Frensham Pond Sailing Club

The club now has wireless internet available for members and visitors.  Access costs £3 per month.  For more information click here

Frensham Pond was the venue for the last Sailability Access class 2008 Traveller’s series.

Twenty six entries all with varying disabilities took part, including a good turnout from visiting crews. Travelling boats came from Rutland, Chew Valley, Tideway, Sussex YC and Whitefriars.

The friendly rivalry between all the major inland waters, and two tidal, made the day especially interesting. Racing throughout was tactical, competitive and tight in all three Access Classes. Frensham’s Paul Holzheer is already a champion in the Access 303 and a successful club racer in the 2.4 mini-keelboat. In his first serious outing in the single seat 2.3 Access he won the trophy with two first places and one second, although a penalty in race two brought a discarded eighth. He proved himself a man to watch for the future. Holzheer did not have it all his own way. He had a close fought contest with Janet Lee, Sussex YC who scored a win in race three and took two more second places. Third place went to Geoff Gibbins from Rutland.

In the 303 class the honours went to Chew Valley’s Paul Clements with Frensham’s Tessa Watkiss second. While David Durston from Whitefriars won three out of three in the larger single-handed Liberty class.

Racing took place in a moderate North Easterly breeze, Frensham’s best direction but long periods of cold penetrating rain killed the wind and made life uncomfortable for both sailors and helpers. Race One in the 303 class went to Paul Clements. He and Tessa Watkiss, were the real contenders throughout the day, although both were upstaged in race two by a clear win from Frensham’s Andrew Sheaf. Katy Turquoise from Sussex YC sailed consistently throughout to take third overall just ahead of Chris Emmett from Rutland. And no one could compete with David Durston in the larger sized Liberty dinghy, with his three straight wins.

Although the honours were shared on this day the result was enough for Frensham team to retain the Ben Ainslie Trophy for the most successful travelling team. Much credit for this has to go to coach Nick Clibborn and the organisation of Richard Smallwood. After the racing the prizes were awarded by the day’s guest on honour: Cllr Gillian Mary Beel the mayor of Farnham. Mrs Beel told the gathering of her family attachment to Sailability Frensham through her cousin the late Jim Steventon, for many years a senior RYA instructor who worked with Sailability and is greatly missed.

Thanks were given to, Sailability Frensham’s chairman Brian Grimwood, race officer Graham Howlett for his committee boat starts, to the safety boat crews, the kitchen staff and to the small army of shoreside helpers from all the competing clubs. The day concluded with video shots of the day and comments from national coach George Barker.

21 Lasers, including 4 visitors braved an iffy weather forecast to contest the Frensham Pond Laser Open on 14th September in the Thames Valley circuit. The wind was light (F1 to F2) averaging ENE, usually a stable quarter for Frensham, but 180 degree fluctuations on the day punctured that theory! At least the fabled British summer made a surprise appearance, for which all were grateful.

In the first race. Katrina Gilbert built a huge early lead, but with a lap to go, Brendan Chaplin caught and briefly got past, but Katrina was not to be deposed for long. Nick Royse held a solid third and with huge gaps appearing, no one else was really in it.

The second race started with a pile up at the pin end with a sudden header – a portent of things to come. Which side do you choose when there are simultaneous breezes blowing SE and NW. Pressure? Making light of it, again Katrina lead from early followed by FPSC ex-Cadet star Bryony Gregory showing no respect to her elders. Fighting for some self-respect for the males in the fleet, Tim Bartle ground his way past Bryony to steal second. Again, no one else was close.

With the meeting in the bag, Katrina skipped the last race (not the only Gilbert family member who gets to do that....). In a bit more wind, Clive Eplett led all the way round, followed by Bryony. If it stayed that way, it would secure them second and third place respectively. Frensham is not like that though. With Bryony finding herself sucked into the ding-dong battle of the day behind between Tim, Jon Peck of BA Silverwing and Colin Dutton up the last beat there was everything to play for. Places changed constantly, but Tim was looking solid for second in the race and meeting before unluckily succumbing, 20 yards from the line to a port and starboard infringement where he sportingly spun his turns. This left Jon happily grabbing the second in the race restoring a hovering Clive to second overall, Bryony third and Tim an unlucky fourth.

