Diamond Jubilee Events
Diamond Jubilee Regatta - Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd June
We are running the Diamond Jubilee Regatta for all our usual Club classes incorporating the Alastair Easton Trophy & the Vernon Vase for the XODs. This is a joint regatta with the Royal Solent Yacht Club and we have great social events planned over the two-day period. We have subsidised ferry crossing from our Club Pontoon to get as many of us to the Royal Solent on Saturday evening as possible.
The Notice of Race & Social booking forms are now available from the Club website. Click on the banner below:
For those not taking part in the regatta, the Club will also be providing a special lunch and the opportunity to watch the Thames River Pageant on the Big Screen in the Library during Sunday afternoon.
For more information please click the banner below.
Other Diamond Jubilee events will be shown in the Library over the holiday weekend and the details will be on the website soon.
Club
The Boat Project - part of the Cultural Olympiad - update and visit on 5th and 6th June
The Boat Project members visited visited us back in July 2011, allowing many Members to donate cherished items of wood which have now been incorporated into her build. The boat was launched on 7th May and is making her maiden voyage along the south coast, including a visit to the Club on Jubilee Day, Tuesday, 5th June, and the Harbour Master’s pontoon on Wednesday, 6th June. This is the one of 12 Cultural Olympiad projects around the country which was selected for the South. For more information go to the project website. The designer, Simon Rogers, says she sails like a dream.
Club Hosts Launch of Joint NFDC/NFNPA New Forest Local Heroes Exhibition
The Club was honoured to be chosen to host the launch of an exhibition of superb photographs of Ben Ainslie and young sportsmen from the New Forest who aspire to represent Great Britain in the Olympics. Some of the athletes and their parents were joined by Councillor Barry Rickman, Leader of NFDC, and Alison Barnes, New Forest National Park Chief Executive, in the Library at the launch on Wednesday 18th April.
Cruising -Future events
Sail trimming for Cruisers - 1100 Saturday 5th May
Pete Sanders of Sanders Sails will be giving a presentation on sail trimming techniques particularly applicable for cruising yachtsmen.
Are we getting the most out of our boats under sail? Come along and find out! It would be appreciated if you could let the office know if you wish to attend.
Friday 11th -Sunday 13th May - Spring Anchor Meet, Poole Harbour
For further details click here and sign up by 8th May.
Thursday 24th May - Mid week cruise
Mid week lunch cruise to Island Harbour, Medina River, details shortly on the website.
Channel Cruise - West Country Saturday 16th - Saturday 30th June
The deadline for registering for the West Country Cruise is 15th May, although latecomers will always be accommodated by emailing me if they have been unable to register in time. Full details are on the website.
Past Events
Cowes Spring Meet
11 boats and 25 Members gathered on the pontoon in Folly Reach on Friday 13th May for a traditional pontoon party - heavy rain, thunder and lightning. Fortunately this cleared half an hour beforehand so our wine and canapés were enjoyed in bright sunshine. We were then ferried over to the Folly Inn for a great supper which fortified us for the exceptionally cold night that followed.
Our flotilla went back down river to Shepherds Wharf Marina to meet up with a further 6 boats from Lymington. Everyone enjoyed pre-dinner sharpeners on the boats before making our way up to the Island Sailing Club for a glass of prosecco followed by an excellent dinner. With a brisk sail home expected, our plan of a “timed run home” for the yachts was cancelled. However the sun came out and all had a fine sail back. It was good to be able to welcome new Members Ian and Sally Pawson, Perrin and Alison Towler and Christine Edgington to the meet.
Cruising Division Safety Seminar
This year's seminar featured a presentation by Yachting Monthly’s Chris Beeson on their “Crash boat” experiments. These involved putting a yacht into situations none of us ever want to be in and then trying alternative ways of resolving the problems. Some of the many unusual but successful tricks included using a carrot to plug a failed seacock and pushing a lifejacket into a holed hull and then inflating it were filmed. Their final video clip of a gas explosion on board was a sobering reminder to us all!
Clive Rochford delivered a comprehensive diesel engine teach-in and then discussed the topical subject of de-zinctification of seacocks which one of our audience took up and subsequently made some frightening discoveries on his own boat!
A VHF procedure and regulation talk was given by Robin Pratt which was followed by a contribution on behalf of the RNLI from Joe Blachford.
Finally a “hands on” demonstration of lifejacket inflation (or not in some cases!!) and the practicalities of life-raft inflation and usage was given by Ocean Safety. Our thanks to all the presenters and to David Houlton for organisating the event.
Racing
Keelboats
The Racing programme is now in full swing, albeit struggling a little with the current weather. Monday Evening Dinghy racing started with 35 boats out in spite of some cold and blustery winds but the first Thursday Evening Keelboat races were abandoned due to a particularly unpleasant low pressure system. The XOD's hope to get their first race on Saturday afternoon: the Folkboats and RS Elites will soon be joining them on Saturdays. Meanwhile, the first of the Duo races saw seventeen boats competing, including three under Lymington Handicap, and the Spring Series for keelboats managed to race for three of the four weekends. Race Reports and results are on the website.
