ISAF publish Youth Worlds 2009 NoR 

Sparks & Gratton win Imperia 
Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton won the five-race, 70+ boat event by a point from David Vignone & Matteo Ramain (FRA), who were two points ahead of Federico Maria Maccari & Rocco Vitali (ITA). Open Results

Anna Burnet & Flora Stewart, with a 4th in the final race, were 12th in the Women�s 45+ boat fleet. Women�s Results

Further images are to be found on the International Class website's Photo Gallery.

RYA Boat Show offer 

Big 420 turnout at Oxford Magnum 

Olly wins in Solent for Tall Ships Youth Trust 

ISAF Council decides equipment for 2012 
Click above for RYA Statement or go to ISAF Council decision

Twiname TR Champs....more 
We just had the RYA event report in and so have added this - and the previously missing Chris Taylor of the succesful Hayling team! - to the news item

Peters in frame for 2008 BBC Young Sports Personality award 

Photos from the End of Season 

420 sailors pursue Guy Fawkes 

Wow....50+ 420 sailors went team racing....big time! 
We catch up with a 420 team racing weekend at the RYA Twiname TR Championships at Farmoor (Oxford SC). Too many 420 names - fifty plus! - to drop on this page!....so click above for our exhaustive analysis (well, checking the entries was exhausting!....and initially we missed Chris Taylor of the Hayling team) and RYA Press release. Click here for Entry List and for results: Youth Championship and Junior Championship

Saxton & Williams triumph at EoS 
Click above for immediate news and results and here for Yachts & Yachting Report

420 sailors perform at Uni Fleet Champs � we name them here first! 
Post event Press Release and decision on points and team trophy added above. See all "420" students at Datchet in April.

Our Lucy Macgregor grows in MR strength � ISAF says so! 

Ben and Phil tussling at the top again at windy Grafham after 3 races�� 

Some 165 boats have turned up in Portland for the Student Nationals 

Our woman in the Feva wins at Hill Head�..without a rig! 
Eilidh McIntyre and Vicky Payne win the Feva Open at Hill Head - down to team work with no sail!

Sparks & Gratton dominate at Itchenor in the lightest of winds 

Tarra Gill-Taylor wins Oppie EoS 
In a Main Fleet of 221, Tarra Gill-Taylor won and Melissa Hamilton came 2nd at the Optimist End-of-Season at Rutland. Jess Lavery ensured a top-ten triple for the 420 fleet! Tarra, Jess, Craig Dibb, and Melissa are all in the top-ten provisional Squad Selection Rankings (currently led by a certain Josh Sparks!), so all good in the Optimists.

All-420 Team Macgregor qualify GBR for ISAF Nations Cup 
Lucy & Nicky Macgregor, Ally Martin and Georgie Blaver-Mann have won the Northern Europe group in Antibes and qualified GBR for the ISAF Nations Cup next April in Brazil. Click above for Y&Y; reports, and here for ISAF Report.

Team Mark C-J 2008 MR Champs: rya report with pics 

Dobson & Tunnicliffe lead 420 sailors in Champ of Champs regatta 
Ian Dobson & Andy Tunnicliffe, former fearsome 420 team and, again, GP14 World Champions this year (just ahead of 2003 World Champ, Neil Marsden) , came 5th in the Endeavour Trophy at Burnham. Tim Gratton (RS Feva) and Ben McGrane (Fireball) also in the line-up of 2008 National Champions.

Pre-End of Season Training Opportunity 
Click above for full story, or sign up on the Training Event Website

Gratton � Sibthorp � Fitzgerald: all-crew line-up on Saturday night 

Cherry leads into last day at NMR finals; a sweet win for Mary Rook in the Round Robin 

17 420 sailors in Match Racing Finals 

Our man on board John Merricks II, Ben Pym, wins Duncan Munro-Kerr Youth Challenge Trophy in the 2008 RORC series 

Help, please!�..do we have your up-to-date e-mail address? 

Stephens, Stanley & Stanley are NSSA TR Champions 2008 
Guy, Hermione & Imogen won the NSSA Team Racing Championships.

Current and recent 420 sailors match race in heavy winds and torrential rain at WPNSA; Cherry makes it to MR Finals 

REMINDER: RYA ET Youth & Junior Team Racing Champs 
Cklick above for details; also listed on Event calendar.

Tani Bassadone 
It is with great sadness that we learn that Tani Bassadone passed away in his sleep on Friday, 26 September. Many 420 sailors, coaches, supporters and families have benefitted from Tani's interest and support over his many years of involvement with the Class. Click above for more information.

Lees & Irons win at Bosham 

Matthews & Field - 420 sailors for World TR Champs 

Sloper/Spruce, Gratton/Taylor, Lavery/Mothersale mop up at WPNSA 

420 sailors in action at WPNSA and Queen Mary this weekend 

Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 published online 
The new Rules come into effect on 1 January, 2009. Available on-line now from ISAF (click above). Be one step ahead!

Inlands: Miles Palmer's Y&Y Report 

At least 35 420 sailors at Sail4Gold 2008 

RYA Youth Squad announced & Transitional Training invitations issued 

We have a new Chairman! 

2008 AGM Minutes available 

Neil Marsden & Joe Williams: Inland Champions 2008 
With Sunday another glorious day, but with more sunshine than wind, the PRO was left with no option but to abandon racing for the day. Neil Marsden and Joe Williams were declared Inland Champions on 4 points. Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton. were 2nd tying on 10 points with Tom Kinver & Charlie Davies in 3rd. while Tom Pain & Nathan Bailey were 4th on 12. Becca Kalderon & Rosie Sibthorp were first women, in fifth overall. For more detail, see Final Results and Event Website.

Greys lead 420 sailors in top 12 at Mirror Inlands 
Ed & Bethany Grey took second at the Mirror Inlands Championships 2008 at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club. They had great back-up from Charlotte Fitzgerald, Izzy Fitzgerald, Lisa McDanell, Brendan Sweeney, Roseanna Yeoward and Hannah Mitchell.

Lucy Macgregor wins Eurosaf MR Champs 

Ellis & Glover claim Youth catamaran World crown 

It�s that time of year again�.membership renewals 

September - a busy 420 month ahead 
Poole Youth Regatta this weekend, the Inland Championship on 20 & 21 September at Rutland Water SC (on-line entry open) and the Bosham Open on 28 September.

NB entries also open for Class Training at Grafham Water SC on 25 & 26 October (with Neil Marsden as lead coach) and End of Season Championship at Grafham Water SC on 1 & 2 November.

Topper & Mirror 420 sailors at Paralympics 

Women's MR Champs - follow-up 
Some photos have been posted on the Photo Archive. Results

End of Season - Grafham Water SC - 1/2 November 
Online entry for the 420 fleet at this year's End of Season event is now open

Poole Youth Regatta - 6/7 September 
This annual event is popular with 420 sailors - click on the header for more details, it also worth checking in with the club prior to taking a long journey.

Photos from the Nationals 

Team Mary Rook new Women�s MR Champions 

Ben Saxton & Kate Macgregor take Silver at RS200s 

420 sailors in top four at Youth MRs 
Tom Altmann was part of Sam Goodchild�s Champion team at the Youth Match Racing Championships at WPNSA over the weekend. And the 2nd, 3rd and 4th boats were helmed by current or former 420 sailors: Gareth Henshall, Owain Matthews and Mark Lees, who had his 420 crew, Sam Garforth on board too.

We have photos of all four teams on the Photo Archive

420 sailors perform in the 49er 
Richard Mason took 4th at the 49er Nationals at WPNSA. Dave Evans & Ed Powys took 7th, in spite of DNCs in the last day�s two races. And Tim Saxton (just back from his second 6th at the 420 Junior Euros, two years running, once at each end of the boat) dropped only to 12th when he DNC�d in the last two, presumably to leap aboard an RS200 at HISC; we hope Exeter appreciates the multi-tasking sailor heading west this year.

Burge & Davies 7th at Fireball Nationals 
Former 420 National Champions, Matt Burge (2005) & Paul Davies (2001) got together in a Fireball last week and took 7th out of 89 at Mounts Bay.

Images from Pwllheli 
A fine supply of images are coming in - more may follow - and are being posted in a gallery on the Photo Archive - thanks to Philip Alton!

Nationals - Final Report 

Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton are 2008 National Champions 
'Phil Sparks and Ben Gratton win 420 Nationals after nail biting finish. Ben Saxton and Claire Lasko are second and James and Will Rusden are third.
'First ladies are Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp.
'First overseas sailors are Jordan Factor and Charles Peck for the USA'.
For further details go to Event Website

Final report from Junior Europeans 
The general report from the Junior Europeans is attached.

UK Nationals - Update 3 

UK Nationals - Update 2 

UK Nationals - photos 
There are some photos from the Nationals taken by Jon Fauer (USA) - click on the header to go to the website.

UK Nationals - Update 1 

UK Nationals updates 
Updates on progress at the UK Nationals being held at Pwllheli are being posted on the event website - click on the header for details.

Olympic Gold for former 420 sailors 
The Sarahs and Pippa achieve Olympic Gold. Sarah Ayton is a former 420 sailor and Pippa Wilson was European and National 420 Champion, as well as Bronze medallist in the 420 in the ISAF Youths. Brilliant!

Junior Europeans in Zadar - general report after day 2 
Click on the header for the general 420 event report at the end of qualifying.

Updates on the 420 Nationals at Pwllheli 
A revised Notice of Race (v4) was posted on the event website on Friday 8 August, updated to reflect options for boats attending the 420 Junior Europeans in Croatia.

Also, it is now possible for campervans to stay on site overnight at Pwllheli SC - details of booking arrangements are available on the event website (click on header)

GBR team at the Junior Europeans - update 2 
(for Final Results - see "Results")

GBR team at the Junior Europeans - update 1 

Junior Europeans in Zadar - General report after day 1 
Here's a link to the general report (and some great photos) from the opening ceremony and day 1 of the event.

Final Report from the Athens Worlds 
For full results see "Results" page

....and Tim Gratton is leading the RS Worlds 
....also in Sweden.

Ed & Beth Grey win Swedish National Mirror Championships 
Hey, these GBR 420 sailors get everywhere! Check out the results and count them! Good luck to all for the Mirror Europeans - just be back for the Nationals!

Our Joanna Freeman is in second at Cadet Worlds at Medemblik 
A Worlds Fleet of 81 (and Promotional fleet of 90) Cadets complete their World Championships on Friday.

Early arrivals at the UK 420 Nationals 
The Optimist Nationals are taking place at Pwllheli next week, finishing on Friday 15 August. There are an incredible 449 entries for the event, so Pwllheli SC will be full to bursting during the event.

We hear that various 420 sailors are planning to do some pre-Nationals training at Pwllheli during the same week as the Optimist Nationals. Please be aware that 420s must be left in the marina visitors car park (no charge), not the dinghy compound, until Saturday morning 16th August. There is CCTV for that area, but trailers should be locked.

We hope that 420 sailors will encourage the older Optimist sailors to consider a future in the 420 class and wish you all a good week!

Mills & Webster, champs again, lead GBRs top-10s at 470 Junior Worlds 
After winning the 470 Junior Women�s European Championship last year, Hannah Mills & Katrina Hughes just won the 470 Junior World Championships in Gdynia. Former British National 420 Champion, Hannah sailed the 420 with Peggy Webster, and they were first Ladies� at the 2006 and 2006 420 Junior Europeans (in Riva del Garda and in Tavira) and World Ladies� 420 Champions in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Hannah teamed up with Katrina Hughes, also a former GBR 420 sailor, toward the end of 2006 to campaign the 470.

At last week�s 470 Junior Worlds, Claire Walsh & Jasmine Husband, who were first Ladies at the 420 Europeans in Istanbul last summer (after leading the women at the 2007 Spanish Nationals), were in 8th, and Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainsworth, both former 420 helms, who represented GBR at last year�s ISAF Youth, took 10th. Looks like our women are seriously strong in the 470 too.

Lotte and Betty help win Baltic Sprint Cup 
Well, its all been a bit hectic in Athens and Grafham in 420s over the last week or so, but we have some catching up to do with our former stars!

Our women, Charlotte Lawrence and Bethan Carden have just completed the five leg, 710 nmile, 14 day, Baltic Spring Cup � in the overall winner of the Racing Division, Rogers 46 yacht, �Danebury Vineyards�. Charlotte was helming and Bethan trimming! Charlotte & Bethan have fitted in Edinburgh and Cambridge in their schedule somewhere (Charlotte is now doing a research degree), but are often heard of on our website for their exploits in Match Racing and as members of the RYA Keelboat Squad. Both former illustrious 420 sailors (Bethan crewed with Ally Martin to take the Bronze at the 2003 ISAF Youths � in the right boat!).

They flew into Travem�nde [GER] and sailed to Karlskrona [SWE] to Klaipėda [LTU] to Gdynia [POL] to Gdańsk [POL] (discarding their round-the-buoy race) and ending in R�nne/Bornholm [DEN]. No time for prizes (see that silver!) � leave it to the boys and head back to Cowes asap. Apparently, Lotte is leading again in Cowes too.

Anyone who knows what the 420 guys are doing at Cowes, please tell us � we may be a tad slow �cos of the 420 stuff happening in Croatia though.

Grafham ice-breaker in July, P&B pole sales up, what Georgie & Eleni did under the turtle, how Ian & Dan tried to impress Laurie.... 
Issy reveals all....well, maybe not all!
(hey, Carla, I think we have a new gossip columnist in the making here!) Click on the header to read the report.

GBR 420 team at the Worlds - update 7 
The third day of the championship series (Wednesday) brought a 18 to 30 knot northerly 'Metelmi' wind producing boisterous conditions that caught many out at least once. The order of the day was stay upright and play the shifts and gusts. With the windward mark tucked up close to the shore the approach to the first windward mark was critical.

The Greek pairings of Michalis Mileos and Evangelos-Vasileios Mitakis lie first with Vasilis Papoutsoglou and Akilas Drougas just one point behind after 9 championship races and 2 discards. Race wins went to Mileos and Mitakis and two to New Zealand veteran team of Simon Cooke (ex 470 World Champion) and Scott Illingworth, propelling them into 4th overall.

The leading British team of Ben Saxton and David De Boltz did have not such a great day by their standards and now lie in 5th place overall. Other British teams of Rusden and Williams, Matthews and Saxton, Palmer and Strong and Irwin and Kohler all moved up the leaderboard. The Silver fleet only sailed one race due to the conditions and the British pair of Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett consolidated their lead with a third place.

The Ladies Gold fleet leader remains Katerina Kaitatzidou and Sofia Kaitatzidou from Greece, with an 18 point lead after 2 more races were added. The leading British female team of Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor worked hard in the conditions to move up one place and 14 points from the podium in 7th overall. The Silver fleet also had two races, the British team of Sarah Hickman and Megan Fileman proving the most consistent with a 2nd and 3rd, and Hermione Stanley and Hannah Mitchell taking a bullet.

Forecast for the final day (Thursday July 31st) is for even more wind so it is possible that these will be the final results.

British Positions after day 5:

Open Fleet (Gold)
5th Ben Saxton and David De-Boltz
8th James Rusden and Joe Williams
19th Owain Matthews and Tim Saxton
22nd Ben Palmer and Piers Strong
36th Phil Sparks and Ben Graton
39th Peter Irwin and David

GBR 420 team at the Worlds - update 6 
The second day of the championship series (Tuesday) was a day for cool heads with the 8 to 20 knot Northerly 'Meltemi' wind that comes over Athens and produces a very shifty and gusty race course. This was a day to play the shifts and pressure and accept that you could make as many gains as losses.

Vasilis Papoutsoglou and Akilas Drougas maintain their lead into day 5 with results ranging from 33 to 7. Race wins went to New Zealand pairing Paul Snow-Hansen and Ben Goodwin in Race 1, British team Phil Sparks and Ben Gratton in race 2 and New Zealand crew of Marcus Hansen and Finn Drummond in race 3.

The British team is lead by Ben Saxton and David De-Boltz in 4th place overall, even though they had their moments in reading the conditions. In the Silver fleet the British Team of Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett dominated with two race wins and a third and now lead overall by a 9 point margin.

The Ladies also contended with the conditions, but the top teams seemed to maintain a little more consistency than the Open fleet. The Gold fleet leader remains Katerina Kaitatzidou and Sofia Kaitatzidou from Greece, with results of 16,7 and 2. The British female team of Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor fought back with a race win, a3rd and 15th to bring them up to 8th overall. Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp also had a solid day and moved up the leader board to 20th.

British Positions after day 4:

Open Fleet (Gold)
4th Ben Saxton and David De-Boltz
15th James Rusden and Joe Williams
24th Phil Sparks and Ben Graton
26th Owain Matthews and Tim Saxton
34th Ben Palmer and Piers Strong
47th Peter Irwin and David Kohler

Open Fleet (Silver)
1st Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett

Ladies Fleet (Gold)
8th Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor
20th Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp

Ladies Fleet (Silver)
2nd Jenny Lennon and Kat Kimber
16th Anna Burnet and Flora Stewart
21st Sarah Hickman and Megan Fileman
23rd Lucy De-Boltz and Milly Parkin
26th Hermione Stanley and Hannah Mitchell

Clic

More on photos 
As promised, we now have a Gallery for the photos provided by Catherine Fileman - "Catherine's GBR place" - on the International Class Website, Photo Gallery, in addition to Se�n � Laoire and the Official Photographer's images from the press boat on the courses. We will post as we can, but (especially at the weekend) time and access for this can slow things a bit sometimes!

GBR team at 420 Worlds - update 5 
The second and final day of qualifying was completed on Saturday, providing 3 good races in 15-20knt westerly. Whilst there were a number of wind shifts these were moderate by Athens standards.

The Italians Edoardo Mancinelli and Lorenzo De Felice lead the open fleet with impressive sailing always in the leading bunch. The Brits have had a good day with Ben Saxton and David De-Boltz in 4th and James Rusden and Joe Williams in 9th going into the championship series. The championship series is 12 races where the fleet is split into Gold and Silver of approximately equal number of boats.

The Ladies have also been dominated by the Italian pairing of Camilla Marino and Claudia Soricelli with two race wins to their names. The British Female teams had a mixed day with 4 top 10 results for the team. Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor are 20th and Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp are 27th and will go forward to the Gold fleet.

Tomorrow is a lay day, allowing all of the teams to regroup, take some rest and undertake any necessary boat repairs, as well as a trip to the Acropolis.

Full results can be found at: www.420worlds08.gr and pictures at www.420sailing.org (click on photo gallery).

British Positions after qualifying are:

Open Fleet (101 boats):
Ben Saxton and David De-Boltz 4th
James Rusden and Joe Williams 9th
Owain Matthews and Tim Saxton 17th
Phil Sparks and Ben Graton 33rd
Ben Palmer and Piers Strong 36th
Peter Irwin and David Kohler 44th
Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett 56th

Ladies Fleet (77 boats):
Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor 20th
Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp 27th
Jenny Lennon and Kat Kimber 44th
Anna Burnet and Flora Stewart 52nd
Sarah Hickman and Megan Fileman 57th
Lucy De-Boltz and Milly Parkin 60th
Hermione Stanley and Hannah Mitchell 62nd

GBR Photos from Athens 
We are pretty �pushed� here in Athens�.you know how it is, all sun sea and sailing�..so photos and news may come through a bit irregularly! For up-to-date news as the races proceed and for results you will be watching the Event WebsiteEvent Website.

We have some images from the camera of GBR/IRL member, Se�n � Laoire here on the Rolling Photos, and more may follow from Catherine Fileman, who is watching from the shore. But, we have large numbers of images, which are easier to load on the International Class Website, so go to Photo Gallery (we may create a GBR gallery there later on) and Photo News.

GBR team at the 420 Worlds - update 4 (updated again!) 
Friday - first day of racing. The event website is being updated every few minutes to show race progress, finishing order and provisional results (see their "Results Online" tab) - very impressive!

After three races in the Open fleet, Ben Saxton & David de Boltz lie 4th out of 101 entries, James Rusden & Joe Williams 8th and Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton 12th. The overall lead is held by Italians Edo Mancinelli & Lorenzo De Felice, winners of the 2007 Open Europeans in Istanbul.

The Ladies fleet have also had three races. Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor are first GBR boat in 10th place out of 77 entries, with Beccy Kalderon & Rosie Sibthorp next GBR in 24th.

GBR team at the 420 Worlds - update 3 
The Practice Race was held today (Thursday) in an 18 knot gradient westerly breeze, giving "champagne sailing" conditions. Neil Marsden (Ladies Team Coach) had a few problems when his RIB engine died, but he didn't drift too far and the engineer is working on the boat overnight.

Good luck to all the team for racing which begins at 1200 tomorrow, and thanks from the UK to the house parents for keeping things under control!

