Just back from Poland - Wonderful Roads!

Perhaps the most memorable part of going to the European Laser Standard Youth Championships at Gdynia in Poland was the somewhat traumatic drive there and back on the corrugated Polish roads and it was not only my mother's driving.  Certainly shook up my reactions fin readiness for the competition!

National Junior Squad Topper sailor, Bryony Bennett-Lloyd, achieved another excellent result over the weekend, at the Craftinsure National Series event, held at the 2012 Weymouth venue. After 2 days intensive racing in superb breezy condition, she achieved 2nd place female competitor, out of a fleet of over 220 boats.

The Latest from NeilPryde's Sailing Team Rider Jon Emmett

The Qualifiers

There are six Radial Qualifier events a year to decide who goes to the World and European Championships. These events are called Qualifiers because they qualify you to go to the international events. They also form part of the Radial ladder which is effectively the National ranking. You count your best four from the last six events (it is a rolling ladder) so it is often a good idea to do more than the minimum four events, just in case you have a bad event.

On the first day there are three races which start at midday. The entry for the Radials is often very large (over 100 boats) which means that the fleet is split into four groups with each group racing each other once. On the second day the fleet is divided into the top and bottom half (Alpha and Beta) to decide the overall winner. By splitting the fleet it reduces the number of boats on the start line and therefore the likelihood of general recalls.

I have actually been doing the Qs since the early nineties and it is great practice to be able to race against the best people in the country. Even those sailors who are ranked in the top twenty in the World still have to come and do the Qs to get a place for the World and Europeans. It can be somewhat of a shock to the system when you come from regularly winning races in a Junior class to racing in an Olympic class (for women).

This year I made a good start at the first event at Stokes Bay with a win. It was a nice start for me as we raced only on the Sunday with Saturday spent watching the rugby due to light winds. My fitness still needs some work having had such a long time out with injury over the winter, so I was certainly not complaining when we raced only one day.

The next event was at Plymouth where I made a good start, leading the event overnight. Unfortunately on the second day I sailed poorly and managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory to finish eighth. On returning home, I visited the doctor and found I had a mild virus, but I should be recovered for the next event.

However the good news is that I have done enough to qualify for the Worlds/Europeans in Largs this year (the Europeans and Worlds is a combined event as the Worlds is in Europe this year). This was my goal and so now I can focus on the things I need to get right in time for Scotland in the summer.

NeilPryde Sailing: "Well Done Jon, Good Luck "

Check out Jon's Book
Be Your Own Sailing Coach: 20 Goals for Racing Success (Wiley Nautical) (Paperback)

NeilPryde Sailing Team Riders Draper Greenhalgh Olympic Campaign Website has Launched

NeilPryde Sailing are delighted to announce our range of 'Technical Race Apparel' will now be available in NewZealand.

Next Stop European Laser Championships in Poland

Robin explains:
The experience of sailing in world class competition at the European and World Laser Radial Championships has been of immense help.   I have now moved into the Laser Standard Class which is the Olympic Single Handed Men’s Dinghy.

During this autumn there has been the series of three Qualifiers plus the Sail for Gold Olympic Class Regatta at Weymouth.  Sail for Gold was a huge learning experience competing with such legends as Tom Slingsby, Paul Goodison and Nick Thompson.  It has clarified just what work and fitness I need to put in to succeed in this class.  The competition was very fierce with strong winds and big seas adding to the mix.  I finished 25th in the Silver Fleet and 3rd under 18.

NeilPryde's First Sailing Advert

NeilPryde's First Sailing Advert is due to make its debut in Yachts and Yachting in the next issue.

Also NeilPryde Sailing have just released they new sizing chart, just incase you need to know what size to order, and when you know what to order, and what size you are, then check out the retailer locator - the next link to the size chart link.

The NeilPryde Sailing collection can be view at the new website www.neilprydesailing.com

See you on the water but remember.....

NeilPryde Sailing - Because Winning is Everything!!

The New NeilPryde Sailing Collection is Launched in the UK!

“Born from the doctrine that “winning is everything”, 2009 has seen the launch of NeilPryde Sailing, a brand that offers the race orientated sailor the perfect combination of performance and style. Despite having our roots in the sailing world with NeilPryde having competed in the Flying Dutchman class at Olympic level its taken the best of part of 30 years for NeilPryde to fully enter the technical sailing apparel market.

Good Friday Just Got Better….

Westcountry Watersports are pleased to announce the  Official opening of their new shop at Mylor Yacht Harbour, next to Restronguet Sailing Club,near Falmouth, Cornwall on Good Friday 10th April.