to reach higher and develop in this sport”.

JUNIOR SAILING

YOUNG SAILOR WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

One of Scotland’s top young sailors, Lorenzo Chiavarini, from Helensburgh, has been named for one of youth sailing’s most prestigious awards.  In the New Year, Lorenzo will be awarded the RYA Scottish Regional Young Sailor of the Year Award 2008, in recognition of his sailing achievements throughout the year.

Lorenzo,14, learned to sail at Tarbert Loch Fyne YC and Craignish BC. His Dad Andrea recalled his early days,” The beauty of Scotland is that around each corner another perfect setting tempts you on to the water. After a brief experience at Tayvallich, Lorenzo joined Tarbert LFYC and joined the world of Toppers. Craignish BC at Ardfern was adventurous to sail in most weathers and seasons, the adult group modified rules so Lorenzo could practise with them in Winter and in bigger seas.”

Just this year he moved to Helensburgh, becoming a member of Royal Northern & Clyde YC and Helensburgh SC. Lorenzo has been a keen competitor in the Topper class Scottish Traveller series for four years, and earned a place in the RYA Scottish Topper Squad three years ago. His next big step up the ladder was to gain selection to join the RYA Great Britain Topper Squad just a year later.

Lorenzo has made great progress over the last 3 years. This year is his last in the Topper dinghy, and he signed off in style with results including 3rd place at the UK Topper Nationals in a fleet of over 300 boats.
 
Early this year Lorenzo started preparing for his next step forward, into the bigger Laser dinghy. He started sailing a Laser 4.7, qualified for the Laser 4.7 World Championships, and has just been awarded a place within the Great Britain Laser 4.7 Squad. He has already shown that he means business in this class too, taking 3rd overall in the Laser 4.7 Inlands at Carsington earlier this month.

Most of this has been done from a home in Kintyre which is not just many hundreds of miles away from major events in England, but also hours away from many racing and coaching venues in Scotland. His Dad says ”Lorenzo has travelled  more than 30,000 miles in the last 6 months and accepts that he may not arrive at the venue in top form through fatigue, but recognises that the experiences and journeys are precious and always feels recharged  to return home, with his best possible result. He is supported  tremendously and grateful to RYA Scotland, GBR ,Sport Scotland, WSIS and his clubs for all the opportunities to Sail and to Race.“ His move to Helensburgh will make travelling that bit easier, as he embarks on his next campaigns.

RYA Scotland’s Roy McCubbin said, “Lorenzo is a very talented and dedicated racer, but he is also an excellent role model for other young sailors. He is always ready to help others on and off the water.”

On January 10th at the PSP London Boat Show, Lorenzo will join 12 other RYA Regional Award winners from all over the UK for a VIP tour of the show and the eagerly anticipated awards ceremony. There all twelve will receive their Regional Awards, and one will be announced as the overall national Raymarine YJA Young Sailor of the Year 2008.

Simon Wergan, RYA Youth Racing Manager added: “Winning an RYA Regional YSOTY Award is a fantastic achievement.”
CHRISTMAS RACING
Christmas sailing dates
Strathclyde Loch, Christmas Regatta, on Sunday 21st December. www.strathclydelochsailing.com
First start 10.30. Up to three races back to back. RYA Scottish Optimist, Topper and Radial squads are all expected to attend.

Other regattas over the Xmas break are at Royal Tay on Boxing Day, www.royaltay.org. First start 12 o’clock. One or two races, weather dependent, HW 14.00.  Beach kitchens will be open,  Main club will be open after racing with free food and free drink from the bar, racing sponsored by Sea and Shore. Club and bar sponsored.

 

Largo Bay on 2nd January, www.largobaysc.org.uk .
Fairlie New Year races, at Largs and Kip, January 2nd.

RYA AWARDS

RYA awards for Scots pair

HRH the Princess Royal, President of the RYA, honoured some of boating’s most outstanding volunteers with 2008 RYA Community and RYA Awards at a ceremony in London. Two Scots were proud recipients of RYA awards for lifetime commitment after giving many years of invaluable service to their clubs.

