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 (Click Photo to see next) Bosham Open cancelled Due to lack of demand, the organisers have decided to cancel the open meeting at Bosham SC this coming weekend. Spinny lost at Brightlingsea Toby Morsley’s spare white and blue Olimpic spinnaker – 51754 - in blue olimpic bag. Possibly someone picked it up in error with their kit on Friday with the rush of packing up. Toby has bow 22 and was parked next to Taylor/Parker Mowbray and Page/Brewer. Anyone able to help, please Send Email Photos are still coming in, but, thanks to Chris Brown on the water and to Andy Foskett, there are now many posted on the Photo Gallery, with some on the Rolling photos ion this page. Anyone who has further contributions, please Send Email. 2008 UK National Champions, Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton, who went on to win Gold at the ISAF World Youths in 2009, returned this year to win the CurraDinghy British 420 Open & National Championships 2010 at Brightlingsea SC. Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley were 2nd and Tim Gratton & Ed Riley, 3rd - they also won the under-17 prize. Amy Seabright & Rosie Sibthorp are the Women’s National Champions. Neil Marsden won the (just) over-21 prize, and the Endeavour Trophy was awarded to Tim Riley & Ross Mackley . The first Overseas Boat was Reinier & Maarten Eenkema van Dijk of USA, who achieved 9th overall. Chris Brewer & John Page were the first non-squad team. In addition to the Champions, individual race winner trophies were presented to: David Quinlon & Ed Gibbons of Brightlingsea, Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis, Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley, Tim Gratton & Ed Riley and Neil Marsden & Flora Stewart. To quote one of our sailors " it was hard today " performance not aided by impending A level results which seem to have gone ok. We now have new crop of 420 sailors going to Southampton, Exeter, Warwick and Chichester . Current news is that there is a postponement flag on shore. Results are up for the two individual races but not the overal . News by text is Mike and Hugh are in 3rd, Tim and Ed in 8th and Amy and Hermione lying 2nd Girls as they managed to avoid their protest . Looks like it was light starting out at 8 knots today. Y&Y report on qualifying Series End of qualifying today . Results just posted on web but news by text from coach. Mike Woods and Hugh Brayshaw , Tim Gratton and Ed Riley , James Hayward and Tim Carter , Amy Seabright and Hermione Stanley all made gold . Craig Dibb and Charlie Cox had a good day but not quite good enough to make gold fleet. Amy and Hermione won a race in 12knots. Moules and Chips provided by the club tonight so our Coach Neil Marsden will go hungry as he does not eat seafood . Ben Palmer and Konrad Weaver, last years 420 worlds Bronze medalists and Francis Peters are also at the event competing at the 470 Junior Euros. Racing started yesterday and after two races Mike and Hugh are stop of the leader board . There are three flights boys and girls sailing togther. It started light and built to 15 knots with pretty big sea with some big holes in the course. It was full wetsuit weather for crews some of whom got cold between races. Accomodation is within walking distance of club and girls have a great appartement which the boys are not allowed in because they made too much mess in the pre event training .... Online entry is now open Worlds team returns After two races on saturday the team finished with four girls in the top 20 in Gold fleet and both bronze medals in the silver fleets. Before prize giving the team had to spend five hours packing up the container. on Sunday morning some sailors took nearly as long to clear their rooms before setting off for Tel Aviv airport. Girls news Houseparent has given up and gone to bed after three attempts to put news up.. wait until tomorow Another tricky day in the office with wind direction oscillating between 280 and 325. There were more holes than a Swiss cheese, with the wind up and down like a Yoyo. In the gold fleet Mike and Hugh had a great day in the wacky conditions with a 2nd and 9th. Bullet for Matt and Tarra in the Silver, overall GBR poised like a coiled spring to leap frog the POR for gold and silver to get in the chocolates, but of course it is not over until the fat lady sings. Worlds Day 3 Girls fleet Becky and Katrina had a race win . All the girls in the GBR team managed to avoid BFD today and all had counters. The wind was a variable ten knots with holes and a 40 degree wind shift that nearly capsized Anna and Flora. Becky and Katrina are top of the leader board and are working out just how much of the yellow jerseys they can hide . Today was big waves and chop , patchy and shifty. The GBR boys raised their game on the starts and worked hard. Half the fleet in one Gold fleet race was BFD, iincluding our two boats. Mike and Hugh managed two keepers in their other races. Ed and Tim and a 1st and 2nd and lead the Silver fleet . It was Josh Pistols' birthday today. Pictures of the boys launching on picasa click link In just their second event of the summer, Ben Palmer & Konrad Weaver completed 9 races of the French 470 National Championships with the perfect score of 8 pts and discarding a 1st. The fleet of 35, including former Olympians, were impressed with the pace of Palmer and Weaver in the 6-12 knt breeze over the three days at Lake Biscarrosse, just south of Bordeaux. See more details today is the layday and most sailors and coaches are making the most of not having to be up at 7am. Photos from Haifa are available on Picasa . Team are in good spirits and nobody under 30 is worse for wear after last nights' parties. Boys started at 13.15 hours not in perfect Med condtions .It seemed like someone had turned round the fan or even turned it off a bit like the intermittant plumbing in the boat park. The PRO shifted the course six times in an attempt to get the race track in . Dying wind 12 to 5 knots with large holes. Mike and Hugh made gold . Josh and Piers made it hard for themselves by getting a yellow flag on the last reach of the last race. For a few minutes it was thought that one boat would be in the container ready for the UK at the end of qualification however they made gold. Our other five boys are now after the top five places in the Silver fleet . Ed and Tim missing gold by three points. The good news is that it was not one of our boys who T boned and wrote off french girl's boat on the way to their start . Day 2 end of Qualification (Girls) Girls started at 10.00hrs three races, 12-15 knots in perfect Med conditions. Three races wins Anna and Flora, Amy and Hermione, Becky and Katrina and a third for Sarah and Katie. So four girls in Gold fleet, Nia and Molly just missing out by three points. Annabel and Megan finished the series on a high with a top ten . 