The Royal Navy is playing a key role in the famous gruelling Trans-Atlantic solo yachting race in Plymouth on Sunday, 11th May.

HMS Argyll, based in HM Naval base, Devonport, Plymouth, will be on the centre of the start line for the race in Plymouth Sound. On board the Type 23 frigate will be yachtsman Mike Golding OBE who will fire the starting flare pistol simultaneously with the ship’s ceremonial saluting cannon at 2pm.

The race, which tests endurance and sailing skills to the limit, will finish in Boston approximately 12 days later for the Imoca 60 Class and 15 days later for the shorter Class 40 boats.

The Royal Navy has strong ties with the sport of sailing through the Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA). It is for this reason and the fact that it is a maritime event that the Royal Navy was invited as associate partners to the race. Devonport Naval Base has long been the home of the Royal Navy in the South West and is proud to be the centre of the community and a major contributor to the economy.

Members of the RNSA were responsible for setting up and running with the support of Whitbread, the first ever trans-globe race in 1973-1974. Royal Naval personnel continue to compete in all aspects and at all levels of sailing – notably Lieutenant Commander Penny Clark (Royal Navy) has been selected for the British Olympic Sailing Team and will compete in the Laser Radial Class in Beijing later this year.

The race record for mono-hull boats stands at 12 Days 15 Hours 18 Minutes and 8 Seconds, which was set in 2004 by Mike Golding. First started in 1960, the race was won by Sir Francis Chichester in 40 Days 12 Hours and 30 Minutes followed by Lieutenant Colonel Blondie Haslar Royal Marines eight days later.

The race is held every four years and is the oldest solo race in history. The total race distance is 2,800 miles and takes the competitors through some of the most dangerous waters in the North Atlantic, passing through iceberg fields. The 1960 race is the only one where all the competitors who started (5 of 5), crossed the finish line. The lowest percentage of finishers is 51% (18 of 35) in the 1968 race.

The Transat ‘race village’ is located in the Sutton Harbour and Barbican area of Plymouth, where the Royal Navy have been given prime position for a public information stand to help promote and deliver the Service.

www.shippingtimes.co.uk

Last Saturday evening Whyalla Yacht Club wound up its sailing season for 2007/2008 with the trophy presentation.Keel yacht class had a very sombre season due to work commitments by crews and skippers, inclement weather and retirement kept the fleet in harbor for most of the season, however the North Long Race, Malcolm Foubister Memorial and South Long Race were sailed Bob Monaghan’s yacht Riff Raff scooped the trifecta in these three races.

In the off the beach dinghy class saw Emily Brougham have a very successful season in the Pacer dinghy All @ C.

Emily won the mixed dinghy championship and took out the title Queen of the Gulf in the Pacer class crewed with Tony Zetter at the Easter Regatta with line honours in the Triangular Long Race with crew Kevin O’Neil.

On corrected time David Shaw and Zac Day in Pace Maker drew with All @ C in the Triangular Long Race.

Mitchell Sawyer and Crispin Painter took out the South Long Race in the Pacer TZ, line honours went to Abe Casey and Georgia Gray in Slippery When Wet.

The overall line honours in all classes, WJ Murray Memorial went to Leon Jarvis in Cunning Stunt II and Emily Brougham in All @ C.

The novelty trophies were won by Abe Casey, The Bucket Trophy for the most capsizes and The Dunny Seat Award to Ashleigh Gardiner for numerous spectacular achievements.

Club achievement awards were presented to Grace Foubister, Toby Apsimon memorial club person of the season and the Eyre Peninsula Trophies Junior Club Person of the season, won by Abe Casey.

Crispin Painter won the Bridges Financial Services encouragement award.

Most improved trophy went to Mitchell Sawyer.

www.wylla.yourguide.com

By Bill Hoffman 

It’s a long way from a mullet boat in Pumicestone Passage to the bridge of 73.5 metre super motor yacht Laurel but it is a transition that David Clarke has taken in his stride.

