Tokyo medallists smash world record for fastest Irish Sea crossingJohn Gimson and Anna Burnet take on challenge to raise awareness of marine pollution27 Sep 23 British Sailing Team athlete John Gimson believes the maritime industry is destined to decarbonise after he and partner Anna Burnet championed sustainable travel while breaking the record for the fastest crossing of the Irish Sea by a sailing craft.Gimson and Burnet took to the Irish Sea on their Nacra 17 on Tuesday (26 September) with the aim of raising awareness of the climate crisis and the problems of environmental degradation in maritime travel, hoping to issue a wake-up call to the industry.They set themselves the challenge of breaking the world record for sailing from Belfast Ballyholme to Port Patrick and back – accompanied by the Artemis eFoiler, a state-of-the-art transport vessel that foils and is electric.Overcoming difficult conditions, the pair managed to comfortably beat the record by seven minutes, returning to Belfast Stranraer just over 90 minutes after their departure. The Team GB sailors, who took home silver from Tokyo 2020, have earned their fair share of plaudits for the feat but this was much more than a record-breaking exercise.The pair, who are partners on and off the water, are striving to bring about change in the maritime industry, hoping to decarbonise a sector that currently accounts for about 2.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.“There’s obviously the carbon issue,” Gimson said. “I think for people who live in those areas, particularly, I’m sure there’s a lot of health issues within the populations from the fumes of ferries and boats, particularly when the winds blowing into the harbour. Any impact we can make on that will be great.”“We were absolutely shattered when we finished it [the challenge], but very relieved.”The need to go greenWhile recognising the need to push their limits so to truly garner attention and raise awareness for their cause, Burnet admitted to a similar feeling of relief after a physically taxing voyage.Burnet said: “The main reason for us was really to raise awareness of the need to make the marine industry a greener place.“In order to raise awareness, we wanted to do something that was going to be a challenge and that would garner some attention. We’re pretty relieved. It was challenging with the conditions, at times a little scary.”Artemis, headed by two-time Olympic champion Iain Percy, have been supporting their campaign, providing the innovative electric vessel used for the voyage.Aided by the fact Percy is also Gimson and Burnet’s coach, Burnet hailed the relationship built between the pair and the company.She added: “We’ve got great relationships with them, they’re helping us a lot. And they’re all really good people.“Their company is really growing so fast. What they’re on to with this technology is going to be huge. Foiling technology is the future of maritime travel.“It was pretty special for us to come here, to do the challenge with them, and also just see what they’ve got here.”

