Bolton Sailing Club

Welcome to the second RYA NorthWest newsletter of the New Year. Here, you will read about RYA activities in the NW, and find out more about latest initiatives from RYA HQ.

The newsletter is being sent by e mail to clubs and centres in the NW. You can forward the e mail news to your fellow committee members at your club, or even to all your membership thus giving them all the chance to get the latest news fast. Print a copy to put on your notice board to let others see the news. You can also be added to the circulation group to receive your own personal copy.

If you would like to be added to the distribution list, just contact the Regional Secretary at  jgraham.knox@virgin.net . 

This month’s highlights include;
• Dates for your Diary
• NW Junior Traveller Series 2007
• Team 15- swimming with Sharks
• Preseason talks at Bolton
• Sailsmart conferences- book now
• Senior Instructor course- book now
• Lake District- fees climbdown
• Training opportunities in Cumbria
• Club Development
• Junior and Youth events coming up- enter now
• RYA Dinghy Sailing Show
• Olympic Racing
• Honda Youth RIB dates
• Green Blue- volunteers sought for environmental project
• Championships in the NW in 2007
• Volvo Keelboats
• RYA Racing Charter
• RYA new books

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

RYA Dinghy Sailing Show, 3/ 4 March, London
Sailsmart Coaches Conference, West Zone, Hollingworth Lake, 17 March
Sailsmart Coaches Conference, North Zone, Carsington, 18 March
Regional Conference for Instructors, Trainers, Coaches and Inspectors, West Kirby, 18 March
Windsurf Conversion Course, Hollingworth WAC, 24 March
RYA Volvo Open Keelboat Training Weekend, Queen Mary SC, 28/30 March
Windsurf Intermediate Non-Planing Instructor course, 30th March – 1st April @ The Surfstore, Durham’
RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor Course, the Wirral Sailing Centre, 3- 6 April.
RYA Youth Nationals, Hayling Island, 9-14 April
RYA Volvo Open Keelboat Training Weekend, Royal Northern & Clyde YC tbc, 21/22 April
RYA Inland Dinghy Instructor course, Hollingworth Lake SC, 20-22 and 28/29 April
Eric Twinames, Rutland Water, 12/ 13 May
NW JUNIOR TRAVELLERS SERIES

Series dates announced
RYA North West Junior Traveller Trophy in association with 1st Mark Ltd
DINGHY HANDICAP RACING open to helms and crews under the age of 17 on the 1st January each year.
OPTIMIST CLASS RACING open to helms under the age of 16 on the 1st January each year.
No need to pre-register – just turn up and sail at any event – you will be made most welcome
The first event is at Elton on March 31st, and another nine events are spread through the season until the last one in early October at West Lancs.

Events – 2007 Season 
March 31st        Elton S.C.

April 21st    Winsford Flash S.C.

May 7th    Budworth S.C.

May 12th    Leigh and Lowton S.C.

June 9th    Ullswater Y.C.

June 23rd    Bolton S.C.

July 7th    Coniston S.C.

Sept 8th    Redesmere S.C.

Sept 15th    Delph S.C.

Oct 6th      West Lancashire Y.C.

PRIZES will be awarded at each venue by the host club under whose burgee the event is held.
OVERALL PRIZES will be supplied by the RYA NW Training Committee
and awarded in the following categories :

Handicap class top three places in the under 17 and under 14 age groups (eldest member of the crew determines the age group in the boat ).
Optimist class top three places 
Team Trophies for the best overall club in the Handicap and Optimist class (first two boats from each club to count towards the team trophy)

QUALIFICATION : Best five results from ten will count for the series.
Any ties decided on discard and amount travelled.
Qualifiers in both fleets will be awarded certificates.
The AGM is normally held at West Lancashire YC on the day of the WLYC traveller racing. For further info on the series, contact: Andrew.Millington @ nwjtt.co.uk   .