420 World Championships Day 1 – Qualification Series – Haifa Early start for the guys sailing in the Open fleet qualification series today. Racing was to start at 10:00 am. 84 boats split into 4 fleets. Wind Force 2-3 SW which has been varying in direction and strength greatly. Two general recalls before the 1st Fleet start managed to get away. 2nd Fleet away 1st time our guys unofficial results; Mike and Hugh – 6th, Tom and Rosie – 11th, James and Tim – 35th, Craig and Charlie – 26th, Tim and Ed – 29th, Josh and Peers – 35th and unfortunately Tarra and Matt were a little too eager and got an OCS. Racing underway at the Worlds in Haifa The main, and most up-to-date news will be found on the Championship and International Class websites. But our man at the helm on the shore, Alan Gillard has promised Carla Stanley that he will add some more informal news of the GBR team here. And Carla’s photos from before the racing should be added whenever anyone has time!! The RYA and UKSA have announced their commitment to extend the British Keelboat Academy partnership beyond 2010 as applications open for 2011’s squad selection trials which will take place on 11-12th and 25-26th of September. The Academy, set up in October last year, offers budding young keelboat racers (age range: 18-24) the opportunity to further their skills, experience and knowledge of the sport, fast-tracking their development and progression towards racing at the highest level. Many of the successful participants in this, and its predecessor RYA keelboat programme, have come from the 420 Fleet. Applications close at 5pm on Wednesday 18th August. To apply visit British Keelboat Academy. Andy Foskett has also sent us some GBR team photos - see Photo Gallery. We believe that more on-the-water images may follow when all the support team make it home (and assuming the camera(s), as well as the photographers have dried off!). To keep track of the action at the ISAFs (they have been sightseeing on the lay day today, but are due back on the race course at midday on Wednesday), see ISAF Day Report, Results. And this morning a video interview with 420 sailors was posted, which features Joanna Freeman & Hannah Mitchell - see Volvo video of 420s. Coverage also on International 420 website. Former and current GBR 420 sailors in the Olympic Classes in the news Chris Draper & Peter Greenhalgh have clinched the 49er Europeans title, and the bronze has gone to last year’s silver medallists, Stevie Morrison & Ben Rhodes. But, unfortunately, Paul Brotherton was injured during the event. See RYA Press release. Hey, all these GBR 420 sailors dominating the 49er. Our guys in the BUSA teams representing GBR at the FISU World Match Racing Championships at Gazion, Crete are: Andy Shaw (who tops the FISU World rankings), Ed Fitzgerald, George Yeoman and Ben Ainsworth, with Rachel Williamson (GBR1), who led the 13 team field in the Round Robin, and James Goss, Chris Carden, Elliott Parsons and Hattie Marsden, with Pete Johnson were 2nd! Tweeters wanted for Sail For Gold The RYA are looking for a number of Youth sailors to work on the main committee boats during Skandia Sail for Gold regatta, the dates are Sunday 8th until Saturday 14th August and based at WPNSA. The job will be to send text messages on class starts, start times, information on courses, OCS boats and wind. There will be no payment for this work, but a daily packed lunch will be supplied and a volunteer Musto “Skandia Sail for Gold regatta” gilet will be given to those attending for the whole week. This is an excellent opportunity to be involved in the best Sailing World Cup event of the year, with around 600 boats, 850 sailors and 7 race courses in the lead up to the Games in 2012. France’s Guillaume Pirouelle & Valentin Sipan won the Topsport Vlaanderen Regatta 2010 at Nieuwpoort on Wednesday, after eleven races and leading most of the event, except for Tuesday night, when our women challenged their lead. Rebecca Kalderon & Katrina Brewer (GBR), who had been neck and neck with Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood (GBR), took 2nd. No final results yet available on Event Website, but our correspondent in the North Sea (well soon in the Channel!) wrote at 20.30: “Just leaving Nieuwpoort on yacht heading for La Rochelle. Wind 12 knots on the nose!! …..Final results: Through the event until Tuesday night at Nieuwpoort, France’s Guillaume Pirouelle & Valentin Sipan led the Topsport Vlaanderen Regatta 2010. But constantly under pressure from the GBR women, Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood and Rebecca Kalderon & Katrina Brewer have taken a 5 point lead (on equal points) into the final day. We wish them fair winds for the final push – exciting stuff – and hope to be hearing from our man in the North Sea soon (assuming he is not too occupied with the contents of his fridge this morning!) Day 3 - Race 10 Richard writes at 14.50: "Race 10 1st Leeward 53922 FRA, Issy, Rebecca, Josh, Annabel, FRA, FRA,, Tim, Jess, 53872, 52675". Day 3 - more Richard at 13.06 - juggling texting with re-stocking the fridge apparently [alright for some (ed)]: Race 8: FRA 5237, Craig, BEL51967, Issy, Amy,Tim Gratton, Nia, James. Wind very light - Race 9 postponed, but a light sea breeze trying. Just going into sequence, breeze coming and going. Start individual recall - no-one returns. 