At last I’ve gotten round to writing this Christmas gift idea list.
For context, I’m a dinghy sailor who regularly sails an RS Aero, ILCA, and 2000, plus the usual mix of boats when instructing. I sail solo a lot in coastal waters, so everything I rely on for safety is included in this list. I also use it for SUP’ing too.
Continue reading “Christmas Gift Ideas for Dinghy Sailors 2025”This is Swyre Head in Dorset, UK on the Jurassic Coast. November can make for a wonderful light show.
The RS Aero Youth and Adult training season 2025/26 started last week, the first one was at Felpham SC on the UK south coast.
We ended up shore based both days because of the conditions for launching, but nevertheless, thanks to our two coaches Sammy Isaacs-Johnson and George Cousins, a great training group and super facilities, it was a brilliant weekend.
Training weekends like this remind me of the master classes I used to do many years ago when I was a classical musician (guitar), where ‘ah ha’ moments would have major shifts on my playing. I had a couple of those ‘ah has’ this weekend.
I joined an ILCA (Laser) training session last month in Poole. I’m an RS Aero sailor, but my daughter sails an ILCA and I fancied a go in that. I haven’t sailed an ILCA in years so felt like a real newbie at the beginning, but it started coming together during the day.
It was a great day, and I learned a lot. Thanks for the coaching James Foster. The RS Aero training season starts soon with the first weekend at the end of October. Can’t wait.
I’ve been doing a lot of SUPing this year and in February bought my first hard SUP, a 14′ x 26″ Starboard Allstar. This was a step up from an inflatable 12′ X 32″ Bluefin Cruise I’d been using till now.
I was well advised by the SUP company in Southampton, UK to go for the 26″ width board, which I think turned out to be a good choice for my ability level and the sea conditions I predominantly SUP in; SUPing in waves is way harder than flat water.c
Continue reading “More on SUPing”I’ve been doing quite a bit of SUP’ing this Summer, it’s hard to see, but there’s me to the left of the sailing yacht.
July features one of Swanage Sailing Club’s ‘out of the bay’ races around Old Harry into Knoll Bay. I grabbed the chance to be on safety for this race and it made for some great powerboating.
I instruct juniors on Saturdays at my local sailing club from April to July.
These pictures and videos give a sense of what goes on, we have around forty children in four groups, with a volunteer army of instructors, safety boat teams, shore team and organisers.
I got to crew on a Redwing last night in Poole harbour and it was exactly as a friend said it would be, glorious. I sailed in XODs as a kid which are similar and it all came back quickly.
Beautiful boats and a lovely evening. These pics were taken as two boats passed each other
Junior training started up at the end of April, here are some pictures from Gold group. We have over forty kids out on the water in four groups with instructing, safety and support happening through an army of volunteers.
Continue reading “Junior Training May 2025”
Klaus Harris 