His more recent achievements include coming first out of 70 entrants to win the RYA North East Youth Travellers Series 2011 which resulted in an article, published in a local newspaper’s sports section, showing Alex with his glass trophy (which his mam managed to successfully re-glue after she accidentally dropped it …… ooops). This win brought him to the attention of the South Tyneside Sea Scouts who asked him to join them and during his second week of membership he managed to come 2nd overall in his Laser during their National Championships. These successes led their leaders to ask that he participate in the National School Sailing Association Topper Team Championships held at Birmingham on the 1st and 2nd of October. 32 teams of 3 participated, including some Topper National Squad members, but the underdogs (Alex along with his 2 Geordie mates Kieran and David) managed to keep them all at bay and went onto claim first place.

As this particular type of sailing requires strict rule adherence, teamwork, maths and tactical skills, Alex’s mam now knows for certain that her son can do soooooo much better in his school studies ……

As a result of winning the NSSA Team Championships the group are invited to enter the RYA Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships at Oxford Sailing Club sailing Fireflys – please wish him luck.

Alex and Lynne would like to thank those all at Bolton who devote so many hours of time freely to the BSC membership, especially Mike for his ‘take no prisoners’ style GP14 coaching, our Flag Officers and all those who arrange the events, fix the boats and move the jetties (hours and hours of time), sort out the power boat fuel and the fuel for our bellies (…. and do the blooming washing up) and, of course, those who coach/instruct both us & our children; even though many of them have no children currently learning to sail themselves – completely selfless behavior!

…. Think not what your club can do for you but be mindful of what you can do for your club!
(think that may be pinched from Churchill or JFK???)

MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED & ARE MOST WELCOME

2011 SS Youth champs Press cutting

If you are on OOD that day, you will be re-allocated another day. The galley staff have been informed and will not be opening. The trophy day planned for that day will be re-scheduled to another day in the year.

If you still wish to sail, you will need to find a route to the club but the committee would advise staying away for the day to alleviate traffic problems.

The committee would like to apologise for this short notice but have only recently found out how much the road closures will affect access.

This Sunday is our annual Regatta Day in aid of the RNLI.

Please note that this year, racing starts at 10am. Three races then a fun race.

About Sail for Gold

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games provides us all with a unique opportunity to really promote our sport nationally and your club or training centre locally and for us all to have some fun!

People will naturally be much more sport oriented as we move closer to the Games and so it’s a great chance to really inspire them to have a go at sailing and hopefully engage them on an on-going basis, perhaps as a member of your club, or learning to sail at your training centre.

RYA Sail for Gold programme

The Sail for Gold programme, launched in March 2011, provides clubs and training centres with a framework of activities and events, both on and off the water that they can tailor to suit their needs.

The race started at just gone 10am when all the Picos made it to the start line. We had a choice of starting single or double handed, but we had to put the jib on and sail double handed for the last four hours of the race.

We opted to start single handed and to put the jib on later as the wind was very light and our team were made of kids of the taller, larger variety.

James Shevelan-Hobbs started the race and with the wind conditions, managed one lap in 45 minutes… he looked a bit frustrated with the lack of wind when we swapped him for Harriet Critchley. With a lighter helm and some kinder wind conditions, Harriet sailed the Pico to the front of the fleet (little did we know it’s where we’d stay for the rest of the race).

A quick change from Harriet to Peter Mackin lengthened the lead we had, knowing that we may be at a disadvantage when it came to putting the jib on and doubling the number of crew in the boat.

Pete changed to Michael Platt who did a stirling job of holding off the chasing pack and pulled away to a massive lead over the second place boat.

As it got to 2pm we had to get the jib on so it was a case of rolling the boat over on the jetty to attach the jib and throwing Sam Platt and Amy Kershaw in and a quick shove in the right direction.

Alex Collins and Harriet teamed up for the next change over, followed by Gareth “Just back from Weymouth” Staples-Jones and Joe Shevelan making a good partnership.

The final stint was sailed by Peter and Harriet, who sailed the last hour and 20 minutes in a slightly stronger (comparatively) wind.

The wind never really filled in as promised but by the time the photos were taken around the flag pole the sun made a long awaited appearance.

Crossing the finish line we didn’t know whether we’d finished first or if we’d been overtaken in the later stages. We picked up the winners trophy and plenty of OnBoard goodies and found out we were nearly a lap and a half ahead of the 2nd place boat!

Let’s hope the 12 hour race plays out in the same way!

Race training for all will start at 10am with coaches on hand throughout the day.

Champagne sailing conditions (and free toast and drinks) welcomed the twenty-nine visitors and thirteen home boats for the final North West Junior Travellers of 2010. Plenty of recent rainfall ensured the reservoir at Belmont was as full as it could be given the recent work on the spillway.

A Southerly force 2 was perfect for all ranges of ability entered in the event with some hotly contested positions for the final results of the year.

