Thursday 9 May 2013

Grafham Water Grand Prix,

The morning of the 20th April Smoky and the team made our way up to Grafham Water where Killer Shrimp Control awaited us. I had decided to sail with a friend I had made in the Tera, Jack Lewis has crewed before but not for me and so with no practice at all and cutting it fine to get to the start. We started with high hopes and made it to the top mark within the top 4 boats. With decreasing wind the race committee decided to call it a day with only one race slotted in. The second day dawned with promising winds of up to 15 knots later in the day. Jack and myself went out for light wind conditions as we had planned for and got a black flag in the first race but were still allowed to carry on finishing 7th (although no result) but reaching the top mark in  5th position. Still with a good idea of what we could achieve we then headed to the front again and entered another top ten result into the results as the wind picked up to about 15knots we started to slow down as we weren't set up for those wind conditions. The whole event shows that from sailing Teras you can hop into a Feva and be sure to be near the top 20 or even higher. Jack my crew is ten and is the Tera Inland Champion and Open Season Champion, we are planning to do some more events in the future.


Wednesday 27 March 2013

Perisher, Stig, Hayling Squad, Dinghy Show and All Squads

Hi its been a while since I last blogged but that doesn't mean that nothings been happening with Smoky and my Tera. I have been planning some more rigging videos but after a couple hours out sailing the main plan is to get de-rigged and warmed up and not stand around the dinghy park in the cold. Lets have some warm sunny weather and i will get videoing. Hayling Island put on their inaugrual Perisher Pursuit Race and Smoky headed on down it was a great race with over 70 boats . The wind for the the first 40 mins of the start was very light and it was the flooding tide that gave the most advantage.All the boats starting from plus 40mins caught wind from their start.

I did the Stig challenge at Hill Head in my Tera in a F5 with some healthy waves the time is up on the board and waiting for the RO to sort the corrected time out to see if it was competitive. A SSE is the best wind angle for this and it was more like SSW but hey it was great fun surfing in my Tera out in a deserted Solent.

I have been to a couple more weekend sessions at HISC with the Feva Squad and thats been going well.

The RYA Dinghy Show was held at Alexandra Palace with every major company there. I spent most of the two days helping out on the RS Stand. At LDC they had a man who acted as a mannequin. There were times when somebody walked past and he would be frozen and then he would jump out and scare somebody. While I was there I took a liking to the brand new RS 700 which has a brand new hull colour of black, which one day I hope to sail in. The new colours of the Roto molded RS Boats are great. I also thought that the A Class Catamaran which is made of pure carbon was cool too.If you didnt get to go this year really try next year as there is so much to do and see.
Matt McGover did a great talk about the exercise that you can do at home and at the gym to get you ready for the sailing season. There was also a Win a RS Tera competition which was won by Blythe Berry with her starry design.She is from Emsworth so I expect we shall see her out sometime soon.
Nick Thompson with Blythe Berry, winner of brand new sailing dinghy in national 'design a sail' competition












The RS Feva Squads weekend took place at HISC this weekend gone and it was a great weekend, about 70 boats turned up some struggling through Snow to get to Hayling. The Race Commitee's brains were tested as conditions were not ideal for going out into the bay and with neap lows a course for 70 boats in the harbour was a juggle. Saturday we squeezed in some training and then 5 1 lap races which was hectic but great experience. Sunday looked like higher winds and might have to be cancelled. We turned up and the wind floated around 18-20 but with a Easterley wind chill of -3 so less than perfect conditions. We launched at about 11:30 did some drills and then managed just 1 race before it spiked to 25 knots and the decision to head back was taken.
    

Sunday 10 February 2013

ECHO Sail Run Bike The Wight

ECHO sail run bike the Wight.

More details at 

www.justgiving.com/Billy-Vennis-Ozanne

If you fancy joining in then 14 th September 2013 is the date contact for more details

Billy


Rigging a Feva basics



Here's Mambo our dog messing about with the burgee!And Alex and I getting our lines un crossed

What a difference a day makes in Chichester harbour


Saturday 9th Feb and high pressure and low temps settle over the south. Smoky is destined for a two day training session at Hayling with head coach James Peters.