There were 2 radials competing with Karin Bradbury of Frensham winning the Millennium cup for the first radial.

Sue Eplett as the Vice commodore's wife presented the prizes but immediately confiscated the bottle of wine from the second place winner. Thanks to Jeremy Hudson and the GP14 team for getting some decent racing in.

As you may now be aware, Lois Hudson has stepped down from her role as Social Secretary on the General Committee and from temporarily running the Club kitchen.

Lois will be a hard act to follow. She has, as we have come to expect, worked tirelessly to improve the social activities at the Club, arranging a variety of enjoyable events on a regular basis, and providing a cheerful welcome for visitors and members alike. It was typical of her generosity and willingness to support the Club that she volunteered to help run the kitchen in recent months.

A big thank you, therefore, to Lois from the General Committee, on behalf of all FPSC members, for her considerable contribution to the Club.

Situation Vacant!

In Lois’s absence, we now, of course, have a vacancy on the General Committee for a new Social Secretary. So, if you are interested in developing the social side of the Club and in making a contribution to the Club as a whole, please contact me, or any member of the General Committee, who will be happy to discuss this with you. Without doubt, the better our social scene, the more enjoyable the Club for everyone. I hope to hear from you.

John Townsley, Commodore

August has once again been a winning month for Frensham’s tops sailors.

Roger Gilbert and James Stewart retained their national title in the Merlin class for the second year. The pair winning four races and with two third places swept the board finishing 15 points ahead of their nearest rivals. The contest staged at Looe in Cornwall saw varied weather conditions but the Frensham crew adapted to everything the weather or the other 76 competitors could offer.

Only hours later, Roger switched to the RS200 dinghy and sailed their national championships at Hayling Island. Crewed this time by Jane Willan, Roger swept the board with seven straight wins only marred by a discarded twenty-fourth.

Meanwhile Frensham’s Nick Craig and Fiona Clarke took the national title in the RS400 dinghy championship at Exe Sailing club. Nick more than made up for a disappointing season, by his standards, with five straight race wins and two second places.

Earlier in the month Frensham Sailability’s Paul Holzheer, already National champion in the Access 303 dinghy, won his class again at the National Sailability multi-class regatta at Rutland Sailing Club on the 8^th-10^th August. This result won in some fierce weather conditions.

Future Champions.

In the week of the 18^th to 23^rd August a contingent of over twenty Frensham Pond Cadet sailors took part in their national championship week at Torbay Yacht Club.

All distinguished themselves, but one crew, Alex Young and Jack Hardie, challenged for the title throughout the week, missing out by only five points to take the runner up spot in an entry of nearly 100 boats. These two are now ranked No 1 in the 2008 Cadet National rankings.

Results: 2008. 2^nd: World Promotional Regatta at Medemblik.

2^nd: UK Cadet nationals in Torbay.

This is the best Frensham youth result for some years. Alex, who recently won the Farnham and District young person’s sports award, comes from a distinguished sailing family and adds to Frensham’s reputation as the “school of champions”.

Graham Howlett has kindly created an Archive for the Club, which is now on the Club website in the Members’ Area. Please take a few moments to look through it – it’s well worth it and already gives a fascinating insight into the history of the Club.

Graham is keen to develop it further, so if you have material which you feel may be suitable for the Archive, please let Graham know.

The archive can be found by clicking on this link

Don't waste your Bank Holiday in traffic queues! Come and enjoy the August Bank Holiday Regatta

Race programme as follows:

• 10.30 - Handicap Race for all
• 12.15 - Veteran's Race for the FPSC Vice President's Cup* (Sailed in GP14s, Helm 60 years or over, Helm plus Crew 120 years of over)
• 12.20 - Handicap Race, incorporating
  • Under 18s Race
  • Ladies Race for the Prunty Cup FPSC Lady Helm*
  • Crews Race for the Morris Cup* (helmed by persons who do not normally helm in the main points races)
• 14.00 - Pursuit Race for all (Cadet start)

* Note that cups will be awarded only if two or more boats compete in each category

See you on the water...

