General

The annual Topper Challenge was held last Sunday (3rd November) hosted by 7th Wave and the Maughold Venture Centre at Mooragh Park The event is a team racing for junior sailors from the Island’s RYA Training Centres. A total of five teams were entered representing the Manx Sailing and Cruising Club, Isle of Man Yacht Club, King William’s College, the Venture Centre and 7th Wave, each team consisting of three sailors aged 16 and under.

A total of ten races were sailed to allow each team to race all the other teams during the afternoon. The cumulative points for each team’s finishing places were added up at the end of each race and the team which scored the least points won that round. After all ten races were sailed the team with the most wins would be deemed the overall winner of the event.

A short windward / leeward course was sailed, the wind being sufficiently strong enough for the first four races to be sailed around two laps of the course. Mid-way through the afternoon the course was shortened to one lap in the decreasing breeze.

The first race was a battle between the northerners. Amie Shute and Izzy Sharpe, both recently returned from competing with the Manx Youth Sailing Squad in the UK and now representing the Venture Centre, certainly showed the boys how it was done as they both got away with excellent starts. The MS&CC lads who are newcomers to dinghy racing did not show quite the same finesse on the start line although they did keep Matt Read (Venture Centre) at bay during the first lap until he managed to take four places at the leeward mark giving the Venture Centre 1, 2 and 3 in race 1.

Race two was contested between MS&CC and IOMYC. The IOMYC team consisted of Manx Youth Sailing Champion Ali Hinds, this year’s Pico Challenge winner Jacques Lakeman and recently qualified instructor Laura Green. The experience of the team really showed and they sailed comfortably into 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Next was the race between the Island’s two commercial training centres the Venture Centre and 7th Wave. Once again Izzy Sharpe was off to a good start for the Venture Centre. The fleet split up the first beat with James and Greg Kelly (7th Wave) and Amie Shute (Venture Centre) heading up the right of the beat while Alex Sharpe (7th Wave), Izzy and Matt Read (Venture Centre) going left as the wind went lighter. A mixed result for the teams with 1, 2 and 4 for defending champions 7th Wave and 3, 5 and 6 for the Venture Centre.

Race three between KWC and IOMYC was very close, it was the only race where everyone finished with 30 seconds of each other. Once again the IOMYC’s experienced sailors dominated scoring 1, 2 and 3 to KWCs 4, 5 and 6.

KWC stayed in the boats for their next heat against the Venture Centre. KWC’s Hannah Howitt was OCS and had to restart.. Amie Shute had another good start for the Venture Centre. KWC captain Tom Howitt led round the windward mark but was overtaken on the last leg giving the Venture Centre the win for this heat.

Race six was between 7th Wave and MS&CC. 7th Wave got off the start line in 1st 2nd and 3rd and held those places throughout the race. Following some coaching between races the MS&CC lads, Theo Leach, Tim Hardisty and Josh Gaines showed considerable improvement for the remainder of their races.

Ali Hinds (IOMYC) was looking good for the start of race 7, but got stuffed during the last few seconds. Alex Sharpe (7th Wave) got off to a good clear start, but Ali fought back and was first by the time they rounded the windward mark. This was the closest race of the day, IOMYC finished just getting the win with 10 points to 7th Wave’s 11 points.

MS& CC and KWC were back on the water for race 8. Manx Youth Sailing Squad members Nick Parkes and Hannah Howitt (KWC) were both off to a good start and tacked to cover the MS&CC lads up the beat. The tactic paid KWC scored 1, 2 and 3 all crossing the line rafted together.

At the start of race 9 IOMYC, 7th Wave and the Venture Centre we all in contention for the overall win. Ali Hinds (IOMYC) was over the line at the start along with Izzy Sharpe (Venture Centre). Amie Shute (Ventre Centre) sailed well up the first beat and arrived at the windward mark first. Izzy had done well to recover from the start and there was a close battle downwind. Amie and Izzy finished in 1st and 2nd scoring the win for the Venture Centre with Laura Green (IOMYC) in 3rd.

