The event site for the Winter Championships and the Team Selection Series is now open for business.
We now have access to the 'Clubhouse' functionality - set up your pairing there first and reduce the typing!

Tom Mapplebeck is running a training camp at the Fastnet Marine & Outdoor Centre in Schull, West Cork, Ireland 13th-16th Feb 2012 followed by an event 17th & 18th Feb 2012. Accomodation available and free boat charter included for overseas entries. Click on title for more detail or Send Email. Suitable for all levels.

It is the time of year – with Class training and the Tiger coming up, followed by the Selector Series, including the RYA Youths - that there may be sailors looking for partners – sometimes for one-offs and sometimes with longer-term possibilities in mind. We try to help by sharing ideas, but we can only help if we know you are looking!

e.g. we just heard that Ben Lulham-Robinson is looking for a stand-in helm after the next Class Training, while Matt sorts his Rugby-broken elbow. Could be a great opportunity to get some experience.

Anyone interested in exploring opportunities, or looking for someone to sail with, see further above or Send Email.

Congratulation to those selected for the Transition Squad - Morgan Dibb & Gemma Bird, Mali Harnett & Danielle Thomas, Jemima Lawson & Lily Summers, Ella Stogall & Georgia Cage, Rosie & Anna Watkins, Lucy Yeates & Ellie Devereux, Ben Hazeldine & Rhos Hawes, Matt & Ben Lulham-Robinson, James Taylor & Robert Baddeley, Scott Wallis & Josh Voller It was a cold and frosty start to their first weekend at Grafham today. With Jonny McGovern, ably assisted by Mike Wood, in charge there was little wind and only a short time was spent on the water. They have a land day tomorrow so fingers crossed there is more wind next weekend. Unfortunately Matt L-R has managed to injure himself playing Rugby last week so we wish him a speedy recovery.

If you are interested in attending an International Regatta, Robert Vose has written a guide to which events you could consider (click on title) and also how the class can help with large trailers for transporting boats. If you want any further information Robert is happy to pass on his wealth of knowledge of logistics and venues. His contact details are in the guide or you can email via the Contacts page.

Will Kennedy & Alex Curtis led the 420s at the Bloody Mary. Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood have triumphed as 2011 Young Sailor(s) of the Year, with several 420 sailors as Regional Winners. And our alumni have been doing us credit.
420 Junior European Champions 2007, Tom Gillard & Sam Brearey, were crowned Fireball World Champions, after a nail-biting final race in Australia. Tim Saxton crewed 4th in the 60-boat field, while frequent FB World Champ, Chips Howarth, was 5th. See Sail-World and Y&Y.
Then two more 420 graduates to go to London 2012: 2005 Nat Champ, Luke Patience and 2004 ISAF Youth Bronze (with Jonny McGovern), Stu Bithell, join Hannah Mills, Lucy & Kate Macgregor, Annie Lush, and Iain Percy in Weymouth. See Y&Y report.
See you at Class Training on 28th and the Tiger Trophy on 4/5 February.

Congratulations to Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood who were presented with the prestigious YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year Award for 2011 at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show on Saturday, January 7, 2012. The award was presented by (fiormer 420 sailor!) Iain Percy, OBE. Excellent news, and that 420 sailors in three other Regions were awarded Regional Young Sailor titles: Matt Venables (West Midlands), Matthew & Ben Lulham-Robinson (Yorkshire & Humberside) and Georgina Povall (Eastern) – possibly a record spread for us! See Press Report (Y&Y) and Photo News

Jonny McGovern has posted a video on U-tube from the open training weekend in Poole on 3rd & 4th December

Did you see Graham Dibb at the End of Season? The odds are strong that his camera saw you! 500 images! See our biggest ever PhotoGallery.

A great turnout for the End of Season Championships with a win for Neil Marsden and James Dodd. A big thank you to everyone involved including our sponsors CurraDinghy and Noble Marine and Grafham Water Sailing Club. For the full report click on the header. Some photographs to follow. If you have any more photographs you took over the weekend that we could share please send them to us and we will add them to the library.

See also Y & Y Report.

Neil Marsden and James Dodd won the event on Grafham Water, with the fog causing ODeing on hot chocolate according to Event Blog. See Final Results

Former 420 sailors included the top six helms. We spotted Nick Cherry, Mark Campbell James, Lucy Macgregor, with Kate Macgregor, Robbie Allam, with Jerry Fowke, Mark Lees, Sam Pearson, with Tristan Jaques, Charlotte Lawrence, with Anna MacKenzie & Hannah Diamond, and Andrew Wishart

In preparation for the End of Season championships, 30 420's hit the water for some training last weekend at Grafham. Read more by clicking on the title link. If any sailors want to send us their write up of this, or any other events, we would be very happy to include it.

A big Thank You again to all thise involved in the Half Term Rutland Training Camp. If you click on the title link you can read Bryony Bennett-Lloyd's write up of the event. Sounds like the sailors all had a great time, and we wish Fionn a speedy recovery. We hope you are all looking forward to the next training event at Grafham.

Andy Shaw & Rosie Sibthorp (Southampton) won the RS Fleet; Chris Tiernan & Rob Henderson (Southampton Solent) were 2nd, Hannah Diamond (Exeter) 4th and Tom Brophy (Exeter), last seen at the 420 EoS in 2010, was 5th. Handicap: Nia Jones & Sophie Knight (Exeter) were 2nd in the 420, just 2 points behind the winning 49er and 8 points ahead of our man, Andrew Wishart (Surrey). Fireflies: Matt Rainback (Exeter) 2nd, Piers Strong (Plymouth) 3rd, Jonny House & Maya Gill-Taylor (Plymouthj) 4th, Andy Pinkham & Emma Best (UWE) 5th, Miles Blaver-Mann & Gilli Darling (UWE) 6th.

The results from Bordeaux are in at last! The first of the French 420 Class 2012 team selection series, their National Autumn Championship, attracted 108 competitors, including 7 from Spain and one from Belgium, in addition to our four boats. With two days no racing, the six races (for the Gold Fleet) were concentrated on Monday and Tuesday.

Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele were 9th overall, with a 2nd in race 2. Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox were 17th, Harry Derbyshir & Tom Lovesey 23rd, and leaving on a high with a bullet in their last race, while Annabel Vose & Kirstie Urwin were 36th. Hope everyone home safely, and thanks to the long-distance drivers.

See theFinal Results. The Team Blog is on GBR team blog on facebook. See also Cercle Voile de Bordeaux

Well, we really hope that our guys in Bordeaux get some racing in tomorrow – see GBR team blog on facebook.

But the campers at Rutland seem to have had a good range of conditions this week – only one day with no wind! Early indications are that everyone enjoyed themselves and seem to have learnt a bit.

We are promised more info. in due course. Meanwhile, we wish Fionn well when he meets his consultant tomorrow - to watch a DVD of his thumb together apparently! It seems he left Rutland with it well plastered up after he had wrapped himself and his trapeze under the jib and around the mast. We are sure we heard Tadhg mutter something about the standard of crewing these days, but he may have decided on discretion, whether out of respect for big bro, or lest his helmsmanship be questioned we are uncertain [Fionn, you really will have to seek early entry to the Crews Union!]. Anyway, it seems that most, if not all, left Rutland in good spirits and good health.

This is an International Regatta, near Barcelona, Spain, which has been attended by GBR 420s for a number of years. It is suitable for all levels of sailor from the experienced to the relative newcomer. If you are interested in finding out more contact Jackie Taylor for further details.

