Saskia Clark believes her chances of competing in the London 2012 Olympics have been boosted.

Clark, from West Mersea, and her partner Hannah Mills, have been picked to represent Great Britain in the 470 at the Olympic test event next month.

The pair finished second at the Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth last week.

Clark told BBC Essex: “It’s a massive boost for us in terms of our confidence over the other British girls and very important to have that experience.”

Read the full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/sailing/9512379.stm

A 28 foot classic yacht has been wrecked near St Margaret’s Bay in Kent. The yacht Egretta was abandoned after being driven ashore in a rough sea state and strong WSW winds.

Nigel Stokes, Duty Harbour Master at the Port of Dover, told PBO: ‘We understand that the yacht was on passage from either the Thames or East Coast, bound down Channel for Wales, with the single-handed owner on board. “Egretta” was observed to be coming round the South Foreland in rough WSW’ly sea conditions on the afternoon of Wednesday 8th June, when the genoa then appeared to be flapping and the boat turned about and disappeared from our view behind the cliffs. A little while later, I, as the Port of Dover Duty Harbour Master, received a call from Dover Straits Coastguard, saying that a yacht had reportedly run aground on the rocks by St. Margaret’s and could we consider sending one of our Harbour Patrol/Pilot launches round to assist. Apparently, the owner of the yacht once she had been driven ashore, then scrambled over the rocks to a nearby café in St. Margaret’s Bay to raise the alarm. Due to the prevailing weather and sea conditions, plus the treacherous location the casualty had ended up, we were unfortunately unable to assist with any of our own floating craft at the time.

Read more: http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/528924/classic-yacht-wrecked-under-dover-s-white-cl…

A low-pressure system forecast to arrive in the south of Ireland on Thursday has caused the Round Britain and Ireland Race organisers to reverse the course for safety reasons.

The race, which started yesterday from the Isle of Wight in gusts of up to 30 knots, is taking an anti-clockwise course round Britain first and then Ireland.

Royal Ocean Racing Club commodore Andrew McIrvine said that the course had been changed out of consideration for the competitors.

The club’s weather adviser Mike Broughton expected that the forecast depression could bring wind speeds of up to 50 knots.

The sea state would become “very confused” as the wind direction changed by 180 degrees. “Although the boats are very well prepared, these conditions could cause damage and retirements and the west coast of Ireland has very few places offering shelter,” he said.

Read the full story here: http://www.pbo.co.uk/news/496806/round-britain-and-ireland-race-runs-from-the…

At 09:03:55 GMT today (Tuesday 24 August) skipper Sidney Gavignet (FRA) onboard OMAN AIR MAJAN crossed the finish line off Lizard Point, Cornwall to break the single handed Round Britain and Ireland record. The A100 trimaran broke the existing record held by Thomas Coville by a massive 1 day 15 hours 30 minutes and 44 seconds.

This incredible achievement also means Sidney has beaten the existing fully crewed record time by 1 hour and 7 seconds. This record was set by Steve Fosset onboard Playstation in 2002.

The attempt saw Oman Air Majan sail 1,787 miles along one of the most challenging coastlines in the world. Sidney has tackled huge low pressure systems and sailed through squalls of over 40 knots. This is the first major test for the multihull and Sidney ahead of the single handed Route du Rhum race in November.

New single handed Round Britain and Ireland record (subject to ratification by WSSRC)
Distance miles: 1,787
Boat: OMAN AIR MAJAN – 100 foot trimaran
Skipper: Sidney Gavignet (FRA)
Record time: 4 days, 15 hours, 9 minutes, 47 seconds (subject to ratification by WSSRC)

Previous record around Britain and Ireland, non-stop single-handed
Distance miles: 1,787
Set: August 2006
Boat: Sodebo – 60 foot Trimaran
Record time: 6 days, 6 hours, 40 miniutes, 31 seconds
Average speed: 11.86 knots

Round Britain and Ireland fully crewed record
Distance miles: 1787
Set: October 2002
Boat: Playstation – 125 foot Catamaran
Record time: 4 days, 16 hours, 9 minutes, 54 seconds

This morning Alain Thébault, founder and pilot of the Hydroptère project and Jean-Mathieu Bourgeon, scientific manager of the project, accompanied by their Design Team, unveiled their new prototype, l’Hydroptère.ch, a 35ft catamaran at the Decision SA shipyard in Ecublens (Switzerland) which will soon be launched on Lake Geneva.

The programmes led by the Hydroptère team are scientific and technological projects, whose purpose is to revolutionize the world of sailing and further develop the innovative concept of flying boats.