And so it was all down to the final race to decide who would be the overall winner, 7th Wave needed to beat KWC in this race to finish ahead of the IOMYC. 7th Wave had another good start with Greg Kelly and Alex Sharpe leading the fleet round the course and finishing is 1st and 2nd to secure the win.

The Venture Centre, 7th Wave and IOMYC each had scored three wins during the series and so it was down to points to decide the winner. It was 7th Wave who had just scraped the overall win with the IOMYC only one point behind. The trophy was presented by Nigel Hendy to 7th Wave team Alex Sharpe, James Kelly and Greg Kelly. Thanks to Simon Read at the Venture Centre for providing the boats. Next year’s Topper Challenge will be held on Sunday 1st November.

Results
1st: 7th Wave 33 points – Alex Sharpe, James Kelly, Greg Kelly
2nd:IOMYC 34 points – Ali Hinds, Laura Green and Jacques Lakeman
3rd: Venture Centre 38 points – Amie Shute, Izzy Sharpe, Matthew Read
4th: KWC 45 points– Tom Howitt, Hannah Howitt, Nick Parkes
5th: MS&CC 60 points– Theo Leach, Tim Hardisty, Josh Gaines

Yes, it’s that time of year again! The Topper Challenge will be held this Sunday at the Mooragh Park. There will be a briefing at 12.30pm and the first race will start as soon as possible after the briefing. Best dress warm this year!! Boats are being provided by the Venture Centre and the lakeside cafe will be open for hot drinks. The prizegiving will take place at the lake.

Good luck to Greg and James Kelly and Alex Sharpe who will be representing 7th Wave and defending their title from last year….

See you all on Sunday

The Manx Youth Sailing Squad travelled to Draycote Water last weekend to compete in the RS Tera Inland Championships. This was the first time that the newly formed MYSS attended a championship in the UK and they put in a performance to be proud of. There were a total of thirty boats entered for the series and the competition at the top of the fleet was tough, some sailors had come from the GBR Optimist Squad into the Tera Class and some sailors had World Championship experience.

A total of six races were scheduled for the weekend, but the two races planned for Saturday were cancelled due to strong winds. Sunday provided superb racing conditions. The first race was sailed in fairly light airs, then there was a break for lunch and three races were sailed in the afternoon in a steadily increasing wind. By the close of the final race the wind was up to a good force four occasionally touching a five in the gusts.

Race 1 was won by the Manx Youth Sailing Squad’s youngest and smallest member Greg Kelly who sailed an absolutely faultless race. He had an incredible start, a port tack flyer at the favoured pin end, and crossed the whole fleet on port tack. From here Greg kept his cool and covered the fleet upwind rounding the windward mark first and then accelerating away from the fleet downwind and further increasing his lead. He held it together and led the fleet around the second lap of the course and finishing the first race of the series with a win and much cheering from parents ashore!

Race 2 started in a little more breeze. This time it was MYSS member Izzy Sharpe who had an impressive start and led the fleet from the pin end to the left side of the course. Nick Parkes also had a good start and headed right up the beat. The wind went lighter on the left of the course and the stronger breeze favoured the boats which went right up the first beat. James Kelly had pushed this start a little too much, he was in the perfect spot but just a wee bit too early so he was forced to dip back behind the line before restarting. He was able to take advantage of the stronger breeze on the right and had caught up with the top ten by the windward mark. After lap one Nick was lying in seventh place and James in eighth. Positions changed again on the upwind leg of the race and then a couple of close battles ensued downwind. Both the Kelly lads each had their own fight to the finish, both showed superior downwind speed and each gained one place on the last leg of the race. The MYSS team scored three top ten places in this race with Greg in 5th place, Nick in 9th and James in 10th.

Despite the extra wind the racing remained close and the quality of starts impressed those watching. The MYSS were a credit to their coaches, particularly on the start lines they were all right up there on the line when the gun went. Once again Nick was quick off the line for race three with Hannah Howitt and Izzy battling it out just behind him. The girls held their own as the wind continued to build. Hannah, Izzy and Amie Shute all sailed consistently throughout the series, it was good to see them hiking out, defending their positions, gaining places on the beats and at the marks. Young Greg sailed another impressive race and scored 6th in race three.