The first race for the Youths was won by Chris Wheeler, followed by Sam Hall then Andy Hunter. The thirty-five strong junior fleet was won by Kirk Knights, followed by Duncan Boyter then Cameron Wood. The optimists enjoyed a slightly shorter course with Bobby Hewitt winning, followed by Charlie Ewing, with Lucy Knights putting in a huge amount of effort to come third.

A fantastic lunch and slideshow kept the sailors and parents entertained until the second race where Chris Wheeler once again won the youth fleet, followed by Andy Hunter then Megan Griffiths. The junior race was won again by Kirk Knights, followed by Duncan Boyter and Cameron Wood. The Optimists finished with the same 1,2,3 as the first race of Bobby, Charlie and Lucy.

With all fleets results being decided after the first two races, only Sam Hall decided to venture out for the final race of the youths but it meant that different sailors in the junior class could have a go for a fleet win with John Wingeatt taking the victory from Sam Clarke and Alexander Davies. The Optimist race was won by Charlie and in an example of extreme sportsmanship Bobby followed Lucy around the racecourse to show her how it was done. Lucy came second followed by Bobby.

All agreed that it was a great days racing in almost perfect conditions.

Overall results were:

Youth

1^st Chris Wheeler (LLSC)
2^nd Sam Hall (Bassenthwaite)
3^rd Andy Hunter (Nantwich)

Junior

1^st Kirk Knights (LLSC)
2^nd Duncan Boyter (Jumbles)
3^rd John Wingeatt (LLSC)

Optimist

1^st Bobby Hewitt (LLSC)
2^nd Charlie Ewing (Dee)
3^rd Lucy Knights (LLSC)

1st Bolton Boat – Peter Makin (8th overall)

Following the Bolton prize giving there was the NWJTT raffle and overall prizes for the year. Thanks for all who attended and to all the members of Bolton SC who helped out on the day.

Pictures: SailPics.co.uk

Full results: here

The 13-strong fleet made up of former Endeavour Champions from the last 50 years was, not surprisingly, extremely competitive particularly with the likes of Ian Southworth/David Hayes, Alan Gillard/Graham Machon, Bob Suggitt, Steve Tylecote, and Nick and Caroline Martin returning to Burnham specifically for this historic occasion.

Craig, like several other Masters in the fleet had been competing in this year’s Endeavour Trophy, so was obviously race-tuned for this one-off, one-race event. It wasn’t particularly surprising therefore to see the ‘master of the breeze’ take the initial lead from Tylecote/Toby Lewis, with Bithell/Birrel in third. Fireball world champion Chips Howarth and Simon Potts sailed a faultless downwind leg and once in the lead had control to the finish.

Howarth commenting on the Masters’ event explained how important it was to be racing: “It was fantastic for me because from a young age when I was sailing my Cadet at Bolton Sailing Club, I idolised the likes of Southy [Ian Southworth] and Alan Gillard. I used to really look up to these guys, so to be racing against them 25 years later, is fantastic. What’s also wonderful is there’s guys from yesteryear like the great Mike McNamara, the medium age guys like Southy, and some of the great sailors of today like Nick Craig and the young Merlin sailors. It’s a bit like racing with three generations, and it’s even better to have beaten them all.”

Read the full article on Yachts and Yachting

In the first race there was a tight battle at the front of the fleet between Tony Critchley (Bolton) and Mike Gibson (Bartley). Whilst Tony led for most of the race an unforced error by Tony hitting a mark on the last lap let Mike take the lead and take first place with Tony in second and Richard Pakes (Haversham) in third.

After lunch the wind had dropped off to a F2. In the second race, the OOD decided to use almost all the marks on the lake which led to the entire fleet having close racing. Four boats managed to get away from the rest of the fleet with Andy Flitcroft (Bolton) and Tony Critchley together with Richard and Mike having a battle for the lead. The lead group was chased down by Ian Moodie (Bolton), however at the front Tony, Andy, Mike and Richard changed places several times with Mike eventually taking the lead and taking his second win of the day with Richard in second, Andy in Third and Tony in fourth place.

The third race was sailed in even lighter wind conditions and with a quick turnaround several boats were still on the beach as the OOD sounded the preparatory signal. By the time the third race started the wind had picked up a little and Mike, Richard, Tony and Phil East (Haversham) had a battle up the 1^st beat but Mike got ahead and led Richard, Tony and Phil around the course with the finishing positions staying the same.

Photos on SailPics.co.uk

Overall Results:

Gold Fleet

1st – 687 Mike Gibson (Bartley)
2nd – 666 Richard Pakes (Haversham Sc)
3rd – 525 Tony Critchley (Bolton SC)

Silver Fleet

1^st – 576 Helen Brittan (Bolton SC)
2^nd – 615 Jon Moreman (Craven)
3^rd – 696 Keith Roberts (Bolton SC)