GBR team at the Worlds in Athens - update 2 
The GBR team successfully completed measurement today (Wednesday) - a few boats needed extra weight (maximum 0.5kg) and the odd centreboard needed a bit of sanding down to size. Apart from this, all went well and the team are now relaxing and preparing for the Practice Race tomorrow afternoon.

420 Worlds in Athens 
The full GBR team of twenty eight sailors is now back in Athens in the run-up to the 420 Worlds. The plan for the next few days is training on Tuesday (sea-breeze expected), then measurement around midday on Wednesday and Opening Ceremony in the evening. The Practice race is on Thursday afternoon and then the two day qualifying series begins on Friday.

Peters, Peters & Lasko Gold & Ellis Bronze 
Well, if you cannot have the 420 competing, at least you can have former 420 sailors winning! Congratulations to James, Frances & Claire on their Golds and to James Ellis on taking another ISAF Bronze to go alongside his 420 Junior Euros Silver. Final results: Women�s Double Hander, Man�s Double Hander and Multi-hull. NB a full set of images can be found in the Photo Archive (anyone who may have forgotten what a 420 looks like, have no fear, they will be back next week!).

Meanwhile, as we celebrate with Team GBR, and our fab four especially, upon their quite awesome achievement, which 420 sailors will be in Arma��o de B�zios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 420s in 2009 (or in any other boat, for that matter!)?!

RYA claim: "Golden day for Brits at ISAF Youth Worlds" 
No need to ruin the nails apparently�.it must be true, ISAF and Seabreeze (of Oz) say so too! But we are still willing James Ellis through tomorrow!

Britz & Townrow, our men at the IODA Worlds 
New members of the Class, Tom Britz & Christian Townrow are in Cezme, Turkey at the moment - representing GBR at the 2008 Optimist World Championships. Racing starts on Thursday � 240-odd boats�.bit of a challenge! We wish them and TeamGBR all the best!

Who is at Cork? 
Cork Week is well underway - see Event Websie (click above) and Y&Y; Report.

We know that Chris Evans is aboard Jerry Otter�s Werewolf, and they�re doing good at the head of the IRC45 fleet. We know Nicky Macgregor sailed to Ireland, and Lucy Macgregor, Tom Mapplebeck and Stephen Tiernan are on an SB3. Our Webmaster sailed out of the Hamble for Cork last week � we think he made it, but lack of IT is inhibiting communication! Haha! This yachting stuff is all very confusing when they don�t publish crew lists! (we thought RORC was very switched on for the Commodore�s last week, telling us all about the sailors!)

So which 420 sailors and associates are doing Cork Week? What�s the 420 news? Please spill all � just click on �General Enquiries�.

ISAF Youth images and stuff 
Our friends at World Wide Images are busy in Denmark too and sent us the attached general info, yesterday's press release and some video/iTune links. We know its the wrong boat, but our guys are doing good, and we are putting up some photos on the Photo Archive.

Peters & Lasko extend their lead 
Another good day at the office for Frances & Claire. James Peters holds on, but Race 8 put the top three men all on equal points. James Ellis drops to 4th in a tight scoring battle at the top of the multi-hulls. Lay-day tomorrow.

GBR 420 Nationals entries 
The entry fee for the GBR 420 Nationals at Pwllheli increases from �190 to �220 for payments received after 18 July - that's next Friday!!

If you're planning to compete in the Nationals, please enter online (click on the header) and save yourself �30 by sending your entry fee to arrive in the next few days.

We have a full social programme being developed including two themed discos, beach games and a black tie dinner. The racing programme includes 14 races and a Crews Race.

Frances, Claire and James lead at the ISAFs after 5 
After two days and five races, our guys are in the lead in the double-handers, women and men. And James Ellis is in 3rd in the multi-hull at Aarhus, Denmark. Well done, guys, we are willing you on!

Entries for the 2008 Worlds reach 180 boats 
Total entries for the 2008 World Championships in Athens have now reached 180 boats, made up of 103 boats in the Open fleet (from 24 countries) and 77 boats in the Ladies fleet (from 18 countries).

Going to Uni this year? 
....then the RYA Pre University Team Racing Camp may be for you! The RYA will be running a Pre-University training camp at Farmoor (Oxford SC) from 24 to 26 September (Wed/Thurs/Fri) at �90 per person (Oxford) to teach some of the skills necessary for team racing. This training is for anyone who is about to start Uni, who wants to get 'jump start' preparation for university team selections early in the first term. To apply please complete and submit the Application Form. You will need to arrange your own accommodation and food. Anyone under 18 will need to have a parent/guardian in attendance � Declaration Form ). Entry deadline: 22nd August 2008

Mid-week update from Athens training - 10 July 
The training group arrived in Athens on Mondayafternoon, although some had a five hour delay before leaving Gatwick. Others travelled by road (1,500 miles and a 21 hour ferry!) Unrelenting sunshine and a temperature in the shade of 40 C is making conditions quite challenging for the sailors and extra supplies of bottled water are being delivered to the team apartments in bulk each day (150 litres at a time), as the sailors are finidng it necessary to drink up to 10 litres a day!

Wind for the first day of training (Tuesday) was a relatively stable southerly (onshore) sea breeze of 10-14 knots with quite a chop. On Wedensday, the breeze moved to northerly (offshore) and lighter, smooth water and 45 degree shifts and lulls - all good fun!

The dinghy park has no shade, so extra gazebos are being sent out to Athens with the next shipment of GBR boats.

The self-catering apartments seem to fit the bill, with plenty of living space - much appreciated when the sailors are in Athens for three to four weeks.

420 sailors do it in J80s 
Four of our guys are competing in the J80 Worlds at Kiel. After two days and seven races, Seb Ripard (helm) & Anna Mackenzie are on GBR912 - againstmalaria.com/UKSA - in 16th. Maria Stanley & Maia Walsh on GBR 912 � HHSC/Boats.com - are in 25th and Nathan Bailey is minding the Cardiff Bay interest on Red Sky GBR 734 at 40th - all in top half of the 64-boat fleet.

Half TeamGBR for the ISAF Youths are 420 sailors! 
We send all our best wishes with all ten Team GBR sailors and their support team for the ISAF Youth World Championships in �rhus, Denmark. We particularly wish the best to James Ellis, Izzy Hamilton, Claire Lasko, Frances & James Peters, together with former 420 sailor and coach, Steve Irish. In addition to the RYA pre-event press release above, we link to the ISAF Press Release and, for further information and to follow the action, go to: 2008 Youth Worlds event website and ISAFs Youth Worlds microsite

GBR420 goes training in Athens 
Nine of the TeamGBR boats start a training camp in Athens today, Tuesday 8 until Sunday 13 July. This will be followed by a week�s break, before the Team assembles for the Worlds, for which Qualifying Races start on Friday 25 July

Chris Evans & Nick Houchin in Commodore�s Cup win 
Following his win as part of the crew of the TP52 Ran in the Super 0 class and overall on handicap in the Round the Island ten days ago (a boat full of former Olympians and Worlds champs, in which �I was stay sail trimmer and caddie�), former 420 super-crew Chris Evans, with another ex-420 crew, match racer and fellow keelboat pro, Nick Houchin, were in the winning team, GBR Red, aboard Erivale III at the Commodore�s Cup last week (click above for RYA Press Release and here for the Results)and the Y&Y; Report. Here, he was spinny trimmer.

Quite a year for Chris. Former 420 crew with Nick Cherry, Simon Lambert and Matt Burge (National 420 Champions in 2005), he was part of the BUSA Yachting National Champions� team in his first year at uni. This year, he was Tactician and Navigator for the Solent team, again Student National Keelboat Champs, his last year as a student.

Talking about his grounding in the 420, Chris emphasised its importance for learning to work with a crew, the interdependence of a team, making tactical calls (fast in a 420, a bit slower in a keelboat) and the continuity for him in learning jib and spinny trim carried through onto the bigger boats.

Chris is going again to the Student Worlds in November at Laurent, France determined to �go the whole way this year�..a bit of unfinished business!�. Meanwhile, he is off aboard Werewolf, with Nicky Macgregor, 2004 420 Women�s Worlds Silver crew, for Cork Week. And after Laurent, the Mediterranean circuit next winter� Oh well, all good for some!

Imogen & Hermione win Schools for Rye St. Antony and family honour! 
Imogen & Hermione Stanley of Rye St. Antony School won the Schools� Championship at Itchenor. They were maintaining a family tradition. Dad, Richard, won the Schools in 1973 and their uncle, Charles, won it in 1978 and 1979!

Nic Bennet-Jones crewed for Magdalen College School taking 2nd, while brother Ludo was up front for Rugby in 5th. Lara Conway-Yates, helming another all-woman team, for Wycombe Abbey, came in 7th. Izzy Fitzgerald of Bedales had two strong races at the beginning of the week, but, unfortunately, no more results after that.

George Yeoman & Olivia Pettit of Charterhouse won in the Firefly class. Georgia Trapp of Sevenoaks, with a Pudney - Camilla - up front, came 2nd. Our man at Tonbridge, Ed Burrows, helmed in at 8th.

See you all at the Nationals! PS Did anyone see a photographer on the water? � we need the evidence!

Lavery & Gratton lead GBR at Garda 
Our Jess Lavery is hanging in there at 14/95 and Tim Gratton is 20/142 at Riva del Garda after 9 races. By all accounts the Ora is not behaving as it should (take note those who aim for Worlds selection in 2009!)

Sarah & Megan lead GBR at Flanders 2008 
With the Worlds and Jnr Euros teams preparing for training in Greece, a smaller than usual GBR entry competed at Flanders this year, and the leading Spanish and Dutch teams led, with an unusual, but large Spanish team, as well as teams from Australia and Switzerland. Sarah Hickman & Megan Fileman did a great job, including a 3rd along the way, to take 11th overall.

Sarah & Megan on the verge of top ten at Flanders 
Good luck for the last day of racing!

Jess Lavery strengthens hand at Garda 
With a 5th in Race 3, Jess Lavery is up to 14th in the 95 boat women�s Optimist fleet at Riva del Garda.

Nia and Tim lead for GBR at Garda 
420 recruits, Nia Jones (with a 13, 15) and Jess Lavery (with a 10, 20) made a strong start at Garda for the Optimist Europeans today. Tim Gratton leads the GBR men.

Our assistant correspondent at Riva, Mike Riley (our boss, Carla, is busy team-leading there too!) reports �from a hot with lights Garda (so far!)�. All good, by the sound of it.

Spot the 420 sailors in the Rolex Commodore�s Cup all this week 
We have found: Lucy Macgregor & Ally Martin aboard Premier Flair (GBR White), Bethan Carden & Sam Pearson aboard Dark & Steamy (what else?!) (GBR Black), Chris Evans & Nick Houchin aboard Erivale III (GBR Red), Ben Field aboard Blondie IV (IRL Green), Mark Rushall aboard Jump Juice and Antix Eile (IRL White) (we know you�re good Mark, but�.?!) and Rachel Howe aboard Antix Eile (IRL White). But you may find more! As always, tell us: Send Email and follow the action on the RORC website. Thanks to Ruth of the 420 Mums' Union for additional intelligence on this.

Via a vis �who went Round the Island?� 
Our intrepid correspondent, Catherine Alton, reckons at least the following were there: �Nikki Curwen, Ben Pym, Catherine Alton (that�s herself, of course), Bethan Carden, Chris Sanders, Anna Mackenzie, Matt Rainback, Aaron Cooper and Charlotte Lawrence and some of the Volvo sailors, like Joe Glanfield and a C-J [we think Paul (ed)] and probably a lot more but I don�t really know!! Keelboat TP52, John Merricks II came 29th overall, I think, but not sure, and Anna Mac came 3rd in a J80, I think!!�. Further illumination welcome: Send Email, but the validity of any information submitted by those celebrating at the RORC may have to be treated with extreme scepticism.

More: "Sam Pearson helmed Bear of Britain - came 9th in class and 87th Overall. Sophie Pearson was trimmer on Ruthless, a Dehler 33, which won Class 3A and came 9th overall". [Thanks, Ruth (ed)]

Saxton & Macgregor are RS200 Youth Champions 2008 
Ben Saxton & Kate Macgregor, having won a couple of RS200 open meetings in recent week, became RS200 Youth Champions at the weekend at HISC. Also slipping back from their successful 29er outing in Kiel last week, James Peters & Ed Fitzgerald took 2nd and George Yeoman & Georgie Akin-Smith 3rd. Andrew Shaw, Will Kalderon and Tim Saxton ensured an impressive 420 turnout!

Rumours of 420 sailors rounding the Island 
We believe that there were 420 sailors on board for the Round the Island Race 2008. But who? Any suggestions + photos, stories etc. please Send Email

News at last from Flanders: Hickman & Fileman lead for GBR 
With some delays in getting the results from Flanders Youth Regatta, we can now see that GBRs somewhat diminished presence this year is partly made up for with several boats from Spain. The top slots are currently in the hands of some seasoned teams, but Sarah Hickman & Megan Fileman are third women's team after 5 races.

Our guys in Oppies go Garda 
We also send best wishes to the Optimist team that sets off to the IODA Europeans in Garda tomorrow, which includes our guys: Ed Riley, Tim Gratton, Nia Jones and Jess Lavery. Apparently, �240 boats are expected, representing 5 continents and 38 countries, coming from as far away as New Zealand, Japan, and Argentina� at Fraglia Vela Riva. The word is that �the weather has been absolutely Riva-perfect, with sunny skies and the strong Northerly Ora wind gradually gaining strength from midday and disappearing in time for tea!� (sounds good, Carla!). So, sail well, TeamGBR�.and check out next year�s 420 Worlds venue for us!

420 four off to FISU MR Champs in Gdansk 
Our man at Bath, Mark Stockbridge, is on board for his Uni team and our Robbie Allam (Cardiff University) has Adam Richards (Sheffield University) and Fowke (Exeter University) among his crew for the FISU World University Match Racing Championship from 1 - 6 July. We join BUSA in wishing them well! You can follow it on the Event website.

Ben & David lead GBRs top 15 team at Kiel 
With a 1st & 6th in the final two races and discarding their only score below 8th, Ben Saxton & David de Boltz finished Kieler Woche in 6th place on 23 points. And GBR had the most boats in the top 15: Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett, 9th on 30 pts; Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton, 10th on 33 pts; Ben Palmer & Piers Strong, 12th on 35 pts and James Rusden & Joe Williams, 15th on 43 pts.

In the 29ers James Peters, with Ed Fitzgerald, discarding a 7th and a 10th, pulled through to take the Bronze place on 19 points. Becky Diamond, with Fiona Hampshire, having collected two bullets, took 5th on 24 pts, while Frances Peters & Claire Lasko were 6th on 27 pts.

Well done GBR, both current and former 420 sailors! RYA Press Release

Are you doing the Schools'? 1 � 4 July at Itchenor 
One of the great fun events of the informal 420 Calendar is the Itchenor Schools. Sailed in the 420 and the Firefly, the idea is that you sail for your school � so many/most teams are not regularly sailing together in the 420 Fleet. Previous winners include Ian Walker and Christine Bassadone�.and in recent memory Andrew Shaw & Sophie Knight of Bishop Luffa (2007) with George Yeoman & Olivia Pettit winning in the Firefly, Jack & George Yeoman (Charterhouse) in 2006 and Claire Walsh & Catherine Alton (Edgbaston High) in 2005.

If you have (access to) a boat, pick up a helm or crew from your school and head on down to Itchenor. Whether you are from Nether Wallop School or Eton College, this is the event to put your school on the sailing map (neither showed up for last year, so there�s a challenge!). Click above for the poster. All the event information is available on the Itchenor website, though the NoR and Entry Form are also on our Events Calendar. Please ensure that you are on the News on 4 July! (or as soon as we can get the results). Meanwhile, have a look at the 2006 Schools� in our Photo Archive.

Natalie Roach leads the 420 team at the Mirror Nationals 
The Mirrors have certainly had weather and seas to contend with at their Nationals this year, starting over the Bank Holiday weekend in Llandudno and then completing at Poole this weekend.

Natalie, with Grace, took 3rd overall, leading a galaxy of 420 talent in the top 20! Henry and George Spreckley were 5th, Hugo Sloper 6th, Ed and Bethany Grey 7th, Emma Spruce 9th, Christopher Rust 13th, Izzy Fitzgerald and Lisa McDanell 15th, Roseanna Yeoward 18th, Charlotte Fitzgerald 20th, Well done guys, see you at the 420 Nationals (we�ll do our best to arrange sailing conditions to suit Mirror mariners!)

Monday at Kiel (updated) 
No racing at all today - wind always around 30 knots, but only a few rain showers. Lots of games of cards etc.

Forecast for tomorrow (the last day) is westerly 12 mph, and the start has been brought forward half an hour to 1030.

Accommodation available at Pwllheli for Nationals 
A house booked in Pwllheli for the Nationals by a sailor who will not now bne competing is available. Deposit paid - sleeps 4 people at a cost of �625 for the week. Before they let it go, we thought someone might want it � Send Email

Becky Diamond leads the 29ers after 5 races 
We put up several versions of the 29er story at the end of Sunday, but the results seemed to change on the official site; a bit confusing. But they seem to have settled down now, and the gbr29er web editor confirms that Becky is in the lead! (and she should know!)

Rainback & Foskett end Day 2 in 4th 
With a further fourth in R4, Matt & Simon have pulled themselves into 4th overall on 18 points. Phil Sparks & & Ben Gratton are just a couple of points behind in 6th and Ben Saxton & David de Boltz have rallied back up to 9th. James Rusden & Joe Williams took a 3rd to bring them up to 11th. Several teams, including Ims and Kate, will be hoping for a helpful discard soon!

Peter Saxton reports from Kiel-Schilksee: "Today (Sunday) is very humid. The day started with rain around 9am, then overcast and now 50% cloud cover. Wind is southerly around 5-15 knots and shifty, so quite tricky!

"First race was abandoned as the first start were about to finish, because of a big windshift. Second attempt at starting achieved at about 1400 German time". Looks like the wind we have in the UK today should reach Kiel tomorrow!

Sparks & Gratton and Rainback & Foskett tie on points after Race 3 
Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton and Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett are on equal 14 points with yesterday�s leaders, Tsiboukelis & Karonis of Greece, who are now in 3rd place. Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor in 3rd in the women�s rankings.

Meanwhile, Peters and Lasko look after the 29ers 
Frances & Claiire are leading the 29ers at Kiel after three races. Witn a 1st in R3, Becky Diamond, with Fiona Hampshire, is in 6th , while James Peters is in 7th with Ed Fitzgerald.

420s back in action at last! Sparks & Gratton lead three GBR boats in top 10 at Kiel 
Two races were sailed on the first day (Saturday) of the Kieler Woche, the big international event following most countries� selections for Worlds and Junior Euros teams; nearly half the 170 competitors come from outside Germany. �Sunshine, westerly breeze reaching 8 to 10 knots, air and water temperature (a) refreshing 17 degrees Celsius � (gave) just perfect conditions for the opening day of Kieler Woche 2008!�

Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton are in 3rd place (on equal points with Maccari & Vitali � 5th at last year�s Junior Euros � in 2nd, behind Tsiboukelis & Karonis of Greece). Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett are in 6th and Ben Saxton & David de Boltz are 7th.

Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor won the first race overall! Tonight they are fourth women's boat, closely following a Greek cluster (roll on the discard!)

No doubt we will receive news from our correspondents on the water at the Olympic Centre at Kiel in due course, but, meanwhile, the racing can be followed via the above link.

420 sailors compete in Sportsboat Championships 
The J/80 and 1720 National Champoionships were held at the Rioyal Western YC from 19 � 20 June. Boat.com came third in the J/80s with Maria Stanley & Maia Walsh on the team. Chris Sanders, Josh Rumbol and Tom Davidson sailed with the RYA Keelboat Squad. And Jamie watts, Josh Metcalfe and Ben Pym sailed in the 1720s

Nasher & Elliott 470 Euro Champs 
Nic Asher & Elliott Willis, World 470 Champions in China in 2006 (first GBR win for 18 years) and again at Melbourne this year, have now won the European Championships at Riva on Garda (venue for next year�s 420 Worlds). Nick & Elliott, former GBR 420 National Champions (and both Optimist Champs too!) are soon off to China again, as tuning partners to Nick Rogers and our Joe Glanfield, who took 4th at the Euros. Luke Patience & Chris Grube were ranked 8th Euro boat, and our Head Coach, Neil Marsden with Ian Dobson (you know, the one with a �most� Mum) were 16th. The Men�s Results are linked here (Fraglia Vela Riva's website has temporary 'issues').