Craig Dibb &Charlie Cox, Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey, Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele and Annabel Vose & Kirsty Urwin are competing this weekend at the French 420 Class’ “National d’automne”, part of the 42ème Grand Prix de l'Armistice, on Lac de Maubuisson, near Bordeaux. Follow the GBR team blog on facebook. See also Cercle Voile de Bordeaux where we hope to find results soon.

Our Sam Pearson’s team beat the Americans in the final of the MR Quualifyer to ensure that six out of nine teams will be helmed at the Finals by 420 sailors – the others being Robbie Allam, Lucy Macgregor, Nick Cherry, Mark Campbell-James and Charlotte Lawrence.

All week there has been exciting sailing in Quiberon Bay, with masses of video, photo and news coverage on the Facebook – event page and the Event Website, as well as the GBR angle on BUSA news. On Friday the event will be decided - the Southampton Uni team – which is virtually a 420 team! – is holding in there in the bronze slot, with Solent (last year’s Champs) in silver and the French now bound to win. Southampton is captained by our Andy Shaw, with 420 sailors Aaron Cooper, Ben Saxton and Holly Scott all featuring in the event photo gallery and videos on YouTube.

Alistair Gray & Alan McIntosh and John Beardon & Drew Airlie were 7th & 8th respectively at the Scottish Champions of Champions regatta at Largs SC, where class national champions and winners of traveller series contend in their own boats, under handicap. Our boys were 2nd and 3rd to the eventual winner (4th time Champion of Champions) in the first race! Beardon & Airlie seem to have pursued Gray & McIntosh very closely in each of the three races. Good to see 420s performing in the Scottish version of the Endeavour and in the boat. Well done, guys!

The results have been found! See Junior Championship Results and the Youth Championship Results. These confirm our previously reported successes: the “Bluefin” triumph in the Juniors, the (all-420) “Spinnaker Pirates” 2nd in the Youths, the “RGS” win in Gold B and “Forty-Two” in Silver B.

But they also reveal that the “420 Team”: Annabel Cattermole, Bryony Bennett-Lloyd, Anna Greenwell, Kirsty Urwin, Hannah Jones & James Parker Mowbray were 4th in the Youths. So the two all-420 teams were up there in Gold A, where we expect! See also Jackie Taylor's report and RYA Press Report

RYA & UKSA announced today this year’s new members of the British Keelboat Academy, following two gruelling selection weekends – 22 chosen from 75 applicants. And we are delighted that 420 sailors, Serena de Nahlik and Nia Jones are on the list! They follow a great 420 tradition (20 on the squads three years ago). We hope to see them soon around Britain or the Fastnet, or off down the Channel. Congratulations guys! (Oh, and happy birthday, Serena)

Fog and light winds did not stop our guys at the RYA Twiname Team Reacing Championships at Oxford SC this weekend. Scott Wallis returned to win the Juniors for a second year, joined by James Taylor, in ‘Bluefin’. ‘Here Come the Girls’, with our Ella Stoggall & Jemima Lawson also had a 100% success rate on the first day. Jackie Taylor reports (click above) that ‘Mirrorcles’ (Matt & Ben Lulham-Robinson and Rosie Watkins) and ‘Bluefin’ faced “a re-sail of one of their races on Sunday following redress claims for too much water in leaky hulls!” Jackie found several other 420 sailors competing for the Juniors.

The Youths seem to have been even more complicated, with Divisions being sailed on Sunday after the fog cleared (and the Grand Prix and the Kiwi victory in the rugby had been watched) and time was tight. Apparently, the all-420 Spinnaker Pirates (Harry Derbyshire, Craig Dibb, Tarra Gill Taylor, Toby Morsley, Annabel Vose & Matt Wallis) were narrowly beaten by the West Kirby Youths (home of the current World Champions). RGS (Tim Gratton & Josh Voller) were top in Gold B and Forty Two (Gilly Makepeace & Will Kennedy) in Silver B.

And there were loads more 420 sailors in contention - see Jackie Taylor's report. If we have missed anyone (the entry list had a lot of ppl called ‘TBC’), please Send Email. Also see RYA Press Report

To celebrate their 18th birthdays Matt Foskett and Hannah Jones held a 420 Open Regatta on Saturday October 1st at Staunton Harold S.C. The weather was perfect and 14 boats enjoyed 5 fun races in blue sky an 28 degrees. Not bad for October!

See Staunton Harold News for more and also for the photo gallery
Thanks to everyone who helped make this such a great event!

Click above for 420 angle and see RYA Press Report

With national, inland, youth and world champion titles variously in the Mirror, GP12, Enterprise, Topper, Soling and 470, RYA Head Coach, Neil Marsden added the 420 Inlands to his extensive CV today. Neil was joined by reigning World Ladies’ Champion crew, Megan Brickwood to take the Championship by 3 points. Sailing a consistent series of races, Tim & Ed Riley came a close second, no doubt spurred on by their win at Lymington last weekend. Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox led the rest, with a bullet in the final race, on an even lighter Sunday, giving them 3rd overall ahead of Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey and Callum Airlie & Joseph Butterworth.

Annabel Vose & Kirstie Urwin led the women, ahead of Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele and Sarah Alton & Molly Frost.

Top 15:
1 Neil Marsden & Megan Brickwood 16 points
2 Tim & Ed Riley 19 pts
3 Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox 26 pts
4 Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey 32 pts
5 Callum Airlie & Joseph Butterworth 33 pts
6 Annabel Vose & Kirstie Urwin 35 pts
7 Matt Foskett & Chris Taylor 36 pts
8 Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis 38 pts
9 Tim Gratton & Kat Colvin 39 pts
10 Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele 40 pts
11 Sarah Alton & Molly Frost 44 pts
12 Charlotte Fitzgerald & Emma Spruce 52 pts
13 Annabel Cattermole & Bryony Bennett-Lloyd 55 pts
14 Scott Wallis & Josh Voller 56 pts
15 Tarra-Gill Taylor & James Dodd 58 pts

See Final Results and Event Page.

An interesting day on the water - the final race had some challenging wind shifts, with boats having to swap from kite-flying to beating on the same leg. The Juror enjoyed the day - and managed to exercise his flags. Matt apparently fell out of his boat twice. One pending protest - and preparations under way for the Gangsters and Geeks party...

So many photographs at this year’s Nationals – over 700 - took a bit of posting, but now they are all here. We have full galleries from Charles Ainsworth, Iain Airlie, Philip Alton, Andy Fitzgerald and Carla Stanley. Many thanks to all. We hope to see you - and your camera - at events again soon!

Some photographs from the Nationals are now in the Photo Gallery. More are going to be appearing as we get time to upload them...

Edd & Beth Grey won 2nd at the Mirror Nationals at Restronguet in a closely fought battle for places on the podium. Our new guys from the tops in Yorkshire, Matthew & Benjamin Lulham-Robinson were 6th Alice Courage 7th, David Conlon 8th and Libby Courage 10th. With a dozen 420 members in the top 25 of the 78 strong Mirror fleet, our line-up also included: James Wilkinson, Rosie and Anna Watkins and Kim May-Papailiou & Amy Sparks.

Our James Peters (former ISAF Youth World Champion) won the RS200s Nationals at WPNSA by 4 points from Ben Saxton & Sophie Ainsworth. Stuart Bithell & Kate MacGregor were 4th, Ian & Crhis Martin 5th and Emma Clarke 6th, Ben Palmer & Amy Seabright 9th, Christian Birrell 10th and Ally Martin 11th. But this was not the half of it.....well, we had at least another 26 sailors and at least three sets of former 420 parents (many famous names among them!) in the top half of the 150+ fleet!

Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley won the National Championships at Pwllheli SC by 12 points. Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox took the silver step on the podium and Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele are the Women’s Champions in 3rd overa\ll. With only 9 points dividing 2nd from 4th, Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis had a great Championship too. Reinier Eenkema van Dijk & Charles Bocklet (USA) led the visitors, in 7th overall..

Top 15:
1 Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley 23 points
2 Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox 35 pts
3 Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele 39 pts
4 Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis 44pts
5 Annabel Vose & Timothy Carter 62 pts
6 Tim & Ed Riley 72 pts
7 Reinier Eenkema van Dijk & Charles Bocklet 85 pts
8 Jamelia Hayward & Benelope pitstop Gratton 89 pts
9 Tarra Gill-Taylor & James Dodd 100 pts
10 Isabel Fitzgerald & Kat Colvin 110 pts
11 Alistair Gray & Alan McIntosh 130 pts
12 Charlotte Fitzgerald & Emma Spruce 132 pts
13 Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey 133 pts
14 Callum Airlie & Joseph Butterworth 138 pts
15 Sarah & Peter Alton 147 pts

A bright and blustery start to the day, with some moments of unusual interest at the start of race 9. By the end of the first leg the Jury was eagerly preparing to wave yellow flags.
An unexpected DNF for Craig and Charlie - and a black flag start for race 10. Whilst preparing for the race 11 start a call from Abersoch - 40kt squall on the way, creating havoc in the Abersoch fleet. A quick scurry for shore saw the fleet into the bay before the worst of the squall hit.

So far we have 3 casualty visits for potential broken bones, 2 wasp stings, and some minor foreign object extractions. All families have been informed, and the victims are doing well. Some good racing in excellent conditions, with 4 races completed. The top boats are consolidating their positions, with numerous minor battles throughout the fleet. Today gave a number of boats opportunities to practise their capsize drill, and the head coach only finished 1 race! The jury are seeking the boat who tried to brain them at the start - possibly not a good way to draw attention.

The PRO summarised day 2 in a single word: 'difficult'. There were some big shifts, challenging conditions, and some excellent starting under black flag (why did we need the black flag, one wonders - ed). Two races completed, and the Crew's Race (possibly THE crucial race of the week) with some interesting results, non-finishers and 8 BFD. No protests, and no gel coat required. Jess and Georgie lead. New committee elected.

A 1, 2 gave Neil Marsden & Hannah Mitchell the lead at the end of Day 1, while Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley and Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele are both on 5 points. The new all-Riley team are in 4th on 10 pts and USAs Reinier Eenkema van Dijk (Larchmont YC & LISOT) & Charles Bocklet (American YC & LISOT) are 5th, with James Parker-Mowbray & Tim Gratton, also on 15 pts, in 6th.

The top half of the Fleet today also includes the ‘tallest & shortest’, Hollowell SC sailors, Arron Holman & Hugh Brayshaw (novice helm with terribly experienced crew...) in 14th, Hailey Ullmann & Alex Whipple of Indian Harbour YC, New York in 19th, and, following their recent gender reassignment, Jamelia Hayward & Benelope pitstop Gratton, are 24th.....possibly looking for more wind, girls?

Our guys at the Mirror Nationals are all in the top twenty after the two races on Day 1 at Restronguet SC, in a field of 50 boats: Alice Courage (Poole YC) running 6th, Matthew & Benjamin Lulham-Robinson (our men from Yeadon, Otley and Yorkshire Dales SCs), 7th, Edd & Beth Grey (Royal Windermere) 9th, Rosie Watkins 13th, Anna Watkins (Poole YC) 15th, David Conlon (Brightlingsea SC) 16th, Helena Pugh & Libby Courage (Poole YC) 17th and Kim May-Papailiou & Amy Sparks (Poole YC) 20th. We just need top 5s, guys!

With over 150 boats on the water at the RS200 Nationals at WPNSA, like the 420s and the mirrors, it seems to have been lighter winds on Day 1. James peters is in the lead after two races, and we have 7 boats in the top 15: Stuart Bithell & Kate MacGregor, Frances Peters & Eilidh McIntyre, Ben Saxton & Sophie Ainsworth, Ian Martin & Chris Martin, Ben Palmer and Tim Saxton & Claire Lasko. But there is backup: Emma Clarke, Dave Evans & Lucy Macgregor, David Steed & Katherine Lovering, Ben Ainsworth, Ellie Martin, Jonny McGovern, Stephen Tiernan, Christian Birrell, Hannah Diamond & Lucy De Boltz, Nicky Macgregor, Ally Martin, Nick Cherry & Charlotte Lawrence, James Ellis, John Pink & Sarah Hickman, Charlotte Savage, Claire Walsh, Chris Sanders & Ollie Bennett, Will Kalderon, Chris Tiernan, Maia Walsh and Rosie Sibthorp. Plus the usual Martin Clan of 420 supporters: Caroline Martin & Nick and Rob & Jan. Pity Luke Patience & Mary Rook and Jo Freeman & Katie Tomsett seemed to be missing on Day 1, but let’s hope...

More at 15.01 - some wind and they are launched....

The Nationals are underway at Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club. The Fleet picked up the Marsden Challenge! A lucky team would be randomly selected to win a new jib, donated, with the objective of getting the Practice Race taken seriously, by RYA Head 420 Coach, Neil Marsden (he sailed the race with a lucky 13-year old, Charlie Dodd, some dude who had never double-handed, let alone wired before - but he has the physique for it....and needed the money!), From those who sailedl the Practice Race completely – “no OCS or DNC/DNF” – there was to be a random draw from the finishers. But, true to 420 form, 13 teams were BFD!! We feel sure that “our” International and Olympic PRO, Adrian Stoggall will have taken it all in his stride, but the eventual outcome of the draw remains a mystery tonight.

No doubt we will learn who took the prize, as well being able to follow all the action at the 2011 National Championships, by watching Lesley’s Pwllheli Blog. ....Oh, and let's hope Neil's regular crew, Hannah Mitchell, flies in from New York in time for the start of Race 1 on Monday.....or Charlie is going to working well over his pay-grade!

Blue North Spinnaker GBR 54164 last seen in the dinghy park in Tavera. Any information gratefully received. Contact Toby Morsley on 0787 986 5986

Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele bring home Silver and Tim Gratton & Ed Riley and Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood, Bronze from the 2011 Junior European Championships in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. See RYA Press Release and Class Final Report

A light NW wind against a strong tide was always going to produce a long windward leg and yes it did with a time limit of 25 mins to mark 1, the fleet made it by 10 secs, so the race was on. GBR medal contenders of T/E ,J/G & A/M struggled to find a route up the first leg and all rounded 20th+, good news was most of the front runner also found themselves well down .
Good news for the other GBR sailors at mark 1, H/T 4th, C/C 7th & T/C 9th and they all went on to finish well.

