Royal Lymington Junior and Youth section after lockdown
22nd June 2020
La
szlo Drummond - Wakeboarding
This is me wake boarding recently and Oppie sailing off home in the Solent - looking forward to doing it with friends at RLymYC.
Leo Gosling – Designing and Building a Bullet
In the Autumn Term we were given home projects to choose from, I choose the wild card and decided I wanted to design and build a new boat. I sail an Optimist and that’s great, but it does take a lot of bailing the water out, especially if you capsize which is a bit boring. Also, I liked the idea of sailing with my sister or a friend and the only option to do that is in a boat called an RS Feva, which is too big and heavy for me to sail or get up, if the boat capsizes.
So I went to see Jo Richards on the Isle of Wight, he designs dinghies and he helped me draw the lines for my new boat and the rig. I then went to Jason Carrington who builds the best boats in the world and asked him if he would build me my boat. We had lots of meetings and we eventually we had a contract for the build. I also asked Ben Ainslie if he could spare some of his carbon fibre from his America’s Cup boat INEOS for my boat.
It took the whole of the winter to build it and last Sunday we launched her.
I have called the boat type a Bullet and Zoe (6) my sister named her with everyone from the team there watching. We had a little sail on Sunday and then we have been out in the afternoons having a lot of fun. It goes really fast and the water just drains out the back so there is no bailing after capsizing. Hooray!
I am really proud of the project and the end result is brilliant.
8th June 2020
Optimist Flotilla - Return to Sailing
Following weeks of Virtual Regatta replacing the cancelled Spring Championships, selections and various training events, the Oppies have been gunning to get back on the water.
It has been slow and steady progress as restrictions have been slowly lifted, in the first instance, when the Slipway opened and gatherings of 2 were allowed. Those of us with older more experienced sailors who are well able to look after themselves afloat, took the Swallows and Amazons approach of “Better Drowned Than Duffers; If Not Duffers, Won't Drown”. There was a little more thought than that, but essentially we were able to send them afloat in pairs with strict instruction on where the limits lay, and kids being kids they were inventive with stories of sailing up to the quay and under the railway bridge coming back. This reminded me of when I was 13 or 14...
Then as the restrictions were lifted this week to allow coaches back to work and gatherings of up to 6, the Club´s top Oppie sailors have been straight back to training with a parent rib and squad coach. They spent time getting into working the rust out of their boat handling that has crept in after weeks ashore.
Then with all these activities happening privately, we Captains have then been working with the Club’s various committees to try and find a solution that will allow Club activities to resume. Once more, making Oppie sailing available to all junior members - our guiding principle. With Friday's communication from the Sailing Committee, we are now full speed ahead with planning the initial trial session this Tuesday using the new COVID-19 procedures. With the lessons learned from that Tuesday we look forward to getting our sailing program back on the road again.
Richard Breese – Captain of Optimists
1st June 2020
When Lockdown hit, our children were suddenly thrown in to unknown territory, no longer allowed to go to school or see their friends, but instead being kept at home and being home schooled by their parents, many of whom were also trying to adjust to working from home. On top of this many of our young sailors were in the midst of their national squad training which abruptly came to an end. There was some welcome relief when the slipway opened for the first time on Wednesday 13
th May. The glorious weather that has been hovering over the UK since then has made it possible for sailors to get out on to the water several days a week. All fleets have been seen out on the water and a few of our young sailors have written a short extract about their joy at getting back into their boats, or for some, into a new one. I hope you enjoy reading all about it.
Dirk and Johnny Rogers (Oppie fleet)
Since we were allowed back on the Solent my brother and I have been enjoying being out on the water so much. On super windy days we went windsurfing at Hurst Castle, in good wind we went oppie sailing and when there was no wind, we have been water-skiing and wakeboarding. Pretty much every day we are out on the water and we feel so lucky that we live around here. It’s fun to see our friends out as well, although we obviously have to keep a safe distance from each other. It almost feels a bit like “normal” again and that feels good.