Saturday 26 January 2013

Time-lapse Of The Bloody Mary

Have a look at this video of the Blood Mary 



We appear at 0:06 second with our red kite and then at 0:25 second as the RS Feva on the third pontoon.

Thursday 24 January 2013

Queen Mary 2013 40th Bloody Mary Pursuit Race




















340 boats 21/2 hours of sailing at the Bloody Mary Race on Queen Mary Sailing Club's 770 acre reservoir
Ear to ear smiles and a couple of crash gybe induced swims due to Moths and I14 hurtling around the course 
shouting starboard.

-6 wind chill factor and gusty force 4 its the only way to spend a Saturday in January

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Power Cycle

I have just been for a power cycle to build up my strength in my legs. I got a top speed of 22.6mph on one of my sprints.




Monday 7 January 2013

Bloody Mary

My Dad and myself and Alex and Tony (Alex's dad) are going up to Queen Mary Sailing Club to compete with Smoky and their Feva in the Bloody Mary and if you are up for it come to Queen Mary Sailing Club with your RS Feva. Have a look at their website at http://www.queenmary.org.uk/bloody-mary.aspx

RS Tera 2012 Year Review


RS Tera 2012 Year Review

 19 Dec 2012
RS Tera Worlds 2012
RS Tera Worlds 2012
All photos © RS Tera Class Association
RS Tera 2012 Nationals podium
RS Tera Class Association 2012 Sponsors
RS Tera Class Association 2012 Sponsors
 