Yet more breeze for race four and another impressive start from Nick who got away well but unfortunately had to do penalty turns following a port and starboard incident on the beat . There was some sibling rivalry on this start, both James and Greg were looking for a clear pin end start, it was always unlikely that both boats would get away with a good start and so the siblings left themselves with a bit of catching up to do. James put in a couple of tight mark roundings taking several places at two marks. Amie was sailing well upwind in the wind with good boatspeed. Hannah and Izzy’s mid-fleet battles continued with Izzy just beating Hannah to finish 13th & 14th respectively in this race. Greg really sailed well in the windiest conditions of the day, as the lightest member of the MYSS he had to hike extra hard to keep the boat going, but he held his own upwind and really flew downwind to finish this final race in 6th place.

Since the squad was selected at the IOM Youth Dinghy Champs in July four intensive race training weekends have held at 7th Wave training provided by Phil Hardisty, Don Edwards, Rob Cowell and Jenni Quillin. The efforts put in by coaches and squad members during the summer have certainly paid off, the squad have showed significant improvement during all the training sessions and their results at the RS Tera Inlands reflects this. Thanks go to all the coaches, supporters of the MYSS, Jon Quillin at 7th Wave for towing their boats to Draycote for the team to use and Pete Ashurst for the loan of the car.

Next year the MYSS will travel to the RS Tera Nationals at Dabchicks SC in Colchester, Essex on 19th & 20th September. Selection trials for the 2009 MYSS will be held during April, followed by four training weekends throughout the summer. There are a total of six places available to sailors aged 14 and under, if anyone would like further information regarding the MYSS or to express an interest in next year’s squad please contact Jenni at 7th Wave on 836366.

Woohoo ACE day for bodyboarding!!!

Our seadog Jack, the same seadog who ordinarily refuses to get even his feet wet made an ever so slight error this morning.

He is smart enough to realise that he can’t climb a ladder so whenever we leave the boat tied up on the wall at a ladder he has to be dropped off at the steps or slipway first. He is usually pretty good to meet us and sits waiting at the top of the ladder until we have finished tying the boat up, then we can carry on on out merry way.

This morning I was moving the boat from the Raglan Pier to berth it up by the Sunbeam, so Jack had to be dropped off at the slipway first. I pootled in to the slip and was about 15ft from the slip and Jack’s dry route off the boat. So I said to him ‘are you ready to get off Jack’ he headed for the bow of the boat and instead of waiting as he usually does, being an aquaphobic creature, he just kept on going one big leap over the bow followed by an almighty splash! Hahahahahahaha 🙂 I am still laughing about it now, there he was forced to swim (the first time I have ever seen him swim) cold, wet and shocked…. He clambered out at the slipway and wouldn’t even look at me as I tried to hide my chuckling, poor embarassed wet dog. I don’t think he’ll make that mistake again.

I nearly forgot, with the recent rush of courses, we’ve got a new boat!!

A shiny new (second hand) 420 fully equipped with spinnaker, trapeze and a few more ropes than our primitive old girl. This addition to the fleet now means we can offer adult courses and taster sessions for groups of up to four adults. Next summer we will be able to take more sailors on the Youth Sailing Weeks, there will certainly be ten places available on each week.

For those who have now completed Stage 4 we have a boat for Spinnaker and Trapeze courses too!

And we are waiting until everyone is back at school so we might get a chance to take it for a blast….

This is probably the wettest and greyest summer I can remember, but even so, we have had full Youth Sailing Weeks running since the start of July and the weather hasn’t damped our spirits or stopped the fun!

Chris went away three weeks ago for a week, leaving Breesh and me with eight kids for the week. All future staff holidays have subsequently been cancelled! Thanks to Tom Howitt for stepping in to help for the week. It was an enjoyable week. George and Hugh passed their Stage 1, Kit and Laura returning from last year completed their Stage 2, Tia and Isla have nearly completed Stage 3 and James and Greg had a good week building up their experience in the 420 in preparation for Stage 4.