The latest in a long line of Clarke mariners from Caloundra, he could have been forgiven for taking a moment to reflect on the size of that stride as he handed over charge of the $139 million vessel to a Brisbane Marine Pilot off Kawana yesterday for the last leg of a passage that has taken him across the Pacific.

Two things are certain. Thirty eight year-old David Clarke has probably one of the world’s best jobs, and he certainly has one of the world’s best bosses.

Not only did he ask David to help design the layout when he decided to upgrade from a 165 footer to the Laurel but he insisted it include a nursery, a lure to ensure David and his wife Jodie, the ship’s purser, did not feel the need to leave if they planned a family.

Now one-year-old Keira Morgan, born two years after the ship was commissioned, travels the world in style – the first engineer’s baby for company.

The Clarke family is secretive about just who that boss is, David’s father Les prepared only to say that the mystery man and his wife are delightful, down-to-earth and private.

But he was less inhibited about his son’s employers’ generosity.

The Laurel’s current voyage started in Maine, charted a course via Panama and the Galapagos Islands to Tahiti before heading to Fiji and now here.

It is with considerable pride that David says that there is now not an ocean left that his son hasn’t crossed as skipper.

It is certain that his mother Lorraine, father Les and grandfather Lloyd, who stood on Caloundra Headland yesterday to watch the Laurel steam by, would have been thinking much about family history.

David’s grand grandfather Evan first fished Pumicestone passage in 1915. Son Lloyd took over going on to be the first to commercially fish the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1954 from his vessel the Larry Cork.

The family had a slipway in Pumicestone Passage off Maloja Avenue serving a fleet of 40 trawlers that operated out of Caloundra before the stabilising of the Mooloolah River mouth.

David grew up helping out on his father’s charter vessel The Love Boat working the bar and waiting tables at weddings and parties.

The pair later headed up to the Torres Strait line fishing where he proved a capable first mate navigating while his father slept.

He worked his way up from driving a dive boat on Lizard Island to deckhand on international boat transfers, gathering sea hours and mariner tickets as he went.

David has carried the Prince of Bahrain, Sean Connery and Sidney Poitier as well as skippering the vessel used in Rush Hour Two with Jackie Chan.

It may be a world away from the Passage and the mullet runs by which family life was once measured.

But it’s a life not completely out of step with his parents who have traded their house for home on a converted pilot boat, now anchored in Cairns in readiness for a two-year navigation of Australia.

LAUREL SPECS

The Laurel, built by Delta in Seattle, when launched in 2005 was the biggest private yacht built in the United States in the past 75 years.

Designed by Donald Starkey, it has a steel hull and composite super structure.

It has a 250Kw bow thruster and 150 Kw stern thruster.

Overall length: 73m; displacement: 1,595,000kgs.

EXMOUTH’S new lifeboat again proved its worth in a low water when on Thursday its crew rescued a yacht that had run aground.

Tim Mock, RNLI coxswain at Exmouth, saw the 22-foot yacht grounding in broken seas on the seaward side of the Pole Sands and launched the Mersey Margaret Jean and the inshore lifeboat George Bearman to help the one person onboard the vessel. Within half an hour the sailing boat had been towed off the sand on the rising tide – the station’s former Trent class lifeboat would have been unable to launch in low tide.

Kevin Riley, Exmouth RNLI lifeboat operations said: “The Mersey made all the difference.

“The Trent class lifeboat was tidally restricted and couldn’t leave her moorings for around two hours each side of low tide, so we wouldn’t have been able to use her.

“The Mersey with its shallower draft was able to negotiate the channel successfully so both the lifeboats could work together to assist the yacht. It’s proof the Mersey is the ideal lifeboat for Exmouth, especially with the channel changing and silting up so quickly.”

Once the yacht had been taken off the sand, one of the volunteer lifeboat crew brought the yacht into Exmouth docks while both lifeboats were then called on to assist three kite surfers who were in difficulty off Exmouth’s main beach.

www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

Boating deaths jumped 10 percent in Florida last year, marking the 16th year in 20 that the Sunshine State has led the nation in fatalities.