Tom Maccabe was a founding member of Elie and Earlsferry Sailing Club, and
has been fully involved with the running of the club over the last 44 years, without a break. A club spokesman paid tribute, “Tom has ensured the continued smooth running of the club and made sure of its survival in difficult times. Tom is a quiet but very determined man, and gently guides younger and less wise individuals. He represents the best about EESC and is outstanding in welcoming new members.  Tom is the jewel in the club’s crown, without him EESC would not be the friendly successful club it is today.”

David Mollison is one of the best known members of Clyde Cruising Club’s dinghy section at Bardowie.  A club spokesman said, “He is the longest serving active club member, joining the club in 1948.  David has introduced many individuals, adults and children alike to all aspects of sailing, racing and boat maintenance. No one has made such a high level of sustained contribution to the club. David has been a member for over 60 years; he met his late wife at Bardowie; his family all learned to sail there; he’s served on the committee for the best part of 30 years and has probably spent more hours and days at Bardowie than anyone has done or will do in the future.”

All the Award winners enjoyed a celebratory lunch in the presence of HRH the Princess Royal, and were presented with a commemorative medallion and certificate.

 

CRUISING

RYA Scotland Cruising Symposium

This year’s RYAS Cruising Symposium will be at the National Centre, Inverclyde, Largs on

Sunday 8th February

The focus will be on Family Cruising.

A Great Day out for the Cruising Yachtsman, Sail or Power, whether Boat Owner, Potential Owner, Charterer or Crew.

Topics;

What to Do and Where to Go

Avoiding Hypothermia to Haute Cuisine at Sea

Understanding Weather, to Safety on Board

Flare Demos and What Happens when the RNLI arrives!

Keynote speaker

For application form and further info, see RYA Scotland website or phone RYAS on 0131 317 7388.   

OLYMPIC SAILING

Sparky’s Shock as Sailing Surpasses Soccer

Stephen Park’s immeasurable contribution to Britain’s sailors landing the nation’s biggest ever Olympic sailing medal at Beijing 2008 haul was recognised, meanwhile, at the Sunday Mail and Sport Scotland Scottish Sports Awards last week.

Sparky won the Coach of the Year Award ahead of Rangers football manager Walter Smith, who led his team to the UEFA Cup final last season, and Bob Torrance, coach of 2008 British Open and US PGA Championship golf champion Padraig Harrington. He was presented with the award by Scotland football manager George Burley.

He said: “I’d never have expected to beat the Rangers manager Walter Smith up in Glasgow – especially not coming from a sport that’s relatively low profile in Scotland.

“This award isn’t just for me. In sport, you can’t be a successful manager without hugely talented athletes and a team around you of equally talented and committed support staff, so this is a great testament to the efforts of Skandia Team GBR as a whole during this fantastic year.”

 

2012 OLYMPICS

RYA ANNOUNCE GO AHEAD FOR NEW FACILITY IN PORTLAND

The RYA announced last month that it is to build a multi-purpose facility in Portland to be the hub of performance sailing up to and during the 2012 Olympic Games.

‘RYA Portland House’ will provide purpose built accommodation and conference facilities for the RYA in one of the primary training and event locations in the UK.  John Derbyshire, RYA Performance Director explains: “Previous Games successes have shown that having a bespoke base has been a significant factor in team morale and performance and for those involved in the Olympic programme it is strongly believed that having a secure base is one of the cornerstones of medal results success.”

Despite more immediate use being earmarked for 2012 Olympic preparations, it is not only the elite sailors that will benefit from this great new facility. Class associations, RYA personal members, members of affiliated clubs, as well as berth holder associations and Sailability will all have access to the facility for events, meetings, conferences; training and competition activities.

