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”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.
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”
Despite poor wind conditions, it was excellent, we learned a ton and it was glorious to nerd out on sailing for a couple of days.
Continue reading “RS Aero Training Feb 2025”This sailing ship is the Tres Hombres. She lay at anchor in Swanage Bay in December 2024 sheltering from Storm Darragh. In these pictures, Tres Hombres had just rounded Peveril Point on her way west to Martinique.
View her current location on Vesselfinder.
Swanage’s racing has ended for 2024, and I’ve started sailing at Poole Yacht Club again now in Poole Harbour. PYC has an excellent Aero/ILCA fleet and race over the winter. The Saturday morning format is five short back-to-back races on a square outer loop course.
We had light winds and murky weather yesterday. After the race, I had a sail around Poole Harbour which was fun.
Klaus Harris 