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Santa Irene Club de Vela Newsletter - 14th September 2005
Hola
I’m back home and keen to be on the water again, bur first let me tell
you about some youngsters back in the UK. A team of 11 young Optimist sailors
aged 11-14 years from the Royal Lymington YC sailed three Oppies around the
Isle of Wight, transferring the helm form time to time. The circumnavigation
was completed in a record time of 11hrs, 11mins in near perfect conditions with
a wind of 12-18mph (force 4), you would need to be a dam good little sailor
in a good little sea boat which the Oppie is. The distance must be about 70
miles.
Although I did a lot of sailing in that area, I’ve never been around the I. of W. That old sea dog, Frank has during his Cowes week, we’ll ask him about it when he returns next month.
Another
teenager with a passion for sailing is Megan Baker who at 17 sailed her Laser,
from Exmouth, Devon to Cherbourg, France. At 04.30hrs on 21st July 05, Megan started
from the Fairway Buoy Exmouth and 18hrs later arrived at Cherbourg, just before
her 18th Birthday- the distance was 103 miles. But it’s not that simple,
these projects require a lot of research, preparation, planning and personal commitment.
Congratulations and good luck to them all, I wonder what they’ll be doing
in a few years time?
18 years ago, Nick Rogers did a circumnavigation of the I. of W. in a record time of 13hrs 55mins, last year Nick won an Olympic medal in Athens, he’s a young man now, so how old was he then?
If you want to know more, for the Oppie sailors look at the royal Lymington Y.C. website and for Megan, her site is ww.meganbaker.com
My trip back was near perfect – except the rain at Plymouth, we were hoping to have a picnic on the Hoe, we that is Pat and John, my good friends from Benidorm and myself. It was calm seas all the way to Santander, and then with an overnight stop at Doroea, we arrived in Benidorm early afternoon on Friday, with plenty of time to go shopping at Carrefour. Then on Saturday and Sunday (I think Santa Irene must have had something to do with this!) there was one of the friendliest Regattas I’ve been to in Spain at the Benidorm Sailing Club.
The boats racing were Hobie 16’s, 420’s, Lasers and Oppies, it was the 5th PAJUELIN Regatta. Pajuelin is a member of the club and four times National Champion in the Hobie 16, but not this year, I did however meet the National Champion, Pajuelin introduced me to him. What can I say about Pajuelin – a Youngman full to bursting with Bon-homie, that’s the word! A Man so enthusiastic about sailing and the club, he wants to put Benidorm on the sailing map.
Oh! I also met “Jane” a young lass from Liverpool, she has been visiting Mojacar for the past 6 years, in June. Give me a call next time your in Mojacar Jane – I need a crew. She did say she would look at my website.
There is an open meeting for Hobie 16’s and Hobie A Class, the single hander, at Mar Menor, Murcia, and I may be there the 15th to 18th September, but remember we will be sailing throughout the year with a BBQ on the last Sunday of the month, so if you want to sail, or are looking for a boat come and talk to us at the week-ends at Playa Del Cantal, opposite Mr UK.
Take Care
John Talliss
Tel : 950 475 157
Movil: 658 548 790
E-mail John@Sailrway.com
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