Displaying items by tag: windsurf

26th May 2016

Dyslexic UK Windsurfer Prepares for North Sea Challenge

Tom Harrison plans to sail 75 miles to raise funds for Dyslexia and RNLI

Tom Harrison (42) from Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex has reached the final stages of his preparations to windsurf 75 nautical miles to raise funds for the British Dyslexia Association and the RNLI. He hopes to raise a total of £10,000 for each nominated charity writes Sue Pelling

Despite his lifelong battle with dyslexia, Harrison has built a successful career as a boatbuilder, and fine jewellery designer/manufacturer. He is now keen to demonstrate to others who suffer from similar debilitating conditions, that by setting a personal challenge it is possible to find the strength, determination and the ability to see the positive side of seemingly daunting prospects.

Commenting on his decision to embark on such a challenge, Harrison said: “I once joined a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France to help the sick and disabled. It was a humbling and rewarding experience. And I wish to continue along this vein. Hence I have chosen my windsurf challenge to continue what I believe in.

“I am not doing this challenge to prove anything to the doubters and the ‘no’ people, I am here to celebrate the ‘yes’ people and the ‘you can’ and ‘do yourself proud’ people.”

After two years of planning, training, and raising funds for equipment, Harrison believes ‘the time is right’ and he hopes to attempt the challenge in July or August this year, depending on the weather conditions.

To complete the 75nm course on his custom-built carbonfibre board and Severne sail, in his target time of five hours, Harrison says he’ll need to clock up an average speed of 15kts, which means he’ll need a steady southerly breeze of 15-18kts.

Sailing across the North Sea from Burnham-on-Crouch (Swin Spitway) to Ostend, is no mean feat. Harrison will face many challenges along the way including biggest hazard of all – shipping. The Channel, which flows into the North Sea in this area, is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, so it will be down to Harrison and his support team on the accompanying Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) Restless, to work out a safe route through.

Thankfully, Team North Sea Challenge is well equipped with modern marine technology including Sci-Tech (POB) Tracker, which tracks in real time, independently of phone networks, using GNSS and RF technology. Communication between the support crew and Harrison will be via hand held VHF radios, and AIS (Automatic Identification System) to alert shipping, will be in use.

Commenting on his training and the level of fitness he has built up, to date, Harrison concluded: “I have been training for this for two years but with under three months to go, I have increased the intensity. I spend between one-two hours in the gym four or five days a week, as well as yoga every morning and as much on-the-water training as possible. My sailing sessions last anything between two and four hours, so it is full on.”

To follow the progress of Harrison’s North Sea Challenge, go to www.tomharrisonnorthseachallenge.com. There will also be constant news updates on Facebook (Tom Harrison North Sea Challenge) and Twitter (Thomas Harrison@tomwindsurfing).

To help raise funds for Harrison’s chosen charities – RNLI and British Dyslexia Association

About Tom Harrison

Tom Harrison (42) lives and works in Burnham-on-Crouch and runs his own design and manufacturing company specialising in fine jewellery. Although dyslexia has threatened to disrupt his life, his will power and passion for sailing, in particular, has helped him conquer personal challenges including his attempt at the North Sea Challenge. With the support of his family, friends and partner Jo, Harrison’s aim, in addition to raising funds for two charities, is to leave a lasting legacy to help inspire those suffering similar disabilities, to live their dreams.

Published in News Update

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Van Gelderen Becomes Fastest Sailor on Irish Waters

The Irish GPS Speedsailing record fell again last Friday in Dungarvan when Oisin Van Gelderen broke all previous speeds, becoming the fastest sailor ever to sail on Irish waters.

The speed is ratified by the WGPSSRC (World GPS Speedsailing Records Council):
http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=records, who issue GPS records based on the best 10 second run of 45.02 knots, and a distance travelled of around 270 metres in this time.

The 5 x 10second run average, currently puts him in fourth overall on the 2011 GPS speed ranking list and 23rd overall in the all time rankings.
Peak speed for the day was 46.32 knots (84 kmph), and 500m speed was 43.96knots.

Even though Van Gelderen broke the late John Kenny's 500m speed, he retains that title for now, as the WSSRC (World Speed sailing Records Council) issue National records for that distance, and do not yet recognize GPS.

The rise in popularity in GPS speedsailing has made the competition a worldwide phenomenon, as people from different countries compete year round to push their personal and international speeds. Over 4000 members subscribe to the gps-speedsurfing.com website.

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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

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