Yachts & Yachting magazine May 2020

In the history of sailing – indeed, in all of history - it is hard to think of a more bizarre time. The world is gripped in a lock-down. In these spring days of blue skies and plentiful breeze, we should be peeling back the boat covers and amassing on start lines. Instead, the boat covers are firmly tied down and there can be no amassing of any sort. For as long as this pandemic lasts, I hope you stay healthy and stay safe. Look after your families, and stay in touch with teammates and clubmates. While solo sailors such as Dee Caffari may be familiar with the experience of isolation (see Andy Rice’s interview, page 17), for the majority of us this is an extreme situation and keeping positive is key.…

The British Sailing Team is facing months of uncertainty as plans are drawn up to reschedule this year’s Olympic Games for 2021. The 15 sailors picked to represent the country in Tokyo do at least appear to have their places secured. Decisions on Olympic team selections rest ultimately with Team GB, but RYA Racing Director, Ian Walker has informed British Sailing Team members of their recommendation that the 15 sailors already selected should keep their places. The RYA view is that sailors have earned the right to represent their country, and that time constraints would not allow a fair reselection process to take place. However, the British Sailing Team has now gone into lock-down along with the rest of the country, and operations have been mothballed at the National Sailing Academy in…

The first two rounds of the America’s Cup World Series, in Sardinia and Portsmouth, have been cancelled, leaving teams with previously detailed campaign strategies in disarray. With two critical test events now scratched from the calendar, the first opportunity to race the new AC75 boats head-to-head will be what should have been the third ACWS event in Auckland, New Zealand, in December. Emirates Team New Zealand’s boat Te Aihe was on its way to Europe via container ship as the cancellations were made. The boat will be sent straight home again, but won’t make it back to Auckland until June at the earliest. Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Team UK were flown home in a hurry from Sardinia, where they had been training, as Italy imposed a lock-down. ACWS Portsmouth has said ticket holders will…

The deadline to make a nomination for the RYA Volunteer Awards has been extended until 1 May 2020. The awards recognise the contributions made by volunteers throughout the UK. RYA Programmes Manager Michelle Gent said: “Even during these uncertain times there are thousands of volunteers all over the UK dedicating their time and expertise and not expecting anything in return.” Nominations must be from an RYA affiliated club, centre, association or region. Visit rya.org.uk/go/volunteerawards Meanwhile the RYA had suspended its directly organised events and training until at least 31 May 2020, as Y&Y went to press, following government advice regarding the Covid-19 virus. The events and training on hold include the Eric Twiname Championships, the RYA Youth Nationals, RYA British Youth Sailing Squad Training, Women’s Winter Match Racing, Student Match Racing Championships, Regional…

The Island Sailing Club has decided to run the Round the Island Race on 26 September, instead of its previously scheduled date of 30 May. The club had been considering running the event with limited shoreside activities, but decided it would not have been a responsible course of action even before the UK had gone into full lock-down. “We will be issuing a revised Notice of Race incorporating the various date and timing changes, but in all other respects we expect to run the race exactly as planned,” the club said. “Our online entry system remains open as usual, and while none of us quite knows what the next few months have in store, we do hope that you will still be excited by the prospect of an early autumn Round…

270,000 people now undertake RYA training every year at 2,400 venues in 58 countries, 50 years on from the very first Dinghy and Coaching schemes launched in 1970 258 days, 22hrs and 24mins, the new ‘westabout from Australia’ solo and unassisted circumnavigation record, set by 81-year-old sailor Bill Hatfield 175 years is being celebrated by The Royal Victoria YC at Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight, having been founded on Queen Victoria’s birthday, 24 May 1845 1370 players had joined the GBR eSailing National Championship 2020 as Y&Y closed for press…