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”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”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.
This was a great start to the year and I finished just under halfway down the fleet which was an open event personal best. There’s a separate Starcross Steamer post.
Sail World write up. This was my first open of the year, three back to back races in the Solent at Lymington Town Sailing Club.
I was in a small Aero 9 fleet and happy with how things went. There wasn’t too much fleet separation and the last one was quite tight racing.
The eagle-eyed will notice that I am on the wrong side of the boat. Well,… if you don’t capsize now and then, you aren’t trying hard enough. 🙂
2021 was still a COVID year and things didn’t get going till May. It was impressive how racing events were run within the safety guidelines, and how things like briefings were moved async and online over video and, comms was enhanced with channels like WhatsApp.
I’d like to say a big thank you to all the clubs who put on events, including my own in Swanage, and the RS Aero class for being so friendly and welcoming. It’s a great fun boat and a great class.
This was a special one. We’d been ‘locked down’ in the months before and I think everyone just wanted to get out and start feeling that things were normal again.
My second ever open and with some pretty windy weather and big chop in the solent, it was a blast. Seeing the front of the boat submerge and nearly pitchpole at one point was memorable.
It was really exciting to race at the sailing location of the 2012 Olympics. A two day event and the best bit was getting out of the harbour. We had great weather and I loved the summer feeling. Definitely a benchmark venue.
A light wind day.
A home mixed handicap two day regatta with some fruity conditions, F5 gusting 7 on one day.
I had a mast problem (top piece jammed hard onto the base of brand new 5 stub) for some weeks in August, and so switched to windsurfing. We got the family doing a bit too. It was fantastic and I’m definitely going to be getting some faster kit and doing it more in 2022.
I was the lead instructor for the Bronzes this year and thanks to a terrific team we got 22 kids started with sailing.
First sail on a lake and brilliant fun.
Another two-day event, challenging light winds conditions. I do like Paignton’s waters.
If the weather allows it, I get out at least once a week at all times of the year.
A real highlight of 2021 was watching the sailing at the Tokyo Olympics and enjoying seeing Team GB in action. I was on vacation at the time, got up early and soaked it all up.
I have a ton of things to improve with my sailing and fitness/strength and can’t wait for the weather to allow me out again to start training. Next year I want to do more racing, a few more events and improve my results and consistency at home and away.
The main event will probably be the RS Aero nationals or the RS Games. Multi-day events are really hard work and I’ll need to work up to them.
And… do as much sailing, SUPing, kayaking, swimming and windsurfing with the family as possible. Sounds like a plan. 🙂
Klaus Harris 