Macgregor and �her (420) all ladies� win the Ladies at J24 Worlds 
Chris McLaughlin writes on Y&Y; Online: �Lucy MacGregor and her all ladies crew finished 17th overall, winning the Ladies Jaeger Trophy, a quite outstanding result. Recording the second best boat helmed by a UK skipper at her first J24 World Championship finishing nearly 100 points ahead of the next ladies team in a fleet of 76 boats. They were in a boat loaned to them by Roger Morris, the Poole J24 Fleet Captain. This could be the highest an all ladies team has ever finished at a J24 World Championships, a truly great result, well done to Lucy and her team.�

�.�her all ladies� were Annie Lush (Lucy�s co-crew on Team Robertson�s Yngling) and current and former 420 sailors, Maria Stanley, Nicky Macgregor, Bex Marriott and Mary Rook. Well done, guys, er ladies!

Have you a boat available for charter: 28 July � 2 August? 
Could you help potential sailors coming into the Fleet? Andy Foskett, our Training Officer, has several parents and sailors in the Junior Squads eager to attend the Class� summer training camp. This is an opportunity to encourage new entrants to the Fleet. They are all competent helms and will be supervised by top coaches, so boats chartered should be well cared for. Only training, not competition, sails needed, but the boats should be race rigged. If you think you may be able to help, please contact out Training Officer

200+ 420s entered for Kiel Week! 
The entry for Kiel Week (21-24 June) has closed with 208 boats entered in the 420 fleet, up from 170 last year. The host country GER has 109 entries, with seventeen other countries represented including GRE (17), ITA (13), GBR (12), POL (12), ESP (7) and AUT (7).

GBR is represented by a strong team including Hamish Stone & Chris Proffitt, Amy Seabright & Katrina Brewer and ten boats from the 2008 Worlds Team.

The 29er fleet also has a good entry with 95 boats registered including three from GBR.

420s welcome at Lymington Youth Week! 
We have had an advance notice and invitation to 420s to join in the Royal Lymington�s Youth Week from Monday 11th to Friday 15th August. A fun way to prepare for the Nationals? The format is likely to be: racing series for three days, a pursuit race to Hurst Castle with Class race back (probably on the Thursday) and a short series on the Friday morning. BBQ/Social events each evening with Disco (and possibly a film screen) on the Friday night. Ages 8 - 18yrs - �the more the merrier� apparently!. Further details will be available on the Club web site by the end of June, with a downloadable entry form; we will post links on the Events Calendar.

Lucy Macgregor going well at the J24 Worlds 
With her Team Shirley Robertson Yngling colleague, Annie Lush and current and former 420 sailors Maria Stanley, Nicky Macgregor, Bex Marriott and Mary Rook, Lucy Macgregor is competing in the J24 Worlds in Sardinia. Results link above. Three more days to go.

"most" Mums photos 
We have received some great images from Yachting Photographer, Ingrid Abery, which have been posted on the Photo Archive. We anticipated some more "on board" photos from multi-tasking skipper/helm/photographer, Clare Carden, when these are recovered from below decks! In the meantime, see also Hot Capers full Gallery.

420 "most" Mums do it for themselves at Keelboat Champs 
Well, there may not be much 420 sailing during exam time, but the cr�me de la cr�me of the 420 Class, the mums who made it happen for the rest of us, went out and did it for themselves at the weekend.

The inaugural Women�s Keelboat Championships were organised out of the Royal Southern YC. Some of our best 420 sailors were there�Gemma Farrell, Josie Gibson and Claire & Sarah Paramore were competing. But our Mums were having the most fun!! It was serious stuff too. Caroline Martin, known more for her results in the National 12 and 29er, was called in as tactician & mainsheet (she says that this mainly consisted in telling skipper, Claire Carden, to eat and take more fluids; evidently she�s not lost her motherly instints!). But she was very impressed by the agility, knowledge and competence of the crew on deck, which included Catherine Dobson (navigator), Chris Macgregor (bow) and Jennifer Muskett (pit); Kate Dunn and Charlotte Macey took the jib. It seems that a RIB was sent to bring some of the crew to Hamble for the prizegiving, whilst the rest of the crew took Gemstone home to Lymington. Clare tells how the �Mums met and went sailing�.

Pending any more news, we attach the official post-event Press Release above, together with the Championship Results (for the detailed Class and Race results go to our Results page). You can read more at the Event and Royal Southern YCs websites and see a growing Gallery of Ingrid Abery�s amazing images at Hot Capers.

420 talent at Women's Open Keelboat Championship 2008 
420 women sail everywhere! The inaugural Women's Open Keelboat Championship is this weekend at the Royal Southern YC. And even before the full crew lists are revealed, we have found four of the boats entered have very close 420 connections: Clare Carden helms �Gemstone�, Gemma Farrell - �Sail 4 Cancer / Reservoir Dogs�, Josie Gibson - �Royal London YC / Juneau� and Claire Paramore - Argo II. With Lucy�s Ladies at the J24 Worlds in Sardinia, this should be quite a 420 weekend, even if the 420 fixture list itself is a bit thin before Kiel.

Macgregor�s 420 team goes J24 at Italian Nationals 
Lucy and a team of 420-trained sailors, Maria Stanley, Bethan Carden, Bex Marriott & Nicky Macgregor are in Sardinia for the J24 Worlds next week. And they have got a great practice run, with Lucy Macgregor being lead women�s helm in the Italian Open Championships that finished on Friday.

Chris McLaughlin�s Y&Y; Report reads: �First Women's helm, preparing for the coming Women's World Championship Trophy, was Lucy Macgregor of Great Britain, sailing Jolly Roger, a 2005 Italian boat owned by Poole sailor, Roger Morris. He joined the crew for the National Championship. Macgregor was using old Ullman sails loaned by Ian Southworth to preserve her new Ullman set for the World Championship. Her crew includes Maria Stanley, Bethan Carden, Rebecca Marriott and Nicky Macgregor. Asked about her initial experience of the J24, youngest crew member, Maria said �Well it doesn't bruise like a First Class 8!��

�Sud Ouest" chronicles �Lawrence d�Edimbourg� MR triumph 
We have received a copy of an article from the local paper following the Women�s Uni MR Champs in La Rochelle. This and photos may be found in the Photo Archive.

Kinver tops Cadet Indicators, with Joanna Freeman in close pursuit! 
Tom Kinver, with Jamie Proffitt, led the Cadet Indicators in their 9 race series culminating in the third event at WPNSA last weekend. A bare three points behind, our Joanna Freeman, with Holly Francis, took 2nd place overall. Our commiserations go to Sam Robinson in 8th overall, 5 points outside qualifying for team selection; but rumour is that this is good news for us, as we hope to get him more fully on board sooner!

.....and more in the RS200s 
Ben Saxton & Kate Macgregor continued their winning run in the RS200s in the one day Open at Itchenor on Sunday 25 May. There was bright sunshine and a shifty 1 to 12 knot breeze for the 19 boats, with Ben & Kate taking the trophy counting three firsts and discarding a fifth. Ex-420 sailor Andy Shaw was 9th overall, and Sue Kalderon (Rebecca's mum) crewed to 10th overall. See Y&Y; Report.

Tim Gratton: Feva National Champion 
Having led the Qualifiers in the 80 strong field, Tim, with Chris Taylor, led the Gold Fleet in the three Finals races on Monday, 5-1-2, to be crowned 2008 RS Feva National Champions

News is moving fast this weekend�.even if there are no 420 events to report 
In addition to news of 420 sailors in Larks, Mirrors, Fevas and at the Euro Uni Women�s MR, there are several items about forthcoming opportunities for our sailors:
� Aus Youth Olympic Festival � RYA Selection Notice � deadline end May
� Entry, training, selection for U-21 Team GBR for ISAF Team Racing Worlds
� Going to Uni this year? � pre-Uni Team Racing Training Camp
� RYA Junior & Youth Coaches Course(s)
Scroll down for more � don�t miss out!

Think of all the Mirror guys in Llandudno � hoping for a sail on the final day 
The Mirror Nationals has been underway since Saturday, but they had only managed one race by Monday night! � racing cancelled on Sunday and Monday. On the basis of the one race completed so far, 420 sailors are certainly doing their bit! (indeed, there are so many, we may miss some � but then you will tell us won�t you?!)

So, Henry and George Spreckley took 2nd in the first race, Natalie Roach 5th, Chris Rust 6th, Ed & Bethany Grey 10th, Izzy Fitzgerald & Lisa McDanell 11th, Hugo Sloper 13th, Charlotte Fitzgerald 17th and Roseanna Yeoward 20th in the Gold Fleet.

Everyone is hoping for good wind for an early 9.30 start on Tuesday. We wish the sailors and everyone in the Mirror Class and at Llandudno SC a good final day!

European University Women's Match Racing Champions 2008 
�Yes, the rumours are true - Lotte (that�s Charlotte Lawrence, former 420 helm from Lymington & Edinburgh Uni) and a very good crew of fellow RYA Keelboat Squad members, Katie Mackenzie (former 420 helm, Royal Windermere YC & Edinburgh Uni), Maia Walsh (senior member of the 420 Crews� Union, Barnt Green SC & Cardiff Uni SC), Hannah Kemlo and Edinburgh University team-mate Lavinia Paternoster won!

�They won the round robin with 10 wins & 1 defeat! Beat the Swedish crew 2:1 in the semis and won the final 2:0 against the French. A good win for the girls with plenty of high ranked sailors in the event including World no 4 Silke Hahlbrock who they beat in the round robin

Unfortunately, Gemma Farrell with 420 sailors Maria Stanley & Bethan Carden in her crew had a mixed event and missed the cut for the semi finals. They are writing a full report for the keelboat squad, which will probably hit the press in a couple of days after Karenza (that�s RYAs Karenza Morton) has turned it into something coherent!� (thanks, Phil!)

French Nationals: Race Documents posted 
If you are planning to do the Coupe Nationale de France at C N Ile Tudy, south of Quimper in Brittany between 12 and 17 July, please note that the documentation has now been posted on the Event Calendar

STOP PRESS: bubbling babble (from the airport) suggests Lotte's lot won! 
....hopefully, dependable Phil will give us the low down later....

Lotte and Gemma match racing French fishermen? 
We are picking up rumours � not really up to the usual Lawrence and Stanley correspondent standards, one has to say � that Charlotte Lawrence (ably supported by Maia Walsh and Katie Mackenzie - remember the Edinburgh Lady who does off-shore in the sewer?) and Gemma Farrell (stupendously crewed by Bethan Carden and Maria Stanley, no doubt) are in La Rochelle at the European University Women�s Match Racing Cup. Factual information is sparse (see official website above), but there has been conjecture that our 420 ladies had to use their match racing skills to get to the course area, due to a blockade of the harbour by local fishermen demonstrating against high diesel prices. Of course, if we pick up any hard facts, we will bring these to you post haste.

RYA Junior and Youth Coaches Course 
Each year RYA Coach Development run a course specifically to develop coaches for Junior and Youth levels. This open to Squad members and sailors from the top 20% of national fleets, who are over 18 at the commencement of the course. This year�s course is being held from 14 -18 July at WPNSA. For details, including fuill criteria, click above. If you want to undertake the course and meet the criteria, but are prevented from doing so because you are competing at that time, there is a possibility that an additional course may be organised, so be in touch with Coach Development at the RYA: Send Email.

ISAF Team Racing World Championship 2009 � anyone for U21 Champs? 
The chance to represent RYA Team GBR at the 2009 ISAF World Team Racing Championships is now open, following confirmation of trial dates for selection. RYA Team GBR enjoyed great success at the 2007 Championships in Spain, team GBR3 (including Elliott Parsons, James Goss, Maria Stanley and Stephen Videlo � you know, the one who does it in Larks too) taking the inaugural Under 21 World title, while team GBR2 also claimed overall silver.

The 2009 ISAF Team Racing World Championships will be held at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club and the South of Perth Yacht Club in Perth, Western Australia from the 31 January to the 8 February. The RYA Advance Notice is attached. Anyone wishing to be considered for selection must attend at least one of two training dates on 6-7 September and/or 20-21 September before an invitation-only selection event on 27-28 September. All events will take place at Queen Mary SC in Feva dinghies. The Notice of the Team GBR Selection Process and Invitation for Applications, together with the Application Form, is attached.

Where are they now? Videlo does well at Lark Inlands 
Former 420 helm, Stephen Videlo took 6th in a hard-fought Lark Inland Championships last weekend.

Will you be 15 years+ but <19 on 31/12/2009 and aspire to represent GBR at the 2009 Australian Youth Olympic Festival?�.then click here! 
The Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF) is held bi-annually. At the last AYOF held in Sydney in January 2007. a motley crew of 420 sailors, Claire Lasko, Kate Macgregor. Matt Rainback, Ben Saxton, Tim Saxton & Imogen Stanley, represented GBR and won GOLD in a Team Racing competition, beating Australia and New Zealand.

For 2009, the event is to be fleet racing, using Fevas for double-handed male and double-handed female, with single-handed male and female in (guess) the Laser Radial. RYA are organising a selection process in September � for the RS Feva � at the Grand Prix Event at Stokes Bay on 13-14 and the RYA South Zone Champs at WPNSA on 27-28. Some other info can be gleaned from the AYOF website . Make it another 420-sailors event!

To meet British Olympic Association requirements for this event, all athletes considering trialling for places in the team for the Australian Youth Olympic Festival 2009 should register their interest in advance. To do so please Send Email to Anna Dickens at the RYA stating your name and class you intend to compete in. Please ensure your get an email receipt back to be sure your interest is registered. Please ensure you reply by the end of May 2008.

420 sailors take on the RS200s 
On 17/18 May Ben Saxton and crews Kate Macgregor (on Saturday) and Matt Rainback (on Sunday) sailed in their first RS200 Fat Face event, held at Parkstone, Poole - and won!

In a high scoring six-race event, sailed in Poole Bay in shifty offshore winds ranging from 8 to 16 knots, they beat 48 other 200s to take first place by 3 points, despite a broken mainsheet bridle in the last race. Other ex-420 sailors in the fleet included Matt Burge & Eamonn King in 11th overall.

420 sailors help John Merricks II to her first victory 
In her second off-shore event, the De Guingand Bowl, the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme John Merricks II won both line honours and on handicap. Our Nick Cherry helmed, Ben Pym was on mainsheet, Charlotte Savage in the pit, Katie McKenzie in the sewer (well, its all glamour this yachting) and Charlotte Lawrence on bow. And they had John Merricks' sailing partner, Ian Walker to handle the tactics!

Niki Birrell SKUDs to Gold at Qindao Paralympic test event 

Flanders - NO coaching support 
Due to the low interest shown this year, no coaching support is being provided by the Class. For those who have not made up their minds, you can still register to take part in this year's event.

Nat Match Racing Series � urgent call, especially the ladies!! 
We asked you a few weeks ago whether you had thought about putting a team together for the Youth Match Racing Championships, right after this year�s 420 Nationals? But now we have had an urgent message from RYA MR saying that there are limitations on the number of teams, so you need to get entries in, especially if you have an all-women�s team and want also to enter the Women�s Nationals. See attached message and also the background info. linked below. There is a lot of international interest in this year�s Women�s! So enter before 21 May, even if crew list not yet finalised.

Notice of Race, Entry Form and details regarding Training are on our Events Calendar, but watch RYA Match Racing for updated information.

Team racing at the Wilson Trophy 
Thirty two teams (including eight from USA, Canada and Ireland) took part in the Wilson Trophy, one of the major annual three-boat team racing events at West Kirby last weekend. Winds were light throughout the weekend, but each team completed twelve races in Fireflies using the "Swiss League" format, before the top eight teams went through to the quarter finals.

Four current 420 sailors - Kate Macgregor (crew), Matt Rainback (crew) Ben & Tim Saxton (helms), plus Claire Lasko (helm) and Katy Jones (crew), - were in the Grafham Gremlins team who finished tenth overall, up from 22nd place last year.

Other 420 sailors spotted at the event included Guy & Sam Brearey (Portsmouth Uni - 9th), Owain Matthews (Hilbre Highlanders - 16th), Milly Hughes & Adam Richards (Sheffield Uni - 26th) and Sophia Parkinson (BUSA Ladies - 31st).

Overall winners were Silver Panda from New York, current World Champions and defending Wilson Trophy champions. We have also spotted golden oldie 420 sailors, Ben Field leading the West Kirby Hawks to ensure a UK podium place and Dominica Lindsey of the Society Ladies (what else!)

2008 Worlds & Junior Euros team plans 
The first team email has been sent to all those who have been offered team places, but some of the email addresses may not be correct. If you have been offered a team place, but haven't received the team email from Peter Saxton, please let him know (by email!).

2008 team places announced 
Following completion of the GBR 420 Selection Trials at Highcliffe last weekend and Bala three weekends ago, after eleven races in a mixture of wind conditions ranging from 3 knots to 25+ knots, the following sailors have been offered team places:

2008 Open World Championships � Athens
James Rusden and Joe Williams
Ben Saxton and David de Boltz
Ben Palmer and Piers Strong
Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett
Owain Matthews and Tim Saxton
Phil Sparks and Ben Gratton
Peter Irwin and David Kohler

The top five pairs have also been offered places at the 2008 Junior European Championships in Zadar, Croatia.

2008 Ladies World Championships � Athens

Imogen Stanley and Kate Macgregor
Lucy de Boltz and Millie Parkin
Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp
Hermione Stanley and Hannah Mitchell
Jenny Lennon and Katherine Kimber
Anna Burnett and Flora Stewart
Sarah Hickman and Megan Fileman

The top two pairs have also been offered places at the 2008 Junior European Championships in Zadar, Croatia.

�young cat� James Ellis makes 2nd ISAF bid 
Our James Ellis, Bronze helm at 420 Junior Euros 2006 & 2007 ISAF Youth Bronze in the 29er, is competing for ISAF selection again, in the SL 16 at the multihull Eurocat event in Carnac, France.

Allam takes first MR Qualifier 
Robbie Allam, with Adam Richards in his crew, won the first Match Racing Qualifier, with a clean sweep of the round robin.

Tim Gratton 21st out of 172 on the water at Glyn Charles 
Tim Gratton was the leading 420 Class member in the Glyn Charles Pursuit on Saturday in a Feva with Chris Taylor, an excellent result! Other current and former 420 members we found were: Tristan Jaques, Nikki Birrell, Neil Baker & James Hughes, Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton (in a 420), Paul & Caroline Maxfield and Jess Derbyshire & Georgie Andrew (in a 420). You may find more (for results click above).

Miles Palmer's Y&Y Report from Bala 

2008 Match Racing Series gets underway 
Robbie Allam, Ben Pym, Seb Ripard and Andrew Shaw are the former 420 sailors who will be captaining teams in the first of the 2008 RYA National Match Racing Series at Queen Mary this weekend. These will be the first teams to set out this year to topple former 420 helms, Nick Cherry and Lucy Macgregor, who are current and past National and Women�s Champions, at events in the autumn.

Meanwhile, have you thought about putting a team together for the Youth Match Racing Championships, right after this year�s 420 Nationals? Notice of Race, Entry Form and preliminary details regarding training are on our Events Calendar, but watch RYA Match Racing for updated information.

Photos from Bala 
Charles Ainsworth has now put over 240 photos from the Bala event on display on the IBI Sailing website. Click on this article header for a direct link, or go to www.ibisailing.co.uk

Rusden & Williams pip Saxton & de Boltz at Bala 
James Rusden & Joe Williams won the Bala Open, the first of the two Selector events on countback from Ben Saxton & David de Boltz (both on 7 points). Ben Palmer & Piers Strong finished 3rd on 15, with Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett 4th on 23 and Owain Matthes & Tim Saxton 5th on 26. The first women were Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor on 30 points and 6th overall.

For the full story see the Event website.

Mirror sailors enjoy �trapeze fun & fantastic coaching� at Class Training 
Sue Kalderon writes: The 420 class open training at Itchenor went well last weekend weekend. Thirteen boats registered, ranging in ability from circuit 420 sailors coming from as far a field as West Kirby and Plymouth to less experienced sailors moving up from the Mirror National Junior Squad, as well as local Chichester Harbour sailors. On Saturday, coaches Neil Marsden and Ian Martin kept the young sailors calm, smiling and sailing as the wind blew up to a force 5/6, whilst the sailors gained excellent boat handling experience, and the safety boats had fun righting the inverted boats of the less experienced sailors and returning the lee shore visitors to the main channel. Sunday started brighter and calmer and the boats had a four hour session on the water. "All the boats had visibly improved by the end of the weekend", remarked a safety boat driver. "We learnt a lot. It was fun being on the trapeze" said Charlotte and Izzy Fitzgerald. "It's great that the 420 Class and Itchenor help us to make the step from Mirrors into 420s...the weekend was good fun and the coaches were fantastic" commented Hugo Sloper. Thumbs up from these sailors making the transition from the Mirror NJS to 420s.