TEAM 15 WINDSURFING

Sharks plot ascent of Mont Blanc

A shoal of Sharks shinning up a mountain? Sounds a bit fishy.
But no, not when the Sharks in question are T15 team, the Salford Sharks, who are running a fund raising day at Salford Watersports Centre. The team is hoping to raise £1000 for the club’s coaching and transport to T15 inter-club events this summer and to do this they are climbing the height of Mont Blanc – that’s 4807meters!
The team will complete the task on the 31st March 2007 on Salford Watersports’ indoor wall. In order to reach the height they will need to ascend the wall 601 times. Team15 Coach, Paul Hopkins, said “It’s a massive task but will keep the team together over the winter as they will be training at the centre on Wednesday nights running up to the event”.
We wish the Sharks the very best with their training, the climb and most especially their fund-raising efforts. We look forward to seeing a full team of 15 at all four inter-club events this season as a result!The Salford Sharks are running a fund raising day at Salford Watersports Centre in the West Zone. The team is hoping to raise £1000 for the club’s coaching and transport to T15 inter-club

PRESEASON TALKS
Talks at Bolton SC
A good  way to prepare for the season is to bone up on techniques with the help of the experts. In the build up to the season, Bolton Sailing Club is hosting a series of talks starting with, “Crewing to Win” by Dale Knowles on Friday 2nd March, staring at 7.30pm.
2nd at both the 2006 GP14 Nationals and Worlds, Dale Knowles will be talking about the crew’s job in making a dinghy go fast (and it’s not just pulling ropes!). From pre-start preparation to upwind, reaching and running in all wind conditions, Dale will be providing his insights from 20 years of crewing GP14s with some of the best helms in the country.
The second of the series will be on Friday 9th March, starting at 7.30pm, “Sail knowledge and dinghy tuning to win” by Neil Platt.
Everybody welcome. Free of charge. See for details and directions see www.sail.org.uk.

SAILSMART CONFERENCES
For Coaches and Sailors

The Sailsmart conferences are for anyone interested in sailing, not just for coaches.  However Club Racing Coaches wishing to re-validate must attend. 

They are taking place in all the RYA Zones.  The dates for the North and West Conferences are below: 
17th March – the West Zone Sailsmart Conference at Hollingworth Lake SC
18th March – the North Zone Sailsmart Conference at Carsington SC

Programme at Hollingworth

10.00 Arrival and Revalidation – tea and coffee
To revalidate your qualification please bring your logbook, power boat
level 2 and a valid first aid certificate when you register
10.30 Welcome Chris Blackburn RYA High Performance Manager
10.45 The FUNdamentals of Training – This session will be delivered by some of our most experienced National Coaches, who are themselves all seasoned campaigners. They will deliver practical examples of putting together the building blocks of a successful, motivating, and achievable training programme. For Coaches they will talk about how most
effectively to prepare your sailors for RYA squad programmes and deliver practical advice on keeping the Fun, in the FUNdamentals of Sailing/Coaching-  Kirsty Bonar
Questions
12.45 Lunch and Revalidation
13.30 Hands on Approach – The afternoon will utilise some expert
coaches to deliver a more interactive session on boat handling
manoeuvres and tactical toolbox -  Richard Benson
Questions
15.30 Update and AOB Chris Blackburn

Everyone is welcome to come to these conferences – young and old and we hope to start 2007 with a bumper attendance.

• To apply contact jenny.campbell-james@rya.org.uk or fill in the
application form on http://www.rya.org.uk/WorkingWithUs/coaches/racingcoaches/Sailsmart.htm

• If you cannot attend the West Conference try the North Zone event at Carsington, or one of the other zones

• PLEASE APPLY NOW

SENIOR INSTRUCTOR COURSE

April at the Wirral
 
Regional 4 day RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor Course
Priority given to Club Volunteers
April 3rd – 6th @ Wirral Sailing Centre
 
To book a place please contact:
 
Sally Kilpatrick
RYA Development Officer North
  Mobile: 07747 534527
  E-mail: sally.kilpatrick@rya.org.uk

LAKE DISTRICT
Lake District climbdown on fees to boaters
The Lake District National Park Authority has climbed down from its efforts to impose increased taxes on Windermere boaters, and instead has agreed to cutting fees to just £5 per boat. The new fees come into effect immediately, and follow an outcry by local boaters, their clubs and the RYA Region.
Previously all powered craft paid into the Windermere Registration Scheme, with an average charge – based on the length – being about £45. However last year a “loophole” was discovered in the byelaws, which allowed vessels to be exempt from paying fees to the LDNPA if they are already registered with the Small Ships Register (SSR).
Now the LDNPA has decided to fall into line, cutting its fees to be similar to the SSR – namely £5 a year for existing members and £10 for new registrations. The LDNPA also agreed to scrap a previous registration scheme for special one-off events, which operated last year.
The decision was announced just a few days before the closure of the LDNPA’s consultation period about charges. RYA NW Chairman Howard Reynolds Jones welcomed the decision,”I’m delighted to hear that the Park Authority has listened to arguments from boaters and reached the right conclusion. I trust that they will now confirm that they are dropping their other ideas for extra charges.”