At the finish it was all celebration as the coach added up the points to find GBR team of
Tim /Ed Bronze Medal in the open Fleet.
Jess / Geogie Silver Medal In the girls fleet
Annabel / Megan Bronze Medal in the girls fleet

GBR RESULTS
Tim & Ed 4th ( 3rd European Bronze)
Jess & Geogie 16th ( 2nd Girls Silver)
Annabel & Megan 19th ( 3rd Girls Bronze)

Craig & Charlie 14th
Tara & Christian 20th
Harry & Tom 23rd
Nia & Molly 16th Silver fleet 7th girl)


Well done Team

Neil

Coach

Sundays racing in Belgium

Turned out to be a long day with a weather forecast saying 12kns all looked good on paper, but not to be after 2 abandoned races due to a time limits / wind shift
Racing did start late afternoon starting is less current and a nice 12/13 kns gbr team needing to be firing on all cylinders T/E did just that and posted a 3rd. A/M posted a 8th and first girls home, The rest had some miss fires hitting the wrong side of the 1st beat & cost them dearly, a yellow flag for H/T did not help.
This was the only race of the day.
Neil

Racing started with gold silver and bronze fleet, GBR have 6 boats in gold 1 in silver. Today was going to be very competitive with consistency being the order of the day. This was of cause hard to do with a strong tide making starting difficult and casing a vary long windward leg in the 10-12kn breeze.GBR had some good individual results but could not repeat over the two races with only a few team achieving two top ten results. J&G a 2nd T&E a 5th A&M a 6th.
A surprise result came from a protest hearing involving redress given to the ITA girls team who received average point in two of there qualification race on the mega windy day of two 10th places, now moved them into gold fleet and 1 point behind are girls!!

Team all upbeat and will hit tomorrow all guns blazing, with a morning warm up followed by a yoga class,
Neil

We hereby give notice of the 2011 GBR International 420 Class Association Annual General meeting to be held at Pwllheli Sailing Club on Monday August 22nd at 7pm
Provisional agenda:
1. Apologies for absence
2. Review of Minutes of 2010 AGM held at Brightlingsea on 24th August, 2010
3. Chairman's Report
4. Treasurer's Report
5. Training Officer's Report
6. Sailing Manager's Report
7. AOB
8. Election of Officers, including Sailor's Representatives.
Nomination lists will be posted on the notice board at Pwllheli
Any motions for discussion and other business must be submitted by email to Lesley Foskett - Send Email - at least 8 days before the AGM - that means before 12 midnight on Saturday 13th August. [As there were no motions submitted before Aug 14th the above agenda stands.]Full details and nominations so far are visible on the Nationals event page.

If rumour is to be believed (and some very important ppl have been spreading it!), it seems that the first race was abandoned when the Fleet (or most of it) did not reach the windward mark in time! A second start was followed by a major windshift and a further abandonment. But it seems that they may now be racing! woop! (17.20 local time)

Results after Day 4 Gold, Silver and Bronze and Intl Class Day 4 Report.

Playing catch-up: Class Day 2 Report and Class Day 3 Report added to archive.

Lay day here in Belgium. So what does GBR team do, well have a lie in till 10 am then meet ther coach for a nice run down the coast of Belgium for a mere 10 km. (well, half did). Georgie took a little bit more persuading. The other half hit the swimming pool / water slides.

Next came the work, back in the dinghy park for 3pm, where all boats got the complete overhaul ready for the final series of the championship. Jobs included a complete mast overhaul, a new rudder stock arrangement, pop rivet replacement on spinnaker poles, new spinnaker sheets on 2 boats. various other rope work, and Harry did not replace his slot gasket.

This all done, followed by a visit to the beach for ice creams and waffles with beach games and sand castle building (or tunnel building!) - Team GBR ready!
Neil Coach

Yes it was a big day!. wind increased all day starting of at 16-18 kns then rising to 22-26 for race 2, it was said that a 30 knot gust came through, Drama started for gbr with 10 mins before start Tim / Ed snapped there rudder stock. a quick change and they made it with 5mins to spare, Jess/Georgei spiny halyard jammed followed by spinnaker sheets shredding, Nia Molly jib fell down. Rest of team survived. even harry /toms slot gasket.!

Racing was wild, fun and stressful, Even the coach has aged after this one. Tim and Edd got 1& 2, Craig Charlie 3,4 , Harry tom 3,11 Tara / Christian 4,12 looks likely all boys in Gold. Brilliant!

Girls - what a hard day for the girls, Annabel / Megan solid 10,11 incl one capsize whilst in 4th, Jess / Gorgie 19, 11, using no spinnaker, Nia Molly 13, 20 with a capsize, looks like A /M & J / G will make gold fleet and will be racing perhaps only two other girls team for the medals Well done girls

Team will have an early night and lay day will be a boat checking day.

Neil, Coach

Team at half way stage, just waiting for final results to be posted, to see who makes gold fleet,

Wednesday, after the fourth race, the Provisional Results show our guys up in the top ten, with Tim Gratton & Ed Riley adding a 2nd and another bullet to their scorecard and Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox just a place behind them. Looks like Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele are having an early dual for the women’s lead with French heavy weather sailors Maelenn Lemaitre & Aloise Retornaz. Discards could have the potential to help things along a bit.

Jim Saltonstall declared it a "bumpy ride" out there again - "actually even more bumpy than yesterday! It was like the leftover of yesterday's wind direction and the new direction creating a very confusing situation for the ferrets today". Our informal info. suggests more wind tomorrow.

[NB Ed is off to Weymouth and Nieuwpoort, so keep clicking on the links in the two items below for all the latest from the Junior Euros, except maybe the event site....says, "Cette page n'est pas publiée" at the mo! Be careful, until the results are posted on the event website, we are depending on pdf ;popsted by the Class at the end of each day, so you need to watch the the Class facebook updates or the International Class Website for announcements about each new URL]
News from Neil:
Day two saw the gbr team come out all guns blassing. with winds of 18kns increasing to 22 kns and an ebbing tide of wind against causing high waves.

Gbr team scores 2 wins with Tim and ed winning red flight following it with a second, next came Harry & Tom winning R2 in yellow, Other results just kept coming Tara & Christian getting two 5th to move them into a Gold fleet qualification. Also single finishes for Craig and Charlie now moves them to 7th overall. Next came the girls Of Jess & Georgia ,Annabel & Megan all getting Single figure

Jessica Lavery & Georgie Mothersele are in 12th and the leading women's team and Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox are in 13th, with Tim Gratton & Ed Riley in 15th, after two races at the end of Day 1 of the Qualifiers at the Junior Europeans in Nieuwpoort, Belgium. See Results.

It is seems that the Class facebook updates are delivering the most formal news, though there do not seem yet to be news on conditions and whether the boats are racing, finished for the day etc..

But it seems that the bloggers are busy on the Organisers’ Event facebook page. Steve Kouris of Athens wrote at 22.00 Tuesday: “2 races today with 15-18 knots of wind NW! 2m high waves and a lot of fun”. Well, the photos rather tell the story too!

See International Class’ Day 1 Report.
News from Neil:Day one - High seas with a wind of 16-18 kns but steep waves of 5/6 ft made the downwind sailing exiting, GBR had a mixed day with a great race 1 win for tim/edd. Jess /Geogie made a great start to there champion ship posting a 11,3 and lead the strong girls teams ,
This champion ship is going to be a tough one with most of the returning isaf team coming to prove they can get mix it with the rest.
The split of getting into the gold fleet is to achieve a top 32 after the qualifier series to be in the gold fleet, this is tough for the girls in

It looks as though the Practice Race at the Junior Europeans took place today. GBR Team News is coming through on the GBR Team Blog.....'Brits ready to race'.

The official event website is at KYCN 420/470 JEC Website, and they have event facebook pages.

