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November 2004
The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood
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November 2004 |
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The Newsletter of Spinnaker Club, Ringwood |
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Olympic Development Squad for Spinnaker Club sailor
Ben Hinks (Spinnaker Club previous Optimist and Laser Radial) and his sailing Partner Ben Mansfield along with other National Youth squad members Tom Phipps and Jon Cook are the products of the first Hobie Dragoon catamaran charter program, that have now been full cycle from Youth Development squad, then to National Youth Squad in Hobie 16 and have now been selected for Olympic Development Squad training and are sailing in Hobie Tigers (F18).
This F18-style transitional squad concept was mulled over for many months. Immediately after the 2004 Olympics it was accepted that doing it in Tornadoes was not an option for most youth sailors, (due to the huge cost and expense and limited competition) but setting up a more affordable F18-style transitional and then Olympic development squad was the best way forward until such time as the Olympic team select the Tornado development squad of only a few boats ready for the 2008 China Olympics. The Hobie Tiger is like a slightly scaled down Tornado and handles in a similar fashion. It one-design so within the squad clear testing and evaluation can be carried on. The sailors race in F18 circuit , both at home and internationally, but the training for this group will be on Tiger platforms, which has proven itself as a competitive in F18.
The Ben's are still sailing as members of the National Youth Squad in Hobie 16's with Gennikers with a view to winning a place in Durban for the Worlds as Youth and senior class representatives in 2005. They competed in Mexico at the worlds and achieved 6th place, but were disappointed with their performance and saw serious room for improvement, which is what they have been working hard upon. They currently sail full time 1 week a month in the
Tiger, and 2 weekends a month in the Hobie 16 and work on their fitness
for an average of 2 hours a day in the gym, running or cycling - in
addition to college and homework!! Once the season gets underway there
will be even more sailing and travelling. They're currently looking for a
Team Sponsor to assist their development and campaign and are presently
assisted with basic squad training through Sport England and the Lottery
funding to the RYA. Mike Hinks |
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Chernobyl children return Our young guests from Belarus returned with two groups to Blashford Lake again this year. Younger than last year, all under twelve years, but surprisingly confident and as happy a crowd of youngsters as you could wish to meet. Additionally some guest children from previous years joined their ranks to give a modicum of experience to the novice sailors. Both groups equally enjoyed their day on the lake, sailing and canoeing, in ideal conditions and afterwards, appetites charged, enjoyed the Spinnaker BBQ. They relaxed, as they tucked into second ice creams, and somehow mentally separated themselves, just for a few minutes, from their hosts as they talked together, over the excitement of the afternoon’s events. The August group, started on cue at 2:00 pm with a blaze of welcoming sunshine, but sadly the sky soon clouded again. The light SW wind however was just perfect for most of the children’s first sailing experience. Each year a new group of children come to the UK, supplemented by a few lucky ones who were being hosted for a return trip, invited again by their original host parents. The country air helps to reinforce the children’s immune system, adding years of life to radiation damaged bodies. The June group equally enjoyed themselves, but it seems to be that the second group make more of the event! Weather is often better in June, perhaps it is because they know when they return they will be needing to do their year-end exams, or perhaps they are just recovering from doing them! However this year their smiles said it all, no worries! They really do enjoy coming to Spinnaker Club. Many thanks to all those from Spinnaker Club, particularly Alan Copestake, John Noble, John Clarke, Tom Glasson, the Baileys, Sue Cootes for the super BBQ. Also to the Canoeist’s from Sandleheath Sea Scouts, to Ros who provided numerous buoyancy aids enabling the children to run around all afternoon, proud, nonchalant, as though they were ‘regulars’ in the art of boating, adorned and ready for the next trip. Thanks finally from the children to Spinnaker Club for agreeing to their now annual invasion. The June children presented me with a little memento for the club as a gesture of their appreciation! Hopefully, we can do it all again next year. Sue Molden, together with husband Chris, and the CCLL Committee, organise the fund raising, holiday programme, locating and vetting the host parents, and CPR checks. This year Sue our Chair, injured her back during the second holiday, and was completely exhausted by the time the second group returned. This was the third year she has undertaken this stressful job, and the sixth year that Verwood, and now the ‘Silver Birch Links’ have invited children to England. However it is likely that next year only a single group will come to the UK. However the ‘Link’ is hoping to invite some of the traumatised children from the recent Chechen disaster zone to come to the UK in March/April for a month’s holiday. The ‘Silver Birch’ link would like to hear from
potential host parents, who may be able help, and to host a child. Please
firstly contact Sue Molden on 01425 480651. Peter
Harper, CCLL Committee 01425 474567 |