RS Tera's season started off in the leafy confines of the upper reaches of the Thames at the ever friendly Desborough Sailing Club with wisps of air and barges plodding through the race area and finished off at Hill Head Sailing Club with gusts hitting 29 knots and teeth gritting Solent chop.
This huge variety in conditions were in direct contrast to the healthy consistency of competitors taking part in events up and down the country, with the Nationals attracting 90 sailors, the Worlds held in Italy 74 and the inlands 84. Consistency looks set for the future as the UK class association and the International Class Association are organising more great events for 2013. The 2013 Worlds will take place at Weymouth starting on the 28th July at the 2012 Olympic venue with an anticipated entry of 150, though the Worlds will be the big event, much interest is taking hold in Northern clubs such as Ripon and Derwent along with all the healthy participation in the Eastern region and the South.
Burnham Sailing Club had the delight of running the Nationals and under the steady and driving hand of Abi Davies a superb event was orchestrated. First day saw some trying conditions and a long sail to and from the sailing area meant a lot of exhausted and early to bed sailors with parents having a relaxing drink and some impromptu karaoke. With 90 sailors from around the UK the sports rigged Teras finished off with the top three all from southern clubs though the pros were all local sailors. Henry dispelling and James compelling local knowledge, both showing authoritive scores.
2012 RS Tera National Championship Results:
Sport
1 Henry Jameson (Hayling Island SC) 2 2 1 1 3 5 1 2, 9pts
2 Alex Butler (Hayling Island SC) 5 1 3 4 5 1 0 DNC 1, 19pts
3 Billy Vennis Ozanne (Hill Head SC) 8 6 4 3 7 1 3 3, 20pts
Pros
1 James Hutton Penman (Burnham SC) 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 2, 7pts
2 Flynn Davies (Burnham SC) 5 7 3 3 5 8 4 1, 21pts
3 Will Taylor (Alton/Burnham SC) 13 8 7 4 8 1 7 3, 30pts
With a number of events held in the Eastern region by Aldeburgh YC, Alton Water, and Waveney and Outlton SC all set before the Worlds, attendances were healthy as these provided great training venues for a shifty wind venue held at Lake Iseo, Garda's less heard of cute little sister.
With School holidays in full swing a host of GBR sailors rocked up in Northern Italy but with a strong contingent from South Africa, Locals and also from Holland, Germany, Spain, CZE, and Denmark it was not a Brits abroad regatta.
With such a stunning venue and friendliness beyond the call of duty, Association Nautica Sebina under the guidance of Imsaf Amry, Luca Vezzoli, Marina and Luca Porro along with a huge helpful team, nothing but no wind could have stopped a memorable, competitive and enjoyable regatta. The wind gods had been well fed and why wouldn't they when you had a glorious trattoria run by Chiccia at the sailing club. So ten races were run with some very early morning starts to grab hold of the katabatic winds contorting around the stunning shear rock faces sucking up to the water's edge. The pros 1st race top 6 results gave a good insight into who would be up on the podium. Margarita Porro with superb sailing style and local knowledge took the bullet and would have given the top GBR sailors some flutters unfortunately she had to retire for a number of races due to injury but came back in the latter part of the week with another win. Greg Kelly laid out a copy book of consistency and though pushed hard by James Hutton Penman, Greg wrapped up the title with a day to spare. With fine style and enjoying the sunny conditions Rebecca Lewis shone consistently to take the top spot for the Ladies trophy and was knocking on second overalls score.
In contrast, the Sport's first race result would give no foresight into who would lift the trophy at the end of the week. With one of the youngest competitors in the regatta, Jack Lewis taking the bullet and then his older brother Daniel taking the second bullet one could start to think that perhaps a family crew of Rebecca, Daniel and Jack might be taking the SB20 worlds by storm in 10 years' time. South African sailors Georgou Divaris, James Hellstrom, Chad Stevenson and Sam Lombard started to stamp their competitive sailing style onto the fleet and by mid regatta were looking very strong.
The last race of day 3 saw Georgou take the bullet with GBR sailor Billy Vennis Ozanne taking the next place, with Georgou at the top of the leader board and Billy now dropping a high score and moving into second, a two horse race started to emerge. Billy then smoked 3 bullets in a row. This set the scene for a tense final race where Georgou had to finish two places in front of Billy to lift the silverware. Georgou sailed an intelligent race and took second place on the line, Billy kept a low risk strategy and by the final leg he was a few metres back from Georgou and crossed the line as World Champion. With a team of international jury close at all times all sailors gained from their detailed interaction. Niamh Davies had an inspired final race and took the first ladies prize. With a fabulous regatta gala event organised by Paul Pettit International Class Chairman and Insaf Amry and weather to wish we Brits could inherit, Italian friendliness from a small sailing club with a most impressive roll of honour, Olympians and World champs in 470, Tornados and A class cats it's a place well worth investigating.
2012 RS Tera World Championships Results:
Sport
1st Billy Vennis Ozanne (Hayling Island/Hill Head SC) 21 3 2 17 6 2 1 1 1 3, 19pts
2nd Georgou Divaris (George Lake YC) 17 6 3 8 1 1 2 2 3 2, 20pts
3rd James Hellstrom (George Lake YC) 6 5 5 4 10 3 13 10 10 9, 52pts
Pro
1st Greg Kelly (Isle of Man SC) 2 7 1 6 1 11 1 1 2 2, 16pts
2nd James Hutton Penman (Burnham SC) 3 4 3 1 2 2 7dnf 13 ocs, 35pts
3rd Rebecca Lewis (RYA) 7 5 2 10 5 4 3 6 18 5, 37pts
Ladies
Sport
1st Niamh Davies (Burnham SC)
2nd Charlotte Omerod (Oxford Pirates SC)
3rd Lucy Greenwood (Burnham SC)
Pro
1st Rebecca Lewis (RYA)
2nd Margarita Porro (Association Nautica Sebina)
3rd Kathryn Hutton Penman (Burnham SC)
The Inland Nationals were sensibly hosted at Northampton Sailing Club and this brought a host of sailors from Ripon SC and Derwent SC in the north to Castle Cove SC in the south. In the sports with super light airs testing the race team for all of the 1st day the micro sailors must have been feeling a little cock sure and guest who pops up, Jack Lewis in his element on a light air, shifty pond. Henry Rastrick from Ripon SC was showing some impressive results along with Alex Butler, Ethan Miles, and Ossian Bracegirdle.
Day 2 dawned with forecasts predicting increases in wind strengths, giving opportunities for the older heavier sailors. By the end of the event Jack with his impressive consistency took the trophy with Billy Vennis Ozanne making gains on the second day to take the next spot. Henry Rastrick took third and showed how impressive the Northern clubs training and events, are, building some very fine sailors. Young sailors enjoyed this venue like, Freddie Peters, Ethan Miles, Lucy Greenwood, Ana Paterson, Harrison Pye, Matthew Caiger along with many others all had a great event.
Pros saw Daniel Lewis make a great start along with Luke Bailey but by the end of the day Greg Kelly fresh from his Italian job was continuing to be mr. consistent. Day 2 saw Rebecca Lewis and Anya Green put some good results together and they climbed up the leader board along with Kathryn Hutton Penman and Amie Shute at the final wash up 4 ladies sat within the top 9.
This event was also a selector for the national squads winter training sessions which are now in full swing. Training events are toured around the country to give a variety of sailing venues and bring the event close to sailors in each region. The Northern, the Eastern region and clubs such as Hayling Island and Royal Lymington are also holding winter training sessions.
2012 Inland National Championships Results:
Sport
1 Jack Lewis (Draycote Water SC) 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 5, 15pts
2 Billy Vennis Ozanne (Hayling Island/Hill Head SC) 2 14 12 4 2 1 7 1.5, 17.5pts
3 Henry Rastrick (Ripon SC) 1 6 1 12 5 4 1 15, 18pts
Pros
1 Greg Kelly (Isle of Man SC) 1 1 2 6 5 3 8 4, 16pts
2 Luke Bailey (Royal Hosp. School) 2 15 3 5 4 5 11 1, 20pts
3 Will Taylor (Alton Water SC) 8 6 7 7 1 1 3 5, 23pts
Full results and all open and regional race reports can be found on the UK website www.rstera.co.uk with full information on the 2013 fixtures around the UK.
The UK class association is busy liaising with the International Class association to put on an impressive event on the waters of Portland in July 2012. The RS Tera class revels in a friendly,competitive scene and with a good number of charter boats available from www.rssailing.com/en the chance for many young sailors to have a pop at a World Championships is ready and waiting, all information about the event is available atwww.rsteraworlds.com
If you're a parent reading this and wish your budding world champion a great chance, RS Sailing are offering a special deal on RS Teras at present so act quickly and you could make your young sailor's day.
Wrapping up on behalf of all the sailors a big thank you to all the event sponsors and to all the class association volunteers who work very hard to make great events. Lucy Jameson as class secretary does a huge amount of behind the scenes work along with many others on behalf of the whole memberships a great festive period and a fantastic new sailing season.