6knts and building. (Have to go...) Coach requires coffee". Seems all well with the support team, anyway (ed). Day 3 at Nieuwpoort Richard Hayward writes, on Tuesday morning (11.15 BST), from the Crow’s Nest: “Good morning from the North Sea. NW 3 knts, glorious sunshine.Race 8 underway. Clear startunder black flag after general recall. Very tricky conditions. Outer loop, leeward: Issy, Amy FRA, Matt, Craig. Very light and grim, with tide building.” All very close among the top five at the end of Day 2 at Nieuwpoort. Day 2, Race 7 Richard Hayward writes at 13.19: "Race 7 now going into sequence for third time" Flanders Day 2 - more from Richard at 12.18 GMT: "Race 6: 1st leward: Amy 1st, James 2nd, lots of other GBR and one FRA" Flanders - Day 2 Richard Heyward writes at 12.08 (GMT) Monday: "Flanders Race 5: James & Tim have a good lead at the leward, followed by Annabel, and then Rebecca. The boys then 'sail like girls' (the coach's words) and hand victory to Annabel. Race 6 underway." Flanders 1 Richard Heyward writes at 11.57 on Monday: "Hi from Flanders. Race 1 on Sat dominated by the French, but Rebecca & Katrina giving chase in third, followed by James & Tim in 5. NEWS from FLANDERS! Your "ed" is en route from Kiel to Largs (via Ringwood!), so service is slow. But experienced 420 correspondent, Richard Hayward is at Flanders and news is coming through on Sunday. Message 1 (re. Sunday) received at 11.57 on Monday....so sorry for delay, finding WiFi access. More are coming in, but there may be a further interruption while "ed" drives to next venue! Top 5 after Race 4 at Nieuwpoort : Richard's first report from the North Sea, somewhere off Nieuwpoort, Richard Hayward wrote on Saturday morning....but we only found his report and posted it on Monday afternoon!...sorry": Dinghy Instructor Courses Several of our members have asked about doing their Dinghy Instructor Course this Summer. If you are 16 or over and are interested please contact the Training Officer Andy Foskett RYA have issued a Press Release announcing the opening of entries via RYA Events. Diplomacy and craftiness (...distracting qualities of Pam’s squash and moving of tent pegs)….Sarah’s crossed luff wires….and some sailing! Helen Alton, our special correspondent in Kiel writes on Saturday evening: “We are having a good time here, but there is a lack of wind!!! The delivery crew (Pam, Philip and Helen) arrived Wednesday afternoon to complete chaos in the boat park and campsite but managed to grab a lifeline of electricity for the team motor home. Sweden and Denmark were very accommodating with their tents (Pam bribed them with orange squash), but the Czech Republic proved more challenging as they wanted to park the front wheel of their Mercedes van across the front door of our tent. Pam's excellent negotiating skills and the moving of a couple of tent pegs solved the problem. The sailors arrived late Wednesday evening to the sound of a German band and very impressive fireworks. There have been two glorious days of sunshine, but it has been colder today. In 6th overall after three races, Joanna Freeman & Hannah Mitchell, but with a BFD in race 4 (BFDs in every race among leading teams at Kiel this year) must now be praying for a discard to kick in. In the meantime, Josh Pistol & Piers Strong are in 12th in a very strong field at this year’s Kieler Woche. For results and latest racing information see Kieler Woche website (some coverage also on the International Class website). Jonny McGovern is providing a week of 420 training at Grafham Sailing Club from 26 to 30 July. This is appropriate for all abilities, including those new to the Class. Full details are on the Training Event Page . SIGN UP NOW! SIGN UP NOW FOR THE 2010 420 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Let's try and make this a great event! All information and on-line entry to be found on the Event Page. 2010 Annual General Meeting We hereby give notice of the 2010 GBR International 420 Class Association Annual General meeting to be held at Brightlingsea Sailing Club on Tuesday August 24th at 7pm Worlds Team News: Container packed! We plan to blog news from the Worlds Team going to Haifa when we can. First instalment from Carla: "Large team turned out to pack the containers at Hedge End for Israel today .. it was rather hot, but we got it done .. many thanks to Robert Vose who organised it all!" One of those opportunities to get 420 racing before the Nationals and when some of the Fleet are still away representing us at international events is the Chichester Harbour Federation Week (9 – 13 August). It is a few years since we featured Fed Week, but we are delighted to have a 2009 Class Member as its Vice Chairman and people in high places (well, RYA House no less!) making sure we are on our toes! We have found the Provisional Programme and note that there is a social event every night. Our correspondent says “last year there were four boats and champagne sailing. Local accommodation may be possible”. All good! The event is being organised by HISC on behalf of the thirteen Chichester Harbour clubs, so you may also find more info. on the HISC Fixtures Calendar The Streakers have a new National Champion, our former Junior Euro Champ, Tom Gillard, who won every race at Stewartby Water SC. But this was some achievement, with the Class in strong form – he beat one-time 420 sailor, Chris Catt, Ian Jones and Steve Cockerill. Our former top 420 sailor Paul Burgoine was 5th, and Alan Gillard was evidently busy writing up the event as he went along, as he had to make do with 6th in a fleet of 47. See Y&Y Report. Our Nathan Batchelor was aboard Bob Turner’s winning ‘Serco’ at Roompot, Zeeland, South Holland to win this year’s J/24 European Championships. He says that they have had enough of coming second! For further info, see Final results, Event Website and UK J/24 Class Our Christopher Rust won the Mirror Nationals 2010 on home waters at Brightlingsea SC, in Complete and Utter Chaos! And Jack & Jill, er, Ed & Beth Grey, our guys on Windermere, took silver. We also spotted James Wilkinson of Restronguet in All the Right Reasons and those Harnetts, Meia & Elin - Pure Elegance of course! - from Whitstable in the line-up. We have probably missed some of our guys incognito, but we will have to watch out for Mr Rust and his colleagues when the 420 Class heads for Brightlingsea in August. See Y&Y Report, Brightlingsea SC and Mirror Class UK. “Are you an 18-year-old considering which direction to now take your sailing or are you about to head off to university and wondering how you can continue to sail once you’re away from home? The RYA Team Racing Development Training Programme could provide the answers you are searching for. Team Racing is a major part of national and international sail race competition, with the biennial ISAF World Team Racing Championships next taking place in Schull, Ireland, September 2011, the pinnacle international event, as well as being the primary sailing activity undertaken at British universities”. During discussions at the Spring Champs over 20 boats expressed interest in going to Flanders. Training