Analysis of Equipment used by the top ten teams at the 2008 RYA Youth Championships 
An analysis of the equipment used by the top ten teams at the recent RYA Youth Championships, prepared by the Sailing Secretary, is attached. This is along the lines of the equipment analyses issued by ISAF after each Olympics. If you are a member of a team where there is a gap in the information, please contact Peter Saxton / click on General Enquiries on the Email Links in the menu so that the table can be completed. A copy of the analysis will be retained on the Technical page.

Mighty Makey�s Bristol are BUSA MR Champions 2008 
Tom Makey, with trusty James Wade in his crew, won the BUSA Match Racing Championships at Queen Mary SC on Sunday (news broke here!). Viktor Ogeman of Bath, with our Mark Stockbridge, was 2nd; Sam Pearson of Solent (with Nick Blevins, BUSA 2008 Keelboat Champion helm) was 3rd; and Robbie Allam of Cardiff (with Chris Sanders) was 4th.

Our Mark Stockbridge is to join GBR 1 for the FISU World University Match Racing Championships in Gdansk, Poland later in the summer. [When we did a 'Where are they now?' survey back in 2005, Mark responded saying that he was sure no-one would be interested in a 420 "non-superstar". Well, we were....and are very pleased to bask in his uni sailing glory too, thanks. Non-superstars welcome here!]

Pearson holds off Makey on Day 1 at BUSA MR Finals with a perfect score-line 
Sam Pearson of Solent, with Nick Blevins, bowman, won 6 or his 6 races on Saturday at Queen Mary on the first day of the BUSA Match Racing Championships Final. Tom Makey, with James Wade on board, Otters both, but now Bristol Uni, are in 2nd with 5/6. Robbie Allam, possibly missing Maia Walsh, but with Chris Saunders to give 420-trained support, is 3rd for Cardiff.

6 of the 8 helms in the competition and 15 of all the sailors are 420 ppl. We have also spotted Adam Richards & Amelia Hughes of Sheffield, Ben & Sam Brearey of Portsmouth, Seb Ripard of Southampton, Mark Stockbridge of Bath, and Elliott Parsons, James Kitt & Alex Shanahan of Exeter.

Who was Eric Twiname and what is his trust? 
He learnt to sail at Bassenthwaite, captained his Uni sailing team, and then BUSA, team-raced in Europe and the USA, won championships in GP14s, Lasers and Int Canoes, profoundly influenced sailing organisation, esp. the Racing Rules, and entertained hundreds of sailors on Clubhouse pianos. To some of our elders and well, maybe, betters who knew him, that, and a great deal more about him, is well known.

To most sailors though, especially younger ones, the name Eric Twiname is well known, but maybe we are not always quite sure why. Almost certainly all 420 sailors will have raced in the junior classes at Eric Twiname Championships. Many 420 sailors have also competed in the annual Eric Twiname Team Racing Championships � at Junior or Youth levels, or both (of course, we hope that a team of 420 sailors will win this year�.again!). Team Racing being a particular interest of Eric Twiname, the Trust has also supported the book and the provision of Fevas at Spinnaker and West Kirby. Our Class, like many others, has had the benefit of ET RIBs as support boats. And many will have sailed in Twiname-donated dinghies (including 420s) at their clubs. Individual sailors, through Optimist Bursaries or individual grants (Ben Ainslie included, in his earlier days) have been supported and continue to reach the Olympics.

The Eric Twiname Trust, originally financed by Eric�s Dad, Alec (Eric�s mother, Hazel, is the Patron), has produced an information note about the Trust, particularly reminding us about how individuals and organisations may either donate or apply for funding (they seem to hint that they particularly welcome individual sailor initiative!). For our part we pay tribute to the work of the Trust and to the very real impact this independent funding and support provides. Please print and circulate the attached information note - at your club or among other sailors.

Saxton & de Boltz and Stanley & Macgregor win 420 titles at Youths 
Ben Saxton & David de Boltz won the Championship, and Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor won for the Women.

Top 10:
1 Ben Saxton & David de Boltz 16 points
2 Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton 17 pts
3 Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton 21 pts
4 James Rusden & Joe Williams 21 pts
5 Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor 26 pts
6 Peter Irwin & David Kohler 28 pts
7 Hamish Stone & Chris Proffitt 51 opts
8 Ben Palmer & Piers Strong 53 pts
9 Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett 60 pts
10 Tom Kinver & Charlie Makepeace 62 pts

Karenza Morton filed her Report and included the following:
"At Hayling last year Ben Saxton (Baldock) was winning a boy�s 29er bronze while David de Boltz (Danbury) was sailing a single-handed Radial. But since teaming up in the 420 last summer the pair have gone from strength to strength and landed the overall RYA Youth Nationals prize with an impressive display at Pwllheli.

"Leading from day one, Saxton, 17, and 18-year-old de Boltz were made to work for their title on the final day however as a win for Owain Matthews and Tim Saxton, and a discarded eighth for the eventual winners saw them edge the gold by just a point.

"Imogen Stanley (Stanton St John, Oxon) and Kate Macgregor (Poole) were never in danger of seeing their 420 girls title float away on the North Wales waves as they secured their second successive Championship with a massive 68-point advantage."

Helena Lucas & Nikki Birrell for Beijing 
RYA have announced today six of the nominations for the GBR Team to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Helena Lucas, former 420 Youth Squad sailor and narrowly beaten to the 470 nomination at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will sail the 2.4mR single-handed keelboat. And recent 420/470 helm, Niki Birrell will sail with Alexandra Rickham in the SKUD-18. woop!

420 sailors help Southampton & Cambridge to BUSA TR victories 
Ali Haylett of Bristol Uni has filed her full report on the recent BUSA Team Racing Championships (attached). We are pleased to see that 420 sailors were in the winning and leading teams, as well as spread throughout the participating university sailing teams. We just get everywhere!

Mixed (up) teams:
1. Southampton: Ben Ainsworth & Ian Dobson
2. Bristol 2: Chris Carden & James Wade
3. Southampton 2: Tom Sain
Ladies Championships:
1. Cambridge: Sophia Parkinson
2. Oxford: Pippa Girling
3. Edinburgh: Charlotte Lawrence & Katie Mackenzie

A quick skim through the entries revealed that a seriously large gathering of 420 randoms went team racing at Oxford SC last week: Mark Stockbridge of Bath, Tom Makey, Hattie Marsden, Nick Males & Emily Kidd of Bristol, Alice Darling of Cambridge, Pippa Wilkinson & Robyn Phillips of Durham, Tom Mallindine, Stephen Videlo, Peter Matthews, Elliot Parsons, Jodie Green, Alex Shanahan, Alice Currey & Kate Allam of Exeter, Jonny Frazer, Antonia Bull, James Sparrow & Selena Knight of London, Meg Baker, Nikki Stewart & Roger Carter of Glasgow, Lucy Cripps & Alix Caiger of Leeds, Oren Richards & Ned McNulty of London, Kathryn Bradley & Emma Norris of Newcastle, Guy Brearey, Becky Hyde & Sam Brearey of Portsmouth, Nicola Brook & Clare Best of Southampton and James Goss of Warwick. But there may have been more, or less�..you know, students and paperwork�.! (but we are assured that Bristol's returns were spot on � gold star to Bristol to go with the silver medal?). No doubt we will be told about who is missing!

Ocean Images - from Pwllheli 
As promised everyone was in the thick of it last week, the excellent images supplied to us (again) by Richard Langdon of Ocean Images (the official photographer to Skandia RYA Team GBR) are now posted on the Photo Archive. These are, of course, reduced to a low resolution suitable for web use and are good for our purposes. High resolution images can be sourced from Ocean Images.

Pippa shares in third back-to-back Yngling title at Euros 
Former 420 National Champion (Youth World Champion in the 29er, Bronze in ISAF Youth Worlds in the 420 and European 420 Champion), Pippa Wilson, with Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb, has just added the Yngling European Championship title in her run-up to Beijing.

Josie Gibson takes 4th at ISAF Womens MR Champs 
Former 420 & 470 sailor, Josie Gibson (who was back in a 420 with us in 2006), with former 420 sailors Rachel Larman and Bex Marriott aboard, just reached the Semi Finals at the World Match Racing Championships in New Zealand.

Peters & Fitzgerald and Peters & Lasko selected for ISAFs 
In the 29ers, no change in the top-four order on the last day, so current and former 420 Class members in all four top boats!

We congratulate James Peters & Edward Fitzgerald on winning and on their selection as the GBR men�s entry in this year�s double-hander at the ISAF Youth Championships.

We also celebrate with Frances Peters & Claire Lasko on their 2nd overall! �..and on their selection to the GBR team for the ISAF World Championships in August. For anyone new to the 420 Class, these two are experienced 420 sailors. Frances & Claire were Feva National Champions together in 2005 � beating various Peters, Stevens and Saxtons on that occasion! � and Frances helmed the winning boat in last year�s Youths, so she is well deserving of this year�s Selection for the ISAFs.

We wish both teams well in Denmark.

Karenza Morton, reporting on the Youth Champs, says: "James Peters (Hayling Island) and Ed Fitzgerald (Chichester) have produced almost a flawless week�s racing to claim both the 2008 RYA Youth Nationals overall and boys� 29er crowns. The duo won six of the 10 races in the series to romp to overall glory by eight points from James� elder sister Frances and Claire Lasko (Thame, Oxon). However in claiming overall silver, Peters and Lasko are 2008 29er girls� champions, Frances successfully reclaiming the title she won at Hayling Island in 2007".

Karenza Morton�s give the full news on the ISAF Youth team selections announced tonight.

We await confirmation after Prizegiving, but it looks like�.. 
Ben Saxton & David de Boltz seem to have retained their top slot to the end � but by only one point from Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton, who scored a bullet to finish on 17 points. Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton were 3rd, but on =21 points with James Rusden & Joe Williams.

Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor are showing at 4th overall on 26 points having had a 2�place advantage over Peter Irwin & David Kohler in the last race. But there can be no doubt that they are the Women�s 420 Youth Champions for 2008, with Hermione Stanley & Hannah Mitchell in 2nd and Amy Seabright & Sophie Pearson in 3rd.

It seems to be all about brothers & sisters, but maybe we had better await final confirmation from someone at the prizegiving.

Jenny C-J looks for feedback 
8.00: "Well someone has clearly been very bad - today our challenge is visibility as well as very little wind!!!"

09.17: "We are releasing the sailors to the beach but not to go on the water yet".

And the mystery of the anonymous blogger deepens, or is all revealed?! Maybe the early starts and the dark humour should have been giveaways. Could it be Jenny C-J?

Anyway, Jenny wants to hear from anyone watching. ....by the way, mystery blogger, we are still waiting to hear how "naughty" was naughty with the 420 fleet on Tuesday!

Mystery blogger speaks out at Jury's "mean" use of 'DNE'. ....and retrns to domestic duties in the Event office.

Jury protest mean description and seek cuddly redress.....twitchy sailors (not surprised!).......blogger has direct line to Bridge!.....but visuals threatened by fog bank.

14.33: "420s have misbehaved and had a general so they cant get a 2nd rac due to the time constraints they are on their way in" - oh 420s!!

16.36 "No protests yet so we are planning a 17.00 prize giving"

16.37: "This is Jenny signing off for this championship"

Thanks Jenny (outed at last), super blogger to the sailing world! Really helpful to us back home trying to work out what was going on and full of humour! Safe journeys home to all sailors, supporters and organisers. Hope you are back next year, Jenny.

Saxton & de Boltz hold the lead at the Youths into the final day 
Ben Saxton & David de Boltz have a 4 point lead into the final day at Pwllheli with Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton 2nd on 20 points. With a 1st and 7th in today's two races, Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton are on 26 pts, one ahead of James Rusden & Joe Williams, who had to discard a 12th in race 7, but finished 1st in the last race. Peter Irwin & David Kohler finished the day on 29 points, one ahead of the leading women, Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor. They, in turn, have a 25 point lead over the next team and 66 points over the next women�s team. So some duals to be fought on the final day, wind willing!

Peters, Peters, Lasko, Mon and Diamond lead the 29ers 
The top four 29er helms into the final day at the Youth Championships are current or former 420 Class members, as is the leading women's crew.

Frances Peters & Claire Lasko, long-term 420 sailors, have a 16 point lead over their nearest rivals among the women. And the helm of that boat, Becky Diamond, is also a former 420 sailor; she and her crew have a 19 point lead over the next female team.

Meanwhile, among the men, sometime 420 members, James Peters and Bleddyn M�n, are helming the first and third placed teams overall with 10 and 13 points respectively, Bleddyn and his crew having a 17 point lead over the next male team.

We wish James, Frances, Claire, Bleddyn & Becky all the best for the final day�s sailing and in their bids for selection to the GBR Team for this year�s ISAF Youth World Championship.

Wind for Royal Visit 
09.27 "All courses reporting 6 to 7 knots so we are going on time". Princess Anne is expected!

Lot of news today on the �unofficial� blog thingy, but little sailing � Karenza single-handedly pushes BBC van on beach (powerful when stressed!), police arrived, more suits than wetsuits, sun shining, suits getting sticky, Princess in gin palace, Welsh now to blame for sunshine apparently�.but sailing?�not a lot, 420s reached leeward mark (Ben in front, with Phil close behind), but then the news stopped, or the wind dropped�

14.25: �....the blue course will be the last to get the wind but they are ready for when it comes� �..well, that's encouraging.

oh, there are results to Race 7 posted (must have finished after all!)�.looks like there is a Scottish challenge�

16.48: Looks like they are still racing. Armchair (web) observers are taking bets (Cheltenham just finished races) on the identity of the author of the unofficial blog. Our favourite is Liv - esp after the remarks about Karenza's beach activities, the sticky suit brigade and all the hard work to be done in the office!

Richard Langdon delivers some great images 
Thanks to Richard Langdon, Skandia RYA Team GBR�s favourite photographer, for some great images delivered to us tonight. We feature some on the News page and will transfer these to the Photo Gallery in due course. Meanwhile, to access high resolution photographs, go to Ocean Images website.

Saxton & de Boltz hold the lead at the RYA Youth Championships 
Ben Saxton & David de Boltz finished on top for a second day of racing at Pwllheli. Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton are in 2nd on 14 pts. Phil Sparks & Ben Gratton, with bullets in races 5 & 6, and James Rusden & Joe Williams, both go into day 4 on 18 pts. Meanwhile, Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor, with a whopping lead in the women's championship, and Peter Irwin & David Kohler are each on 20 points.

RYAs Karenza Morton writes: ".......Among the other defending champions strengthening the stranglehold on their crowns are Imogen Stanley and Kate Macgregor who head their nearest rivals for the 420 girls title by a massive 42 points. Ben Saxton and David de Boltz are enjoying a great regatta, discarding just a fourth place, to lead the 420 class overall.

"Two wins today for RYA Youth Nationals 420 debutant Phil Sparks with Ben Gratton saw them recover from the disappointment of race three disqualification to move up to third with Owain Matthews and Tim Saxton sat in second at this stage"

Sounds pretty dire in Pwllheli today, but what are the "naughty" 420s up to? 
10.00 "Indefinite postponement" ....only 3 - 4 kn and "damp outside"....so no tropical sunshine today.

08.23: "..... it is likely that we'll change the order of the starts to SL16s then Standards, then 420s - cos the 420s are being naughty!" ???

11.17: "....rumours are they have force 4 in Holyhead". Rumour...Youths move to Holyhead?

14.55 420 Race 4 start All Clear

15.16 420 Race 4 at first gate 53303, 53327, 53229, 53117, 52871

15.50 420 Race 4 53303, 53327, 52871, 53229

Hey, some excitement at last!

Off again: 16.17 420 Race 5 at gate 52871, 52759, 53158, 53229, 53303

Rumours of 32kn gusts at Pwllheli this morning 
"10.36 Still no racing - there are huge 4ft waves and 30 kts - we are hoping the wind may drop and the sea calm down when the tide changes!! No chance of races before midday". Click above for today's unofficial blog on the official website.
We are always happy to receive unofficial news, photos, gossip....! (click on General Enquiries or e-m: [email protected])

12.35: no 420 racing before 16.00. But rumours of "Tropical sunshine now!" at Pwllheli - so there are some compensations!

14.05 - no 420 racing today.

Saxton & de Boltz lead into Day 2 at Youths 
Ben & David ended day 1 at the 2008 RYA Youth Nationals at Pwllheli Sailing Club with 7 points, while Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton are in 2nd on 10 pts. James Rusden & Joe Williams, Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor, and Peter Irwin & David Kohler are all on 13 points, in that order on countback.

No doubt we will be getting on-the-spot reporting soon, but the results just went up! (20.18).

Karenza Morton�s press report (20.37) says �debutant 420 helm Phil Sparks, sailing with Ben Gratton, .....having taken 4-1 to lead after the first two races, were disqualified from race three to end the day 10th overall. Ben Saxton, and David de Boltz�s consistent 3-3-1 puts them at the top of the board with Imogen Stanley and Kate Macgregor the top ranked female pair in fourth overall�.

Gibson and Farrell head duel charge in NZL for Women�s MR Worlds 
Former 420 helms Josie Gibson and Gemma Farrell lead GBRs two teams competing in the ISAF Women�s Match Racing World Championship this week in New Zealand. RYA Racing Comms Off, Karenza Morton reports: �Bethan Carden, a member of the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme, is doing the bow for Programme mentor Farrell in what will be her first Match Racing World Championships. (Bethan)�from Lymington said: �It means a great deal to be involved in this event. I was heavily involved in the RYA Youth Programme in 420s but after that found it hard to continue sailing at a high-level without doing an Olympic campaign. It is really nice to get back to serious competition. We are hoping for a decent result but we know we are facing really, really tough competition and we're aware we're still pretty early on in our match racing careers so we will be looking to learn as much as we can from other people�."

Our Hannah does good at Takapuna 
Former 420 sailor Hannah Diamond is among a great team of GBR Youth Laser Radial sailors at the Youth Radial Worlds in New Zealand, she scored 11th overall!

Tiernan & Lehane 2008 Irish (ISA) National Youth Champions 
Stephen Tiernan (Poole YC & GBR 420 Class) & Rob Lehane (Royal Cork and Kinsale YCs) won the 2008 ISA National Youth Championships in Schull, South West Ireland. Tim � Laoire (GBR 420 Class) & Brian Kelleher of Howth and the Royal St George YCs were 2nd and Jane Butler & Jenny Andreasson were 3rd and are Women�s Irish National Youth Champions.

Measurement process at the Youth Championships 
Here's some advance information about the measurement process for those of you attending the Youth Championships next week. Please make sure that:

1. The centreboard is removed, but bolt put back in the centreboard case.
2. All mast rigging is removed from the boat, including shroud plates.
3. The rudder blade is removed from rudder stock.
4. All ropes, elastics and wires are removed from the boat, except those fastening in toe straps.
5. Compass and bracket removed from the boat.
6. Hatch covers left with the boat.
7. Hull dry, with all water removed form the cockpit floor and buoyancy tanks.
8. Mast, boom and spinnaker pole brought to measurement tent.
9. Measurement certificate to be shown.
10. Mainsail, jib and spinnaker, all pre-measured.
11. 8m tow rope, minimum 8mm diameter

The 420 measurement is being led by Don O'Donnell.

Pre-event sailing at the Youth Championships 
The RYA have just posted a note on the event website saying:

"Any competitor who wishes to sail on Saturday 29th March or Sunday 30th March must sign out at the Regatta Office (in the Plas Menai Room) before they go afloat and sign back in at the Regatta Office when they come back ashore.

You will need to leave a contact mobile number and nominate a person who will be watching you whilst you are afloat."

Other key times to note, according to the Notice of Race, are:

1. Registration at the Event Office from 1300:1700 on Saturday and 0900:1600 on Sunday

2. Measurement on Sunday from 0900:1600 - we are hoping to provide more informaiton on the measurement process and timings in the next few days.

Highcliffe Easter Regatta 
All four scheduled races were held at the Highcliffe Easter Regatta, in shifty offshore winds varying from zero to 15 knots.

In Race 1, James Rusden & Joe Williams won on the water, but were later disqualified for hitting a mark, allowing Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor to take first place, followed by Ben Saxton & David de Boltz and Lucy de Boltz & Milly Parkin. Race 2 started in almost no wind, with most competitors struggling to cross the start line against the tide. Saxton & de Boltz had an early lead, but were caught in a flat patch on the run, allowing Stanley & Macgregor and Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett to overtake, before they retook second place at the finish, behind Stanley & Macgregor.