Hill Head Sailing Club New Year Hangover Race


On New Years Day my Dad and myself ventured out into the Solent with gusty but not as crazy conditions as Chichester Snowflake 1 and 2. My coach Mike had called me a chicken at Snowflake and I made sure he was proved wrong because on the first lap the red kite was launched . We passed lots of overturned boats and had a chuckle as we saw them flounder. We finished the race but without trying to launch the kite a second time  it just got tangled in a crazy gust even though my Dad has amazing kite skills.21 starters 4 finishers no results as yet but hopefully higher than fourth.The photo below was taken on the way in it was a North Westerly and the gusts further off shore were quite interesting with some surging waves which tried to submerge Smoky but she is far too buoyant for that.Happy 2013 to all MAMBO 

Chichester Yacht Club Snowflake series



As we arrived at Chichester we saw what we  were going to be confronted with tough conditions and as we were rigging the wind steadily built, we raked the mast well back and tensioned the jib halyard and headed out for an exciting ride to the start line .

We crossed the line towards the pin on Starboard and headed up the left side we had a good start and just won the 1st mark ahead of a 4.7 we were racking our brains on the py of a 4.7 to gauge how were doing the other Fevas were behind us so we were happy.A couple of laps round and we maintained a lead on the Fevas . As we tacked close to the windward mark I think we picked a gust spike and a swimming we went. We righted and managed to claw back one Feva space. It was a little frustrating but we were not the only sailors taking a swim.

Waiting for Race two start we hove to and were very aware of many boats being knocked over so we thought we were prepared only to be part of the swimming team it must have been one of the F7 gusts swishing through.

We got a good start and kept the lead for the race but we couldnt shake off Alex Butler in his  RS Tera Pro who kept pointing higher and made us scratch our heads.It appeared that the jib tension had slipped this affected our pointing.

Of 41 starters only 16 in slow medium and fast
were able to finish. We had great fun and enjoyed some of my Nan's super tasty Christmas cake when we got back to shore.