But the International Class are now updating news on line on their facebook updates

They have also issued quite a full Preview Report, and news also appears on the International Class Website. They have also set up a facebook PhotoGallery and a few photos from the Practice Day have already been posted.

But we again ask that anyone who has informal news or photos of interest to GBR 420 Class supporters, please Send Email. Meanwhile, good luck to Team GBR!
Bit of extra news from Neil:
The team are ready to hit the water today looks like we have big breeze and big seas to deal with. We have had plenty of boat work to do with some hard training days Nia /molly already on there spare mast. Craig and Charlie replacing most of there halyards, Jess / Goergie replacing trapeze wires, Tim and Ed re clueing there side tanks back to the hull. Tara /Christion sorting there new hull out after the epi

Lucy Yeates was in 8th overall (out of a mere 273!) after four races at North Berwick. Great live feed on Topper National Championships 2011.

All three slots on the podium at the RS Feva Worlds at the Royal Maas Yacht Club, Bruinisse in Holland have been taken by GBR. And three of the six sailors are our 420 sailors!

Scott Wallis is a World Champion!! And Robert Baddeley and James Taylor took Bronze.....according to Mark Carter (click above) ‘hard thought’ (sic) in a field of 158 boats from 13 countries across three different continents. And we even spotted a Darling, from that well-known 420 family, on the podium. Well done guys!

Well. news from Tavira is really hard to get! Far the best info. is to be found on Robert’s Blog. We have appealed for more idea of what is happening during the day, but this aternoon they altered the results for Day 1 - apparently adding in BFDs they had missed (sorry, Mike and Herrmione!). Rumours of a funny start to the first race today (Day 2). The trials and tribulations of our International Manager and, especially, Head nCoach, Neil Marsden are documented in the blog. International appeal for teapot issued....can anyone help our hot and bothered man on the spot? What is an Englishman to do without a brew? We suggest contact is made urgently with Anita and Tony at Carter Teapots of Debenham in Suffolk , formerly official suppliers of 420 Trophies (and supporters of former leading 420 sailor, Sam Carter).

Robert Vose provides a running commentary on progress by road and how to handle inquisitive sailors who arrive 40 mins after Team Manager and Coaches.
We anticipate a regular blog from TeamGBR. Official news, results etc. should appear on the Event Website.
(We will add what we can, when we can, but these should be your first ports of call, as Ed is off to Weymouith, Medemblik and Nieuwpoort this week, so may not be on-line lots).
Good luck guys!

RYA reports (attached): “In the 420 class, Jess Lavery/Georgie Mothersele and Craig Dibb/Charlie Cox, both ISAF Youth Worlds debutants, finished the Championships off with top ten finishes which is a fantastic achievement in such a highly competitive class. The girls finished 9th overall whilst the 420 boys had a small chance of making the podium at the beginning of the day, however with results not going their way finished 7th overall.

‘ “It has been a great experience and we have loved every minute of it. We are really happy to have finished in the top ten and we have learnt a huge amount...... Our communication has improved and we have now got the confidence to race in bigger fleets. We know we are competitive when racing against the World’s best so are now looking forward to future events where we can apply what we have learnt,” explained Lavery.

‘ Duncan Truswell, RYA Racing Youth Manager, commented: “This week has been really tough for the sailors but I am overjoyed for...[White and Boniface in the SL16]....

‘“Many sailors from the team would have been in with a shot at a medal on a different week in Zadar.......it was extremely light and fickle some days, but they hung in there, dug deep, and stuck to the processes really believing in themselves even when their confidence was taking a bit of a battering in the light Mediterranean style conditions.

‘ “To bounce back when the breeze got up and really show their potential despite such a hot, long and draining week of competition was great. The bottom line is we are not very quick in the conditions......we are inexperienced because we just don’t see those conditions in the UK and we don’t get enough time in similar conditions to really mix it with the world’s best.”

“...every dog has his day,...not only are we on the pace when the breeze came up....but it’s also clear we are breeding passionate, robust and intelligent sailors. Their toughness was the most impressive thing for me. From here, all the sailors (can) come back with st

Both Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox and Jessica & Georgie Mothersele continued to build their positions at Zadar, going into the final day and the final race in 5th and 9th respectively.

Our earlier pleas for news having gone unheard and no results on the EV Cherbourg website during the event, we were drawn to the conclusion that a long-standing GBR420 tradition had gone by the wayside and no boats had gone to this year’s French Nationals (some years with 15+ boats). We would have been wrong! The Watkins sisters, Anna and Rosie, were there! We know because we went to see them come off the water a final time. Rosie is already recently known for maintaining Class traditions by winning the Itchenor Schools with Evie Clemance, But apparently Poolies Anna and Rosie decided that, what with their Mirror campaigns and Anna’s keelboat activities, it was time, since the Brightlingsea Nationals last year, to get back together in the 420 and head off to find a some big start lines – entirely ‘for training’ purposes, you understand.

A little unsure, when they learnt – too late to back out – that there were no other Brits, they need not have worried. The Americans were there in force – and with their Kiwi coach, last seen on British soil at Brightlingsea. Seems like it was a great week’s sailing – a good variety of conditions – nice weather (conducive to tanning on the last day) and an infinite supply of moules frites! The French “Coupe Nationale” is usually held in Brittany at this time – a good opportunity for early summer holiday sailing with a fleet this year of nearly 80 boats - including Astralian and German entries (usually over 100 - last year also with Spanish boats). Anyway, the French laid on a bit of a show as a send off – a firework display for Bastille Day - as the ferry slipped its moorings and returned to Poole.

Apologies for the late news but continuing the theme of what do 420 sailors do in their spare time, recently our own Chris Taylor swapped his 420 for a slightly larger steed and headed off to Dartmouth for the J80 UK nationals. Sailing with former 420 sailor Kevin Sproul, Adrian Gray and impoverished father Phil, they enjoyed some fantastic sailing – especially on the Wednesday in a solid 25-30 knots and brilliant sunshine all day. Proving that 420 sailors aren’t too shabby, the crew managed to post a 1,1,5,1,1,4,2,1 to win the event in a field that included one or two well known names. Chris can add that one to his World and National titles from his Feva sailing days. Then it was back into the 420 and off to Kiel….

Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox have surged forward in Zadar after a discard kicking in, and they are on 6th going into today’s rest day. Meanwhile, Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele are in 13th.

Matt Carter and Duncan Truswell refer to the very hot conditions in Zadar in the RYA Mid-Event Report. Follow the latest news from TeamGBR on facebook and the event generally on the ISAF Youths event website, where there are links to the ISAF Youths facebook and twitter pages.

Oops, we missed hot news.....the traditional 420 regatta for schools' sailors, often pairing up specially, recently held by Itchenor Sailing Club sponsored by Mind the Gap Year. It was won this year by Class members, Rosie Watkins and Evie Clemance from Parkstone Grammar School. Rosie and Evie maintain the unbroken record that the overall winners of the ‘Schools’ have been current 420 Fleet members since 1998 at least, and they follow several Parkstone Grammar and Poole YC winners of the women's trophy.

And our Andrew Wishart of Bishops Wordsworth was 3rd and Archie Law of Eton, last seen at a 420 Nationals in Plymouth trying to keep his crew, Andy Shaw (previous winner) in order (those older and wiser know this is not possible!), was 4th. See Final Results.

By all accounts Itchenor Schools Week 2011 - this event is the culmination - was again a great success. The photos in our PhotoGallery and on the Mind the Gap Year gallery attest to this!