On Monday, the wind was more steady in strength, around 12-15 knots, with a big course out in Christchurch Bay. Race 3 was won by Ben Palmer & Piers Strong ahead of Stanley & Macgregor, with Owain Matthews & Tim Saxton taking third place. With the discard coming in after four races, Stanley & Macgregor had won the event, but there was close competition in Race 4 for the minor places. Rainback & Foskett led round every mark to claim the win and thrid place overall, with Saxton & de Boltz taking another second place in the race, to give them second overall.

With 23 entries, the event provided a good opportunity to get used to sailing at Highcliffe, one of the venues for the Team Selection trials in early May, and competitors were fortunate to miss most of the bad Easter weather. Thanks to Highcliffe Sailing Club for all their onshore and on-water support, and to the safety boat crews for braving the cold weather!

PS If you have lost either a Banks top cover, or a dental retaining brace (!) at Highcliffe, please contact Saron Rusden on 01202 480 566

420 helms scoop the podium at BUSA Yachting Nationals 
Nick Blevins of Southampton Solent, with Ben Pym in his crew won the BUSA Yachting Nationals decisively today (retaining the title at Solent for another year). Sam Pearson, with Toby Harris and Chris Doe, also from the student yachting honey-pot, Solent Uni, took second, while Ian Dobson, turning his hand to keels again, took the third place on the podium, with Ben Ainsworth, Aaron Cooper & Georgie Blaver-Mann.

We identified (just a quick scan!) an impressive 10 helms and 15 crew in the 31 boats participating in the event who came through the 420 Class. 7 of these helms were in the top ten, also including Simon Wheeler of Southampton, Tom Smedley of Cambridge, Chris Witty of Solent and James Goss of Warwick. Sorry if we missed anyone!

Summer training camp - Grafham Water SC 
Full details of the 420 Summer Training Camp at Grafham Water SC are now available at the event website (click on the header to this article).

The training runs for six days from Monday 28 July to Saturday 2 August and costs �149 per person. Everyone is welcome, especially those sailors transitioning from junior classes, and those looking to improve their racing skills ahead of the Nationals.

Entry is limited to 24 boats, with a coaching ratio of 1:6 boats (or better!), with top 420 coaches lined up to make the most of your week, so sign-up NOW!

2008 Team Selection Trials 
The event website for the 2008 Team Selection trials on 19-20 April (at Bala) and 3-5 May (at Highcliffe) is now live and ready to accept your entries! These are open events and are two of the five major events of the UK 420 calendar. We encourage entries from all UK 420s, and visitors from overseas.

Entry fees need to be received by 11 April (one week after the Youth Championships) to avoid the late payment supplement.

Ben Pym to captain Red at the Red Funnel 
John Merricks Sailing Trust has loaned 52-footer �Red� to the Volvo RYA Keelboat programme this year. She will make her eagerly-awaited first competitive outing with the programme at the Red Funnel Easter Regatta next weekend (21 � 23 March).

And a 420-helm, Ben Pym, will captain her. RYA Keelboat Southern Squad member, Ben Pym, 19, said: �The TP52 is simply awesome. For 52ft, it is incredible how responsive she is, and how easily you can achieve double speed figures. We have a long way to go before we will be highly-competitive but we will learn a lot getting there and have fun doing so. This opportunity simply does not happen anywhere else.�

Launched in 2003, the Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme aims to provide the opportunity for talented young sailors aged between 16 and 24 to break into the highly-competitive world of keelboat sailing. There are 47 sailors in the three 2007-08 Programme squads - National, Southern and Northern. Ben is one of twenty (at the last count) 420 sailors on the Programme, together with four other 420ppl who are ex-members of the Programme and who mentor the current ones!.....another option for your sailing career, maybe?

"Try a 420" - this Saturday!! (15 March) 
If you want to try a 420 (crewing, helming or both!), learn more about the boats, the training and the events, or you�re looking for a sailing partner, then go to the class website at www.420sailing.org.uk and click on �Events� for more details. Quite a few bookings were taken at the Dinghy Show, but for those of you who are more �last minute�, the forecast is looking good (9-12 knots and reasonably warm), so book up now!

There will be plenty of 420s training at both venues on Saturday, so you�ll get to meet some of the sailors, parents and coaches (and it�s free!).

Just four days to go....closes Sunday! 
hey, hurry up and get your entry in for the Youths.....well, Nathan and Josh just did (just as well, its happening in Wales!). PS remember to have your membership cards with your measurement certificate!

2008 RYA Youth Nationals: Entry deadline is Sunday next!!! 
Karenza Morton of RYA Racing Communications writes: "Sailors still to enter the 2008 RYA Youth National Championships and Trials are reminded they have until SUNDAY 16 MARCH to get their entries in. The 2008 Championships are being staged at Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club from Saturday 29 March to Friday 4 April and are guaranteed, as always, to attract the top under 19 racers in the country to do battle in North Wales.

"To enter now visit RYA Racing Events. No entries will be accepted after midnight on Sunday 16 March......

"Sailors who have already entered for the event are asked to check that their entry has been confirmed by checking the online entry list. If your name does not appear on the entry list, you should contact Jenny Campbell-James immediately on 01243 641176."

Double celebration: Msg Bd used & Rachel returns! 
This is not serious 420 news as such, but percy is celebrating the return of Rachel, the golden 420 helm of yesteryear and a new post on the Message Board after six months of quiet! Like dobbo last August, she is looking for an RS200 (is this what our former top guys go sailing in these days?) � any ideas anyone? Sorry rach, they all went to Facebook, Bebo�.

Birrell�s Olympic SKUD bid takes another step toward Beijing 
Niki Birrell, former GBR 420 and 470 helm, with Alex Rickham took another step toward Beijing selection with a Bronze at the Midwinters in St Petersburg, USA, following their first outing and 5th at the Olympic Classes� Rolex Miami in January.

"Try a 420" days 
Each year, ex-junior classes sailors are interested in joining the 420 class, and some would like to try a 420 before making the final decision. To follow on from the Dinghy Show on 1/2 March, we have organised a "Try a 420" day at Oxford SC and Staunton Harold SC (Derbyshire) on Saturday 15 March.

If you know anyone who might want to try a 420, please tell them about this opportunity - more details are available on the Event Calendar. We are planning to arrange other "Try a 420" days later in the Spring.

Dinghy Show - London - 1st & 2nd March (update) 
We now have about 15 people who have volunteered to help on the 420 RYA Youth stand at the Dinghy Show - thanks to you all! We have some vacanices still in the 1400 to 1600 slot on Sunday, and a couple of spare tickets, so please sign up NOW if you can help.

Click on the header to see who is helping!

Lost track with all the online entries? 
Ever wondered when you can sign up for an event? Or did you sign up ages ago but cannot remember if you paid or not?

Well help is at hand. With numerous clubs and classes using EventAssistant for their online entry, you can now see all these events by going to www.sailingevents.info (click on link above)

You can now see which events have online entry and when they will go live. Events you can enter are highlighted a bit lit an airport departure board.

At the top, you can enter a surname and see all the events by name that you have entered (this will includes others from your family as well as those who share your surname).

You can filter the results by using "Surname;Firstname" to limit the sailors listed. Firstname is a wildcard search using the Firstname you have supplied so that "Lasko;P" will find ALL Laskos whose first name starts with "P" . "Lasko;Jan" with find Lasko Jan and Lasko Jane and Lasko Janet ...

Hope you find this utility useful
Jan

Brearey for Portsmouth leads qualifiers at QMSC 
Guy, with Sam in the crew, lead the way for Portsmouth Uni at the 2nd MT qualifier for selection for the BUSA finals on 12/13 April, together with Seb Ripard�s Southampton and Robbie Allam�s 420-star-studied team for Cardiff. Sounds like the work was done on Saturday in the round robin - they called it a day at lunchtime with very light winds, by all accounts. You heard it hear first! Results

BUSA Match Racers converge on Queen Mary 
Another weekend�s MR coming up at QMSC, with forecast low temps (extra insulation, guys!). 420 hopes lie with Robbie Allam, Chris Sanders & Maia Walsh of Cardiff (Robbie must be a favourite � he�s been mixing it with the international MR scene and with Maia and Chris on board�!). But some teams have 420-trained sailors to even the odds: Jeremy Fowke of Exeter 1, Matt Day of Strathclyde, Alice Currey with Exeter 2 and Will Rusden of Warwick 2 (Warwick and Exeter are big on this stuff, so no worries having fresher super-star sailors in the 2nd teams, they may beat the 1st!). And veteran Guy Brearey is leading Portsmouth (though no team members yet announced! � this is not a single-handed exercise, Guy!). The hot tip for the one the bookies missed: Mirror World Champion, Anna MacKenzie leads Birmingham in her first year!

Some nice footage from the Tiger 
Thanks, Giles!

New talent call for Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme 

Saxtons win pursuit & lead 420s at Tiger 
Ben and Tim won the pursuit and took 5th overall at the Tiger Trophy. Anna Burnett & David Kohler were tenth overall in a field of nearly 200. Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett were 13th and Ben Palmer & Piers Strong, 14th. Our men in a Fireball, Peter Gray & Simon Forbes were 9th overall.

For a detailed description of the 420s at the event see Miles Palmer�s YachtsandYachting.com report

Niki Birrell leads the Brits in Miami 
At their first event in the Skud 18, our Niki Birrell, with Alexandra Rickham, have completed the Rolex Miami OCR in 5th and led the GBR entry � a good start for their campaign for Paraolympic selection!

RYA opens entries for Youth Nationals 
Karenza calling (see Press Release)..�.�the entry deadline is Sunday 16th March 2008 and no entries will be accepted on or after this date� The on-line entry is at RYA Racing Events .

Nasher & Elliott score again! 
In spite of a pretty massive crash in Race 8 and Elliott being taken to hospital and losing a day�s sailing, Nick Asher and Elliott Willis (who took the 470 World Championships for GBR in China in 2006, a GBR first for 18 years) won again at Melbourne today. Nick & Elliott are former GBR 420 National Champions (and Optimist Champs too!). Christina Bassadone, also a former 420 National (Ladies)Champion and 420 World Ladies Champion, took 7th with Saskia Clark in the Women�s World 470 Championship.

Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy - Northampton SC 
Around 130 boats met at Northampton SC on Saturday 26 January for the annual Steve Nicholson Memorial Trophy, in aid of Asthma UK. The forecast of strong winds looked good for the three 420s sailing in the 57 boat double-handed symmetric fleet, and with sunshine as well, the day gave lots of thrills and spills.

James Rusden & Joe Williams (Highcliffe/West Kirby) showed excellent form to win both races, by a margin on handicap of nearly three minutes in Race 1 (sailed in a gusty 22-25 knots) and over a minute in Race 2 (when the wind had dropped to only 15-18 knots). The P&B; Fireball of Dave Wade & Ben McGrane were second in both races. Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett (Poole/Staunton Harold) finished 9th overall with a 7th (despite capsizing) and 14th, and newcomers Roseanna Yeoward and Hannah Jones (Rhosnaigor/Staunton Harold) finished 45th overall, having retired from Race 1.

420 Open Training at Oxford SC - 19/20 January 
It was encouraging to see twelve boats take part in the Open Training at Farmoor reservoir, the home of Oxford SC last weekend, with lead coach Neil Marsden ably assisted by Chris Witty.

The wind was 15-20 knots all weekend, and the training focussed on upwind and downwind boat handling around P-courses. Despite numerous capsizes, the sailors made considerable progress towards boat-handling perfection, through many hours on the water.

Thanks to Oxford SC for their hospitality and catering, and to parents for kitting-up and assisting on the coach boats.

The next Open Training is at Pwllheli on 16/17 February, with lead coach Callum MacDonald, the RYA 420 National Coach, and is open to all 420 class association members.

Tiger Trophy - 2/3 February - Rutland SC - update 
Late on the 21 January, there are twenty two 420s entered for the Tiger Trophy at Rutland in a few weeks time, out of an entry so far of 156 boats, so there should be some good fleet racing inside the handicap event.

There's an excellent social on Saturday night, being held this year at Rutland Sailing Club rather than in Oakham. There is an entry limit, so enter now if you're planning to attend (click on the header). All the profits from the event go to the John Merricks Trust.

Easter racing at Highcliffe 
The 420 class have been invited to join the Easter Trophy club event at Highcliffe Sailing Club on Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th March (Easter weekend). However, there's an entry limit of 30 boats, so enter online soon (click on header)!

The plan is to have two races each day, providing good preparation for the second weekend of the Worlds Team Selection Trials at Highcliffe in early May.

Tom & Ims in the RYA Raymarine Young Sailor Line-up 
Earlier, we said: "Spot the malcontents! ('inclined to rebellion' [OED]....surely not!....well, they are 420 sailors, after all!)", but maybe we should be all formal about it!

We congratulate 12 year old Laurence Greenough, who was awarded the prestigious title of Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year 2007 at the Collins Stewart London Boat Show. Laurence lost a leg in a boating accident in May 2006 but was back sailing just two months later in an unmodified boat. A member of the Plymouth Youth Sailing Club, Laurence took part in the Topper Travellers in the South West Zone in 2007 and also competed in the NSSA National Regatta where he finished 15th Topper out of 76.

Shortlisted for the overall award our Tom Gillard, the versatile helm from Sheffield Viking SC, who, with Sam Brearey of Fishers Green SC, are 420 Junior European Champions, was the Regional winner from Sheffield, Yorkshire and Humberside.

Imogen Stanley of Oxford SC, who, with Kate Macgregor of Poole YC were the Women's Bronze Medallists at the 420 Junior Europeans 2007, was the Thames Valley winner nominated by her region.

Apparently the goodie bag was pretty awesome, including a handheld VHF radio!�..possibly a Raymarine VHF, maybe? (no, its not for you, Carla!) ...fetching pink tops...

Grafham Grand Prix results 
Over 160 boats took part in the GGP on Sunday 30 December, with 53 in the "Slow" fleet including five 420s. The wind was more than forecast, starting with a westerly 9 mph, decreasing during the day and two races were completed.

The Merlin Rockets dominated the slow fleet, comfortably taking the top seven places, with the first 420 sailed by Ben Saxton & David de Boltz in 15th overall. Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett were 20th, closely followed by Ben Palmer & Piers Strong in 23rd. Young Matt Foskett with Adam Walker fininshed 43rd and Jane & Anne Sceales were 52nd, having missed the start of Race 2.

In the fast fleet, Tim Saxton with guest crew Colin Rainback in a 49er were 4th overall out of 32, beaten by an International 14 and two B14s. In the Medium Fleet, Peter Gray & Simon Forbes in a Fireball finished 8th overall and 4th in class out of 12.

Cherry reaches finish line aboard Hugo Boss II 

Cherry dresses up on Hugo Boss for Sydney-Hobart 
Former 420 helm and MR Champion, Nick Cherry, together with Rachel Howe, members of the RYA Volvo Keelboat programme, have been in Sydney to train and are now somewhere en route to Hobart in the Sydney-Hobart race aboard Volvo Hugo Boss II [see RYA Volvo Keelboat Sailing Press Release].

�Southampton University graduate Cherry, 22 (said): �I have completed the Round Britain and Ireland Race and Fastnet Race on the Programme�s Farr 45 John Merricks but Hugo Boss II will be the biggest boat I have raced on and this will be the most high profile and challenging offshore race I have participated in. I have been watching old Volvo Ocean Race videos for as long as I can remember so I cannot wait to start sending her down massive waves in the sun all the way to a big party in Hobart!��.

Imagination was strained to believe the story (photographic evidence provided) that our Nick could have achieved the sartorial heights attained by the Hugo Boss crew on the start line � but then we remembered his 420 social training, especially fancy dress at the Nationals! (after all he says he does parties too!).

See Event Website and Sail-World.com.

Venues for 2008 Selection Trials now fixed 
There are five days of racing scheduled to select the teams to represent Great Britain at the 420 World Championships in Athens, and the Junior European Championships in Zadar, Croatia in summer 2008.

We've chosen two venues which will be unfamiliar to most 420 sailors and they should provide a mixture of tricky inland windshifts and big open sea racing.

The first event is two days at Bala SC in North Wales (19-20 April), and the second event is three days at Highcliffe SC near Bournemouth on 3-5 May.

Notice of Race and online entry will be live by mid-January.

Summer Training Camp (updated 15.12.07) 
Dates and venue have been agreed for the popular 420 Summer Training Camp. The event will be held at Grafham Water Sailing Club from Monday 28 July to Saturday 2 August.

We're finalising the coaches and costs at the moment - online entry is now live.

This is an ideal way for newcomers to the class to get started in the 420, as well as providing development for more experienced 420 sailors, so put it in your diary now!

Spring Open Training programme now live (updated 15.12.07) 
There are four Open Training events organised for early 2008, and booking is now available online (click on the header).

Venues are Oxford Sailing Club (19-20 January), Pwllheli Sailing Club (16-17 February) and Staunton Harold (near Derby) on 15 March. The Saturday training at Staunton Harold will be followed by a Winter Traveller event (trhee races back-to-back) on Sunday 16 March. The final training weekend in the Spring is at Itchenor SC on 12-13 April.

In each case, only 24 boats can take part, so make sure that you enter early!

Saxton & de Boltz score silver at IWR 
No doubt we will hear more from those with a line to the team at the Imperia Winter Regatta, but, meanwhile, the results are up (copies on our Events page). Ben and David pulled it back in spades today in this race-a-day event, with a 3rd in the final race � and split the Greeks!. Hopefully, we will get a podium shot in due course! And more de Boltz! Lucy, with super-crew Kate Sparks, took 9th in the Women�s fleet. Looks like foundations for serious campaigns

Imperia Winter Regatta 
Two British boats have travelled to Imperia for this year's event. Ben Saxton and David de Boltz are off to a good start finishing third in the first race of the day. Lucy de Boltz and Kate Sparks are competing in the ladies fleet.
Day 2 saw only once light wind race sailed. Lucy de Boltz/Kate Sparks finish 4th to move up to 10th. Ben Saxton/David de Boltz finish 22nd and lying in 8th.
Day 3 sees more light wind, but AP is down (10:30 UK time) with the hope of more racing to come.

Becca, Rosie and Hannah to orientate their talent! 
Our Rebecca Kalderon & Rosie Sibthorp, together with former 420 helm, Hannah Diamond are going to Loughborough in January, along with other RYA Youth Squad and Transition sailors. They are joining young talent in four other Olympic Sports � cycling, rowing, canoeing and triathlon - to work with Olympians, including Simon Hiscocks and Dame Kelly Holmes, at the Youth Sport Trust initiative, the National Talent Orientation Camp 2008.

Matt & Lucy �Believe to Achieve with Kelly Holmes� 
Lucy de Bolt and Matt Rainback were among nine �Believe to Achieve with Kelly Holmes� Sailing Scholars invited to lunch with double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes to mark their nominations under the Youth Sport Trust scholarship programme (see attached press release)

Images from End of Season 
Thanks to Tim � Laoire�s dad, we now have some more photos on the PhotoArchive

ISAF Youth Worlds 2010 
According to the ISAF website, the 2010 ISAF Youth Worlds will be held in Istanbul, Turkey.

The boys' and girls' two person dinghy events will be sailed in the 420 (and the boys' one person event will be in the Laser Radial). Great news for 420 sailors...... see the full announcement by clicking on the header.

Pippa Wilson & Paul C-J in Sarah Ayton�s MR win 
Pippa and C-J looked after 420 interests on the winning boat at the first of the RYA Wionter Challenge Match Racing series in the J80s at QMSC. Team Ayton beat Gemma Farrell in the Semis, in spite of her mighty 420 crew, Bethan Carden, Rachel Wigmore & Nick Cherry. Other 420 luminaries included Mark Stockbridge, Andrew Shaw, Tom Hodkinson & Nick Blevins, all in the top five.

Poole Winter Traveller 
The event website for the Poole Winter traveller being held on the 18th of November is now active. To help with planning rescue cover and catering please register your intention to attend.

LOST - BABY BLUE GUL SPRAY TOP 
Baby blue Gul spray top lost at the Grafham open training on 28 October. Please click above if you may know its whereabouts. Thank you!

Yeoman�s yomp it at Youths 
Team Itchenor (George Yeoman/Georgie Akin-Smith, Rob Struckett/Jeremy Williamson, Andy Shaw/Tom Hodkinson) had a decisive series of wins (11/11) to be 2007 Twiname RYA Youth Team Racing Champions at Spinnaker Sailing Club at the weekend. 420 honour maintained!
Results: Place/Team/Wins/Losses: 1 Itchenor 11/0; 2 West Kirby 10/1; 3 Sevenoaks A 8/3; 4 Magdalen College School 8/3; 5 Spinnaker 7/4; 6 Worcester NSSA 6/5; 7 Red Squirrels (Hamble) 5/6; 8 Sevenoaks B 4/7; 9 Yorkshire NSSA 3/8; 10 Kent NSSA 3/8; 11 Sevenoaks C 1/10; 12 Chipstead 0/11.