“We see this venture as a great opportunity for the RYA to be instrumental in providing a performance advantage for our potential Olympic sailors on home ground in 2012, and to provide excellent facilities that will offer a lasting legacy for sailing in the UK,” concluded RYA Chief Executive Rod Carr.

Work on RYA Portland House is anticipated to be completed by September 2009.

 

SAILING CENTRE IS FIRST 2012 VENUE TO BE READY
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has completed its construction work on the first venue for the 2012 Games it was announced today as work was completed on new enhanced sailing facilities at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA).
The completion of works at Weymouth & Portland was joined by the announcement that the National Lottery has raised £375 million of its £750 million target for the London 2012 Games, through sales of specially-designated Lottery games. The money raised will go towards funding the provision of facilities and supporting infrastructure for the 2012 Games.
The Olympic and Paralympic Sailing events in 2012 will be hosted at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, and the adjoining Portland Marina, which offers world-class facilities and some of the best small boat sailing conditions in the world. The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has now completed work to enhance the existing sailing facilities at WPNSA with the construction of a new permanent 250m slipway and new race-boat parking, lifting and mooring facilities. The completion of the project delivers an early legacy of world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local Dorset community to use.
Works on Portland Marina, which will be used alongside the Sailing Academy to provide berthing and land based facilities at Games time is progressing ahead of schedule, meaning all key facilities will be ready more than three years ahead of the start of the Games.
Beijing Gold medal winning sailor Paul Goodison joined ODA Director Ralph Luck, Olympic Gold-medallist Jonathan Edwards from the London Organising Committee (LOCOG), Jim Knight MP for Dorset and WPNSA Chairman Edward Leask to unveil the new facilities today.
Paul Goodison, the World number one Laser sailor and Weymouth local who won Gold in the Laser class at the Beijing Games, said: “Winning gold in Qingdao was an amazing experience - I am now looking forward to 2012, training and competing out of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on my home waters.”
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: “Weymouth and Portland will be a first class venue for 2012 as well as leaving an impressive legacy at one of the UK’s premier sailing destinations. This will do much to increase popularity and participation in the sport with all the benefits to health and fitness that will bring.
“To have completed the first Olympic and Paralympic venue over three years before the start of the Games is a tremendous achievement and demonstrates the excellent progress we are making on London 2012.”
Along with the completion of works at Weymouth & Portland, it was also announced that the National Lottery has raised £375 million of its £750 million target for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, through sales of specially-designated Lottery games. All the money raised from sales of these designated games will go towards funding the provision of facilities and supporting infrastructure for the 2012 Games.
The ODA’s completion of enhanced sailing facilities is only the first phase in the wider regeneration of Weymouth & Portland ahead of the 2012 Games. Dean & Reddyhoff Marinas was selected by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) to develop and operate a new 560-berth commercial marina at Osprey Quay of which 250 berths will be used during the 2012 Games. Work on the marina is well underway and it is on target to open in April 2009. The development also includes new marine retail and commercial units, bringing enormous social and economic regeneration to the local area.

 

CRUISING

RYA AND BMF MEET WITH DfT OVER PROPOSED ALCOHOL REGULATIONS

Gus Lewis, RYA Legal and Government Affairs Manager and Howard Pridding, Executive Director of the British Marine Federation, have once again met with officials from the Department of Transport (DfT) for an update on proposed regulations relating to blood-alcohol limits and boating.

Blood-alcohol limits for non-professional (recreational) boaters were introduced by Section 80 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, although at present this Section is not in force.   The DfT has confirmed that it now wishes to bring Section 80 in to force, subject to certain exemptions, and is in the process of producing draft Regulations to effect this.

The RYA and BMF understand that the DfT intends to exempt from the application of blood-alcohol limits those boaters navigating small, slow craft but the RYA and BMF continue to be concerned as to how this exemption will be applied in practice and whether it will be workable.

“We have unresolved concerns regarding which craft will be exempt, which individuals on board would be subject to the blood-alcohol limited and how the rules would be enforced (and by whom), which we do not believe have been addressed properly,” commented Gus.