All told, 77 people died. Eight deaths were in Tampa Bay — from a 49-year-old Spring Hill man thrown from a speedboat to a kayaker who became unconscious after he fell into the water near the Gandy Bridge.

The 2007 statistics, released this week, come just weeks after state lawmakers bypassed a plan to phase in boater education requirements, which state officials believe would reduce deaths by as much as 25 percent.

Last year, 70 percent of all boating accidents involved operators with no formal safety education; for fatalities, that number was 85 percent.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asked the Legislature to approve a plan to phase in mandatory boater education over the next 11 years. Currently, only boaters under 21 must take such coursework.

“The numbers show that boater education works,” said Capt. Richard Moore, the state’s top boating law administrator. “Our research shows that we could save 15 to 25 lives a year if everybody took a safe boating class.”

But at a Feb. 6 meeting of the House Committee on Conservation and State Lands, the commission’s proposal fell on deaf ears. Legislators were skeptical about expanding the current regulations, equating it to big government.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for every person, especially those who have grown up with boats and would have enough common sense to know what’s right and wrong when on the water,” said Rep. Faye Culp, a Tampa Republican and vice chairwoman of the committee.

Two other Tampa Bay area lawmakers also weighed in. Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, called it “another case where government tries to act as our grandmothers.”

Rep. Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, voiced support for the current regulations, but felt older boaters should recognize the risks. “For everyone who swims in a pool, we don’t force them to go take a course to tell them you are swimming at your own risk,” he said.

But Moore said older boaters are at the heart of the problem.

“Most of the boating accidents and fatalities involve people 36 years or older, who have more than 100 hours boating experience and no formal boating education,” he said.

In 1996, Florida began requiring boaters 21 years or younger to take a boater education course. Since its passage, young boaters have gone from being involved in more than 21 percent of accidents to 14 percent.

The Florida Boating Advisory Council, which is comprised of 18 people representing a variety of boating interests, supported the Conservation Commission measure. So does a majority of voters and boaters in the state, according to commission surveys, including one conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research in 2007.

The Mason-Dixon poll showed that 89 percent of those polled support requiring all boaters to undergo mandatory education.

The deadliest area for boaters in Florida was Miami-Dade with 13 fatalities. Statewide, the leading cause of death continues to be drowning.

State officials say drowning deaths would also decrease if boaters would wear life jackets, or personal flotation devices.

“There is really no excuse for it. Today’s PFDs are not hot or cumbersome like the old ones,” said Lt. Ed Cates, a commission boating safety officer. “You can wear one all day and forget you have it on.”

www.tampabay.com

By Sandra Gonzales 

With invasive mussels infiltrating California’s waterways, proposals are under consideration to temporarily ban boats from Santa Clara County reservoirs or simply inspect each watercraft for the pests that wreak havoc on the environment.

Neither the Quagga or Zebra mussels have been found in county reservoirs yet, but local officials don’t want to take any chances. The proposals are a pre-emptive strike against the threat.

At issue, though, is what to do and who will pay for it. And, at the center of it all are two entities, the Santa Clara Valley Water District and Santa Clara County.

Both have been in talks on how to develop an inspection process.

Under the water district proposal, the ban would last until the county can start a boat inspection program at all seven of its local reservoirs that allow boating.

“Now that we’re moving into the summer months, more people are out boating,” said water district spokeswoman Susan Siravo. The mussels usually spread on boats, she said, a concern because zebra mussels were recently found in San Bernardino County’s San Justo Reservoir.

The mussels cling to hard surfaces, such as boat bottoms, anchors and hulls, damaging boats and clogging water intake structures. Both species of mussel are non-native aquatic mollusks that disrupt the natural food chain and release toxins that affect other aquatic species. They range in size from microscopic to the magnitude of a fingernail.