Here is the Yachts and Yachting review of the Snowflake race 1 and 2 

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/167381/Chichester-Snowflake-Series-day-1

Thanks to the Chichester Race team who put on a great event.

I think the gust at 13.35 is when we tacked!!!














Sunday 6 January 2013

Christmas Cracker Hayling Island































My Dad and I just about to leave after the Christmas Cracker at Hayling had been abandoned because of the wind speeds and waves over Winner bank were very impressive. As it was abandoned the team traveled upstairs to see if any windsurfers would venture out but only one appeared. I chatted with my friend Alex Butler about the next RS Tera and RS Feva Worlds. 

http://www.rsteraworlds.com/

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/167206/R
S-Tera-2012-Year-Review

http://www.rsfeva.org/category/uncategorized/rs-feva-worlds-2013/







  

Thursday 3 January 2013

A Christmas Card to Italian Friends made at the RS Tera Worlds

















I went out with my brother, sister and my dog Mambo for this photo shoot in Smoky the RS Feva.


En Avant


Just been for a cycle to get my stamina up


I have just got back from a cycle with my Dad as  part of my training for this season.  








































As Far As Who Goes Farthest 
En Avant

Smoky And The Shooting Star



Living close to Hill Head Sailing Club has its plus points but the tide has a habit of disappearing when you want to sail. Having just picked up a new boat for the fleet my Dad and I were keen to get on the water. High water was around 18:00 hours and we set out at 16:15 hours just with enough tide to see us out.












Smoky is a RS Feva XL,  I shall be using her to compete in various events at Hill Head, Hayling and open events, as well as sailing with my younger brother and sister for fun and pass on some experience to them, my RS Tera isn’t as spacious as Smoky and having two extra sails will keep them busy.

As we were rigging with the sun setting a passer by asked if we’d had a good sail, to which we replied “not yet” he walked off somewhat confused. With a NW wind varying from 7 to 11 knots exiting the harbour to deeper water with a beautiful sun set over Gurnard was a piece of cake though we had the board well up. Within 20 minutes my Dad wished that Christmas had come early and Santa had delivered fluorescent kite and jib sheets, where as I had my blue with yellow fleck Polilite mainsheet that was easy to keep hold of. We headed out towards Hill Head channel marker on a broad reach and I ran through a few things about crewing a Feva to Dad, it is quite funny telling your Dad how to do things, I have been doing some Feva training weekends with James Peters and so I had some good tips to give the old man.

We hoisted the kite and in these dark conditions, we were glad we hadn’t chosen a black kite the Dad was able to see the  red luff and we made the centre board  hum heading towards Monkey Hill. Without daylight picking up the waves was not an option so I synchronized myself with the rhythm of the waves and created a mental picture of what I thought the sea was doing, funny though, some unusual patterns came through probably because of the fast cat ferry heading to Cowes or something bigger. I could get a feel of the wind on my neck which is essential in the dark.We did a few gybes but decided not to roll excessively, as though we were well kitted out for December sailing with our hot legs, feet, top and hands we didn’t fancy taking a dip.
Upwind we shoulder to shouldered lifting the bow up over the light Solent chop, with black tell tails I couldn't see the leeward tail (or are they tales) so feel and thought was what was needed. The old man experimented with the Cunningham, with it off, the boat wanted to round up lightly, as he pulled it on it was noticeably reduced and without being distracted by things you could normally see it was easy to focus on what the rudder was doing.
We rounded  Jacqueline and headed up  towards Gurnard and half way along we both looked up and spotted a shooting star it was only in the night sky for a brief few seconds but it was amazing that we both saw it, it gave us a chuckle. Having been out for 1 1/2 hours it was high water though neaps so we didn’t have to worry about the channel, just the two start line posts nicked named the sail shredders by many a club sailor due to the over officious SOLAS covered steel spikes protruding at the optimum height to shred anything apart from an Optimist.
We are thinking that with tide situation at Hill Head, we might propose to the sailing committee a night series, seems like a lot of fun, I guess the H and S crowd would jump all over it but we will be out again some dark crisp starry night, you can make a bet on that.
We are off to Chichester Snowflake on Sunday and plan for as many of the Snowflake series races as possible, so Fevas get your kit on and get on the water.

As Far as who goes Farthest
Billy