“Once the draft Regulations are published for consultation then we will have a clearer idea as to what precisely is being proposed and if necessary, we will once again raise with the Department our concerns over issues of application and enforcement,” concluded Howard.

The RYA and BMF have been advised that the draft regulations will be available for public consultation via the DfT website in the next couple of weeks and that the consultation will be open for a period of 12 weeks.  The regulations will also be posted on both the RYA and BMF websites: www.rya.org.uk or www.britishmarine.co.uk.

Response by the RYA and BMF to the draft regulations will be available to view on both websites when issued.

To update yourself on this issue go to www.rya.org.uk/alcohollimits or the Government Relations service page on www.britishmarine.co.uk.

 

WINDSURFING 

 

Tushingham rigs for sale
from sportscotland

 

We have just replaced our range of Tushingham windsurfing rigs so we have a large amount of 2007 sails to sell on. The sails alone retail for over £300 but we are offering complete rigs for less than that. Our sails are rotated regularly so we always have the best most up to date kit.
Tushingham Thunderbird T3  



We have:
2 x 4.0m Storm
2 x 4.5m Storm
2 x 5.0m Storm
2 x 5.5m Storm
2 x 6.0 m Thunderbird
2 x 6.5m Thunderbird
2 x 7.0m Thunderbird

All rigs are priced at £270

Rigs include a 45% carbon Freewave Tushingham mast (r.r.p. £140) and a HPL skinny grip boom (r.r.p. £110).

For an additional £40 a Deck plate, Adjustable harness lines, an Uphaul and a mast extension can be included.(r.r.p. over £75).

Rigs can be split.

Please contact for more details.
Dan.smith@sportscotland.org.uk
07771804723

 

START SAILING

OnBoard Conference looks forward to 2009

The OnBoard conference took place on the 18th and 19th of November at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. This annual conference brought together OnBoard Development Officers, managers and Regional Development officers from throughout the UK.

OnBoard is on or above target with 26 partnerships in 125 locations. Over 132,000 taster sessions have been delivered but unfortunately the target of 10% retention of these kids within the sport is not being met. This is our focus for the coming year and many great workshops were delivered to give us ideas to help us meet this target.

Each area will host at least one OnBoard festival during 2009. Details of the Festival in Scotland will be publicised shortly so watch this space. Laser and RS are offering boat packages to help out with these festivals on a first come, first served basis.

Top sailors Bart Simpson and George Skuodas gave a very interesting and amusing accounts of their sailing backgrounds and both were very passionate about the work OnBoard does to get kids involved in sailing.

Everyone left the conference fully motivated to make more partnerships between schools and OnBoard clubs/ centres and to give kids the opportunity to be part of our fantastic sport.

WINTER COURSES

RYA Shorebased courses available

Glasgow Sea School are running RYA shorebased theory courses over January and February. Yachtmaster, Coastal  and Day Skipper intensive theory courses will be running Mon-Fri on the 5th-9th Jan and 19th-23rd Jan. For people with work, study or other commitments the school will be conducting classes every weekend throughout Jan and Feb and open from 6-9pm on every Tuesday and Wednesday night if people prefer to do courses nightschool. There are discounts for group bookings, students, people on low income and individuals that work within community sector, and RYA members.

www.glasgowseaschool.org
floor 2, 534 Sauchiehall St, G2 3LX
info@glasgowseaschool.org

TRAINING
Optimist news
Optimists have been training at Strathclyde Park through November, and will have further sessions in the New Year.  
20 young Oppie sailors have taken par from a variety of clubs across Scotland, and so the central situation of Strathclyde Park seems to be suiting the sailors and their parents.

Laser News

Training weekends for Lasers are being organised this winter by Tony Gorzkowski, see web site on www.scottishracing.org for dates venues and booking. The weekends are open to both youths and adults, squaddies and non squaddies.