“We know people like to go from one reservoir to another,” Siravo said. “There’s a real sense of urgency, since Zebra mussels have been found so close to our reservoirs.”

The possible ban will be discussed at the water district’s Tuesday board meeting, which will be open to the public.

But Santa Clara County officials say a temporary ban isn’t necessary and on Wednesday County Executive Pete Kutras called instead for an inspection of the boats to begin on Memorial Day weekend.

“The appropriate move to address the spread of Quagga and Zebra mussels is to immediately begin inspecting all boats launching in local reservoirs and to continue permitting active recreation,” Kutras said. “In the end, it’s their land and they can choose to ban boating, and I’m trying to be clear that they ought not to.”

The cost of the program is expected to be up to $700,000, and both agencies believe the other should pay for it. Kutras is proposing a $7 fee to help defray the costs of the program at Anderson Lake, Calero Reservoir and Coyote Lake.

Siravo said the financial responsibility rests with the county because the county handles the recreational aspect of the reservoirs and the water district doesn’t get any of the revenues.

But county officials pointed out that if the mussels spread here, they could damage water district equipment, and that the district has more financial resources to pay for it than the county. “We’re not doing this to facilitate recreation, we’re doing this to protect the infrastructure of the water system,” Kutras said.

Last year, 150,000 permits were issued for vessels to operate in the county’s reservoirs. Some boaters don’t like either idea.

“It’s a delicate subject. Personally, I think, most of these regulations are going to make the activity of boating much more difficult to participate in,” said Greg Smith, a boater who also works at West Marine in Saratoga. “These inspections are too strict, they’re not loose enough.”

www.mercurynews.com

The Deep River Park and Recreation Commission is offering a one-day combined course for the state safe boating certificate every Saturday through November.

State law requires the operator of any registered boat or personal watercraft to carry a safe boating certificate. The course is approved by the state Department of Environment Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The eight-hour, one-day class will be taught at the Deep River Library from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday from April through November. The cost of the one day class is $100 for Deep River residents, $110 for non-residents, which includes all materials. The combined certification card is good for life and recognized by every state in the U.S. To register, Kathleen McCleary, 860-767-1558.
www.courant.com/news

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Florida has the unhappy distinction of again leading the nation in boating deaths.  Over last year accidental boating deaths in Florida increased by 10% in  in 2007.  Florida has now lead the nation in boating related fatalities 16 out of the last 20 years.  Nationally there are over 8,000 boating accidents each year with around 800 deaths per year nationally caused by boating accidents.  

There are many things that can be done to make boating safer.  First and foremost of course is limit the alcohol consumption.  Additionally a boater safety course should be taken by every boat operator.  Just because you do not need a boating license to operate a boat does not mean you should not get proper instruction in the rules of the waterways and is safe boating.  A good source of information on boating safety can be found at MYFWC.com, which has a section devoted to boating safety in Florida.

www.orlando.inhuryboard.com

In “An Undeserving Charity Case” (April 27), Chris Harvie writes, “From the outside the building looked like a Welsh Yacht Club”.

As Wales has quite a number of yacht clubs, could he be more specific, or is he just generalising and saying that all Welsh yacht clubs look the same and, if so, how?

Speaking from my experience I can say that they don’t look all the same, so I must conclude he is having a “dig” at the Welsh in a pathetic attempt to be controversial and liven up his somewhat boring article.

If he were to make similar generalisations with the black South African population he could be looking for another job, as recent events have shown. — J Jenkins, Cullinan

This job has baggageThe public and media need to maintain pressure on Acsa against the unacceptable “service” rendered at our airports. The British television series Back to the Floor was an eye-opener on how service can be greatly enhanced in poorly performing companies.

Chief executives had to spend a few weeks at floor level interacting with their clientele.

When they returned to their offices, invariably massive improvements were put in place after experiencing what customers were subjected to.

Perhaps Acsa CEO Monhla Hlahla should be required to spend six months as a baggage handler and do a stint at a customer service desk interacting with irate travellers.