from 2pm Thursday with Neil Marsden. The Mind The Gap Year Itchenor Schools Championship is from 30 June to 2 July. See the ISC Event Page, NoR, Entry Form and our Event Calendar. The Chair of the Selectors, Brian Wilkins, announced the invitations to the teams selected at the prize giving at the end of the day’s racing on Sunday at Pwllheli SC. The attached list is provisional, subject to formal confirmations of acceptance to the Team Manager. Brian, together with the other Independent Selectors, Willis Fuller and Nick Martin, witshed “good luck to our international teams in 2010”. Commenting that “as ever,Pwllheli SC hospitality was excellent, facilities really good and the racing, when wind finally arrived (N, 20 Kts) was first class. Not to mention amazing scenery!” Oh well, the Selectors are happy then! The Selector Series of 20 races completed at Pwllheli today. We await the Selectors’ Report and announcements about the Teams for the 2010 Worlds and Junior European Championships. Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw, seeing through their Selector Series lead through to the end, won the Spring Championships on Sunday at Pwllheli SC, with Tim Gratton & Ed Riley in 2nd and Rebecca Kalderon & Katrina Brewer, leading the women, in 3rd overall. See provisional Spring Championship Results See Event page. Will the wind for Sunday! Team Shaw…err, Southampton….are BUSA MR Champs A great three days at the Island Sailing Club – great bay, good weather and sailing conditions, and lots of racing due to the organisers choosing a fleet format after the flights to maximise everyone’s interest and time on the water. Philip Alton has sent us another 60+ photos from the Youth Championships, with a range of individual close-ups, action shots and some great artistry. See Photo Gallery RYA tells how some Skandia TeamGBR sailors made it to Hyères for the SOF, the 42nd Semaine Olympique Française in its pre-event Press Release. But, if you are followers of the Match Racing Girls on Facebook, you will already be fully briefed about Annie Lush having to use her byke to get from Palma to Hyères. Our uni match racers are off to the Island sailing Club, Cowes from Friday to Sunday for this weekend’s BUCS/BUSA National Match Racing Championships 2010. Strong 420 participation is assured. We have spotted: Your chance to win free mentoring from Henri LLoyd Andy Foskett reports on a great day at Staunton on Wednesday. Report attached, but see the Video. Wood & Brayshaw and Freeman & Mitchell are Youth Champions 2010 Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw became Champions having led the way all week and Joanna Freeman & Hannah Mitchell won the Women’s Championship at WPNSA. It seems that the news ran a bit dry in the middle of the Championship (sorry, went to get some boats for CIMA in Marseille [ed] ....and you will have been following things on the RYA Youths Website if you were not in Portland). But Carla Stanley was evidently busy with her camera right up to the end. See Photo Gallery. Wood & Brayshaw head the Youths' leaderboard after R5, and Seabright & Stanley (just) lead the women With a 2-3-2 today, Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw extended their lead to 13 points after 5 races. Tim Gratton & Ed Riley held in 2nd overall. Amy Seabright & Hermione Stanley, with a 1-2-3 scoreline today, jumped from 7th to 3rd, but are equal on points with Joanna Freeman & Hannah Mitchell on 25 points. The top three women’s teams all scored bullets during Day 2. “Hugo’s puppy ferrets out Megan’s birthday cake, as baked by Kirsty”…is this the Youths or East Enders?! [ed] Carla signs off after Day 2 with her second dispatch from Portland: “Kirsty made a birthday cake for Megan, and it was carefully hidden under a their boat cover….or so they thought….but not hidden well enough from Hugo Sloper's young labrador puppy who helped himself to it when no-one was looking.. Our Mark Lees, with Josh Irons, Sam Garforth & Nikki Curwen – what a 420 star-studded J80 team! - our guys in the Keelboat development Squad - came third at the RORC Easter challenge. And our Tom Smedley, with Aaron Cooper, of the National Squad were out with the TP52 John Merricks II, Mid-afternoon Tuesday: News from Portland Carla writes: “16knots and most of fleet have gone....bit colder than yesterday. Ellie Williamson of RYA Comms brings us her roundup of the "cracking" Day 1 at WPNSA, along with Paul Wyeth's contribution....Mike Wood and Hugh Brayshaw blasting in Weymouth Bay. Our Newshound (aka Carla Stanley) adds some 420 ‘local colour’! "Neil Marsden was on the water today (Day 1) and reported 23 knots and 6’ 6” waves on the outer loop and 18 knots and 3’ - 4’ waves on the inner loop.....and all 3.5 miles offshore, with a long beat home Challenging for many! After a couple of changes from the originally published results, the top five into Day 2 seem to be: Our first batch of images from WPNSA are in, from Carla Stanley in the boatpark,. See Photo Gallery. We hope to have many photos…rumours reach us that there are several photographers going on the water who may spot an occasional 420. Please be in touch if you are, please Send Email. Follow the daily blog and results on the RYA Youths Website. Yes, 989 Optimists have rocked up at Fraglia Vela Riva on Garda for the 28th Optimist Class Lake Garda Meeting. And our man Alistair Gray is carrying the GBR 420 flame on Garda this weekend…....but somehow he has to be back for the Youths!.....a man of many parts! We wish him good sailing! Southampton Solent (White) are 2010 BUSA Yachting Champions, with our James Ellis & Ben Pym on the team and a decisive 15 point lead in the 7 race event off Port Solent. 