In 2009, l’Hydroptère, the 60ft trimaran, became the fastest sailing craft in the world when she beat two absolute sailing speed records i.e. 51.36 knots (95 km/h) over 500 metres and 50.17 knots (93 km/h) over one nautical mile. These are milestones in the history of sailing.

l’Hydroptère.ch follows the same principle. As a trial lab, she will help conceiving l’Hydroptère maxi whose purpose is to beat the most famous oceanic records and to follow Jules Verne’s vision: Flying around the planet.

Three boats to attempt all major records: Pure speed, Atlantic crossing, Pacific crossing and circumnavigation.

Read the full story here: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153496

Audi MedCup Circuit, the Caja Mediterreneo Region of Murcia Trophy Regatta starts Tuesday. In 2008 when Jose Cusi’s Bribón (ESP) won, it was predominantly a light winds regatta. Last year it was Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) who won in big winds, triumphing at their fourth regatta in a row to clinch their overall 2009 Audi MedCup Circuit title.

For the third consecutive visit to Murcia mainly light to moderate winds are expected for the first few days of this Caja Mediterráneo Region of Murcia Trophy regatta, probably averaging around 10-11 knots.

No matter the wind strengths it is a difficult, challenging and complex venue, heavily influenced by the steep, high cliffs on the shore, the wide flat land to the north east of the race area is flanked by high, rocky mountains to the north of the race track which channels any breeze from this direction.

As the penultimate regatta of the season, among the TP52 Series fleet there are a range of different targets which teams are seeking to fulfil here.

For Emirates Team New Zealand their key objective is to preserve or extend their overall lead, whilst for the likes of TeamOrigin (GBR), Bribon, Cristabella (GBR) if they can play to their strengths in the lighter breezes it would give some of these middle order teams a fighting chance of winning their first regatta of the season as well as helping them climb the leaderboard. Equally, Quantum Racing (USA) and Artemis (SWE) aim for their second regattas wins of the season and seek to reduce their deficit on the Kiwi leaders.

The British America’s Cup team have been showing very well over the days of informal practice.

Read the full story here: http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=73712&refre=y&ntid=0

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race exploded into action at 1400 local time under grey leaden skies and big breeze. ICAP Leopard and Telefónica Blue chose to set off from the outer distance mark, and it was a hair-raising sight as, RORC Chief Executive, Eddie Warden Owen reported from the race course: “It was a magnificent start, 25 knots from the southwest with gusts of up to 30 knots coming out of the Medina River. Spanish entry Telefónica was an impressive sight, the Volvo 70 is built to race at full tilt around the world and she carried her enormous spinnaker to blast past the 100 foot Leopard at over 25 knots. It was a really impressive sight to these huge machines blasting down the Solent leaving the rest of the 27-strong fleet in their wake.”

Jonny Malbon’s IMOCA 60 Artemis Ocean Racing chose to start on the Island side and spectators on shore had an incredible view of the powerful boat surfing past Cowes.

Tonnerre de Breskens 3 from Holland, went for a spinnaker and staysail and were flying until they broached out in a big gust and changed to jib-top. Next on the water were the young team on the British Keelboat Academy’s John Merricks II who put a reef in the main just before the start, which was a wise move. They handled the boat like seasoned professionals and quickly passed Tonnerre, screaming along under spinnaker, like a scalded cat.

The Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race is a truly international event with boats competing from 10 different countries and they got as they started this epic and challenging race. They will be relieved as they are finally on their way, many of them will have been planning for this race since the 2006 event.

The forecast is for fast running conditions all the way along the south coast and the wind strength may well increase as the seaway narrows as they go through the Straits of Dover.

Franck Cammas’ Volvo Open 70 Groupama had a late start due to damage sustained whilst they were on their mooring in a coming together with Tonnerre de Breskens. Groupama had to fix damage to their hull prior to starting the race.

Gottfried Pössl’s Class 40, Celox 40 was dismasted shortly after the start as skipper Andreas Hanakamp explained: ‘We were doing 26.4 knots of boat speed when the runner gave way, everybody is okay but shattered. We have anchored the rig and marked it, so that it should not be a danger to shipping. We are very disappointed not to race, but delighted that nobody has been injured.”

After just one and half hours of racing. Telefónica Blue and ICAP Leopard are virtually neck and neck, blast reaching at 25 knots past Owers light buoy. Groupama have made a good recovery and are not far behind.

Laura Dekker, 14, was to set sail on her 38-foot yacht, Guppy, after months of global debate over the wisdom of allowing young sailors to take on the tremendous risks of taking to the high seas alone

A court last month released her from the guardianship of Dutch child protection agencies, who had tried to block her voyage because of fears about her safety and psychological health.