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN LAKES

Outdoor Workforce Development Project – GET QUALIFIED!

St Martin’s College are now providing funding for training in the Outdoor Sector in Cumbria.   If you work (paid or unpaid) within the Outdoor Sector in Cumbria we can subsidise skills courses leading to particular National Governing Body awards and related qualifications.  You can apply for 75% of the course fee to be paid for a variety of courses to be found in our training prospectus.  Each individual can apply for up to £300 and the project runs throughout 2007.  Courses include MLTE Mountain Leader, Walking Group Leader and Single Pitch Award, BCU Canoe/Kayak Coaching awards, RYA sailing awards, cycling qualifications as well first aid and first line management courses and more.

To be eligible to apply for a bursary you must meet the following criteria:
• You must be over 16 years of age.
• Your home address must be in Cumbria.
• You must be employed (paid or unpaid) in a business within the Outdoor Sector in Cumbria.  Your employer/voluntary organisation must be in Cumbria.
• If you work for a public sector organisation you are ineligible for this funding; this is a European Social Fund stipulation.  If however you are volunteering outside of your public sector role you are likely to be eligible.  Please contact the Project for clarification.
• Full time students are ineligible for this funding; this again is a European Social Fund stipulation.

For further information please contact Rachel Walker on 015394 30275
or rwalker@ucsm.ac.uk.

CLUB DEVELOPMENT

Courses on the way

Regional Development Officer Sally Kilpatrick is planning a raft of new courses in the NW to benefit clubs and sailors.

Regional Conference for instructors, trainers, coaches and inspectors will be held on 18th March at West Kirby.

A Windsurf Conversion Course would be held at Hollingworth Lake WAC on 24th March and run by Mike Roberts.

Windsurf Intermediate Non-Planing Instructor course, at The Surfstore, Durham, 30th March – 1st April

RYA Inland Dinghy Instructor course, Hollingworth Lake SC, 20-22 and 28/29 April
To book on any of the courses above or if you are in need of any Instructor courses or Endorsements in the future,  please contact Sally Kilpatrick on 07747 534527 or sally.kilpatrick@rya.org.uk.
 
Centre Inspections for the NW are in the process of being sorted to be handed out for the coming year, Sally would like to urge centres that if they have not heard from their Inspector for 2007 by the end of June, to contact her so that she can chase it up in attempt to get all Centres inspected by the end of the season. 
 
If anyone is interested, or knows anyone that would like to become a Dinghy Coach / Windsurf Trainer or Powerboat Trainer, please contact Sally to discuss the qualifications & experience needed and she is more than happy to assist people with a development plan to becoming a Coach or Trainer.

JUNIOR AND YOUTH EVENTS

RYA Youth Nationals

strictly NO late entries

April 9th—14th 2007 Hayling Island SC

You MUST pre-enter and pay for this event ONLINE at RYA events website.
Welsh Youth Championships

 all welcome- you don’t have to come from Wales

28/29 April 2007 at Pwllheli SC

The event is “open” to all Junior and Youth classes. The plan is to run 3 course areas. 1 outer course for Youth classes, 1 course (mid) for Optimist and Toppers, 1 course (inner – close to beach) for a regatta fleet of Optimists and Toppers.
As it is the weekend before the final Optimist Selections at Pwllheli you will be able to leave your Optimists there after the Championships. For further details contact Ceri Yeomans admin@welshsailing.org or
01248 670738. You need to pre-enter this event.
Eric Twiname Champs

for Zone Squad sailors only, except for Laser 4.7 class, which is open entry,

Will be on 12 and 13 May at  Rutland Water Sailing Club

4.7’s are all advised to go to the Eric Twinames because it is a selection event for the 4.7 national squad (phase 1).
 
The 4.7 squad is run in two chunks per year, the phase 1 squad starting May, the phase 2 starting Sep/Oct.
As the Eric Twinames is one of the 2 selection events for the phase 1 National squad 2007, all budding 4.7 sailors with aspirations to be considered for the National Junior Squad must attend.
 