Ladi Ajayi: growing up with sailing

Ladi Ajayi: growing up with sailing We met Race Across the World’s Ladi Ajayi at West Reservoir Centre to find out more about what first inspired him to sail   If you watched the latest series of the BBC’s Race Across the World, you’ll recognise Ladi who took on the challenge alongside his 25-year-old daughter Monique. When he’s not competing on national television, Ladi works as a sport consultant. We caught up with him to find out more about how he discovered sailing aged 13 and what he’d like to see change in the sport for future generations. Growing up and PE lessons Ladi spent his childhood in Hackney, London, growing up in a family of four – although he tells us his extended family is much bigger.  “There was always something to do, 24 hours a day. Even as a kid I had a wide circle of friends. It was a brilliant childhood in the sense that there was more freedom to get out and about. Without the electronics, you were physically active all the time and made your own entertainment.  “I had friends that were skateboarders, BMX riders, footballers, street hockey players and rugby players. These activities shape the people you become and it’s important to remember that not everyone who comes from deprived areas or inner city are labelled as troublesome. Out of those different places, greatness has come.” Ladi was offered a fantastic range of activities through his local primary and comprehensive school, and it was here that he first discovered his love for sailing.  “The education authority at the time was for the whole of London and was very forward thinking so we were able to do things such as ice-skating, badminton and squash as well as the obligatory cross country around the field. It was brilliant in terms of opportunities to taste and try different things.” “Sailing was my thing” “I must have been about 13 when an English teacher decided that this group of particularly boisterous boys might benefit from some kind of adventurous activity, so we were taken in a PE lesson to the North London Banbury Reservoir.  “I got in a Wayfarer for the first time, and it was just…wow. That feeling of being in control of something and the freedom- that same evening I got home from school and said, ‘I’m going sailing’.” That evening it took Ladi three buses to get from Hackney to Banbury in North London.  “I think the sailing instructors were a bit shocked, they had told me to come back when I was ready but there I was. From then on, I went sailing every day and all weekends too. That was me done.” As well as the sailing, the youth leaders and the instructors at the centre left a lasting impression, teaching life skills that went way beyond what he learnt on the water. “They gave me guidance, taught me how to conduct myself, how to negotiate and meet with people.” He explains. “And those things have stuck with me for life. I then went on to meet all kinds of people through racing and being part of the NSSA (National School Sailing Association). Some of the people I met at these regattas had never seen a black person in their life.” After finishing school, Ladi went to university to study fashion but quickly discovered his career and his heart sat firmly with sport.  He returned to college to study recreation and leisure management and today works as Head of Sports at AKD Solutions.  “Everybody should feel like they belong” Image courtesy of the BBC “I do think the sport has changed since I was at school in terms of resources available and how you access it. The expense of sport in general has grown so activities that require equipment are prohibited for many families.  “Everybody should know their local watersport centre exists and feel like they belong. I know that within the borough of Hackey somewhere there’s a world champion, an Olympian, someone who could be doing the Fastnet, The Ocean Race or SailGP. It’s just we’ve not been able to expose them to the opportunities and wonder of the sport.” Race Across the World  Image courtesy of the BBC Did Ladi and Monique have a strategy when they applied for Race Across the World?  “No, we didn’t.  We pretty much decided to see what happens and just go with it. Monique’s overall strategy was budget which she did really well with – I was denied oranges for the whole journey! “It was actually Monique who wanted to apply for the show and the experience we had was so special. Having that intense long period of time with my daughter was of the main reasons I agreed to do it. It was one of those moments where I’m never going to have the opportunity again.” Don’t miss the full interview with Ladi in the next edition of the RYA Magazine.   Read more about our Together on Water strategy.

Source: Ladi Ajayi: growing up with sailing

Five-medal haul for British Sailing TeamOne year out from Paris 2024, Britain’s elite sailors took on the world’s best in Marseille19 Jul 23 Britain’s elite sailors brought home five medals from the Paris 2024 test event – a promising sign just one year out from next summer’s Games.Four silver medals and one bronze were won as fourteen of the country’s best dinghy, windsurf and kite racers took on the world’s best in Marseille, the host city for the Paris 2024 sailing competition.Among those picking up silverware were Tokyo 2020 medallists Emma Wilson, John Gimson and Anna Burnet. Wilson scooped silver in the foiling iQFOiL class, due to make its Olympic debut next summer, while Gimson and Burnet took bronze in the Nacra 17 multihull class.Michael Beckett continued his run of form in the ILCA 7 dinghy class, formerly known as the Laser, narrowly missing the top spot in a final-race battle with Australian Olympic champion Matt Wearn.Ellie Aldridge and Connor Bainbridge completed the podium line-up with silvers in the Formula Kite class, also new for Paris 2024.The path to ParisThe eight-day regatta was the first of four test events run by Paris 2024 organisers to fine-tune their processes – and for the athletes it was a dress rehearsal for the Games with only one entry per nation in each of the ten classes.It was also a key performance indicator in the run-up to Paris 2024, where Britain will aim to maintain its title as the world’s most successful Olympic sailing nation.Mark Robinson, RYA Performance Director, said: “It’s been a great event here in Marseille with a range of conditions to test all involved. With so many equipment changes and new sailors this cycle it was important for us to equal the 2019 Test Event haul of 5 medals as a platform to springboard from for the games proper next year.”Marseille threw plenty of conditions at the sailors over the week, from light, fickle winds to Provence’s famous mistral breeze.Combined with temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius it made for tricky racing conditions but provided a useful insight into what the sailors may face next summer.British sailors finished in the top ten in nine of the classes. See the full results.Team GB selectionSelection for the test event was made by the RYA’s Olympic Selection Committee, and is a key step in the RYA’s ongoing process to nominate athletes to go to Paris 2024 as part of Team GB.It doesn’t guarantee that these athletes will be picked to represent Team GB at Paris 2024.The British Sailing Team will have little time to rest and recuperate before heading to the Sailing World Championships in The Hague, The Netherlands.More than 60 British Sailing Team athletes will be among 1,400 sailors from the across the globe expected to attend.The regatta is a once-a-cycle event where the world championship titles for all ten Olympic classes are up for grabs at the same time.It’s also the first opportunity for nations to qualify for a spot on the start line at the Olympics, doubling the significance of the regatta.Find out more about the British Sailing Team and follow their progress on social media at @britishsailing.Images credit: Sander van der Borch/World Sailing