Congratulations to Ted Bonner and Brian Grimwood

I am sure you will be pleased to hear that the highly prestigious RYA Community Awards have been conferred on both Ted Bonner (for 'Lifetime Commitment') and Brian Grimwood (for 'Outstanding Contribution') for their services to the disabled through sailing.

The RYA Community Awards recognise the exceptional voluntary contribution given by individuals who make a real impact on their local communities through the sport of sailing. These awards are regarded as the MBE’s of the sport and are awarded to those who make an outstanding contribution at grass roots level.

Ted and Brian have been invited to a presentation ceremony in London later in the year. Congratulations to them both.

John Townsley

The photo gallery on the website has been updated with photos of the Solo Open Meeting.  Click here to see them

There have been some changes to the social calendar for the remainder of the year so please adjust your diaries.

• August 9th is now a BBQ
• November 15th is now a Quiz Night

Full details of these and other forthcoming events can be found on the social events page

The 2008 Access Class National Championships were held at Burghfield Sailing Club on 10 and 11 July. The Friday forecast was for rain and squally conditions which duly arrived, but racing commenced on time at 1130 with 12 entries in both the 303 and 2.3 classes and two in the Access Liberty class, both of which were using electrical control systems. The helms of all participating boats had a qualifying disability under the rules of the Access Class Association (UK).

Race 1 for the single-handed 2.3s proved to be between Clare Andrew of Rutland and Ann Lewis of Frensham Pond with Clare winning after Ann apparently collected some Burghfield weed. The leaders in the 303 class, in which single- and double-handers compete together, were both from Frensham Pond with Paul Holzherr beating David Harris to the line.

Two more races were held after lunch, and Ann got her revenge, beating Clare in both races for the 2.3s. There was some concern when Chris Emmet of Rutland Sailability was tipped out of his part-electrical-control 2.3 by a particularly heavy squall. However, the Burghfield Safety Boat soon had him out of the water. There were new winners in the 303 class with newcomers Ian and his father Paul Clements from Chew Valley Lake winning race 2 and past champions Chris Atkin and Johnty Dickinson from Woolverstone Project (Ipswich) winning race 3. At the end of day 1 the 303s were evenly balanced with Paul, David and Chris/Johnty on similar points. The Libertys were also evenly balanced with Dave Durston of Whitefriars having two wins and Simon Harle of Rutland the other.

The forecast for the second day was more promising, and conditions were indeed much easier with the wind dying briefly during the sixth and last race. Race 4 for the 2.3s was a repeat of race 3 with Ann beating Clare, but an interesting battle was developing behind them with club-mates Janet Lee and Pat Jackson of Sussex YC scrapping for third place overall, each with two third places on the water. Paul Holzherr won race 4 for the 303s, and Dave Durston clocked up a third win in the Libertys. Race 5 followed back-to-back and there was a loud cheer when Geoff Gibbins’ 2.3 arrived first, with a good lead, at the windward mark near the clubhouse to break the apparent female monopoly. He held on to his lead to the finish, with Janet Lee second and Ann Lewis relegated to third. There was also a new winner, David Harris, in the 303s and Simon Harle succeeded in the Liberty class to give himself a chance if he could win the 6^th and last race.

Over lunch the leading contenders were busy calculating their overall prospects before the final race. It seemed that Ann Lewis and Paul Holzherr had the 2.3 and 303 classes won, but there was all to play for further down the fleets. Nevertheless Ann and Paul went afloat for what proved, in many respects, the most challenging race of the championships with significant variations in wind strength and direction. Chris Emmet established a lead in his part-electric 2.3 and held on until the last mark when Ann Lewis passed him to confirm her status as the National Champion. Ian and Paul Clements had another win in the 303s but, with only three races completed out of six, were out of contention overall. Simon Harle won the last Access Liberty race to become National Champion on a tie-break.