Why don’t you motivate your school and find a colleague to sail the event next year? For more information, see Schools Week website.

Past winners trace the history of GBR 420 Class talent – even a double Olympian amonst them:
Hugo Sloper & Charlie Hartley
Imogen & Hermione Stanley
George Yeoman & Olivia Pettit (2007 & 2008 Firefly)
Andrew Shaw & Sophie Knight
Jack & George Yeoman
Claire Walsh & Catherine Alton
Ed Powys & William Morgan
Jonathan Battye & Tom Heyward
Ed Males & James Roche
James Roche & Rob Ozanne
Christina Bassadone & Helen Mayhew (1999 & 2000)

It looks (you have to search around the event website blog, facebook and twitter to try and piece things together), it seems that winds have been light on the first two days at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship 2011 in Zadar, Croatia.

Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele started with a first and, after only one 420 race on Sunday, go into the third day on 7th. Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox have had a range of scores and are on 12th this evening (just one place behind the Puerto Rico team that was leading the event last night! – it looks as though our guys are not alone in having a wide range of results, probably reflecting pretty shifty conditions that we know can be experienced at Zadar).

If anyone has a more direct insight into the sailing conditions, or indeed anything else of interest to TeamGBR, please Send Email

Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley won the Flanders Regatta by a massive 40 points today. And World Ladies Champions, Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood are clearly on form, a further 30 points ahead of Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis in 3rd place, ensuring an all-GBR podium.

Top fifteen::
1 Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley 21 points
2 Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood 61 pts
3 Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis 91 pts
4 Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey 98 pts
5 Santiago Mas & Jaime Menescal (ESP) 105 pts
6 Tim Gratton & Ed Riley 106 pts
7 Isabel Fitzgerald & Kat Colvin 116 pts
8 David & Alex Charles (ESP) 117 pts
9 Martin Aumont & Paul Dadvisard (FRA) 119 pts
10 José Manuel Ruiz Sanchez & Antonio Navas Martinez (ESP) 121 pts
11 Chris Taylor & Pete Alton 123 pts
12 Quentin Le Giellec & Mathieu Corruble (FRA) 143 pts
13 Elloise Brake & Jaime Ryan (AUS) 144 pts
14 Tim Riley & James Parker Mowbray 148 pts
15 Louise Chevet & Jennifer Poret (FRA) 150 pts

Our guys, Josh Voller and Jemima Lawson are busy in Tavira at the Optimist Europeans and, by all accounts, well, our Tim Saxton’s anyway, the conditions are pretty testing. Well worth reading the Team Blog, not only to sample Coach Tim’s erudite exposition, or even to learn about Carla’s hard work on the diplomatic front (well, sounds like a nautical ball to me), but to catch some ideas about sailing in the venue for the forthcoming 420 Europeans. Meanwhile, good sailing to the Optimist Team GBR!

Seems that light (or no) winds have been having an impact on events in the last couple of days (presumably including at Flanders, though their twitter info. shows a 420 start this morning, but no finish or results for the penultimate day!), but the Albacores completed a series for their Nationals at Llandudno.
We congratulate our Tom Gillard (former 420 Junior Euro Champion) on becoming 2011 Albacore National Champion yesterday (nothing to do with his familiarity with the waters from a previous 420 Nationals, of course). Hopefully, this will be some compensation for Tom’s 2nd at the Streaker Nationals and recent Fireball Worlds.
And former 420 National Champion crew, Jon Gimson was 3rd (well, Jon was sort of a guest crew at the 420 Nationals in 2004 – he had been winning trophies at Cowes (as usual) and chivalrously came on to Falmouth to crew for Pippa Wilson that year). And Jeremy Rook, a member of the 420 Supporters’ Club – Dad of Mary and Alice – took a top fifteen place in the competitive Albacore Class.

Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley have a 24-point lead at the end of day 3 at Nieuwpoort and Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood lead the women in 4th overall. However, the Spanish teams are performing strongly, including the women’s team new to the international 420 circuit, Aura Miquel & Marina Cano. Team GBR hold ten of the top fifteen places

Provisional leaders on Day 3 after 7 races:
1 Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley 15 points
2 David & Alex Charles (ESP) 39 pts
3 Santiago Mas & Jaime Menescal (ESP) 50 pts
4 Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood 53 pts
5 Aura Miquel & Marina Cano (ESP) 56 pts
6 Martin Aumont & Paul Dadvisard (FRA) 62 pts
7 Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis 62 pts
8 Tim Gratton & Ed Riley 63 pts
9 Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey 64 pts
10 José Manuel Ruiz Sanchez & Antonio Navas Martinez (ESP) 66 pts
11 Isabel Fitzgerald & Kat Colvin 79 pts
12 Chris Taylor & Pete Alton 86 pts
13 Louise Chevet & Jennifer Poret (FRA) 101pts
14 Tim Riley & James Parker Mowbray 103 pts
15 Eleni Morus & Henriette Brand 105 pts

First day of racing, and light winds by all accounts from our man on the beach at Nieuwpoort. The Catalans made an early bid, with the Charles boys, David & Alex taking the lead and Santiago Mas & Jaime Menescal in 3rd (the latter had a bullet in Race 2, but they will look forward to discarding their 10th in the first though!). But Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey were on good form, with a bullet in Race 1, ending the day two points behind the leaders.

Izzy Fitzgerald & Kat Colvin lead the women in 4th on 13 points, while Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley and Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood are both on 15 points.

With 46 boats racing at the “Topsport Vlaanderen Regatta”, the Brits have 22 boats. They are joined this year by several Spanish and Australian boats, as well as Belgian, Dutch and French competitors.

Provisional top 10 standings on day 1:
1 David & Alex Charles (ESP) 5 points
2 Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey 7 pts
3 Santiago Mas & Jaime Menescal (ESP) 11 pts
4 Isabel Fitzgerald & Kat Colvin 13
5 Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley 15 pt
6 Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood 15 pts
7 Martin Aumont & Paul Davisard (FRA) 20 pts
8 Tim Gratton & Ed Riley 24 pts
9 Chris Taylor & Pete Alton 24 pts
10 Will Kennedy & Max Ingall 24 pts

Anyone with the inside story, please Send Email. We always like to have the gossip (or indeed authentic and pithy insights into the sailing and conditions....Mike?), but we had a slight problem at the end of Kiel. We could only find out about the sailing by talking to a judge (no-one from the GBR camp available for comment). His long last day had culminated in a hearing against some 15 420s! – of course, we could not ask for detail (although knuckles were wrapped apparently) and dared not publish, just in case a GBR boat might have been involved! Now we learn that sailors from another country had been up to no good. So you see, we need the inside track, please.

The Australian National Champions, Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough, won Kieler Woche today by 24 points from Malte Winkel & Lucas Thielemann (GER) and Alexandros & Georg Kavas (GRE). Our Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley held in the top ten, in spite of a lower place in the last race, which seemed to have caught several of the top twenty. Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox finished 16th, with Tim Gratton & Ed Riley in 24th and Jessica Lavery & Georgie Mothersele 26th, conceding the women’s lead to the Singapore team.