Show dates back to 1969 | News | Boating Business

INDUSTRY NEWS Show dates back to 1969 24/07/2023 Save article The Southampton International Boat Show was founded by Norman Kemish and Arthur Gale in 1969, with the show running for six days with around 50 exhibitors contained within Mayflower Park. SHOW FULLSCREEN SIBS began as a six-day event and expanded to a ten-day event The show was taken over by the British Marine Industries Federation (BMF) in 1983 with the army, supplying a small pontoon for mooring a handful of boats. The running of the show remained with the original organisers. During the early years of BMF ownership, early hovercrafts, water-bikes and concept hydrofoils were amongst the inventions that were given their first showing at the event. In 1986 Richard Branson displayed his Virgin Atlantic Challenger at the show, fresh from an unsuccessful transatlantic crossing, whilst Virgin Atlantic presented a fashion show in the Virgin Atlantic Hall. Other guest appearances included stars of the popular sailing soap, Howard’s Way. In 1988, Arthur and Norman handed over the reins of running the event to BMIF and the event saw a dramatic expansion on the water with 254 boats afloat. SHOW FULLSCREEN SIBS has seen many boat launches over the decades Over the years, the show expanded to a nine-day event, until 1997 when the event was debated by Parliament which granted permission for an extra nautical day of pleasure and the show was extended to ten days. Key dates in the history of the show include its first celebrity chef, Ross Buden, in 2004. The show has since worked with Anthony Worrall-Thompson, Jean-Christophe Novelli and James Martin and Si King and Dave Myers (a.k.a. The Hairy Bikers). SHOW FULLSCREEN Southampton Boat Show in 1993 In 2005, the event featured a makeshift beach, with tonnes of sand imported. In 2012, the show welcomed the successful sailing Team GB, fresh from the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics. Visitors to the show also witnessed the Royal Marines attempting a 24-hour underwater 240-mile cycle. The first passenger boat was introduced in 2017 and in 2019, the show broke previous records with 600+ marine brands, 240+ boat and product debuts and 103,000 attendees. The 2020 edition of the show was cancelled due to the ongoing global pandemic COVID-19 but in 2022, the show bounced back with 685 stands and berths covering a 70,000+ sqm footprint. More than 650 craft were on display, with around 300 boats berthed in the marina. Topics Industry News

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Peters & May celebrates 50 years in business | News | Boating Business

Peters & May celebrates 50 years in business 19/07/2023 Save article Peters & May began life in 1973 as a small freight forwarding company operating in Reading UK. SHOW FULLSCREEN Peters & May yacht shipping Fast forward 50 years, the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a logistic provider operating around the world. The company has its UK HQ in Southampton and also occupies ten global offices, across Europe, Asia and the US, employing more than 100 staff members. It first became a key player in the marine industry during the 1980’s by providing logistics for prestigious events such as the Americas Cup and the Whitbread Round the World Race. From then on, it has expanded continuously, broadening its scope to offer transport and shipping services in areas such as yacht racing, leisure boating, commercial cargo, general freight forwarding, and courier services (CEC). In recent years, the yacht shipping industry has witnessed significant technological advancements in hull designs, revolutionising boat performance and sustainability. SHOW FULLSCREEN Peters & May staff have celebrated 50 years of the company being in business While the standard shipping methods for yachts, such as roll-on/roll-off or lift-on/lift-off have remained unchanged, these innovations have necessitated adaptations to lifting equipment and requirements. From international customs protocols to cradling and deck lashings, Peters & May has improved its craft and built its knowledge base using high-quality equipment to deliver customer-tailored lifts. Despite facing numerous challenges, such as global price rises, port closures, labour and cargo capacity shortages, Peters & May has reported increased shipments across all divisions, making 2022 one of its most successful years to date. Topics Industry News