MR Team Macgregor takes 3rd at Hamburg 
With the highest percentage wins in the Round Robin, Lucy Macgregor with her team, Mary Rook, Sue Monson & Maria Stanley eventually came third in the 4th Ladies Only Match Race in Hamburg. Gemma Farrell, with trusty Bethan Carden on board, took 8th.

Rusden & Williams win End of Season 
James & Joe took the End of season regatta at Grafham by 5 points from Peter Irwin & David Kohler (15 pts), Ben Saxton & David de Boltz (18 pts), Stephen Tiernan & Rob Lehane (IRL) (19 pts) and Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett (21 pts)

Alison Rumball & Niamh O�Connell (IRL) (10th overall) were first women�s boat, followed by Becca Kalderon & Rosie Sibthorp and Sarah & Catherine Alton. Fuller story in the news item below (lot going on this weekend!)

Dobbo triumphs at BUSA again and Goss & Rusden lead the 420s � doing it with dolphins! 
Ian Dobson, with Katie Restall, again won the Handicap Fleet at the BUSA Nationals at WPNSA this weekend, while fellow 420 helm, Jo Brigg was 2nd � both in RS200s and for, well, Southampton, of course. The Sophies (you know, Weguelin & Ainsworth) were 4th � for Exeter. But our guys at Warwick, James Goss & Will Rusden were the leading 420, with Josh Rumbol & Claire Best of Southampton were right on their tales, while Rob Partridge & Alice Currey were looking after Exeter�s interests just behind them.

A special highlight was the appearance in Portland Harbour of a school of dolphins. This proved to be a distraction for some of the RIBs who evidently saw the potential scoop in the next Y&Y; or Dinghy Magazine. We understand that boats seeking redress in respect of the alleged effects of their wash (dolphins or RIBs?) could not find witnesses who quite believed it all�!

We may learn more about the exploits of the 50-odd current and ex-420 sailors down at BUSA over the weekend (though there is no betting on it!), but the story is that Southampton won the team competition again, with Exeter, who won in 2004 & 2005, in 2nd. Post Event Press Release. Some images from the new camera of David Atkinson in the Photo Archive.

End of Season Championship - Grafham Water 
Saturday saw three races sailed in a NW F2/3. During the day the wind was tracking right, but there were a number of significant left shifts which caused distress to those stranded on the wrong corner.

50 boats had registered for the event, including a loyal contingient from Ireland who continue to provide high class opposition to our local boats.

James Rusden and Joe Williams are overnight leaders on ten points (2,6,2). Peter Irwin and David Kohler are in second on 15 points with Ben Saxton and David de Boltz in third on 18 points. Top overseas boat is in fourth (Stephen Tiernan / Rob Lehane). Top ladies crew are Alyson Rumball and Niamh O'Connell from Ireland.

Sunday morning saw the sailors arrive to low mist, which has since burned off. The church tower on the far side of the lake provides a great reflection in the water. Unsurprisingly, a postponement was hoisted at 10:30. Racing abandonned at 12 o'clock.

Macgregor�s Mighty Match Racers go to Hamburg 
Lucy Macgregor, Mary Rook, Bethan Carden and Maria Stanley � what a fantastic 420 line-up! � are off to Hamburg for the 4th Ladies Only Match Race at Hamburger Segel-Club (suppose Carly Burge will have to cover UWEs interests at the Fleet Racing Champs at WPNSA with Maria gone to Germany!). GBR 420 helms, Josie Gibson and Gemma Farrell�s teams took 3rd and 4th last year, so no pressure!

Depleted entry for Twiname Team Racing, but 420 hopes on Team Itchenor 
Meanwhile, some 420 Team Racers are off to Spinnaker to look after our interests in the RYA Twiname Youth Team Racing Championships. With the unfortunate clash of date this weekend, several of our top team racers are not available for the Twiname (notably the Grafham Gremlins who won last year and represented GBR at the Youth Olympic event in Australia). But we will be strongly represented by the Itchenor team (as usual! � George Yeoman, Georgie Akin-Smith, Andy Shaw, Tom Hodkinson & Rob Struckett, plus a mystery �tba� sailor). The Itchenor team � most of the current team are seasoned by years� of experience from their annual duel with the Gremlins � won the Youth Champs in 2005 and were 2nd in 2006. But we have also spied some other 420 sailors taking part this year: Georgia Trapp of Sevenoaks B, Owain Matthews of West Kirby SC and a certain C Makepeace of Magdalen Coll Sch. Hopefully Spinnaker will provide the same excellent news and results service provided by Grafham and West Kirby in recent years.

50 420 sailors join the uni exodus to WPNSA for the annual BUSA Fleet Racing Championships this weekend 
We reckon the following randoms will be amongst them: Anna MacKenzie of Birmingham, James Goss (Warwick), Chris Carden (Bristol), Ewan Marshall & Hattie Marsden (Bristol), Sophie Morton, Alice Brotchie, Becca Partridge, Poppy Husband, Jonny Moss & Sophie White (Plymouth), Jay Whitehead, Guy Brearey, Tom Taylor & Sam Brearey (Portsmouth), Robyn Stock & Isobel Gill-Taylor (Oxford Brookes), James Thomas & Sam Carter (Brunel), Maria Stanley & Carly Burge (UWE), Chris Witty (Solent), Robyn Phillips & Pippa Wilkinson(Durham), Ian Dobson, Claire Best, Josh Rumbol, Jo Brigg, Alice Rook, Nicola Brook, Dave Brewer, James Foskett & Neil Crossuard (Southampton), Mark Stockbridge & Chris Sanders (Bath), Amelia Hughes (Sheffield), Steven Videlo, Elliot Parsons, Jodie Green, Tom Mallindine, Pete Matthews, Harriette Trumble, Kate Allam, Rob Partridge, Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainworth (Exeter), Harry Harris, Pip Holloway & Oli Woods (Bournemouth). Phew! Well, you may know more...

Parkstone Open Training - 10/11 November 
Online entry is now open for the third weekend of the 420 Open Training programme for 2007/8. Following successful weekends at Itchenor and Grafham Water, the next training takes place at Parkstone Yacht Club in Poole on 10 & 11 November. As it's name implies, this training is open to any members of the GBR 420 Class Association.

Neil Marsden is again the lead coach and there is a limit of 24 boats, with one coach per six boats. More details are available on the event page or click on the header of this article.

Gray & Forbes win Fireball Youth Champs (with 420 Euro Champs backup!) 
Peter Gray & Simon Forbes, our men from Staunton Harold, won the Fireball Youth Championships (2nd at the Open meeting) at King George SC. 420 Junior European Champions, Tom Gillard & Sam Brearey were 2nd. Its called 420 domination! Full Results.

Grafham Winter Traveller - 28 October 
NB Results now posted - click on this header or see "Results".
Nineteen boats entered the one-day Winter Traveller at Grafham Water on Sunday 28 October, with event coaching from Neil Marsden. Strong winds were forecast for the event, and this proved to be accurate, with a gusty south westerly of about 20 knots, dropping to 12 knots in the lulls and rising to 28 knots in the gusts.

A large trapezoid course was set for the morning race, which saw seven boats manage to finish, and eleven retirements, mainly as a result of multiple capsizes. There was little change in the wind for the afternoon, and a smaller triangle and sausage course was set. Some sailors decide that it was best to watch from the shore, but fifteen boats started although only six managed to finish the course.

Tim Saxton and his lightweight crew Catherine Alton weren't the fasted boat upwind, but they didn't capsize, trawl the kite or break anything, resulting in comfortable victories in both hour-long races. Ben Palmer and Piers Strong had a few dramas but counted a 2nd and 3rd to take second overall, with a steady performance from Nathan Bailey and Fred Jones (4th and 5th) giving them third overall. In fourth place, sailing the oldest boat in the fleet, were Jamie Lambe & Chris Griffiths, showing the benefit of two days of training with Neil Marsden & co.

Thanks to all the safety fleet for making it possible for the sailors to get some valuable heavy weather sailing experience.

Adam Richards leads at BUSA MR Qualifier 
The first of two BUSA Match Racing Qualifiers were held at the weekend - at Royal Northern & Clyde YC - and Adam Richards of Sheffield Uni helmed the leading boat. Adam, of Royal Lymington YC, a former 420 sailor, was seen aboard Robbie Allam's boat at last year's JP Morgan at QMSC. His crew included Corinthian Otter, Amelia Hughes. There is always intense rivalry between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the Glasgow team, packed with 420 talent (Megan Baker, Roger Carter & Nikki Stewart) took 3rd. Lotte Lawrence's Edinburgh 1, with Katie Mackenzie on board, was fourth. The second Qualifier will be at QMSC on 16th/17th February, and the Finals will be there on 12th/13th April [nb dates subject to confirmation]. Have all 420 Uni sailors entered their teams?!

Grafham Open Training Report - 26/27 October 
Eighteen 420s had an excellent two days of training at Grafham Water SC on Friday and Saturday. Coached by Neil Marsden, Ian Martin and Dan Scheiber, the sailors had light wind practice on Friday (3-4 knots) and then moderate winds (10-15 knots) on Saturday. The major focus for the three groups was on boat handling, finishing off with some short races.

Oxfordshire schools 
Three 420s turned out in the 25 strong field at the annual Oxford Schools Regatta held at Famoor Resevoir (Oxford SC) on the 13th October. Guy Stephens and Nick Bennett-Jones won the event decisively winning ALL the races and discarding a first. Joss Culbertson and Jordan Reeve finished 10th and Guy Scott/ Olly Morse finished in 16th.

Entries for the End of Seasons - 3/4 November 
We already have 42 entries for the End of Seaons event at Grafham Water.

In accordance with the Notice of Race, entries can only be made online, but we've extended the deadline to Sunday 28 October as some sailors are away over half term. If you plan to attend the event, please enter online NOW!

Entries received after 28 October will only be accepted at the discretion of the GWSC.

Itchenor Open 
Ben Palmer and Piers Strong win Itchenor Open with local sailors William Kalderon and George Cooke in second and Josh Pistol and Pete Lawrence in third. Jenny Lennon and Katherine Kimber only sailed on Sunday, but showed their pace with two firsts and a second.

Team Cherry wins MR Champ again! 
Former 420 helm, Nick Cherry won the RYA National Match Racing Championships for a second time, beating fellow 420 sailors Andrew Cornah and Mark Campbell James (twice Champion previously). We counted 20 current and past 420 sailors in the Finals: Nick Cherry, Andrew Cornah, Mark Campbell-James, Tom Heywood, Ed Males, Andrew Shaw, Tom Hodkinson, Nick Blevins, Lucy Macgregor, Nicky Macgregor, Bethan Carden, Tom Smedley, Maia Walsh, Mary Rook, Pippa Wilson, Joanna Brigg, Ben Saxton, Tim Saxton, Tom Davidson and Catherine Alton. Maybe you can see more!

420 sailors go keelboating 
The RYA just announced the selections for the 2007-08 Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme include many 420 sailors (past & present). National Squad: Bethan Carden, Nick Cherry, Nicky Macgregor & Jez Fowke. Southern Squad: Catherine Alton, Ben Pym, Charlotte Savage, Maia Walsh, Chris Sanders, Josh Rumbol, Sam Brearey, Tom Davidson & Tom Smedley. Northern Squad: Sophie Esson, Charlotte Lawrence, Andy Tunnicliffe, Anna & Katie MacKenzie. And they even get ex-420 sailors as mentors: Ben Field, Sam Carter, Gemma Farrell & John Gimson.

Lost property at Inlands 
If you are the person who mentioned losing your phone�..or you are missing a cool bag�..please contact Valerie at the Oxford SC - 01865 863201

Lucy gets 100% at Match Racing 
Lucy Macgregor, the 2004 Champ, helmed the winning team again today to become RYA Women�s Match Racing Champions 2007 on Portland Harbour with an unbroken string of bullets!. Mary Rook and her team took 2nd (and qualifies as second all-women boat for National finals next weekend), Gemma Farrell 3rd, Charlotte Lawrence 4th & Josie Gibson 5th. 100% helming by 420 sailors too! For results, click above and see RYA Press Release.

Saxton & de Boltz are 2007 Inland Champions 
Ben Saxton & David de Boltz won the Inland Championship at Oxford SC, Farmoor on 6 points with Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor in second and first women on 11 points. James Rusden & Joe Williams were in third on 13 points, just one point clear of Tim Saxton & Tom Taylor in fourth. Fifth place went to RYA Youth Champions Peter Irwin & David Kohler. See Event Website for further detail.

420 Inland Championships 
Follow the link: follow the event at Oxford this weekend.

The Sailing Instructions and a Schedule for the event are now available on the event website.

420 sailors to do battle at Women�s MR Champs 
Of the seven boats entered for this weekend�s Women�s Match Racing Championships at WPNSA, at least five of the helms are former top 420 sailors: Gemma Farrell, Josie Gibson, Lucy MacGregor, Charlotte Lawrence and Mary Rook And the boats have a galaxy of talent, a further ten 420 sailors, among the crews too: Bethan Carden, Bex Marriott , Harriett Trumble, Nicky Macgregor, Georgie Blaver-Mann, Katie MacKenzie, Alice Rook, Sophie Esson, Pippa Girling and Selina Knight.

After last weekend, our special correspondent on board, Phil Lawrence, was too overcome by the �eight straight races back to back on Sunday morning in 20knots�to (send) the match racing news!.... but the girls had a great time - racing Ben Ainslie & Ian Percy in the semi final was great experience, but a bit more difficult than the average race in the qualifiers!� [pity they won�t let Phil sail next weekend, but he will have no excuses for not submitting his copy (gossip) on time! (ed)]. Thanks to Peter Newton, we record the semis with an image on the Rolling Photos.

More 420 sailors qualify for MR Finals 
Ben Ainslie, with Ian Percy in his crew, won the final qualifier in the National Match Racing series at Weymouth at the weekend; the Women�s Championships are next weekend and the Finals the weekend after.

Matt Greenfield, with our man Mark Stockbridge on board, put Ben Ainslie under some pressure! � see RYA report attached. In third were Niall Myant�s team, which included one-time 420 sailor Tom Smedley. But fourth place was taken by Edinburgh Uni and Lymington�s Charlotte Lawrence, who had 420 sailors, Georgie Blaver-Mann & Katie Mackenzie, as well as a certain Phil Lawrence, on board � is this the well known contributor to this column? - surprised we did not get the inside info sooner!

420 Safety fleet 
Howard Williams is now the Class Safety officer. He is in the process of compiling a list of parents who possess RYA Powerboat Level II or above and are able to help in manning a safetey RIB. If you can help by providing a RIB, your own or have use of a club RIB, even better.

Please let Howard know by emailing him on [email protected] or phone him on 0151 342 8970.

For the Inlands at Oxford we urgently require an additional RIB and some additional on the water helpers.

Many thanks

Our guys win ISAF Worlds � under 21 Team Racing Champs 
Celebrations in Valencia last night as the Team GBR3 became the first ever ISAF under-21 World Champion Team Racers�.and in 420s too! We have spotted Elliott Parsons, James Goss, Maria Stanley and Stephen Videlo, but there may be more 420 Class members in amongst the champagne corks (see attached RYA report)�surely not!

Alan Guy, GBR Team Manager & RYA TR Committee Chair said: �The under 21 team GBR3 were fantastic, went from strength to strength. At one stage in the second gold league they finished up 5th in the world having beat GBR1, NZL1, IRL1 & AUS2�.

ISAF annual meeting - November 2007 - ISAF Youth Worlds classes 
As most of you will know, ISAF is the world governing body for the sport of sailing. Most of the big decisions affecting our sport are made at the annual conference, which is held in November each year.

Changes are made as a result of submissions made by national authorities (like the RYA), and one of the submissions concerns 420s which some of you might find interesting....

Submission 129-07 (click on the header for the link) submitted by the RYA suggests that the ISAF Youth Worlds boats from 2009 onwards should include the 420 (boys boat and girls boat) and the 29er (open crew), whilst dropping the cat.

Unsurprisingly, cat sailors don't like this (see the Y&Y; web forum under "Dinghy Multihulls" for their comments), but it could be good for 420 and 29er sailing. If you support the RYA proposal, you might want to put a message on the Y&Y; forum supporting the idea, to balance things up a bit? Go on - let them know what you think (but keep it civilised!!)

ISAF Annual Conference - part 2 - Team Racing 
Another submisison to the Annual Conference is 091-07 from the Lightning Class, suggesting that team racing should be one of the sailing events at the 2012 Olympics - in the UK. This would be quite a big change, but the 420 class has produced many good team racers, so it'll be interesting to see what happens in November.

Peter Gray & Simon Forbes win 2007 Symmetric Grand Prix 
Peter, recently retired (but not retiring!) Chairman of the 420 Sailors� Committee and Simon (one of our more �senior� sailors � used to crew with Niki Birrell) � our guys at Staunton Harold - have won the FastSail�s Symmetric Grand Prix at Rutland Water. They scored three bullets in their Fireball in the six-race series, led the thirty 505s, Fireballs, Flying Dutchmen, Hornet, Laser IIs (invited), Javelins and Ospreys and won a Superspars mast (some good prizes at Fastsail!). Pity this event clashes with other 420 events, as we are always welcome.

Winter Traveller I at Grafham - 28 October 
Winter Traveller 1 follows on from the Open Training at Grafham, and is only a week before the End of Seasons at the same venue.

Up to 20 visiting 420s are invited to join club racing (two races) - if you want to enter, please sign up online.

The Class Association (using funding support from the RYA) has arranged for Neil Marsden to provide event support, via briefings and video debriefings.

420 Open Training at Grafham 26/27 October 
Online entry is now available for the Open Training at Grafham Water SC during half-term on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 October. Neil Marsden is lead coach again, and the training will give you an opportunity to sail at Grafham only a week before the End of Season event.

Inlands at Oxford 6/7 October - enter now!!! 
We already have 24 online entries for the Inlands at Oxford SC in a few weeks time. The entry fee is �28, but it goes up by �10 for payments received after 23 September, so make sure you have entered and paid before then!

If you need help finding a crew or helm, contact either Carla Stanley or Tony Mapplebeck and they'll try and help.

GBR 420 sailors go to ISAF TR World Champs�.in 420s! 
Three teams, one with golden oldies Andrew Cornah & Ben Field and more recent 420 sailor Pippa Girling and one, the under 21s, with Elliott Parsons, James Goss, Maria Stanley and Stephen Videlo set off for RCN Gandia in Valencia this weekend for the 2007 ISAF Team Racing World Championships. Go well guys! See RCN Gandia Event and ISAF. websites .

Poole Youth Regatta 
Thirty one 420s took part in the Poole Youth Regatta on 15/16 September.

There were three races on Saturday in glorious sunshine and about 6-8 knots from the south east. Race one was won by Ben Palmer & Piers Strong with Ben Saxton & David de Boltz second after early leaders Matt Rainback & Simon Foskett were unsure how many laps to do! Races two & three were won by Saxton & de Boltz.

On Sunday, the temperature dropped as the breeze swung to the south west and increased to about 10-15 knots. Tim Saxton & Tom Taylor scored a 1-2-1, whilst Saxton & de Boltz scored 2 - 1 - (11) to take first place overall ahead of Saxton & Taylor. Phil Sparks & Ben Platten secured consistently good results to finish third overall, with Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor (first girls) in fourth and Palmer & Strong in fifth.

Thanks to all involved in running an excellent event for 230+boats and 300+ sailors. For full results, clik on the report header.

420 sailors in the reckoning at Topper Worlds 
OK, so we�re a bit slow�we were busy at 420 Nationals is our excuse�.but we just caught up with the Gul Topper Worlds � a massive fleet of 173 Toppers let loose on Lake Garda again - in the last week of August. Ben Palmer, still up with the leaders, and Tom Weatherhead, improving on his 2006 result, looked after our honour with top-ten results overall and Marina Brassington was third woman. What�s more, Shona Ross was second and Isabel Quicke third in the Silver Fleet!

Busy time of year 
It's that frantic time of year - starting University or completing your UCAS forms. Others are just settling in to AS levels. Fortunately, not many exams at this time of year, so the 420 event and training calendar has a lot to offer. Please register as soon as possible to help with the event planning (and don't forget to renew your membership for 2007/8).