All sailors will need to pre-enter via our events website – www.ryaracingevents.org.uk/
 
More information on the application and selection process for the Laser 4.7 squad can be found on:
www.rya.org.uk/Youth/youthsailracingprogrammes/nationaljuniorsquad/laser4.7.htm

.
For further info about any RYA racing/ coaching programmes, please contact Chris Blackburn on
07909 994637 or    chris.blackburn@rya.org.uk , or to see him in person, here are some of his diary dates;

Chris Blackburn movements —  if you wish to make an appointment to meet Chris then please do get in touch. He will however be at the following clubs on the dates below

Feb 24 Pwllheli; Feb 25 Carsington;
Mar 3/4 Dinghy Sailing Show; Mar 10/11 Pwllheli; Mar 24 Rutland; Mar 25 Carsington
Topper Open Training

West Zone

10/11 Mar – Budworth    For further details see  www.gbrtopper.co.uk

Club Racing Coach Course

10 and 11 March Bartley Sailing Club
17 and 18 March Staunton Harold Sailing Club

If you wish to attend or your club is interested in holding a Club Racing Coach Course then please contact Chris Blackburn on 07909 994637 or    chris.blackburn@rya.org.uk or Jenny Campbell James at RYA Hamble.

DINGHY SHOW

3/4 March at Alexandra Palace

The largest dinghy show in the world.
From starter dinghies to high performance racing boats, it’s a great introduction to sailing and the best place to buy the latest equipment for the new season.
Talks, seminars and live shows for everyone- come and learn the absolute basics of how to sail, from how to buy a boat for under £250, the latest tips and tactics for racing sailors and what to take with you when going cruising.
Everyone welcome!

Meet Chris Blackburn and Sally Kilpatrick there.

OLYMPIC RACING

Luke and Twig at Miami

Luke Patience and Twig Grube took 15th place in the 470 Mens class at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, and included a third and fifth place finish in their score sheet, showing they are getting used to life at the top among the world’s best 470 sailors. Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield, who took gold, emphasised the quality of the 470 fleet, “All of the world’s best sailors in the 470 fleet are here – some might not have their best boats with them, but still it’s been really pleasing to win against the top guys.”

HONDA YOUTH RIBs

Dates announced

Regional events will be;

NorthWest  Sat 14 July, venue TBA
Isle of Man, Sat 16 July.

Details e to youthrib@rya.org.uk

NW contact; Colin Howard on 0797 653 2753; RNOLIC@aol.com

Isle of Man details, David Hill, 0762 447 1410, or hill@manx.net

The National final will be on 15 September at the Southampton Boat Show.
GREEN BLUE

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH GREEN BLUE

Do you enjoy using the water?
Ever wondered what you could do to help the environment?

The Green Blue is the flagship environmental awareness programme from the Royal Yachting Association and the British Marine Federation. It aims to educate the boating community about its environmental impacts and how to minimise them.

The Green Blue is now seeking up to 10 enthusiastic people to play an essential voluntary role in representing The Green Blue at events across your region.

As a volunteer you will be trained in issues covered by The Green Blue and then asked to attend a number of boating events throughout the year.  You will then be able to represent The Green Blue at events such as boat shows, boat jumbles and regattas around your region. You could also be asked to do speaking engagements on behalf of the programme and give talks to local and regional clubs and interested groups.

We need people who are passionate about sailing and boating activities and who have some knowledge, but more importantly, enthusiasm for the environment. Full training will be given and you will need your own transport.

This is a voluntary role and travel, entry fees and subsistence costs will be covered by agreement with the Project Development Officer. The role will include weekend and occasional evening work and could include transporting and setting up a mobile display and running competitions.
 
For more information about The Green Blue, visit www.thegreenblue.org.uk or contact Katherine Rowberry, Project Development Officer, for more details about the opportunity and application pack on info@thegreenblue.org.uk or 023 8060 4227.
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE NW

2007 Calendar

This year there are two Natonal Championships to look forward to, both at Bassenthwaite. First the Graduates come, on 26th to 28th May, then in late June it is a visit from the Martin 16s, also opting for a three day Nationals, to be held from  29th June to 1st July.

Graduate Nationals, 26-28 May, Bass
Martin 16 Nationals, 29 June – 1 July, Bass

There are also a good range of other Championships, either Northerns or Inlands, and again Bass has picked up a good pair of these. First off of the three Northerns is one held in the North East, which is sure to attract many sailors from the North West. That is the GP14 Northerns, held at Derwent Res on 9th/ 10tth June.