We might just then see a glimmer of improvement going forward. — James Dartnell, Dowerglen

www.thetimes.com

By Jennifer Jackson 

PORT TOWNSEND — How do you declare that boating season is officially open?

You invite everyone in town who has access to a boat to join you on the water.

On Saturday, the Port Townsend Yacht Club invited the public not only to watch the opening day parade along the downtown waterfront, but also to participate in it.

Co-sponsored by the Northwest Maritime Center, the event drew everything from big yachts and sailboats to small rowboats.

“We wanted all boating enthusiasts to feel comfortable joining in this informal celebration of the boating season,” said Fred Bell, who, as the club’s fleet commander, organized the parade.

“We made a definite effort to expand this into a community event.”

Founded in 1947, the Port Townsend Yacht Club annually celebrates the opening day of boating season a week after the Seattle Yacht Club’s observance, Bell said.

The parade has been a tradition since the mid-1950s, but several years ago, members decided to widen participation.

This year, they invited the Coast Guard to participate.

The cutter Osprey, with 15 guests aboard, led the parade, which got off to a slightly late start because the ferry was delayed.

But once the ferry left the dock and was on its way, boats started lining up near the entry to the Port Townsend Boat Haven and followed the cutter along the waterfront.

Reaching the Northwest Martime Center dock, each boat or group of boats passed in review in front of Port Townsend Yacht Club Commodore Dave Weeding, exchanging a salute, a wave or other acknowledgment.

‘Hip hip hooray’
“Commodore, commodore, hip, hip, hooray!” shouted the crew aboard the Shoshanna, a powerboat owned by Sue and Carl Sidle, as they passed the dock.

The Coast Guard cutter was followed by members of the Rat Island Rowing and Sculling Club and the Tough as Nails women’s crew, which performed a “wave” by lying back in their seats.

The Sea Scouts and the Quimper Tars rowed longboats, while members of the Port Townsend High School Sailing Team were out in 15-foot Vanguards.

Larger sailboats included the Pleiades and Mycia, a 73-foot gaff-rigged schooner built in Port Townsend by the Maher family.

The Port Hadlock Yacht Club, the Point Wilson Power and Sail Squadron and the local Coast Guard Auxiliary also participated in the parade.

“This is truly ‘beautiful boating,’” said Stan Cummings, executive director of the Northwest Maritime Center, referring to the opening day theme.

Rob Sanderson, the Northwest Maritime Center’s waterfront programs manager, served as master of ceremonies from the center’s dock.

Father John Topel of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church offered a blessing of the boats and boaters, calling for safe voyages and reverence for the earth and sea.

Then Weeding officially announced that boating season was open, signaling to Vice-Commodore Harry Dudley, who shot off the cannon mounted on the bow of the boat that he and Zoe Ann Dudley, past commodore, own.

Before the parade began, Stan and Sigrid Cummings grilled hot dogs on the dock for spectators.

Earlier, about 100 yacht club members and guests attended an opening-day breakfast at the clubhouse in the Boat Haven.

Lt. Cmdr. Aaron Sterling, from Naval Magazine Indian Island, was one of the guests at the yacht club breakfast.

The ceremony opened with a flag ceremony conducted by members of the Sea Scout Ship Falcon.

At the breakfast, Weeding introduced guests, including Tim Caldwell, director of the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce, and past commodores.

The yacht club also printed its first opening day poster, “Beautiful Boating,” which features a photograph by Mitchell Osborne.

Limited-edition prints of the poster are available from Osborne, with part of the $85 price going to the Port Townsend Yacht Club’s scholarship fund. For more information, go to www.mitchellosborne.com.

Posters are available for $5 from the Port Townsend Yacht Club. The money also benefits the fund, which has awarded $27,000 in scholarships since it was founded in 1991.

The yacht club also promotes boating by supporting the Sea Scouts, the Northwest Maritime Center, and two schooners used for youth sailing, Martha, and Adventuress.

www.peninsuladailynews.com