In the month ahead we will be welcoming the Sigma 38 fleet for their National Championships, the RS Teras have an Open meeting and the Laser South Coast Grand Prix comes to the Club. More details on the Racing page of the website.
Sailing Safely on the Solent
The horrifying video of a sailing yacht failing to cross the bows of a tanker during last year’s Cowes Week is required viewing (click here). The spinnaker collapses as the red monster approaches, so don’t assume you can sail to safety if you get too close.
This was one message from the Seminar organised recently by the Solent Cruising and Racing Association. Here are some others:
Container ships are over 350m long, 15m draft, 160,000 tonnes and carry 13,500 ‘boxes’
They need to keep up speeds of around 14 knots for the rudder to work
They don’t stop
Their view is blocked for up to half a mile from their bow
So the Moving Prohibited zone is vital, and the Precautionary Area equally so. Not sure what these mean?
The Moving Prohibited Zone is 1000m in front of the ship and 100m each side. Keep out!
The Restricted Area is marked on the charts and extends from in front of Cowes up the main channel to Southampton Water. Ship do a wide turn on a flood tide and a sharp turn on the ebb; how many of us have thought about that? And did you know that ships turn 40 degrees at Prince Consort, so your safe lurk just north of Gurnard suddenly becomes frightening as the incoming vessel lines up on you.
There was lots more:
Deck level navigation lights are preferred inshore because they are easier to see against the shore lights
Listen to Ch 12 for Southampton ship movements; Ch 69 for the ferries; Ch 11 for Portsmouth
Any more serious incidents could lead to restrictions on leisure boating in the Solent
The final sobering thought: skippers who blunder badly could be in real trouble for negligence, and all that implies.
Go carefully!
Scow Division
Nobody can say that the Division hibernates when the sailing stops. A full Winter program is now complete. Brilliant lectures, wonderful walks, new pubs, formal and informal dinners have kept us all busy. And then, at last, this week saw the first Monday night race of the season and, despite a very cold, wet and miserable evening, no less than fifteen Scows braved the elements to have a cracking first race. Next week sees our first ''Thursday Potter''. Yes, we are sailing again and for those of you who have not had the joy of sailing a Scow with the Division do come and join us in one of the Club's two scows, either to race or to potter. You will never regret it.
Nordic Folkboats
Spring Series
The first races saw an encouraging 9 boats on the starting line. A light north easterly wind and warm sunshine provided an unusually gentle 
introduction to the new season. Jeremy Austin’s ‘Tak’ emerged supreme but the contest for the next three places was keenly fought between Chris Hill’s ‘Padfoot’, Chris Baldwick’s ‘Bonnie’ and Keith Whitelaw’s ‘Good Shepherd’
After the Easter break the racing resumed in a cold and gusty north westerly wind. Padfoot emerged on top closely followed by Bonnie and James Hoare and Graham Coulter’s ‘Samphire’. The second race was notable for many changes in the middle order and Tak having to retire with a broken main halyard. Scaramouche had an eventful day, losing one crew member overboard in the Solent and a second on the way up the river (both were retrieved promptly) - buoyancy aids or lifejackets strongly advisable at all times; your ducking is much less likely to be serious.
Following Peter Scholfield’s excellent training session on the Saturday the fifth and sixth races showed some interesting improvements in boat and sail handling. However Bonnie’s enthusiasm for an early crossing of the start line and your scribe’s inability to miss the windward mark twice means that more training is required. Padfoot, Bonnie and Tak are at the top of the table with two races to go.
Don’t forget the Cowes and Gins Farm races on the 5th and 26th May respectively and the Nationals are on the 16th/17 June. See you there. Finally a gentle reminder - check your measurement Certificates and flares are valid.
Easter Egg Challenge
As a foretaste of this year's sailing so far it was wet and windy on Easter Monday and the Easter bunnies in the shape of some hardy sailors had a great morning's racing off the Club pontoon. Two father/daughter crews battled for first place with Alex and Rory Paton winning and Kirstie and Mike Urwin a close second. Lots of shouts and a few whistles from the on-the-water umpire but everyone had a great time. Three races were deemed sufficient and everyone went ashore for hot drinks and hot cross buns. Adrian Summers with Jasmine and Owen taking turns to crew were third with Mark and Richard Cubitt fourth.
Juniors
Club sailors going to the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Dublin
Five of the twelve places for the RYA Volvo Team GBR Squad for the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in July in Dublin Bay, Ireland, this July, have gone Club sailors. The Youth Worlds event is the pinnacle of the Youth sailing calendar, seen by many as the ‘Youth Olympics’ 
for sailing. The selections were made after the National Youth Championships in Pwhlleli.