Ben Saxton & David de Boltz win at Lymington 
"Qingdao" like conditions (light / shifty winds with strong tides) tested the sailing skills of the 26 420s who attended the Harken Royal Lymington Junior and Youth Open. A total of four races were sailed (three on Saturday and only one on Sunday). Good starts and tactical prowess were required to gain three good counting results. After a tentative start Ben Saxton and David de Boltz made few mistakes to finish on four points winning the last two races. Tim Saxton and Imogen Stanley (a partnership of convience for this weekend) kept up the pressure to finish second counting a first, second and third. Lucy de Boltz and Claire Lasko sailed together for the first time, and kept their nerve to finish third overall (first ladies) counting (4, 5, 2) to finish just one point ahead of Hamish Stone and Chris Proffiitt (3, 3, 6) and Matt Rainback and Simon Foskett also on 12 points (4, 4, 4).
Many thanks go to Royal Lymington for running a good event in difficult circumstances and to Harken for its sponsorship of the event.

Class Open Training at Itchenor 
On the 22nd/23rd September the 420 Class is once again running Open training. Details and online registration are via the event website (Use above link).

Bow numbers - Poole, Inlands and End of Seasons 
We are using the SAME bow numbers for Poole, the Inlands and the End of Season championships as were allocated at the Nationals. If you did not take part at the Nationals, you will be allocated your Bow number at Poole. This one will also carry forward to the Inlands and EOS.

Bow numbers are allocated to a specific boat / sail number not helm

Inland Championships at Oxford Sailing Club 
The online entry system will be live from the 5th September. For more information visit the event website (use above link).

NEW Membership Year 
Have you remembered to renew your membership for 2007/8. The new membership year started on the 1st September! (See Membership on the left hand menu).

Youth MR photos from Paul Wyeth 
We have a small group of images from the camera of Paul Wyeth on the Photo Gallery. For further information go to www.pwpictures.com.

420 sailors fly the flag at Mirror Nationals 
Edward Grey & Hannah Mitchell, from the Royal Windermere, took 6th at the Mirror Nationals at Brightlingsea, while Hugo Sloper, of Itchenor, was in 7th place and Roseanna Yeoward of Rhosneigr BA, was 12th in a field of over 60 boats.

Poole Youth Regatta 
We have been asked to make you aware of the closing date for this event. At the moment 25 places have been reserved for the 420 class. After the 5th September, any places not taken will be re-allocated to other fleets where there is a waiting list. The Optimist main fleet has been allocated 80 places, 89 have paid and total entry is currently at 134. If you are planning to go, the please do not leave it to the last minute as you may be disappointed!

Lymington Open - 8/9 September 
Its that �open month� again, with the Nationals behind us and serious autumn/winter training, Class events and uni a few weeks off yet. Time to have some fun sailing on the open circuit, getting in some practice before the serious stuff starts. First off, unless you are doing the Belgian Open, it�s the Lymington Open on 8 & 9 September.

Team Saxton crowned Youth Match Racing Champions for 2007 
Press Report and Results

Rusdens are 2007 National Champions 
James & Will Rusden won the 2007 British National Championships decisively today at Hayling Island. Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor are Women's Champions and 2nd overall. In third place were Tim Saxton & Claire Lasko. Final results attached. Detail to be found on the event website (follow link on the item below).

News from the AGM! 
...well, if there is no sailing....!

Junior Europeans - Overall 
Only one race was sailed today. Singapore win the Open Title. The British team have had a very successfull event:

European results (excluding non-European boats):
1. Tom Gillard and Sam Brearey
2. Jonny Moss and Ben Muskett
5. Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko
7. Peter Irwin and David Kohler
10.Ben Saxton and James Foskett
17. Imogen Stanley and Kate Macgregor (3rd girls).
49. Kate Allam and Sarah Burge

Stll awaiting official results. The team is busy packing up and look forward to the Nationals at Hayling!

Claire & Jas win Gold. Tim & Claire win the Silver Fleet 
European Championships: Provisional Results just published
NB Ladies did 12 races and Open fleet did 11 + Qualifiers. Results just updated on Event Website (follow link) include the final Ladies' race. Everyone very busy here packing up and some celebrating! Remember these results are provisional and "subject to protest".

[In my day there were only two words for it: woop! woop! No doubt you will get a fuller story soon, but everyone seems to be packing up at the moment!]

Weguelin, Ainsworth & Ellis medal at ISAFs! 
Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainsworth scored a bullet in the final race at the ISAF Youths and took Silver (the winners were also experienced 420 sailors, like many others in the competition) - see Final Results � Women�s double-hander.
James Ellis and Robert Partridge won Bronze! - see Final Results � Men�s double-hander.
Well done our guys! RYA post-event Press Release.

The racing circuit is calling 
The exams are over so now is the time to dust off your 420s prior to the Nationals (have you entered?).

Next week sees a number of British boats travelling to compete at the French Nationals at Les Sables d'Olonne. Exact numbers won't be available until we get sight of results or an entry list. (We hope our local correspondents will provide us with updates).

For those of you remaining in the UK, Blackwater Sailing Club have organised a 420 Open meeting. Join the local fleet (quite large by all accounts) for a great weekend. Details are contained on their event website which can be accessed via the calendar.

Flanders Youth Regatta - Overall (British 1-2-3-5-7-8-9) 
This morning saw strong winds and torrential rain in Nieuwpoort. At 10 o'clock local time, the organisers decided not to run any further races. Final results have now been posted.

Last night the protest against the Rusdens was re-opened and their previous DSQ was overturned. Ben Saxton and James Foskett finished on a high scoring a 2nd and 1st to finish on 20 points, now four points behind this year's winners James and Will Rusden on 16 points (discarding their 15th in the last race). Peter Irwin and David Kohler in 3rd on 41 points picking up two unconstomary 16ths on the day. Marcq Brice and Jeremy Mion from France finished in 4th on 46 points. Claire Lasko and Tim Saxton (60pts) overtook Nina Keizer and Anneloes van Veen (65 pts) on the last day to finish 5th and 6th respectively. The British took the next three places with Hamish Stone and Chris Proffitt in 7th on 88 points, Tom Taylor and Joe Williams in 8th also on 88 points and Stephen Tiernan and Jamie Crapnell in 9th on 95 points. Belgian sailors Joeren Belis and Arnaud Blij rounded of the top ten with 112 points.

Other British finishers
13th Jack Yeoman, Matt Rainback
16th Charlie Makepeace, Sam Muskett
17th Jonny Moss, Ben Muskett
18th Josh Rumboll, Tom Davidson
19th Kate Allam, Sarah Burge
21st Mark Lees, Piers Strong
22nd Kate Macgregor, Catherine Schuster-Bruce
24th Jonathon House, Adrian Clay
26th Kathryn Kimber, Claire Dallimore
28th Jamie Knill, Lewis Rumbol
31st James Logan, Konrad Weaver
33rd Tye Wichard, Sarah Chowienczyk
35th Katie Chowienczyk, Taz Wichard

Tom Gillard 2nd at Streaker Nationals 
Congratulations to 420 Euros team sailor Tom Gillard on finishing second overall at the Streaker Nationals held at Filey last weekend. There were 53 entries, and the winner was "Mr Rooster" Steve Cockerill who successfully defended his title, whilst Tom improved from 3rd place overall in 2006.

Kieler Woche - Overall 
This year saw the 420 class increase its entries to 170 showing its continued popularity throughout Europe. It continues being the largest double-handed youth class in Europe.

The weather conditions have been very difficult throughout, and therefore only six races were sailed in total (5 round robin and 1 in Gold/Silver and Bronze fleets).

German sailors Florian Dziesiaty/Oliver Szymanski (22pts) win the event on tie break from Italians Federico Maccari/Rocco Vitali. In third (one point behind) the German ladies Katja Muller/Sandra Boschert.

The four British teams, using this event as training for the Europeans, all finished in the top 15.

6th Ben Saxton / David de Boltz 25pts
9th Claire Lasko/Tim Saxton 33.5 pts
12th Peter Irwin/David Kohler 37.5 pts
15th Imogen Stanley/Kate Magregor 42 pts

GBR 420s on summer tour in Europe 
We're pleased to report that the RYA are providing coach support for GBR 420s at Kiel Week (Mark Plummer), Flanders Week and the French Nationals (Callum MacDonald) and there will also be a support RIB at each of these events.

If you're planning to do the events at Kiel or Flanders please complete the online entry soon so we can see how many GBR boats are planning to attend - the event websites currently show three GBR boats for Kiel and six for Flanders.

Entry for the French Nationals is off-line (that means paper!) so please could you email [email protected] to let me know if you plan to take part in that event.

2007 420 Nationals at Hayling Island SC 
The Notice of Race for the 2007 Nationals at HISC will be published on Friday 25 May. We also have the outline plans (and a budget!) for some social events at the Nationals, but we now need a "Social Committee" of maybe three or four sailors to put together some more detailed plans for the social events.

If you would like to be involved in this planning, please let me know by email at [email protected] .

RYA Junior & Youth Coaches Course 
16 � 20 July, 2007 at WPNSA � see attached

Teams announced for Open, Ladies & Junior 420 Europeans 
We're pleases to announce that the following teams will be representing Great Britain at the Open, Ladies & Junior 420 European Championships this summer:

Open Europeans - Istanbul
Ben Saxton & James Foskett *
Jonny Moss & Ben Muskett *
James Rusden & Will Rusden
Peter Irwin & David Kohler *
Tom Gillard & Sam Brearey *
Tim Saxton & Claire Lasko *
Peter Gray & Gareth Evans

Ladies Europeans - Istanbul
Claire Walsh & Jasmine Husband
Imogen Stanley & Kate Macgregor *
Kate Allam & Sarah Burge *
Rebecca Kalderon and Rosie Sibthorp
Alice Brotchie & Jane Turner
Georgie Andrew & Milli Parkin
Nerissa Booth & Poppy Husband

(asterisk indicates teams also attending the Junior Europeans in Medemblik)

Saxton & Foskett win Poole 
There was no racing on Monday due to strong winds, so after 5 races on Sunday in the Poole Open (and some swimming practice by some), Ben Saxton & James Foskett won the event with 3 bullets and 8 points. James & Will Rusden finished second on 18, Jonny Moss & Ben Muskett on 23 and Tom Gillard & Sam Brearey on 28. On 39 points each were Ben Palmer & James Clark, Claire Walsh & Jasmine Husband and Peter Irwin & David Kohler, in that order on countback.

GBR team plans for Open, Ladies & Junior Europeans 
Provisional plans and budgets for the GBR teams attending the Open, Ladies & Junior European 420 Championships are published on the event pages on this website. A meeting will be held after the prize-giving at Selector 2 at Poole on Monday to provide more information.

Do you have a 420 for sale? 
There have been quite a few enquiries recently from people wanting to buy a secondhand 420, but there are only two advertised on the 420 website. If you have a boat for sale, please put the details onto the 420 website so that we can get more 420s sailing!

Also, we keep getting requests for second-hand bits - like sails, foils etc. . Why not check your sail lofts and boat hangars - there are Club sailors out there who would be interested! See Small Ads.

Crews and helms sought�.for Poole Selector 2 and/or longer-term 
We are hearing of several sailors who are looking for opportunities to sail - in the Poole Open next week, to gain experience in the boat, to share your experience and have some fun this summer, and/or to plan a serious future campaign. Let us know if you think we may be able to help. Send Email with contact info. or be in touch with Chairman or Membership Sec � see Contacts page. Make another sailor happy today!

420 European Selector 1 
The first of two weekends for selecting the GBR teams to represent Great Britain at the upcoming Open European and Junior European Championships was held at Hayling Island Sailing Club on the 28/29 April 2007.

37 boats entered the series competing for 7 ladies crews for the 420 Open Ladies European Championship in Turkey and 7 mixed and all male crews for the 420 Open Europeans. In addition, 7 U19 places are available to the top two mixed/male and top two female crews with a further three youth boats selected from the overall results. This year's 420 Junior Europeans will be held in Medemblick, The Netherlands.

The selection process consists of 6 scheduled race at Hayling Island with a further 9 races scheduled at Poole Yacht Club on the 5th-7th May. One discard is applied for every six races sailed.

The first weekend proved very taxing, with the wind strength varying and large shifts being experienced throughout the weekend. A detailed description of the individual races can be found in the Hayling Island Open reports for days 1 and 2 .

After four races in the selection series the following boats are at the top of the leader board.

Results after 4 races

1. Ben Saxton / James Foskett 16 pts (Open Fleet)
2. Jonny Moss / Ben Muskett 18 pts (Open Fleet)
3. Claire Walsh / Jasmine Husband 33 pts (Ladies Fleet)
4. Peter Gray / Gareth Evans 38 points (Open Fleet)
5. Tim Saxton / Claire Lasko 42 points (Open Fleet)
6. James Rusden / Will Rusden 42 points (Open Fleet)

Summary of Day 2 at Hayling Island 
Sunshine and around 9 knots met the sailors at the start of their second day of the Hayling Island Open. The fleet launched promptly at 09:55 hoping to complete 3 further races. Many of the boats were looking forward to the next race in order to be able to discard their worst result so far.

Given the difficult conditions yesterday, many of the boats were carry at least one score they would prefer to forget about.

Unfortunately, the breeze in the bay proved more challenging. After a recall on the first race of the day, the breeze went 30 degrees right and dropped to 2 knots. Fortunately, the breeze picked back up to 6 knots and the fleet were in a Black Flag start. (No mistakes this time!) ... (click on link for more).

Summary of Day 1 at Hayling Island 
Saturday (April 29th) saw forty-one 420s (including 3 Irish boats) arrive at Hayling Island Sailing Club for a two day open, which is also the first of two selection weekends for the 420 Open European Championships in Turkey and the 420 Junior Europeans in Holland.

The weather conditions looked very promising (as compared to the RYA Youth Championships two weeks ago). A NE breeze measuring 13 knots provided the ideal start to the day.

But the day would not turn out to be so straight forward. The wind during the day was generally going right, but large shifts (20 degrees and more) made for very tricky sailing conditions, with the corresponding high scores in what was a roller-coaster with a top 5 turning into a mid-twenties result and vice-versa.

For full report click on link above

Schedule for Selector 1 - HISC - 28/29 April 
The event website now has a schedule showing times and locations for registration, briefings etc.

RYA announces sailors selected for RYA 420 National Youth Squad 
Congratulations to the following sailors who have been selected to join the RYA 420 NYS:

Imogen Stanley & Kate MacGregor
Lucy de Boltz & Katherine Kimber
Jonny Moss & Ben Muskett
Ben Saxton & James Foskett
Owain Matthews & Joe Williams
Peter Irwin & David Kohler
Hamish Stone & Chris Proffitt
Ben Palmer & Tom Weatherhead
Jack Yeoman & George Yeoman

Management Committee meets 
The national Management Committee are meeting at Hayling at the weekend. Here are their February minutes.

"Ocean Images" at the Youth Nationals 
You will have seen that we had Rolling Photos up during the event, courtesy of the official RYA photographer, Richard Langdon. A full set of the low-re images supplied to us have been put in the Photo Archive. For the real thing, go to Ocean Images or call Marie.

Irwin & Kohler GBR 420 Youth Champs; Stanley & Macgregor, Women�s Champs 
Peter Irwin and David Kohler will be carrying the 420 Youth Champion trophy back to Scotland, while Imogen Stanley and Kate Macgregor are the 2007 420 Women�s Youth Champions. Final Results

Congratulations to Frances Peters & Hannah Diamond, Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainsworth and James Ellis in the 29ers � in fact, a lot of familiar names in the top 15 of the Gold Fleet!

Hey, and Tom Willis won the Laser Radials - awesome!

Breeze arrives too late 
All racing was abandoned at 12:30. The fleets had launched earlier in the day in the hope of getting in one race. For the 420s this would have enabled the second discard to kick in. By 11 o'clock the breeze had completely died. Just before 12:30 the flags had started to flutter at the club house, but the breeze had a long way to go before the fleets in the harbout would benefit from it. Being baked waiting for racing, the sensible decision was taken to bring them home.

Final results are as per last night.

Next major 420 event is the Hayling Open, the first of two weekends for the 420 Open and Junior European trials.

420 - Hayling Day 4 Summary 
Friday the 13th proved unlucky for some.

Four races were sailed in Hayling Bay in light and shifty conditions. Peter Irwin and David Kohler overcame the disappointment of their DSQ on Thursday by storming back with two 2nds and two 1st to lead the 420s on 17 points. Owain Matthews and Joe Williams also made the most of the day's conditions with a 1st, two 2nds and a 6th to take 2nd place on 27 points. Jonny Moss and Bem Muskett moved 1 point clear of last night's leader Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko who had a day they would prefer to forget. Matthew Rainback and James Foskett are keeping up the pressure on the boats just in front by finishing on 49 points, 4 points off 3rd.

The battle for the top girl's slot show British Youth Olympic Sailors Imogen Stanley and Kate MacGregor mover into 6th place with two 3rd places. The final race of the day became "personal" as Lucy de Boltz/Katherine Kimber and Imogen/Kate fought it out for a good starting position. Being "Friday the 13th" saw both of the black-flagged.

Saturday's race schedule has two races planned, although the wind forecast may mean NO racing on the day. If the fleet manages one more race, a second discard comes into play which may well shake the fleet positions up.

We are all hoping for more wind when we return to Hayling in two weeks time for the first of the selection trials for the Open and Junior European Championships.

Lyndsey Bell tells the story on the penultimate day of the RYA Youth Championships. 
420 sailors find themselves willing on the 420 sailors who are the top three 29er teams into the final day: Frances Peters & Hannah Diamond have an 8 point lead over World Women�s 29er Champions, Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainsworth. James Ellis & Rob Partridge are in 3rd, by 1 point�.and the next three teams all have 420 experience too, some massively! See 29er Results.

Irwin & Kohler score double bullets to build lead 
Provisional R8 results put Peter and David in the lead on 17 points. Owain & Joe are 2nd on 27 points after 2nds in R7 & R8. Jonny & Ben in 3rd are 1 point ahead of Tim & Claire. Matt Rainback & James Foskett are on 49, and Imogen Stanley and Kate Macgregor hold the Women�s lead on 53 points - in spite of their enthusiasm in Race 8 bringing out the ROs Black Flag! � just a point ahead of the Yeomans.

Irwin & Kohler strengthen lead after R6 
Provisional R6 results put Peter and David in the lead on a net 15 points, with
Owain & Joe up to 2nd on 23 points and Jonny & Ben 1 point behind. Jack & George Yeoman are on equal 26 points with Tim & Claire. Matt Rainback & Foskett are up to 5th on 29 points, 1 ahead of new women�s leaders, Imogen Stanley and Kate Macgregor.

Irwin & Kohler bounce back after set-back 
Provisional R5 results put Peter and David in the lead on a net 13 points, with Tim & Claire tying on 15 points with Jonny & Ben.

420s Hayling - Day 4 
Yesterday saw only 3 races sailed as the gradient wind was from the North. With the racing in course area "Charlie" near the exit of Langstone Harbour, the wind strength dropped significantly coming over the island. NO flag "O" yesterday. At about 2 o'clock, the sea breeze arrived fighting the gradient breeze, leading to a 3rd light race. Breeze died even more as the afternoon wore on so no futher racing in misty conditions.

Overnight, a protest save Peter/David DSQed in Race 4 moving Lucy/Katherine into 3rd overall. When racing restarts today after a generall recall on a black flag start, rumour has it that Jonny/Ben (currently 2nd) will be missing this race.

Friday morning sees a very light northerly breeze (quick cool too). It is predicted that the wind will loose strength later on in the day.

The change of sailing instructions allows up to 5 races to be sailed today although highly unlikely. More news as it becomes available from misty Hayling Island.

Results posted from Youths 
After 4 races. Tim Saxton & Claire Lasko and Jonny Moss & Ben Muskett are both on 15 points. Arising from the outcome of a Protest overnight, leading ladies, Lucy de Boltz & Kat Kimber on 24 points, are in 3rd on the board.

420s - Day3 snippets 
15:30 Results service patchy from Youth Nationals. Currently no detailed results for races 2 and 3.

The first race of the day (Race 2) was "Ladies Day" with Lucy de Botz/Katherine Kimber finishing in first place ahead of Imogen Stanley/Kate MacGregor. Third place went to Jonny Moss/Ben Muskett. Only small changes in the overall top 3 with Peter Irwin/David Kohler retaining 1st ahead of Tim Saxton/Claire Lasko. Jonny and Ben move up one place into third.

After 3 races Tim and Claire take the lead from Peter and David. Jonny and Ben hold on to their third place. No overall point scores currently available, nor information about the fortunes and positions of other 420 sailors.

420s at Hayling - Day 3 
Thursday morning looks like providing good sailing conditions with CHIMET registering 8 - 9 knots at 8 am. Wind up to 11 - 13 knots by 9 am! Will they be using Flag "O"?

Wind continuing to build. At 10 o'clock CHIMET measuring F4 Northeasterly, mean wind speed 13 knots with gusts over 15 knots. Should prove interesting in the bay (Let us hope that the masts survive unscathed for those taking a "swim").