Leading 10:
1 Angus Galloway & Alexander Gough (AUS) 32 points
2 Malte Winkel & Lucas Thielemann (GER) 56
3 Alexandros & Georg Kavas (GRE) 67
4 Russel Kan & Jeremiah Yeo (SIN) 78
5 Tim Fischer & Sebastian Ziegler (GER) 78
6 Yannick Hafner & Fabian Schöberl (GER) 80
7 Jordi Xammar & Alex Claville (ESP) 92
8 Paul Kübel & Henrike Pepin (GER) 94
9 Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley (GBR) 100
10 Henerik & Frederik Schaal (GER) 118

Not only are we to congratulate Nick on his win and his recent tyriumph at Sail for Gold in the 470, but it seems that GBR 420 member, 'fantastic' Fanny Rogers and husband Nick are celebrating the birth of their second son! Last seen in a 420 in 2010, we congratulate the Rogers team! We predict a few more Rogers on the 420 leaderboard in a decade or so.

Watch the Round the Island Race website to see how our other guys have done.

After several years with former 420 performance coach, Chips Howarth, taking the Fireball World title (Bahamas 2010, La Rochelle 2009.....), Matt Burge, our former national Champion, with Richard Wagstaff, took the title today, but narrowly on countback, from our Tom Gillard & Sam Brearey (420 Junior European Champions 2007) at Sligo YC. Jonny McGovern (ISAF Youth Bronze medallist in the 420 and well known to the current 420 generation as a coach) was 6th, with Max Capener. Former GBR 420 member, Kenny Rumball, from Dublin, was 12th.

Our guys seem to be doing well, especially if you see that some of the experienced and well-known sailors internationally are quite well-down the rankings. Not sure what happened to several who DNCed in R10.

It would be really great to have some insights into the racing from someone on the spot, or someone with very good comms with our sailors. If you can help, please Send Email.

In the meantime, we have managed to contact a member of the Jury who has been on the water. He says it has been "pretty windy, let's say 22 knots, but coming from the land, so shifty....difficult, yes!". He sounded tired....something about a large no of 420s in the Jury Room tonight.....maybe just as well the Kieler Woche does not tell us everything, but it is frustrating not having some feedback on the racing as it happens.

With two races in on the first day at the Kieler Woche and 177 teams on the water in three flights, Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley took a 7th and a 4th to lead the eight GBR boats, Tim Gratton & Ed Riley had a 13, 5, while Jessica Lavery & Georgie Mothersele, 7, 15. Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox will look forward to discarding their race 2 result, but were on form with a 4th in R1. Tim Riley & James Parker Mowbray, Alistair Gray & Alan McIntosh and Chris Taylor & Peter Alton are all in the top half of the fleet.

This looks like a very competitive fleet, with many experienced teams and many of the country representatives at the forthcoming ISAF Youth Worlds competing, several staying on for further training after the event. Anyone on the spot with more news, photos etc. please Send Email.

RYA/UKSA Keelboat Academy will be in action this weekend in the Round the Island Race. Two former KBA and GBR 420 members, Aaron Cooper, aboard ‘Arabella’, and James Brown, crewing Swan 42 ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, will be there.. Are any other current, or former, 420 sailors in the race? Send Email

John Derbyshire said: “The annual J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race is one of the largest yacht races in the world and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK, attracting competitors from all over the UK, Europe and as far as the USA and Australia. The race will be a great opportunity for the BKA sailors to gain a real taste of top level competition as they take to the waters with some of the worlds most renowned sailors, including triple Olympic gold and silver medallist Ben Ainslie.”

If you are interested in adding keelboating to your sailing, visit British Keelboat Academy, or follow the BKA on Facebook or on Twitter (@tweetbka). See also ”Don’t miss out on British Keelboat Academy regional race training sessions” and Squad applications now open for the British Keelboat Academy. Online applications for 2012 BKA squads open, with selection trials scheduled for 17/18t and 24/25t September at UKSA. Applications close at 12pm on Monday 15th August. To apply, please go to www.britishkeelboatacademy.org, and click on “Squad applications‟. Regional training sessions at Plas Menai, Port Edgar and UKSA throughout the summer (see the “Regional Centres‟ pages).

So GBR 420s well represented by Josh in his Oppie.

43 420s from 7 countries, but sadly not GBR. Several ISAF Youth teams competed, with NED choosing their teams to send to Zadar: Floris & Laurens van de Werken (NED), who had a clear lead to take the Champs, and Fieke van Dijk and Josca Hummel. Experienced ISAF sailors, Linda Fahrni & Maja Siegenthaler (SUI) were 3rd and Quinten Lootens & Stijn van Hoye (BEL) were 4th. Daily reports and photographs sent to us by the Dutch 420 President are attached for the record.

Josh, Tim and Carla will be able to fill us in when they reach home, but this event certainly seems to be shaping up well.

The excellent video commentary at Delta Lloyd was inevitably following GBR7 (Stevie Morrison & Ben Rhodes - former 420 sailors) and Nathan Outteridge (former 420 World Champ) & Iain Jensen (AUS), match racing for Gold, But we were also cheering on Dave Evans & Ed Powys - members of the GBR Class this century! (Ed was the official Class Artist as well as a leading helm!) – who were trying to better their overall 9th as they went into the Medal Race....and they did! Dave and Ed took 2nd. Awesome!
Meanwhile the match racers fought it out behind, and Steve and Ben took Gold.
See all the Delta Lloydnews, results and videos.
PS Ed Wright (regrettably not one of ours tho), just won Gold in the Finn.

We try to ‘cover’ news of our sailors – past, present and coming through from the junior classes (as soon as they hit the membership radar!). To do so, we need our network of informants! If we have missed your success, or you know of news of other 420 sailors, please Send Email.

Former GBR 420 sailor, Emma Clark crewed the winning boat in this year’s SB3 World Championship at Torbay YC. 2009 RS 200 Nationals and Endeavour Trophy winners, Emma and her helm Geoff Carveth, together with their two other colleagues, claimed the Championship at Torbay against very stiff competition from 118 other competing boats and an entry list including several successful international and Olympic sailors, together with many familiar names from the GBR 420 Class. For final results and other information, see SB3 Worlds website. CLICK above for our photo version.

Credited after their Endeavour win by Geoff Carveth with “tip top crewing”, we can assume that Emma was again on good form in Torbay – she appears on two video interviews – see early interview and Champions interviewed.

Our Sarah Hickman and Ben Ainsworth were aboard Parkway Pirates to take 6th place, and the helm of the 5th boat at last year’s 420 Worlds in Haifa, RSA Sailor of the Year, Asinathi Jim helmed South Africa to a very creditable 7th place. See Asenathi’s interview with the Sports e-News Channel, Cape Town.

See reports (+ various video) on Y&Y, ISAF and Sail-World.

'The 420 Class organised a coaching and “Try a 420” event on Saturday 21st May 2011 at Leigh & Lowton SC in Lancashire. The club was also hosting an Open Day for local sailors & prospective members to see the great facilities available, but it was the fantastic fun being had by the 420s that impressed many on shore. The wind arrived in abundance, and those that took to the water found the boat exhilarating, particularly since this was the first time out for many and it showed that the boat can be controlled in high winds by quite light crews (approx. 90kgs all up). Sailors from the front of the Topper & Optimist fleets took to the water, yet the number of sailors was markedly reduced due to the need to cram for ‘A’ levels & GCSE examinations which affects all youth classes at this time of year. Leigh & Lowton SC were pleased to be able to host the Class and are more than willing for future training to be held at the club'. If you would like to join in the Northern 420 sailing or would like further information, please contact Tim Yeates: Send Email.

The International 420 Class Association has announced the launch of a free online Training Video to provide coaching and training tips for both the beginner and experienced 420 sailors – see attached Press Release.