2009 Champion helm, Chris Witty, had Sophie Pearson on the Southampton Solent (Black) team to take 2nd, while our Sophie Morton was sailing for Plymouth University A, which took 3rd this year. So while we prepare for the Youth Champs, it’s all good at the Princess Sofia. The first of the Euro events in the annual Olympic circuit is drawing to a conclusion in Palma, Mallorca. And the GBR 420 Class has much to celebrate. Thanks to Russell Brayshaw, we have a Y&Y Report and thanks to Carla Stanley and Philip Alton, we have masses of photos from the first Selector on the Photo Gallery. Philip’s two sets of images have been updated today. Nicola Newman reports on the weekend in Portland, concluding that the Class is in a health state and predicts an interesting season ahead. STOP PRESS: 420 Class Head Coach appointed RYA NYS 420 Head Coach Neil Marsden has been appointed RYA 420 National Youth Squad Head Coach. Just in case you haven’t experienced Neil’s coaching, he has been GBR Class Head Coach for the last three years, as well as being an internationally leading 470 sailor. It is not everyday that we can congratulate one of our current members of the Fleet and the reigning Inland Champion helm on his promotion! Oh dear!.... ‘spose we will have to call him ‘Sir!’ now. Well done, Sir! Lucy Macgregor (420 World Ladies Silver helm, 2004), Ally Martin (420 ISAF Youth Worlds Bronze helm, 2003) and Annie Lush celebrate top ranking in latest ISAF Women’s Match Racing listings. Anna Burnet & Flora Stewart led the largest fleet at Tiger (well, with the Laser 4000s, that is) in 10th overall out of 165+. Just behind were Tom Gillard & Rosie Sibthorp and Sarah Alton & Katie Tomsett were 14th. NB revised text in light of revised provisional results posted at 19.15. Many 420 sailors were at Northampton SC for the Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy last weekend, well, we counted 15 anyway. But the only actual 420 – a brand, spanking new one on its first competitive outing with Tom Gillardof P&B and Christian Birrell – was 4th in the 60-boat double-hander fleet (getting back into the swing for the Tiger, Tom?). Ian Dobson was 2nd in a Merlin – apparently the “light & fickle conditions” gave the Merlins the edge over the Fireballs - but Josh Pistol & Piers Strong – evidently safely back from their 420-surfing trip to Haifa – were also testing out new equipment, their Fireball. Ben Palmer & Konrad Weaver were racing their 470, while Will Kennedy, back from Buenos Aires, was out in his trusty Cadet. And we had at least seven more of our guys in the asymmetrics. Ben Saxton & Holly Scott were 2nd, in Ben’s RS200, only beaten by a Cherub. Grand old men of the Class, Charlie Roome & Dave Steed (recently back from downunder…..for the skiing in Hampshire apparently?!) in an 800 and the Rusdens, James & Will (reunited from across the academic divide!) in a 200, as was Millie Parsons! See Results and Y&Y article. 420s are the largest class pre-emtry for the Tiger at Rutland this weekend – hardly surprising, there has been at least one 420 sailor in all but four of the winning boats in 16 years (62% of the winning sailors). It is back to its ‘normal’ time of year (after last February’s snow and postponement to July 2009, when many 420s were on the international circuit - but 'our' Emma Clarke made sure we were in the winning boat again (and went on to crew the winning boat at the Endeavour)!). After a 100% sweep through the Miami OCR, even beating Claire Leroy (the only MR helm ranked higher in the World at the moment) in the semis, Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Ally Martin faced a drop in wind on the final day and got tangled in some rope....and Doncaster girl and Olympic Radial gold medallist, Anna Tunnicliffe, won the Women's Match Racing. Lucy Macgregor & Ally Martin (Mss 100%), Nic Asher & Elliott Willis and Niki Birrell lead the 420 sailors. Miami OCR Results The International 420 Class Rules have been amended with effect from 1 March 2010, as posted by ISAF on 19 January. Reference should always be made to the ISAF Class Rules page The 2010 sailing ISAF World Cup series kicks off in earnest this week with some of Britain’s top sailors among the 640-strong entry for the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta. And look how many of our 420 sailors will be there, even one that we have seen in the boat since the last Nationals! We wish them good racing. [just in case you think Iain Percy is a rather senior ex-420 sailor, former GBR National Champion crew (with Pippa Wilson), John Gimson, with Ed Greig, took a very creditable 41/73 in a field of some very experienced and successful Star sailors] Former GBR 420 sailor (and double Olympic Gold medallist too), Iain Percy, with Bart Simpson, is on the bring of Gold at the Star Worlds at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Event Website, Sail-World and World Regattas. 'Percy Almost Champion' (Wednesday night) Tom Gillard, 2007 Junior Euro Champ, came 4th in the British Sailing Battle of the Classes 2010 ....and wins, of course! Congratulations to our Marina Brassington, James Brown, Antonia Bull, Aaron Cooper, Nicola Curwen, Michaela Boughton, Mark Lees, Matt Reid and Tom Smedley who have been selected. Press Release Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton are presented with the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year Award 2009 by Ben Ainslie at the London Boat Show. Sophie Hamilton is awarded Young Sailor in the Thames Valley and Callum Airlie is Young Sailor of the Year in Scotland.. Congratulations to Christopher Brewer on his silver at the Cadet Worlds at Buenos Aires and to Will Kennedy who took 7th. Christopher also won the Rotary International trophy for best placed helm not from the host country and the Ellis Trophy for best placed helm under 15. Well done, guys! With better wind, three races were in the bag on final day at Grand Prix Vila de Blanes 2010. Amy Seabright & Hermione Stanley, with a 2 and 3 and discarding their OCS in R1, came through to take the bronze step on the podium and a declaration of "femenina absoluta". And Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood, new to 420s in the latter part of last year and up against several experienced and successful teams, notably the Austrian women and last year’s bronze winners from Barcelona, managed to hold on in 6th overall at the end of a full day’s racing. Wind at Blanes......at 07.30 "Team Manager Carla reports wind at 07:30 this morning! I assume this is on the water ....." - issued by Vose Communications Inc. at 09.00. [meanwhile, comms delayed at web HQ - shovelling heavy snow here at 07.30 - hot airs would be welcome! ....suggest the Team Managers take a break in N Africa after prize giving!