Chris arrived back in work on the Tuesday morning of the following week a wee bit tired after the Steam Packet had made some slight adjustments to their ferry schedule ‘Sorry Sir but you will need to go to Heysham and won’t be home until 6am’. No sympathy from us though, Breeshey had worked many extra hours the previous week! And it was a week of noisy boys and Kate the only girl on the course that week. Kate and her brother Joe spent most of the week in the 420 working toward Stage 4. And the rest of the terrors in Teras! Well done to the boys who all completed Stage 2.

During that same week I ran a Youth Dayskipper Theory course, Becky, Guy, Ben and Alex were are brilliant group to teach, a good bit of boating experience between them and brains which are used to studying made the week an absolute joy. See you all for the final exam in September….

Then there was Marine Day in Port St Mary on the 9th. We were supposed to be running boat trips but alas the weather was set against us! Still it was a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Which brings us up to last week, another eight kids, another week with Ffinlo! Last week was a cracking week, everyone on the course had sailed before, all were keen and much fun was had. Friday’s Pirate Day was also Kieran’s 10th birthday – thank you for the cake! Matthew, Georgia, Declan, Keiran and Max all completed Stage 2, Ffinlo and Jamie acheived Stage 3 (I think they are our youngest Stage 3 sailors aged 8 and 10 respectively) and congratulations to Georgie Drinkwater who demonstrated some excellent sailing skills and completed Stage 4!

And it was Jon’s turn for a busy run on the water. Every day for the past seven days he has been running powerboat courses; one adult Level 2 which is to be completed tomorrow, 3 x Youth Level 2 on Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 x Youth Level 1 on Thursday and 3 x Youth Level 1 on Friday, followed by 3 x Level 2s over the weekend. Only one more day and you can have a break hun!

And finally congratulations to Ali Hinds who has just passed the Dinghy Instructor course at Plas Menai a couple of weeks ago. She’s already been in helping out this week and is a welcome addition to the instructing team.

…but we still managed to get out on the water every day. Monday was almost perfect conditions for day one of last week’s Youth Sailing Week, with all eight students really getting the hang of it quickly and by the end of day one everyone was happily reaching across the bay and tacking thier boats. Tuesday was a breezy day to begin with, so the morning was theory sessions and a bit of kite flying, then the wind dropped and we were able to get out on the water again in the afternoon. Typical though that shortly after launching the wind really picked up, everyone coped with it brilliantly and demonstrated some excellent lee shore landings in the surf! Wednesday morning; more wind and more theory, we now have a group of expert knot tyers. The the wind dropped a bit and got out for a bit more sailing, until we spotted more big dark clouds rolling in and decided to get back to the beach. Our timing couldn’t have been better, as soon as we got ashore a huge squall came through with some really big gusts. Capsize drill in the shallows concluded the afternoon. Thursday and even more wind. Jon took everyone for a tour around Port Erin Lifeboat during the morning.The afternoon was still too windy for sailing but we got everyone on the water kayaking for a hour or so, then a basking shark was spotted in the bay so Chris took everyone in the RIB for a closer look – lucky kids!!
Friday – and finally a full day on the water!!! A good week had by all in spite of the weather, loko forward to seeing you all back for more sailing next year….

What a windy week we’ve had (two tiller extensions and one Tera mast later)! It has been nearly perfect conditions (except for the grey skies and rain) for a Stage 3 / 4 week, the seven sailors who’ve been with us this week have really enjoyed themselves – and so have our instructors. We like getting the chance to go out in a bit of breeze for some fun. It has been testing conditions for the students with the wind almost always being offshore and therefore really gusty, all coped admirably.

So at the end of this week we have seven students who have all learned how to hike out hard, each has had a go at blasting around in the 420, two man boating being a completly new experience for some and only a few capsized. Tom and Alex have completed their Stage 4 this week and demonstrated a text book righting of the turtled 420 after an impressive capsize while gybing in a huge gust! Photos are on the Gallery

Well done to Sarah Butler who won the Isle of Man Regioanl Final of the Honda / RYA Youth RIB Challenge held in Port St Mary last weekend.

Sarah took the top spot in a time of 1:51, in the 8 – 12 age group, the only competitor in the age group to go under two minutes. This was the first time she had compete at the event and following her win was extremely excited about representing 7th Wave and the Island at the national final at Southampton Boatshow in September.