The organisation by Burghfield afloat and ashore was first class with two hoists used to transfer wheelchair user into and out of the boats and excellent courses for the 45 minute races. An AGM was held which will be reported on the website www.accessclass.org , together with the full results of the event.

The main prize-winners were:

Access 2.3 Class

1^st and National Champion 2008 – Ann Lewis – Frensham Pond Sailability

2^nd – Clare Andrew – Rutland Sailability

3^rd – Pat Jackson – Sussex Yacht Club

Access 303 Class

1^st and National Champion 2008 – Paul Holzherr – Frensham Pond Sailability

2^nd – David Harris – Frensham Pond Sailability

3^rd – Chris Atkin and Johnty Dickinson – Woolverstone Project

Access Liberty Class

1^st and National Champion 2008 – Simon Harle – Rutland Sailability

2^nd – Dave Durston – Whitefriars Sailing for Disabled

A tough open at Chichester the day before, plus the counter attractions of tennis and Formula One, reduced the field somewhat. But five visitors joined the nine local helms for Frensham’s annual meeting for Solos. Frensham can be a light weather venue, but this day of driving rain, thirty knot gusts and capsizes, ended with a narrow win by a home club entry.

First of the three race series was won by Frensham’s top Solo helm Keith Videlo, with second place going to Reading SC’s Simon Corper and third to Steve Jones from Littleton SC.

It might have been Videlo’s day, but for a severe blood injury from a boom in the face. Although Keith struggled on to finish the second race his challenge was over.

The race was won by Will Loy from Reading SC, with Corper second and Frensham’s Richard Harding third.

In the afternoon the rain ceased and the sun shone; but the gusts were as punishing as ever forcing a number of retirements. This third and final race went to Richard Harding with Steve Jones second and Will Loy third.

Commodore John Townsley, who had himself competed on the water, thanked all competitors, especially the visitors, plus the kitchen team and the safety boat crews who had been busier than usual. Thanks also went to Race Officer Tim Hemsley who manned the committee boat and set the courses in tricky conditions.

Final Result.

1^st: Richard Harding. 2^nd: Will Loy. 3^rd: Simon Corper.

Members of Frensham Sailability Access team had a triumphant weekend at the French national championships with a one-two result in the single-handed 303 class.

The meeting staged at Berck sailing club fifty miles south of Calais was sailed in some marginal conditions. The twenty five knot gusts on Friday afternoon were no problem for Frensham’s Dave Harris who showed immediate form with a first and second. Ashore Dave registered a protest against the French winner of the second race for an on-water incident. Dave was elevated to first place. Fortunately the protest caused no souring of Anglo-French relations with the other competitor acknowledging her error and shaking hands.

On day two strong winds delayed the start. When racing started Andy Sheaf and Kate Lintott in the double-handed class scored two wins and Dave Harris a first and third. Frensham’s Paul Holzheer found good form recording a second and third. Harris ended day two leading a French competitor with Paul Holzheer third.

The final day dawned with medium to strong winds. Paul Holzheer and Dave Harris scored a win each, which pulled Paul to second place in the final result. Andy Sheaf and Kate Lintott in the double-hander had a tough fight with a skilled Spanish crew and had to settle for second overall.

Picture L – R. Andy Sheaf & Kate Lintott. Paul Holzherr. Dave Harris

2^nd 303 two handed Access. 2^nd solo 303Access 1^st solo 303 Access.

The annual Ten Hour Race & Barbecue will take place on Saturday 19th July.  This is a great event for all the family whether you sail or not.

For more details see the events page.

If you want to sail in the race, get your teams together and start collecting sponsorship.  This year the proceeds will go to the Frensham Pond Cadet Class and to www.smile4rich.co.uk.  If you can't find a team, speak to your class captain who will be happy to find you a place in a team.

See photos of the 2008 Open Day by clicking here