Annabel Vose and Kirstie Urwin have only been sailing together for under six months in the Girls 420 class and faced stiff competition from the 2011 event Champions Annabel
is current 420 World Champion and now 2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Champion with Kirstie.
In the 420 boys class, Charlie Cox and Craig Dibb will once again make the trip to the ISAF Youth Worlds and intend to improve on their top ten finish at last year’s event. "We are going back to the Club to work on a few key aspects which let us down in certain races this week. The most important being how to deal with racing when under pressure" they commented. (Photos courtesy of Volvo Team GBR/RYA).
Tom Britz has moved from his successes in the Laser Radial to crew for Rupert White from Brighlingsea SC in the SL16 catamaran class. White has a wealth of experience on his side, winning a bronze medal in Zadar last year, as well as being the grandson of the late Reg White who won gold in the Tornado at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. Tom said: “It feels great to be selected for such a prestigious team. Rupert has a wealth of experience in this class so we are very optimistic for the event in Dublin, especially with Rupert winning a bronze last year – I know he wants to go one better this year!”
Lymington Optimists
Easter is a busy time for Oppie sailors, and it can be quite a dilemma choosing which waters will be most agreeable. There is something for everyone, so that whilst the fledglings were finding their feet on a three day camp at Spinnaker, 15 Lymington Oppies travelled to Brassememeer as part of a GBR team and a further 15 to Lake Garda. To my knowledge none made it to Portoruz in Slovenia, another Easter favourite, or indeed to the South American Championships in Argentina.
The cold, shifty conditions at Brass kept the 264 sailors from 14 countries working – and learning – hard. 26th placed Jenny Cropley was Team GBR’s first girl, and she was joined in the Gold Fleet by Milo Gill-Taylor (37th), Ross Banham (52nd), Max Moyles (69th), Ryan Orr (80th) and Matt Thornton (89th).
Lake Garda provided world class sailing conditions fit for a world record breaking regatta – 1073 overexcited Oppie sailors from 25 nations is the biggest one design regatta ever held, and enters the Guinness Book of Records as such. Our 15 RLymYC sailors (and their parents) couldn’t help but be enthralled by the 3000+ft cliffs plunging straight into the azure lake; the sheer numbers of oppies, flitting around the lake like a great swarm of butterflies; and the “Ora” thermal breeze that provides fantasy sailing conditions and fills everyone with quite an alarming energy. There was barely enough time to fit the Oppie sailing in, as all the families were so busy climbing and mountain biking, and even the rusty grown ups were seen thrashing around the lake on Lasers and windsurfers.
In the 800+ senior fleet (12yrs+) our top sailor was Robbie King (101st) and our first girl Ella Bennett (216th). In the 266 strong junior fleet (U12) Vita Heathcote (2nd) was first girl. Great performances also from Alex King (14th) and Alexandra Schonrock (22nd). “Oppie sailing is all about making opportunities”, said Vita. “And Lake Garda promises so much. Plus with the oppie Worlds there next year I’ve found that the ideal training ground is right here in Lymington.”
Since all this excitement we have indeed been making the most of our ideal training ground, with Greg Carey running weekend training sessions for those going to the forthcoming Worlds and European Team Selection trials, plus the summer term weekday programme for all abilities.
RNLI
Beaulieu Boat Jumble - Cancelled
Sadly the bad weather forced the cancellation of this year's Beaulieu Boat Jumble. A big thank you to everyone who contributed and we have some excellent 'jumble' safely stored for next year's event. But please don't stop collecting and donating as you turn out your unwanted boat bits. We hope to have an even bigger stall next year.
Station Shop
The Shop is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 1200 and 1600. Great for party presents and lots more.
10K Run - Sunday 13th May start at 1000
The Lymington RNLI 10K run, taking place on Sunday 13th May, is still open for entrants. The event has grown from humble beginnings raising over £100,000 pounds in its ten years history and has earned the nickname of the 'run in the sun' as the weather has held for most of the previous events. Growing on from last year is a sequence of children's fun runs being organised by Lymington Triathlon Club at 1 and 2K distances within the Woodside Park boundaries. All monies raised will benefit Lymington RNLI Lifeboat as local companies have fully covered the event operating costs. Please see race details and on line entry forms on the Lymington RNLI website.
Paul Harrison - Marathon Man and the Lymington RNLI Lifejacket appeal
Lymington RNLI crew member Paul Harrison successfully completed the Virgin London Marathon in 4 hours 35 minutes, a time well inside the target that he set himself after only 14 weeks of training. His efforts have resulted in pledges that just about equate to the introduction of the new life jackets. If you have pledged but haven't given click on the website to do so now. Not content with having done 26 miles on foot, Paul is now in training for the 56 miles of the London to Brighton cycle ride.....just for fun this time!