Two weekends remain available at ;

Loch Venachar on 17/18 January.

Largs on 21/22 February.

Bookings are being taken now. 

These training weekends, arranged with help of RYA Scotland, are of course on top of the usual RYA Area and Scottish squad activities over the winter.

The Christmas Regatta at Strathclyde Loch is set for a very big visiting fleet. All three RYA singlehander Scottish squads are being recommended to attend, so these Laser, Topper and Optimist squads are all expected, plus many of the juniors currently learning in the Optimist days at Strathclyde Loch will attend. There will be a course area for Oppies separate to the bigger boats, allowing the younger sailors a more gentle introduction to big fleet racing, without faster boats weaving through their fleet.

SQUADS

Area Squads set sail

East Squad

TOPPER and LASER RADIAL             
DATES: 
              
              7/8 FEBRUARY    
              7/8 MARCH
              21/22 MARCH
TIMES:    09.30 – 17.00 DAILY
COST PER HEAD PER WEEKEND: OWN BOAT £35 PORT EDGAR BOAT £50

Applicants should fill in the application form and return it to Port Edgar as soon as possible.   Further copies may be downloaded from: www.ryascotland.org.uk

If you have any queries please telephone Oliver Ludlow on               0131 319 1681       , or e-mail oliverludlow@edinburghleisure.co.uk

 

The West and North have already held some weekends, check RYAS website for additional dates.

 

ENVIRONMENT

Feeling Green?

Are you Planning Club Winter Talks?  Then why not Green your Sailing Scene?

The Green Blue is here to pass on the latest environmental advice and top tips to clubs and is happy to come and give a talk to committee and members.  If your club is organising a winter talk series then why not ask The Green Blue to come along and find out how you, as recreational clubs and sailors can:
•  minimise oil/fuel spills,
•  reduce energy and water costs,
•  use environmentally friendly cleaning products
•  recycle more
•  green events and
•  enjoy wildlife without disturbance. 

We are training volunteers in the New Year, which will give us a better opportunity to reach more clubs around Scotland.

To arrange a talk please email Julia Christie at: Scotland@thegreenblue.org.uk

RYA PUBLICATIONS
New in December

RYA Going by the Rules, Trevor Lewis, £8.99

 

RYA books can be ordered at most marina shops, or online from the RYA site. Remember, all RYA members gain a 15% discount on RYA books. Order at www.rya.org.uk/shop or phone the order hotline on 0845 345 0372. RYA Vouchers can also be purchased on the site.

 

RYAS Office contacts
RYA Scotland, Caledonia House, 1 Redheughs Rigg, South Gyle, Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ
General Enquiries; 0131 317 7388         Fax: 0131 317 8566    
Chief Operating Officer; Agnes Barclay 0131 317 4616               
 m; 0787 645 7924
Development Manager; Jane Campbell Morrison 0131 317 4610                 
      m; 0777 060 4234
High-Performance Manager; Roy McCubbin 0131 317 4612           
m; 0778 633 3541
Onboard Development Officer; Angie Sword   0131 317 4617 
m; 07920 045756
Green Blue Project Officer; Julia Christie  0131 317 4613   
Senior Administrator; Pauline McGrow  0131 317  4611      
Administrator; Gail Joyce 0131 317 4614
Administrator; Isobel Johnstone   0131 317 4617                                 
Web addresses for further information;
www.ryascotland.org.uk    www.team15scotland.org.uk  www.powerboatscotland.co.uk   www.ruob.co.uk

RYA Hamble contact
General enquiries;  0845 345 0400          www.rya.org.uk
Disclaimer; this newsletter is published by RYA Scotland. Information is believed to be accurate at time of going to press, but comes from diverse sources. Neither RYA Scotland nor the editor can take responsibility for any errors or omissions. Opinions of contributors or interviewees are not necessarily those of RYA Scotland.
Please contact RYA Scotland to check the latest information about topics and events summarised here.