Peter Klarenbeek, Laura’s manager, said she would depart from the southern Portuguese port of Portimao.

“We are testing equipment now and I can’t give a departure time, but it will be obvious when she leaves, we’ll be on the dockside to say goodbye,” Mr Klarenbeek said on Friday.

Windless conditions off the south-western coast of Portugal could make the first part of her journey slow.

Marijke Schaaphok, one of the directors of Masmedia, a company filming the trip with remote cameras, said Laura was very mature for her age.

“She grew up with her father on a boat so she’s completely different from a normal 14-year-old girl. She’s very wise and a little bit impatient, but she’s a very nice girl and she knows exactly what she wants.”

Ms Schaaphok said the first port of call will be Spain’s Canary Islands or Portugal’s Madeira, depending on the winds. She said Laura chose Portugal to start for logistical reasons.

“It seems to be easier to end there. The part from Portugal going back to Holland is not easy or quick so she decided to start there and end there as well,” she said. “It has everything to do with the wind and the route.”

Laura has been working to counter objections to her voyage since the authorities stepped in last year. She got a bigger, sturdier boat, took courses in first aid and practised coping with sleep deprivation. She also made at least one solo trip across the North Sea to England.

The Dutch court ruled that her preparations were adequate and it was up to her parents, who are divorced, to decide whether to let her make the attempt.

In June, Abby Sunderland, a 16-year-old American, had to be rescued in a remote section of the Indian Ocean during an attempt to circle the globe.

Earlier this year, Australian Jessica Watson completed a 210-day voyage at age 16.

Read the full story here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/sailing/7956973/Dutch-sailor-gir…

On Monday 23 September, an international fleet of 30 yachts will line up for the start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race – an 1,802 mile, fully crewed, non-stop race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC).

Weather forecasts are predicting a wild ride, especially as the boats pass Galway, the finishing port for the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race.

Two Volvo Open 70s will be on the start line – Telefonica Azul, skippered by Iker Martinez, and Groupama, helmed by Franck Cammas. It will be the first encounter between two boats in their class since the end of the last Volvo Ocean Race.

“The Sevenstar will be our first race in Volvo Ocean Race mode,” said Cammas. “This time we will really find out how we have progressed, since the end of last year with Team Groupama.”

The French skipper believes that there will be few opportunities like the Round Britain and Ireland Race to compare their performance against another Volvo Open 70.

Read the full story here: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/news/article/2010/august/round-britain-ireland-…

The BBC is set to broadcast two documentaries on Olympic Classes sailing, featuring Shirley Robertson investigating behind the scenes at British sailing’s headquarters, plus action from August’s international regatta at WPNSA.

Part 1 of “Olympic Sailing” will air this Saturday, 21 August , at 1300 on BBC1.

It tells the story of Britain’s medal winners at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta (9-14 August) where nearly 1,000 sailors from 57 nations competed at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the venue for the sailing competition for the London 2012 Games.

Robertson – herself a double Olympic gold medallist – discovers the systems the British team have put in place at Weymouth in order to have the best chance of winning medals, including an interview with falconer Brian Williams, who uses birds of prey to silence the local seagulls every morning so the sailors get uninterrupted sleep.

The documentary catches up with medal-winning husband and wife team Nick Dempsey and Sarah Ayton, and joins three-time Finn class gold medallist, Ben Ainslie, Star class gold medallists, Ian Percy and his crew Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson for an insight into what makes this renowned team tick.

Shirley also meets the young British team sailors struggling to get into the elite squad and earn themselves a place in the main squad where no stone is left unturned in the quest for medals.

The Skandia Sail for Gold regatta was the largest ISAF Sailing World Cup event in 2010, and provided an insight for many 2012 teams into the future Olympic venue.

On Sunday 5 September at 1400 on BBC 2, “OLYMPIC SAILING” (Part 2) will come from Hayling Island on the final day of the Laser World Championships where Beijing gold medallist Paul Goodison is out to defend his title. The programme will also include features on the man to break Ben Ainslie’s six-year winning record in the Olympic Finn class, 23 year-old British sailor Giles Scott, and on perhaps the happiest medal winner of all at the last Games – Britain’s Britain’s Bryony Shaw who windsurfed to bronze in China.

BROADCAST TIMES:
“OLYMPIC SAILING” (Part 1) Saturday 21 August 1300 – 1350, BBC1
“OLYMPIC SAILING” (Part 2) Sunday 5 September – 1400, BBC2