(ed)] Monday 15.30 UTC: Provisional Results from Race 2 posted. Race 3 (2nd race of Monday) abandoned. The guys are coming off the water. Will Kennedy's Race 8 win brings him back up to 6th in the standings, while Christopher Brewer holds on 4th and Jess Quinlan seems glued to 21! Good luck guys for the last four races....we look forward to hearing more about sailing on the Rio de la Plata. All seven Skandia Team GBR squad boats competing in the 49er Worlds this week will have former GBR 420 sailors on board – eight were regular members (Stevie Morrison, Ben Rhodes. Chris Draper, Peter Greenhalgh, Paul Brotherton, Dave Evans. Ed Powys and Richard Mason) and three more (John Pink, Rick Peacock & Alain Sign) have competed in our Championships in the past - almost all in the last decade!! Wind shortage. but training with the French Sunday afternoon Team Report from Blanes: "Slightly warmer than yesterday, but, unfortunately, no wind. Racing cancelled & so the team has gone to train with / against the French". At last the training, registration and measurement were done, and the 29-boat fleet took to the water for the first race at Blanes this afternoon. Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood scored a fifth! - all the boats ahead of them 420 veterans, at least of the 2009 Junior Europeans. With 8 knots and an east wind, Tim Gratton & Ed Riley were 7th, Matt Wallis & Tarra Gill-Taylor 12th, Sarah Alton & Katie Tomsett 17th and Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele 24th. Amy Seabright & Hermione Stanley were OCS. Happy New Year from 420s Denmark Søren Kjaer responds from the frozen waters of Roskilde Fjord (where it is -10c and they are snug indoors thumbing nostalgically through their Garda Worlds photo album) says “Funny about the Danes looking for a party - definitely Danish girls have a tendency to appear where it is sunny and drinks are good, but to my knowledge they are not in Blanes ? ! :-) (apparently they have had an attractive offer from a certain 420 coach in Napoli) [maybe the Blanes Team Managers should institute Class membership card checks to deal with gatecrashers in future, though a bottle of seasonal Gløgg might be an acceptable alternative entry fee (ed)] Happy New Year from Carla, Richard and the Team in Blanes Today’s blog via Robert Vose, GBR team communicator in Blighty: “Again sunny, 19c and good wind. Slight confusion in the translation of the menu last night, the caviar for dinner was in fact Carva (Spanish Champagne). So perhaps it was Provincial after all. Jessica Quinlan, having BFD in R6, maintains her pre-New Year position, while Will kennedy loses a few places, having to discard R7. Happy New Year from Buenos Aires The Yacht Club Argentino in Buenos Aires, the venue for the 420 World Championships 2011, is where three of the GBR 420 Fleet – Jess Quinlan, Will Kennedy & Christopher Brewer - are doing their stuff at the Cadet World Championships 2010. Melanie Kennedy reports: “….it's a superb place and so far a great event. However, conditions on the water are challenging with every race different from the last”. Melanie has already sent us some photos, which are featured in the Photo News. Marco arrives & puts his mark on the menu “Young” Vose files his final copy for 2009: “Another great day on the water [at Blanes, if you just joined us, you have to read the thread! (ed)] - sailing for 5 hours. Conditions, yet again, sunny, 20c and Force 3. Tonight the team are dining in on Smoked Salmon & Caviar with Chicken Provincial to follow [the French kind arrives tomorrow presumably – see further below (ed)]. Team managers are keeping actual plans for after dinner very secret. French and Spanish teams arriving tomorrow. So the partying tonight is with the Scandinavians. Thank you to 'Ed' for explaining who Elizabeth is, bit before my time! [I’ll lend you my first editions (ed)]. Happy New Year!”. Our Chris Brewer is running 3rd and Will Kennedy 4th after five races at the Cadet World Championships at YC Argentino in Buenos Aires. Jess Quinlan is in 21st. New Year's Day is a lay day. Tom Gillard & Sam Brearey won the “Medium” fleet at the Grafham Grand Prix in a Fireball, while Peter Gray helmed a Scorpion to 5th in the “Slow” fleet. See Results and Y&Y Report Elizabeth David & Marco Pierre White influence Lavery & Mothersele cooking in Blanes Robert Vose, our communicator extraordinaire, writes on Wednesday evening: “The Team started the day at 8am with a run along the beach. Came ashore around 5pm after 4.5 hours on the water training with the other International teams. Jess & Georgie are now on supper duty, with help from Elizabeth David (did not realise she was in the team but understand her crew Marco Pierre White will be joining tomorrow). Rest of the team on bread duty, lunches and washing up. Annabel shocked as she assumed Waitrose delivered everywhere. Ed, Tim and Megan forgot sheets – yuk! -but now sorted. Stanleys take Alpine detour, but iPods arrive safely in Blanes Robert Vose writes (Wednesday): “Carla and Richard [having left in the night on Boxing Day] arrived in Blanes early Tuesday after leaving England UK on Boxing Day. It is understood they stopped in the Alps either due to navigational errors or for a quick skiing holiday (Pyrenees might have been more on route; excellent skiing! (ed)], which no doubt amused the locals as they were driving an RYA mini bus, towing six 420's and one pair of home made skis. Merry Christmas! No sailing at Haifa, Palamós or Bough Beech, but Swansea 420s on the water at Farmoor We carry news from Haifa below. Meanwhile, we hear it was very cold and windy in Palamós – so those 470 dudes will have been investigating Catalan culture or something. And then, we have received unconfirmed rumours that the RYA TR thingy that was on this weekend at Bough Beech has been abandoned to snow. Apparently the snow sports were good though. No racing at Haifa, but our boys go surfing…..in a 420! Pistol and Strong have sent us this dispatch from Haifa on Saturday: “Racing was cancelled today; news came in via a letter under the door of our hotel room at 7.00 this morning. However, being the strong hardy Brits we are, went down to the sailing club to see if sailing was at all possible. It was and great fun was had in 4 metre swell and about 15 knots. Some great pictures were taken. I (Josh) was knocked over by the boom while launching as we were swept backwards by a breaking wave. With Piers panicking about ending up on the rocks, I was quickly out of my daze and back sailing again to get out of the break water. They are confident racing will happen tomorrow so let’s hope the weather Gods smile kindly on us”. Thanks, we suspect, to Neil Pistol, we have the photos to prove our boys are up for it! See attached and Event Website for results etc Our men in Haifa submit their first (wet and windy) report We heard a couple of days ago from our sailor-contact in Tel