Next is the Mirror Northerns, again held in the Lakes where the class is strong. This will be at Bass, on 14/15 July. September brings a pair of majors, with the Flying Fifteens Northerns coming to Bass and the SB3 Inlands to Ullswater.

GP14 Northerns, 9/10 June, Derwent Res
Mirror Northerns, 14/15 July, Bass
Flying Fifteen Northerns, 8/9 September, Bass
SB3 Inlands, 15/16 September, Ullswater

Does your club in the NW have any Championships or major opens this year? If so, please send info to alanhe@tiscali.co.uk  for inclusion in a future newsletter.

KEELBOATS

RYA VOLVO KEELBOATS

Fancy a place on the Volvo RYA Keelboat Squad? Want to get up to speed in a Keelboat? Now is your chance!

The RYA are holding a series of Open Keelboat Race Training events in 2007 and are looking
for the next generation of up and coming sailors to get on board. Open Keelboat Race Training events are a route for being selected into the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme and provide the opportunity for sailors to brush up on skills and receive first class coaching in the RYA’s fleet of J80s. These events cater for sailors of all race abilities.

28 – 30 March Queen Mary Sailing Club
21—22 April Scotland (RN & CYC TBC)
23—24 June Scotland (RN & CYC TBC)
9 – 11 July Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy
28 – 30 August Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy
1 – 2 September Plas Menai, Wales

If you would like to know more about the Volvo RYA Keelboat programme or about the sailors currently on the squads please go to our website: www.rya.org.uk/AboutRYA/programmesinitiatives/
volvoryakeelboatprogramme/

VOLVO CHAMPION CLUBS

Any Volvo Champion Club that has not yet requested its 2 free coaching days should do so by the end of March.

RYA RACING CHARTER

How to sign up

More and more clubs are now signing up to the RYA Racing Charter, which helps to ensure fun, fair and welcoming racing at your club. If your club has not yet signed up, please e mail to joanne.moulton@rya.org.uk .  Joanne will then send you a Racing Charter pack, including a certificate to put up on your notice board.  Then you simply write to Joanne to confirm your club  has adopted the Charter.

RYA PUBLICATIONS
New title in February

RYA Catamaran Handbook, by Jeremy Evans. £13.99

Stand by for a bevy of launches on new RYA books for March at the RYA Dinghy Show.

RYA books can be ordered at most marina shops, or online from the RYA site. Remember, all RYA members gain a 10% 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.

YOUR RYA REGION
Get your own newsletter
 If you would like to be added to the circulation list, please send your e mail address to jgraham.knox@virgin.net .

RYA NW contacts

Chairman;  Howard Reynolds Jones  0151 625 9187  h.reynoldsjones@btopenworld.com
Secretary;  Graham Knox   01706 642311  jgraham.knox@virgin.net
High Performance Manager for North and West; Chris Blackburn   07909 994637   chris.blackburn@rya.org.uk
Regional Development Officer; Sally Kilpatrick  07747 534527   sally.kilpatrick@rya.org.uk
OnBoard Development Officer; Adam McGovern   Adam.McGovern@Rochdale.gov.uk
Chairman, Training Forum; Wendy Rigg   wriggcsf@btopenworld.com
Secretary, Training Forum; Judith Baldwin   01625 584442    forum@rya-northwest.org.uk
Regional Race Management Adviser;  Adrian Stoggall   01625 871579  stoggall@zetnet.co.uk
Regional Windsurf Liaison Officer;  Mike Roberts   0161 928 4157   mark@aroberts56.freeserve.co.uk
Powerboats; Richard Solomon     rmsolomon@btconnect.com
Sailability; Ian Shirra      07749 012414      ian@shirra.fsnet.co.uk
Communications;  Alan Henderson    01292 281383     alanhe@tiscali.co.uk
Web addresses for further information;
RYA NW    www.rya-northwest.org.uk        OnBoard;   www.ruob.co.uk    
RYA HQ   www.rya.org.uk  or tel   0845 345 0400       Team 15;   www.team15.org.uk
Disclaimer; this newsletter is published by RYA North West Region. Information is believed to be accurate at time of going to press, but comes from diverse sources. Neither RYA NW nor the editor can take responsibility for any errors or omissions. Opinions of contributors or interviewees are not neccessarily those of RYA NW. Please check info about events etc before going.
RYA Hamble contact
General enquiries;  0845 345 0400          www.rya.org.uk