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New rope cutter from Yanmar | News | Boating Business

BOATBUILDING New rope cutter from Yanmar 21/07/2023 Save article Yanmar Marine International (YMI) is introducing its first rope cutter, an easy-to-install safety feature designed solely for sailing yachts equipped with the Yanmar SD60 sail drive and fixed two or three blade propellers. SHOW FULLSCREEN Yanmar Marine International has introduced its first rope cutter The rope cutter is suitable for both mono hulls and catamarans, with the aim of enhancing safety and reducing maintenance costs and downtime. A circular saw blade is mounted directly onto the shaft behind the propeller which turns with the shaft to stop ropes, weeds, plastic and fishing lines from jamming between the cutlass and the propeller. It is available for OEMs or as a spare part. “As the industry’s first rope cutting solution designed exclusively for the SD60, the Yanmar Rope Cutter provides a simple and effective solution, preventing the need for external intervention should the propellor become compromised,” said Justin Hogen, product manager, Yanmar Marine International, said. “The issue of yacht propellers catching rope, nylon fishing lines, nets and other plastic hazards floating in the water is a problem faced by sailors, which can result in significant damage, costly repair bills and frustrating downtime. “When the propeller comes into contact with waste, it can wrap itself around the sail drive/propeller shaft which can prevent the shaft from rotating, and manoeuvring will become impossible.” The SD60 is a Yanmar designed and developed sail drive, available with two bell housing sizes for compatibility with the company’s 3JH5E, 3JH40, 4JH5E, 4JH45, 4JH4-TE, 4JH57, and 4JH80 engines. Topics Engines & Propulsion

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Barton brings new life to Tufnol blocks | News | Boating Business

AFTERMARKET Barton brings new life to Tufnol blocks 14/07/2023 Save article Barton Marine has unveiled a number of new products including the resurrection of the Tufnol Tuphblox range. Originally developed following the second world war, these fabric-based laminated plastic blocks fell out of favour in the 1970s when fully plastic blocks became the norm. Source: Barton Marine Barton’s T-Track conversion inserts Now 50 years later, Barton has spotted the need to support heritage vessels worldwide and has relaunched the Tuphblox range. The company has also unveiled its new T-Track conversion insert, the ‘solution to a historical marine industry problem’. “If you go back in history the 32mm T-Track produced around the late 1970s and through the 1980s was 32mm with a 6mm lip,” said the company. “This has now moved to a 5mm lip as an industry standard. As such all the cars have been redesigned around this 5mm standard and the 6mm gap cars are no longer available. Older vessels with this 6mm track are now facing not only the cost of new cars but also replacement track.” To solve this problem, Barton has created inserts which can be fitted to any of the Barton 32mm Genoa cars, converting them from a 5mm to a 6mm track. Finally the company has released a new size 2 double stanchion lead block (N02290 – 2023 model). Mounted on to the stanchion base, the revised block now features a removable clevis pin and ring which allows for continuous furler lines to be easily installed in situ. Available in plain bearing or ball bearing configuration, this block fits 25mm diameter steel tubing and has a safe working load of 370kg. Topics Masts, spars, sails & rigging

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New Black Magic block | News | Boating Business

AFTERMARKET New Black Magic block 13/07/2023 Save article Harken has introduced a new, mini version of its Black Magic block. SHOW FULLSCREEN Harken’s Black Magic block 45mm The new block has a 45mm sheave and is Harken’s smallest Black Magic block, suitable for race and performance cruising boats. The blocks are designed for primary sheet or halyard blocks for boats 9m to 12m or can be used in a purchase system for sail controls on board bigger boats. The block allows lines to be adjusted while under load with performance coming from high-load roller bearings caged to eliminate bearing-to-bearing contact. These are aided by captive thrust bearing balls for side loading, hidden inside the sheave walls. The new block is available in single and double sheave models in soft and swivel attachment options. More than 50 different Black Magic blocks are available including those with 150mm sheave diameters with breaking loads over 13,500kg appropriate for boats to 24m. Topics Masts, spars, sails & rigging