We are very much looking forward to when we can go racing again and hopefully that won’t take too long.
Until then, keep sailing and stay safe, stay sane.
Harry West (Tera fleet)
Ever since the slipway has been open, I have been sailing with my brother in our 420, my tera and his laser. It has been amazing being allowed back on the water, Sunday 24th May has been the best day so far because it was windy. I feel lucky to be able to go out on the water. I am planning to go sailing with my friend on Thursday which will be great as I have not seen him since before Easter. Stay safe and have fun on the water when you can.
Findlay Bignold-Kyles – Laser 4.7 and Radial
Since lockdown was eased a few weeks back, it has been a big relief to get back on the water. The wind and weather have been kind to us since we have been able to sail again and I am sailing as often as possible in my laser. I’m using the 4.7 when it is windy and the radial sail when the wind is less strong. As well as the freedom that sailing offers, I have often been able to sail with friends as well as my family when they are also out.
As well as the fun and relaxation sailing provides, sailing is a good excuse to get out and talk to people. On the water we are able to organise exercises and impromptu races, to keep our skills ready for the day we can eventually sail a proper race.
Cameron Bignold-Kyles - Optimist
Before sailing was stopped, I was sailing at least 2 or 3 full days every week. So having to stay at home for a long period of time without being able to sail came as a bit of a shock. As soon as the slipway was re-opened, I immediately went for a sail, only to be met by other optimist sailors equally keen to sail. I now sail almost every day for an hour or two, often with friends depending on who is around, then relax in the boat park or on a paddle board. On the water we have organised training exercises, team races and short races to keep us sharp and ready for when real racing is able to re-start.
Eloise Bignold-Kyles – Family Sailing
I used to sail an optimist and our Feva, but these days I don’t sail very much as I spend too much time with horses and we don’t have a Feva anymore. I really enjoy sailing, but prefer to sail with someone else, mainly Dad, and since the slipway has been re-opened, I have really enjoyed being on the water again. We have an RS200 which we have sailed a few times. One day we took a trip to Hurst Castle in the 200 with my brother Fin in his Laser. At one point Dad swapped into the laser, leaving me to sail the 200 with Fin, I survived though. It was a really good trip with a nice breeze and sun, but my favorite part of the day is when we turn downwind, put up the spinnaker and go fast and wet all the way back home.
Emma Breese Oppie Fleet
I am really happy to be finally back on the water after almost 2 months. It felt amazing sailing my Oppie after so long staying in the house. We have definitely been making the most of the good weather, sailing every afternoon after schoolwork with other oppie sailors, swimming in the sea, wakeboarding and learning how to rig and sail our new 420. I can’t wait until racing starts again.
Sam Webb Feva Fleet
Throughout lockdown I have really missed being on the water. My crew Ollie Baddeley and I had been training hard through the winter for the Feva Nationals and World Championships. These have all been postponed or cancelled, which was a huge shame.
Whilst on the water sailing was cancelled, there was still lots to do at home and in the garden. I enjoyed racing my friends on virtual regatta and also joining in with some class events in the 29er fleet as I had just got an old 29er to start sailing. There was also lots of ‘bimbling’ to do on the boat in the garden – polishing, splicing and practicing rigging, to get ready for when we were allowed back out. This was often done in between school work.
I was very excited to hear when the lockdown eased a bit and that we might be able to sail again. Then on Thursday that same week, the Harbour Master opened up the slipway. It was so great to be back out again on the water in the 29er, although I still have to sail with my parents.
Ollie and Annabelle Vines.
When lockdown happened it was really sad, and although we didn’t realise it at the time, it was the end of oppie sailing for us. Fortunately, we had just got a 29er, and had just managed to have a go on one before lockdown happened. During lockdown we did some upgrades on the boat, and set up a trapeze wire from the tree in our garden so we could practice tacking on the trapeze.
Now we can sail it again and it is fantastic to get out and try to learn to sail a new boat. It’s much faster and tippier than an oppie.