Start times were brought forward 1/2 hour to enable more than the 3 scheduled 420 races to be sailed.

Peter Irwin and David Kohler win only race on Day 2 
Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko took 2nd and Owain Matthews & Joe Williams 3rd. 1st all girl crew in 9th are Lucy de Boltz and Katherine Kimber. 14 420s finished within the time limit, but another 15 didn't! Results See RYA Press Release attached above. Frances & Hannah doing good in 29ers!

420s at RYA Youth Champs - Day 2 
420s launched at 15:50 to 6-8 knots of southerly breeze and sunshine.

1st race finished in the bay. Unconfirmed information at 18:10 is that Peter Irwin and David Kohler won the race ahead of Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko.

RYA: "Youth Nationals sees a windless first day" 
FIVE recent 420 sailors in the top three slots in the 29er event (James Ellis, Frances Peters, Hannah Diamond, Sophie Wequelin and Sophie Ainsworth).

420s at the RYA Youth Nationals 
With many boats arriving early during the Easter weekend, good sailing was had on Sunday and Monday. Measurement of the 31 420s on Monday generally went smoothly, with some boats forgetting to have their sails signed prior to the event by a measurer.

The event starts in earnest today, Tuesday, to virtually NO wind. As of 13:30 the sailors are socialising hoping that the cloud cover will break for some sea breeze to develop. 420s are on the most westerly of the 3 courses near Langstone harbour.

Although the Radials and 29ers were sent out to race in the harbour at 15:00hrs as part of their qualifier series, the 420s (and other fleets) were abandoned for the day soon after.

The forecast for tomorrow is again for light winds with an improvement expected on Thursday.

420 Selections incorporating Hayling and Poole Opens 
From the 17th of April, a late payment fee of �20 applies for the selection series. Why not sign up now, and save yourselves �20. Of course, if you are rolling in money, the 420 Class is greatful for your donation to "the cause". If you can only attend one or other open event, then please sign up so that we can arrange the appropriate safety cover.

Remember, 14 places up for grabs at the Open Europeans. From other news articles it looks like Claire and Jasmin are determined to represent GBR in Turkey this year.

Claire & Jasmine triumph in Spain 
Claire Walsh & Jasmine Husband led the women at the conclusion of the Spanish Nationals at Blanes and raised their game to 7th overall in a field of 115! The full results are attached above. See C V Blanes website for final Press Release and photographs, though a large number of images are now posted on the International Class Photo News and Gallery. Good luck to our �fast� women as they travel slowly to the Coupe Internationale de la M�diterran�e!

Walsh & Husband up to 9th! 
NB Photos to be found on International Class Website - Photo News, together with other news.

420 sailors helm lead boats at BUSA Yachting 
Of the 31 helms sailing in the BUSA Yachting Nationals out of the Royal Southern YC in the Solent, the top three yachts are being helmed by ex-420 sailors: Sam Pearson of Southampton Solent leads after 5 races, followed by Nick Cherry & Guy Brearey, Southampton 1 & 2 respectively . Tom Smedley of Cambridge is running 6th, while Jez Fowke of Exeter is 7th. Of course, there may be many 420 stars on board the 31, but, regrettably, we cannot source the info. The event finishes on Thursday.

Change of weather slows things down at Blanes on Day 2 
�After the hard climatology of yesterday, where the regatistas sailed in conditions of wind from among 16 and 18 knots and waves from among 4 and 6, today they have been found with a forceful rain in which has caused the lack of wind in the zone of Blanes where is carried out the competition. Of that way, even themselves not the four tests have been able to be done that permit to carry out the ends. Tomorrow in the third day of competition will try to obtain the objective. The forecast does not foresee an increase of the wind. Will disappear the rain, although there is possible discharge of local storms�.

Surely we have a Spanish scholar in the Fleet that can do better than this! (word has it that Claire and Jaz could use your help too!)

GBR has "fast" women at Blanes 
Early rumours reach us of Walsh and Husband, "fast" on the water at the Spanish Nationals. If you do Spanish, you will make sense of the report on Day 1 linked above. More when we have a coherent picture! (....well, the picture's clear, but the waves are obscuring the story a bit)

Provisional Results � Day 1

Oh, and the support team got home safely, Claire (in case you were wondering)

Selection Trials for Open and Junior Europeans 
Entries are being accepted online for the Open and Junior European selection trials being held at Hayling Island and Poole.
If you are an overseas visitor or not able to participate in both weekends, we still look forward to seeing you at one of the events. Please sign up for the appropriate selector. There are lots of opportunites for this year's 420 sailors with 14 places availabe, 7 for the open fleet and 7 for the ladies fleet.

�Out of the whole fleet we probably talk the most in the boat� 
Anna and Holly�s formula for winning a World Championship � team communication! - see Y&Y; 23 March, together with Holly�s views on helms and Jonny McGovern! Sound like 420 sailors (this year�s membership renewal now due, ladies!), even if they were in a boat with a red sail!

NEW - 420 Summer Training Camp 
The GBR 420 Class Association are to provide additional training during the summer to assist in the smooth transition to the 420 from other classes. Start your ISAF 2009 Youth Championship challenge NOW.

The summer training camp will be residential and held at Hayling Island Sailing Club on from the 23rd - 27th July. The training is open to sailors of all abilities but sailors moving from the Junior classes are particularly welcome.

Although it is preferable to have a helm and crew partnership organised, this should not discourage those who do not have a sailing partner; we will endeavour to find helms or crews for these people, but we need to know well in advance. We also aim to have a number of boats that can be chartered for the week.

Coaching will be provided by experienced 420 sailors and coaches with a ratio of coaches to sailors of 1 to 6 or less. On the water coaching will be supplemented by video debriefing and shore based sail-setting and rig tuning sessions. The boats will be coached in groups of similar ability but there will be at least one race each day that includes all the boats.

There will be a guest lecture from Christina Bassadone on the 420 and the route to the Olympics.

Youth Match Racing Champs & RYA MR Prog 
OK, so the students have been match racing last weekend, but it is here-and-now 420 sailors who get teams together for the Youth MR Champs at WPNSA on 25�27 August. Fancy having a go? You can start at any age (current National MR Champ, Nick Cherry and current National Youth Champion, Robbie Allam both started in Oppies!). There is an overall weight limit of 350 kg per team, so 4 � 6 sailors � often room for an extra small one! A great way into keelboats, MR tactics and a head start for Uni sailing and beyond. RYA MR Programme 2007 , Entry Form, Parental Declaration and Credit Card Payment Form attached.

420 sailors at 29er Eurocup in Denia, Spain 
On the third and final day of racing, the wind increased to 15 to 20 knots, giving some exhilarating racing and a few capsizes. After 11 races, James Rusden and Ben Saxton secured first place overall ahead of Oliver Rechnitzer and Peter Lang from Denmark, with the lighterweight pairing of Lukasz Pryzbytek and Krzystof Mongird from Poland slipping to third overall.

Champion Cherry takes BUSA MR title 
Gusts of 40+ prevented sailing at the BUSA Match Racing Championships on Sunday, so the scores for the ten flights sailed on Saturday were declared at the result. Nick Cherry's Southampton team, with Will Morgan and Andy Mackay on board, took 6/6 on Saturday to ensure the 2007 crown, duly awarded by BUSA Chair, Steve Gibson. In 2nd were Robbie Allam's Cardiff people, including Maia Walsh & Olly Bennett, while 3rd place was taken by Pinner's of Cambridge - with an all-420 crew of Tom Heywood, Tom Smedley, Rachel Wigmore & Bethan Carden. Some photographs on the Photo Archive. Oh, nice birthday present, Nick - have a good one in Palma!

420 and ex-420 sailors do it in 470s at Rutland 
The second Olympic Spring Series event also had demanding, blustery conditions on Saturday and no sailing on Sunday. After 4 races in the 470, the outcome read like a past copy of On the Wire: Luke & Twiggy, Mars Bar & Dobbo. Jonny & Tom, Tom & George, Niki & Christian, Ally & Lottie and Hannah & Katrina. Lucky them, off to Princess Sofia in Palma (nothing to do with Cherry�s party, of course!).

Only a few places left at Oxford traveller event 
After a successful traveller at Poole YC, the limited places at the Oxford traveller are being taken by sailors keen to test their racing skills after a winter of training. With the selection trials rapidly approaching, Oxford will provide another ideal opportunity to mix it with the best.
Entries limited to first 20 boats so as to fit in with local racing. Some boats are planning to arrive on Saturday to set up their boats and acquaint themselves with the venue.

Poole traveller exceeds expectations 
After the first Poole traveller event was cancelled due to strong wind at the end of November last year, all eyes were on the weather forecast. Predictions at the beginning of the week were showing 22+knots average wind speed.
Even so, 21 boats (of a capped entry) attended Poole YC on the 11th of March. The weather Gods made up with glorious sunshine and around 15 knots of wind.
There was NO club racing on the day and with only one of the Optimist squads training, the race officer was able to have his pick of the water for 3 planned races. (Click on link above for full report ...)

Poole Traveller on 11 March is full! 
The entry limit for the Poole Traveller on Sunday 11 March has now been reached with about 20 boats expected. This should give good racing over the three scheduled races, with a good breeze forecast as well.

An entry limit applies for each Traveller event so that the 420s do not "overrun" the host club on a normal (non-Open Meeting) weekend. So, if you have not entered already, please do not try and enter on the day, as you will not be allowed to sail in the event.

Peter Saxton - GBR 420 Class Sailing Secretary

Youth Championships Entry / National Youth Squad Applications 
The entry deadline for the RYA Youth Championships & Trials is 31st March 2007, so please make sure that, if you wish to take part, you have entered before this date as NO entries will be accepted after this date.. Please enter online at: RYA Youth Championships Website

The 2007 RYA National Youth Squad Application Form is attached. Please make sure that you (and your crew) have filled in a form each and returned to the RYA office ASAP if your are looking to be considered for the RYA NYS, when the squads are reviewed at the RYA Youth Championships & Trials.

Racing opportunities before the Selections 
The final two winter traveller events prior to the selection trial events are being held on the 11th and 18th of March at Poole and Oxford respectively. To help local administration please register online if you are intended to come.

The Dinghy Show provided an ideal opportunity for the 420 class to present it credentials and recruit new members, given the return of the 420 as the ISAF boat in 2009. Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko kindly provided their boat for display on the RYA Youth Sailing stand. Many thanks to all those who helped out over the weekend.

Any 420 sailors up for a trip to South Africa over Easter? 
420s are now being built in RSA, and a new Class has been established. We just heard from the Sec: �Over Easter the Western Cape Championships (6 � 9 April) will take place at Saldanha Bay (NW of Cape Town). It is a multi class dinghy event which usual attracts about 120 - 150 entries. 10 days later (20 - 22 April), we will hold the first International 420 (South African) National Championships at Zeekoe Vlei YC). We are hoping to have two boats available for charter at about �300 for each of the events. If there are any sailors out there who would be interested in coming out I am sure that we will be able to find them accommodation with our 420 sailors and organize a tour for them in between the events. Do you think that anyone might be interested?� (if you are, please contact GBR Membership Sec - see Contacts)

BOA recognises 420 sailing talent 
Congratulations to our 420 sailors who won GOLD at team racing in Sydney. The British Olympic Association have made them Olympic Silver Passport Holders for the coming year.
Well done to Claire Lasko, Kate Macgregor, Matthew Rainback, Ben Saxton, Tim Saxton and Imogen Stanley.

United 4 Sailing 2007: on-line entry opens 
NB altered schedule of venues.

Josie to compete in Women's MR Worlds 
Current GBR 420 member, Josie Gibson is one of 11 skippers invited by ISAF this week to compete in the Women's World Match Racing Championships at the Sport Nautique de Saint Quay-Portrieux, France from 6 -11 August. Congratulations, Jose!

Heywood, Smedley, Wigmore & Carden help Pinner to Cambridge victory. 
What more could Jon want than full-on 420 sailors Tom, Tom (well one time 420 anyways), Rach & Betsy in his crew to take the BUSA Match Racing Qualifier 2 at QMSC today! Robbie Allam�s magic gave Cardiff, with our guys, Ollie Bennett and Maia Walsh, 2nd (but where were his crew when the F flag went up this morning?�.still in bed at the Travelodge!). Soton�s Nick Cherry, with Ian Dobson & James Roche, was 3rd (bad suggestion for Sudden Death, eh Nick?) and Jez Fowke was on board Exeter 1 in 4th (We are reliably informed that Mary Rook, helm of Exeter 2, with Schnibe and Sophie White, are through to the finals too � where a head to head with Charlotte Lawrence of Edinburgh is a possibility! Woop!). Oh, and we hope that Robyn Phillips' Durham Bowman's shoulder has recovered from dislocation and then a trip in the dark with the Umpire!

5 of 12 captains at BUSA MR Qualifier are 420 trained! 
....and that's only the captains! Nick Cherry (Southampton) (perpetual student?), Robbie Allam (Cardiff), Sam Pearson (Solent), Mary Rook (Exeter) and Robyn Phillips (Durham) lead the ones to watch on Thursday and Friday at Queen Mary this week � beats the library or the lab anyday! We hope to bring you news before the BUSA website, hey!

TR volunteers for Brit-Am Cup deadline 
YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU! Britain must this year reclaim the British-American Cup from the Americans. And that means finding speed in Sonars....! Can 420-trained sailors manage this? The deadline for applications is the 23rd February 2007!

Anyone looking for a sailor?....to sail a 420 with? 
We are hearing that there are some changes in partnerships going on since the Worlds and some new sailors coming into the Class.

Both experienced 420-sailors and those moving on from other Classes can be looking - all sorts of shapes and sizes! Some want a helm or crew for a particular event, some are looking for someone to do the Youths, or the Euros/Jnr Euros Selectors, maybe to do a Class Training weekend with. We are happy to help - but can only make suggestions if we know you are looking! (click above for further info)

Peter seeks your help, providing free passes and his very special company to early volunteers - your Class needs you! 
"We would greatly appreciate some help manning the stand at the Dinghy Show 3&4 March and making sure all the kids leaving their respective junior classes make a well-informed and correct decision by coming and sailing 420s. There are a limited number of free passes available - and you will have the delight of my company all weekend!"
Please contact Peter Gray - see "Contacts" on the menu.

Committee to meet - views invited 
The Management Committee is to meet at the Oxford Traveller. Attached is the agenda for the meeting which will be after sailing on Saturday 18 February at Farmoor. Peter Gray, Sailors� Committee, asked for the meeting, and Carla Stanley says if any sailor has any issues they would like to have discussed, please contact Peter or Carla (see "Contacts" on the menu). Agenda and Previous Minutes attached.

Allam & Burge lead 420s at John Merricks Tiger 
When the Saturday Handicap and the Sunday Pursuit Race Results were eventually combined: Kate Allam & Sarah Burge were the first 420 (overall 33); Peter Irwin & David Kohler 2nd (36) & Anna Mackenzie & Holly Scott 3rd (52nd).

Top 20 showings by random 420 sailors in even more random alternative vessels: James Rusden & Ben Saxton (4th), Frances Peters & Hannah Diamond (5th), Nicola Brook (6th), Neil Baker (�blast from the past� 9th), David Evans (11th), John Davies (�but no Paul! 12th), Tristan Jaques (17), Matt Undrell (19) and James Ellis (20th). Sounds like the weekend and the social were another fun John Merricks Tiger Trophy - only complaint heard was that the 420 & 29er sailors hogged the dance floor!

Slow sailing at the Tiger 
Alison Rumball & Suzanne Burke led the 420s in the slow handicap race at the Tiger on Saturday (19th overall). Recently returned from South Africa, World Mirror Champs, Anna Mackenzie & Holly Scott were 2nd (21 overall) and Kate Allam & Sarah Burge 3rd (24 overall). Several 420s were in the unfortunate lead group in the Slow Handicap who were ahead of the first boat in the Fast Handicap at its finish, so they had a second lap to do, during which the wind dropped.

On Sunday, with very light winds, sailing is limited to the Pursuit Race, being sailed at the South end of the Water. convenient for the spectators sunning themselves at the Club House. It looks like a win for the Thames A Rater, Nicola Brook crewing a merlin in 2nd and Jonny & Tim McGovern, also in a Merlin, 3d....and Peter Irwin & David Kohler first 420, woop! Watch RWSC for definitive overall results......sorry, still computing at 15.45, had to go!

Sophies� 8th breaks Argentine top 10 domination 
Mat�as Gainza Eurnekian & Federico Villambrosa (ARG) are the new 29er World Champions. The Argentine hold on the event was upset a tad by Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainsworth. They rose to 8th overall on the last day, bagging a 5th in the penultimate race, and were the leading youth and women's entry. Other GBR 420 sailors: James Ellis was 11th, James Peters 15th, Hannah Diamond 21st, Frances Peters 22nd and Henry Maxfield 24th (also picking up a 5th on the last day). Argentina and GBR were joined in the Gold Fleet by a boat from RSA and two from USA.

GBRs Sydney Gold: 100% 420 Gremlins! 
News of our guys' success, the competition and the prize-giving are coming through. Official press release attached. See also:
Myrrh Walker of the RYA and a Photo Gallery on Yachts & Yachting; and
Sam Crichton of Sail-world UK

Team GB win Gold at Australian Youth Olympic Festival 
Claire Lasko, Ben and Tim Saxton with their crews Matthew Rainback, Kate Macgregor and Imogen Stanley have won Team Racing Gold in Sydney.

MacKenzie & Scott: World Mirror Champions 
Anna Mackenzie (Royal Windemere YC) and Holly Scott (Shustoke SC) won the Mirror Worlds with a race in hand (420-style celebrations are recorded in our Photo Archive). Juliet Long rose to 4th overall after the final race and Rebecca Kalderon completed the Championship in 10th. Rebecca Kalderon, with Hannah Mitchell (Itchenor SC) won the under-16 top Youth Team prize! Congratulations to all Team GBR! Anna thanked all concerned, "although you did get beaten by a couple of girlies!". Woop!

Christina Bassadone & Saskia Clark 470 North American Women's Champions 

Mary Rook in top 10 at Boat Show Pursuit! 

Photos from the 2007 Worlds 
We had an unprecedented supply of images from four photographers at the Takapuna Worlds. We have used several on the Rolling Photos on this page and some will be archioved in due course. Go to the photographers' websites for some amazing photos and contact them for high resolution images for prints.
Bill Calver of www.oceanphotography.co.nz, the official photographer;
Paul Todd of www.outsideimages.co.nz;
Richard Gladwell, the NZ Editor of www.sail-world.com; Sail-World have just announced that they are offering a free DVD of their images - see their news item; and
Christine Hansen�s photos, on and off the water, can be found at the Event website www.420worlds2007.org.nz

Young Sailors of the Year 
We just heard � sorry, been too busy watching 420s in New Zealand, the Mirrors in RSA and the Bloody Mary! � that we have new Raymarine Young Sailors of the Year in the Class! Woop! Hamish Stone, with his Cadet crew, Aaron Woolf, won the RYA East title and Hannah Mills & Peggy Webster (at the time the reigning Ladies' 420 World Champions!) won the Welsh title. Congratulations to all those receiving awards! (if you click often enough, you may catch the photograph).

Oh, and we would like to bask in the reflected glory of Katie Miller, the impressive overall winner and UK circumnavigator � our 420 member on the Aber Lifeboat served her tea on her way round! (see Complete News earlier this year).

Test Upload 

NMC meet at Grafham 
Our National Management Committee just met at the EoS, and now the minutes are available in swift time!

Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko win End of Season Regatta 
After a glorious day's sailing, Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko have won the End of Season Regatta counting two 1sts and two 2nds. Ben Saxton and James Foskett finished in 2nd on 22 points one point behind their tuning partners. (They had an interesting incident on the water where an enterprising jury had to use a yellow lunch bag instead of a misplaced yellow flag).
Third place went to Irish vistors Ed Butler and Sean Collins. Tom Gillard and Sam Breary finished in fourth after they lost a protest and the 1st place from race 6. Josh Rumbol and Tom Davidson finished in 5th ahead of Rob Struckett and Tom Hodkinson. First all girl boat were Kate Allam and Sarah Burge in 12.

Traveller Event at Itchenor Sailing Club a great success 
Andy Shaw and William Smyth lead traveller series with two wins one point ahead of Tim Saxton and Claire Lasko on 3 points. Ben Saxton and James Foskett lie 3rd on 5 points.
The next traveller event is being held at Poole Yacht Club on the 26th November.

Open Meetings in 2007 
We are starting to receive dates of 420 Open meetings in 2007 for the calendar. If you are currently in the process of agreeing dates with your clubs, please check the 420 calendar to try and avoid date clashes. Please send the dates to the sailing secretary so that they can be added to the calendar for all interested parties to see. Many thanks.

Complete News