Aviv that the forecast for the Haifa Winter Regatta was not promising. Sure enough, the first news in from Josh Pistol & Piers Strong, tells the story: “One day down and there has been no sailing. Piers and I have spent the last day and a half trying to sort out the boat Haifa SC kindly lent us. Tuesday there was clear sunshine and light winds, but most of the day was spent recuperating from our over night flight. Wednesday we spent rigging the boat, which was finally completed under floodlight. We arrived down at the sailing club this morning in torrential rain and 35 knot winds. Sailing looked slim, and with the local knowledge of the race committee the decision was to abandon at 10.00 which was a wise decision, The rest of the day was spent seeing the sights in a wind-swept Tel Aviv. Let’s hope the winds will abate for tomorrow, will keep you updated, hopefully with some pictures”. We wish them better winds and look forward to hearing more. Tim Gratton & Ed Riley, Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw and Amy Seabright & Hermione Stanley, together with our man in the Radial, Tom Britz, have been chosen to participate in the prestigious, multi-Olympic sport National Talent Orientation Camp (NTOC) to be held at Loughborough University from 6 January, together with Youth Sport Trust Ambassador, Paul Goodison. Richard Hayward sends his final dispatch from Imperia at 20.45 GMT “Girls ashore at 16.00 before anyone else. Boys half an hour later, though not allowed to use their chosen slipway…. Provisional Final Results from Imperia Provisional Final Results issued prior to Prize Giving Open Fleet and Women’s Fleet as posted by Event Director on Facebook ....and more.... Received 13.34: “100* shift and now breeze filling in from offshore. Girls in sequence. Outer loop. Leeward Amy 14, Anna 17, Jo 26. 5 – 10 kn in pockets from all over the place. Carnage at boys’ leeward – James 2, Tim 11, Mike 12”. More from our man in the Ligurian Sea Our correspondent reports being “coffeed up, but we are struggling to get enough into the coach [are they going sightseeing, or serving the “coach” with his morning dose of coffee? (ed)]. Dinner with the Irish girls last night [Jane and Jenny – all well there then, Jörgen! (ed)]. All now out in the course area. 340*, 5knts on the left, 3 knts on the right. Three very different days. Should be interesting”. Richard Hayward, Imperia, 10.20 Sunday. Final day dawns at Imperia....our man is on the water, but where are the racers? Richard writes from Imperia at 09.30: Sunday morning cloudy light breeze signal to launch ten minutes ago, and this is the scene. No launching. All teams fired up for a final day of perfecting the European starting system of being on course without being seen. Our coach estimates Saturday race one 65 Boats over, 17 pulled”. See International 420 Class website for top ten listing and links We have received the attached data, but not in a readily usable format, so had to do a lot of pasting! Apologies for the way they look, but maybe better than nothing! See attached. The Open results we have are not in an uploadable format. More Saturday Received 16.35: “1st leeward: Tim 11, James 16, Mike 17, . Jo 6, AMY 8, Anna 14. Finish: Tim & Ed 7, Mike & Hugh 20s, James & Tim BFD. Jo 3, Anna 4, & Amy 7, Just waiting to see if Anna is being protested” Some mobile photos See PhotoNews Saturday news from our man on the course... Received 10.12: “Good morning from Imperia. Chilly but beautiful sunshine. 5kts Northerly. Just launched. Very slow process. Three races today”. Mystery correspondent revealed We just had a message - sent last night, but traffic from Imperia has been heavy! - and Richard Hayward is revealed, as our man-in-a-RIB at Imperia. This reads: "Friday race two, Tim first at windward...James down in the twenties after pitchpoling....Anna nails the pin...." - goes on with results we now have on line - "Flora knows good restaurant which proves good for coach and house parents to put world to rights and for Amy & Hermione to chat up the French team. Amy only slightluy embarrassed by the red rose she received. Good night from Imperia". So all good on Day 1. If we are slow today, it could be that ed. is going Christmas shopping! Back soon Burnet & Stewart lead first day Amy Seabright & Hermione Stanley and Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw end Day 1 both in second, while Anna & Flora Rule on Day 1 at Imperia. ....Jo Freeman & Hannah Mitchell in 2nd in R2....and Gratton & Riley take 3rd in the R2. All provisional, of course! Bush telegraph Brit news coming from Imperia We are receiving a series of texts, without confirmed authorship (possible Reuters freelancer!) and undated, purporting to be from Imperia! So, one says boats approaching Marseille and another tells us about windward mark roundings in the first race! We somewhat doubt that the boats set off for Marseille across the Ligurian Sea this morning – and the practice race may also figure – so we invite your understanding until we have established the journalistic credentials of our anonymous correspondent and got things in order. meanwhile....your imaginatyion will fill any gaps. Thanks to Philip Alton (see further link above), we have a PhotoGallery, as well as Rolling Photos on this page, from the End of Season. More images may reach us, and will be published! Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw are the End of Season Champions 2009, taking the event from overnight leaders James Hayward & Tim Carter in the last race. Joanna Freeman & Hannah Mitchell held 3rd (and were first women), in spite of Josh Pistol & Piers Strong scoring a bullet in the final race and coming within a point of the podium. See Lesley’s Blog and Event Website for latest results. Sophie declared Thames Valley Young Sailor Congratulations to Sophie Hamilton, who has been named as Thames Valley Young Sailor 2009, wins the James Acton Trophy at Burghfield and gets to meet Paul Goodison. And 420 Selector, Nick Martin also got a Club award at the opening of their new Training Centre. Meanwhile, Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton, the Southern Young Sailors 2009, are Finalists for the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year Click above for 420 rogue list and links for further details. Neil Marsden & Ben Gratton won the Inland Championships at Datchet Water, with Amy Seabright & Hermione Stanley taking 2nd place, See Final Results and, for futher information, Event Website While the 420 Fleet was at Datchet and Emma Clarke and various other current and former 420 sailors were busy at the Endeavour Trophy, Ben Saxton & Kate Macgregor were winning the RS200 Inland Championships at Grafham. Another listing of 420 names to conjure with! See RS200 Inlands Results ‘Interesting’ start of second race will mean that some teams are looking forward to a discard kicking in! Up-to-date news and results on the Event Website. Looks like news flashes are blowing off the water! The AGM Minutes, Treasurer's Report and the 2008 Accounts are now posted on Class Matters Click above for news item and see Full Results and Sue Kalderon’s Picasso Gallery! (Handicap /Pursuit racing) open to all past and current Topper sailors over 16 in any centreboard dinghy. 