“Sailors are always looking for ways to improve their sailing techniques, improve manoeuvres and get the most out of the time spent on the water and this online resource is set to provide a significant step towards this objective.” “If you get your technique right you'll be efficient, produce better results and avoid potential injuries,” explained Nick Drougkas, the world class coach behind the video. “Boat set up is explained, alongside body and boat movement. The commentary and visual presentation provide an easily understood training tool. Watch the video, go out and practice, review your day's sailing and improve your skills,”
Animated graphic overlays demonstrate specific points to consider in completing manoeuvres, accompanied by an excellent voice over. Designed to help sailors improve their skills and sail their boats better, the video provides a free and excellent resource for 420 sailors around the world. Coaches can also benefit from the video and look at new approaches to training and coaching.

Developed by the International 420 Class Association in partnership with Nick Drougkas and Icarus – the training video is broken down into easily digestible sections, which you can view as separate video clips. The video focuses on:

Preparation and General Skills
Light Winds
Medium Winds
Strong Winds

You can either can either choose to view online, or may download the files, via the International Class website, or by going to prosailing.com.

West Kirby, winners in 2009,had to make-do for a second year with running-up to the New York YC Team Extreme in the finals of the Wilson Trophy. But our Ben Field was there to fly the 420 flag once again. They had seen off five other teams from the USA, two from Ireland and 21 from the UK.

Tom Mallindine, Peter Matthews & Hermione Stanley of ‘Spinnaker Auspicious’ got to the Semis. Ben Saxton, Maria Stanley, Owain Matthews, George Yeoman & Emma Norris – the ‘BUSA Lads’ (sic) (having been 2nd in the play-offs to the Hawks and on equal points with NYYC) and Kate Macgregor, Pippa Girling, Mark Lees & Anna McKenzie of Oxford and Cambridge Sailing Society both made it to the Quarter Finals.

Other 420 sailors on the play-offs leaderboard we found were: Guy 'Tenor' Brearey, Jo Brigg, Ian 'Drum & Bass' Dobson, Bethan Dobson, Alex 'Baritone' Beddoes & Ally Martin (Southampton Male Voice Choir), Paul Campbell-James (Dreamteam), Peter Gray & Claire Lasko (OUYC), Sam Maxfield (Royal Thames Blue), Mike Morruzi (Hilbre Highlanders), Ed & Nick Males & James Roche (Wessex Exiles), Henry Maxfield (Cambridge), Chris Sanders, Jodie Green & Phil Sparks (R Lymington), and Sam Brearey, Rosie Sibthorp, Billie Quinlan & Matt Rainback of Portsmouth Yardstick.

More information on the Event Website.

ISAF confirmed today the equipment for the ten sailing events at the 2016 Olympics (click above). These will include the 470 for both Men's and Women's Two Person Dinghy events.

The Irish Sailing Federation just confirmed that Emma Geary (Royal Cork YC) and Niamh Connolly (Baltimore SC), last seen in the UK at our Winter Champs at Datchet, will represent Ireland in the 420 at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Zadar.

The Teams selected to represent the GBR 420 Class at the Europeans to be held in Tavira, Portugal in July and at the Junior Europeans in Nieuwpoort, Belgium in August have been announced - see attached.

Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley won the Spring Championships at Pwllheli, a couple of points ahead of Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox, while Tim Gratton & Ed Riley were a point behind them.

Chris Taylor & Peter Alton led the following pack, but Jonny McGovern & Ian Martin showed that they can still hack it in a 420 (as well as teach it!) by splitting the ‘big five’ of the 2011 Selection Series, seeing Tarra Gill-Taylor & Christian Townrow into 6th place.

Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele had a 7-point lead over Nia Jones & Molly Frost, who finished 14 points ahead of Charlotte Fitzgerald & Emma Spruce.

See full results: Spring Championships and Selection Series.

Some great images from the Pwllheli event taken by Paul Mothersele spread around Facebook like wildfire, drawing on Paul Mothersele’s Picassa Gallery. We now have them posted on our Photo Gallery
– thanks, Paul!

Championship Top 15:
1 Mike Wood & Hermione Stanley (9 points)
2 Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox (11 pts)
3 Tim Gratton & Ed Riley (12 pts)
4 Chris Taylor & Peter Alton (20 pts)
5 Jonny McGovern & Ian Martin (22 pts)
6 Tarra Gill-Taylor & Christian Townrow (29 pts)
7 Matt Foskett & Adam Walker (31 pts)
8 Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis (37 pts)
9 Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey (43 pts)
10 Neil Marsden & Hannah Mitchell (56 pts)
11 Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele (60 pts)
12 Tim Riley & James Parker-Mowbray (65 pts)
13 James Dodd & Joseph Butterworth (66 pts)
14 Callum & Drew Airlie (66 pts)
15 Nia Jones & Molly Frost (67 pts)

Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox and Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele confirmed as the RYA Volvo Team GBR‟s 420 contenders in Zadar.

The RYA said: ‘Both Dibb and Cox and Jess and Georgie have also earned themselves the right to represent Great Britain at the 2011 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Zadar, Croatia. Craig Dibb and Charlie Cox have had a very impressive and positive run of results in the 420 European/Junior Selector Series which would have been a contributing factor to their championship title. With confidence high and their partnership blossoming, the duo will be valued members of the team. 420 sailors Jess Lavery and Georgie Mothersele will be making their Youth Worlds debut after taking the championship glory at Hayling Island. The pair have made huge improvements since last year’s championships as they finished 17th overall compared to their spectacular overall third at this year’s Championships. Jess Lavery commented: “We are delighted to have been selected for Team GBR and are really looking forward to competing in our first Youth World Championships”.’

See RYA Press Release with pics!.

RYA reports on the Youths and ISAF Team Selection said: ‘Craig Dibb and Charlie Cox were clinical in claiming the 420 boy’s title, picking up five race wins, one of which was in the final race of the day which ultimately clinched the title from Tim Gratton and Ed Riley, who finished the week in second, two points off the top spot. “420 2011 RYA Volvo Youth National Champion, Dibb said, “It feels great and hasn’t really sunk in yet, finishing first in the last race was the highlight of the week as that’s when we knew we had won.” Cox went onto say, “We got off to a bad start so have been catching up all week. We knew we had to beat Tim and Ed and that’s what we did, it’s just an amazing feeling!” Jess Lavery and Georgie Mothersele had a fantastic week leading the way for the female 420 crews by finishing third overall and are crowned 420 female champions’.

Top 15:
1 Craig Dibb & Charlie Cox 37 pts
2 Tim Gratton & Ed Riley 39 pts
3 Jess Lavery & Georgie Mothersele 57 pts
4 Tarra Gill-Taylor & Christian Townrow 77 pts
5 Toby Morsley & Matt Wallis 87 pts
6 Annabel Vose & Megan Brickwood 93 pts
7 Nia Jones & Molly Frost 104 pts
8 Harry Derbyshire & Tom Lovesey 109 pts
9 Callum & Drew Airlie 122 pts
10 Tim Riley & James Parker-Mowbray 143 pts
11 Sarah Alton & Chris Taylor 146 pts
12 William Kennedy & Max Ingall 160 pts
13 Isabel Fitzgerald & Kat Colvin 163 pts
14 Issy Hamilton & Hannah Jones 165 pts
15 Charlotte Fitzgerald & Emma Spruce 170 pts

See Final Results. Photos by Paul Wyeth are posted on the Photo Gallery.