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Germany Tells UN: Nord Stream Inquiry Found Subsea

Germany Tells UN: Nord Stream Inquiry Found Subsea Explosive Traces on Yacht ©The gas leak at Nord Stream 2 seen from the Danish F-16 interceptor on Bornholm in late September 2022. Photo: Danish Defence Germany found traces of subsea explosives in samples taken from a yacht that it suspects “may have been used to transport the explosives” to blow up the Nord Stream gas pipelines, it told the U.N. Security Council in a letter with Sweden and Denmark. A series of unexplained explosions hit the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines connecting Russia and Germany under the Baltic Sea last September in the exclusive economic zones of Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.  The trio are each conducting separate investigations and sent an update – seen by Reuters – ahead of a meeting of the 15-member Security Council on Tuesday called by Russia, which has complained that it has not been kept informed about the probes. “None of the investigations has been concluded and at this point, it is still not possible to say when they will be concluded. The nature of the acts of sabotage is unprecedented and the investigations are complex,” the three wrote in a joint letter, dated Monday, which included an update on each inquiry. The joint letter said Germany has been investigating “the suspicious charter of a sailing yacht” that had been rented in a way to “hide the identity of the real charterer.” Germany was still investigating the precise course of the boat.  “It is suspected that the boat in question may have been used to transport the explosives that exploded at the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines,” the letter said of Germany’s inquiry. “Traces of subsea explosives were found in the samples taken from the boat during the investigation.” “According to expert assessments, it is possible that trained divers could have attached explosives at the points where damage occurred to the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, which are laid on the seabed at a depth of approx. 70 to 80 meters,” it said of Germany’s inquiry.  Moscow has said the West was behind the blasts. Western governments have denied involvement as has Ukraine, which is fighting Russian forces that invaded in February 2022. Russia failed in March to get the U.N. Security Council to ask for an independent inquiry into the Nord Stream blasts.  “At this point it is not possible to reliably establish the identity of the perpetrators and their motives, particularly regarding the question of whether the incident was steered by a state or state actor,” the letter said of Germany’s inquiry. (Reuters – Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Stephen Coates)

Source: Germany Tells UN: Nord Stream Inquiry Found Subsea

New patented fusion technology | News | Boating Business

AFTERMARKETNew patented fusion technology04/07/2023Save articleIncidence Sails has introduced Aluula Composites onboard the 60ft yacht Biotherm in the around the world sailing race, The Ocean Race.SHOW FULLSCREENAluula Durlyte is being used on board Biotherm as the yacht takes part in The Ocean RaceThe new generation of ultra-light, strong, and recycle-ready composite material, Aluula Durlyte, has taken two years of testing, both on and off the water, and is now being commercialised.The material uses a patented, fusion technology to bond technical films to a UHMWPE core.It is primarily being used for critical sail reinforcement areas such as batten pockets, bolt ropes, and high wear points including stanchions and spreaders with additional applications for the material including deck sweepers and sail bags.The material is said to have ten times the abrasion resistance of competing materials and an extremely low friction surface.Other features include the fact that the material doesn’t absorb water, is bacterial growth resistant, and accepts heat welding so it can be seam taped and is thermoformable.It is a single polymer and recycle-ready.“Given the astounding performance impact Aluula has had on kiteboarding and wind foiling, sailing is a natural next step,” said Aluula Composites director of partner innovation and design, Dave Westwood.“The combination of Durlyte’s extreme abrasion, tear, and UV resistance coupled with zero water absorption make it an attractive choice for a technical sail brand such as Incidence Sails in reducing the weight of their sails while greatly improving durability.”Biotherm’s set up includes a deck sweeper and various critical reinforcements made with Aluula Durlyte.Biotherm is regularly sailing at speeds of 25-30 knots sailing for weeks on end in open ocean conditions, extreme conditions that test sails and the materials they are made with.TopicscompositesMasts, spars, sails & riggingOcean Racesailing yacht

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