5 + 6 September at Pitsford Lake Northants. A great chance to meet and compete with ‘old’ friends. Damien de Brenac (YC Antibes) & Julien Lacaze (SN Bandol) lead after the first day’s three races at Port Blan in the French National Championships. Martin Aumont & Jean-Baptiste le Goubey (EV Cherbourg) are 2nd and Sam Robinson (West Kirby SC) & Peter Alton (Oxford SC) (GBR) are 3rd on equal points. Results are being posted on the Event Website. Three races in the bag at Port-Blanc on Day 1 of French Nationals "Eric of the Club's" report on the racing today and a further selection of his photos are posted on the International 420 website first. Volvo ISAF Youth Worlds: "All racing has been cancelled for the day due to lack of wind on the race courses" Wednesday 15/09/08 19.30 GMT. More information may be found on: Youth Worlds on Facebook, Event Website and International 420 website Ben & David have achieved 4th in the Qualifying Series at the 470 Junior Worlds, with help from Marlow Ropes and former 470 World Champion and Olympian, Andreas Kosmatopoulos. Follow the event and results at Event Website. Day 1 and two races. Phil & Ben and Rebecca & Rosie have a great start at Buzios, Brazil. Andrew Wishart & Liam Garrison are in 6th after two races at Nieuwpoort – light winds by the look of it. Results will be published first on the Event Website, and there will also be coverage on the Intl Class Website. Ben Palmer & Konrad Weaver (GBR) were 9th at the Intervela on Garda.. Josh Pistol & Piers Strong were 13th and Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw 16th. Imogen & Hermione Stanley took 18th and Amy Seabright & Katrina Brewer were 22nd in a field of over 125. With a win in the second qualifying race, Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton will be looking forward to an early start tomorrow, after a windless afternoon of no sailing on Thursday. Amy Seabright & Katrina Brewer also in the top 20, with a 5th in R1. Progress bulletins are being posted on the Intl420 site. Our Lucy Macgregor, with Ally Martin and Mary Rook, won a place in the semi-finals in an exciting Repechage of hard-fought duels at Match Cup Sweden in Marstrand. Click above for Y&Y report and see Event Website....or Mary Rook's blog on Facebook! Our news coverage from Kieler Woche 2009 is attached Nick Cherry, Tom Smedley, Ben Pym & Josh Rumbol to race the Fastnet 2009 Our Jonny McGovern & Christian Birrell have taken 2nd overall in the 470 Men’s at the Kiel Olympic Classes event, from Nick Asher & Elliot Willis in 3rd and Neil Marsden & Ian Dobson in 5th. Our men from Exeter Uni, James Rusden & Rob Partridge, were 10th. Serena and Kirstie report on the half term training run at Oxford SC by RYA 420 Head Coach, Callum Macdonald and organised by Richard Stanley. 420 sailors all in the top ten again: Charlotte Fitzgerald 3rd, Edward & Beth Grey 4th, Chris Rust 4th, Hugo Sloper & Emma Spruce 6th and Harry Yeoward & Nick Elsdon 9th Will Kennedy 1st, Christopher Tiernan 4th and Theo Bull 7th in a field of 82 Cadets at Stone SC ...."no-one roll gybes better than Tim & Chris"! Charles Ainsworth has supplied some of his photos for the Photo Gallery. Further images may be found on IBI Sailing Chew Valley hosted the final 420 Worlds Selector event over the 2nd and 3rd May 2009. With very light winds forecast the 38 boats arrived to a pleasant if a little shifty 5-8knt westerly Recent new Class Member and Largs Youth Championships 420 sailor, Jamie Noyes, of East Lothian YC & St Mary's Loch SC, was third in the Topper Class at the 2009 RYA Eric Twiname Championships at Rutland Water SC. After 18 races across a wide range of conditions The selectors announced the proposed team on Sunday 3rd May at Chew Valley Lake. The sailors are now making up their minds to accept these positions and the final make up of the team will be known on 12th May 2009. New North Sails Tuning Guide posted on Technical page Final Results. The event was held at Datchet Water SC, hosted by Brunel University Sailing Club, on behalf of BUSA and BUCS ….and former 420 crew (and Double Gold Olympic medallist) Sarah Ayton to be a Selector at the Youths. NB Closing date for on-line entry for the RYA Volvo Youth Championships is Sunday, 29 March The 2009, 420 selector series started at Weymouth with 45 teams eager to test their winter training skills. The first selector of three weekends each with 6 races, was held alongside the Olympic Class National Ranker. This was a great chance for the main of those aspiring sailors to see the next step in action.... New 420 World Championship titles announced The Notice of Race for the World Championships, to be held at Lake Garda from 27 July to 5 August, has now been published. Two new titles will be awarded at this event - International 420 Class Junior World Champion and International 420 Class Junior Ladies World Champion. Ben Pym (Solent 1), Ed Moore & Robbie Claridge (Imperial) and Chris Witty & Nick Blevins (Solent 2) ensured 420s well represented on all three podium places and for the BUSA Match Racing Finals Follow the Results here. Lucy Macg & Co. - straight 100% 11 wins in first round robin and Mr Pink in 2nd in 49ers. The Notice of Race and RIBs & Volunteers information are also on our Events Calendar. James Rusden won the Steve Nicholson Trophy last year. Is anyone going and able to help return the trophy on 24th January? If you are please contact Saron Rusden SARONRUSDEN@aol.com. Mike Wood & Hugh Brayshaw and Beccy Kalderon & Rosie Sibthorp piled on the thermals (hopefully!) and put the 420 in a very creditable 30/32 out of 177 Click above, and also see the Lucy Macgregor official website |