Supporting Emergency Services and Health

Supporting Emergency Services and Health

THE UK FIREFIGHTERS SAILING CHALLENGE IS SUPPORTED BY: UK Firefghters Sailing Challenge 2018

WELCOME TO THE FIFTEENTH UNITED KINGDOM FIREFIGHTERS SAILING CHALLENGE Hello to all Skippers and mates taking part in the 2018 UK Firefighters Sailing Challenge. This will be the fifteenth year of the Challenge, having started back in 2003 with just eight yachts taking part. Over the years we have gone from strength to strength and are now regularly having 25+ yachts out on the water. At the time of printing, we have 26 boats registered to enter. If we have just two more, then we will need to book out the entire Sunsail fleet - so take care not to damage your yacht during the Regatta! We are now proud to be one of the largest regattas that Sunsail have in their calendar. Having built the Challenge up to this level over the past five years, some of the present committee want to step down. We feel it's time to bring in some new members for the good of the event and to see the Challenge continue with the kudos it so rightly deserves. We are therefore actively seeking new committee members, so please think about it and come and see us for a chat. Welcome It's always fantastic to welcome new teams, and I would like to say a big "hello" to Dorset and Wiltshire FRS who are joining us for the first time this year! We also welcome back Cornwall FRS after a number of years of not taking part. Supporting Emergency Services and Health

As the regulars will know, all other emergency services are welcome to join us and this year we see three Police, four Ambulance and one RNLI teams taking part alongside the 17 FRS teams, and at the moment WH Bence entering as sponsors. As ever, we are always looking to improve on previous years, but what can we do following last year's great Challenge!! What we are asking for this year, is for all teams to have a team name instead of a number. Some of you are already doing it- namely 'Team Cosmo' from last year. It can incorporate your FRS Service or Force. I know some of the Police prefer less conspicuous names on their polos. Please let Terry Hunt know your team name by email: terry.hunt@sunsail.com and cc. us at info@ukfsc.org.uk. Enclosed with this booklet, you'll find the Notice of Race Sailing Instructions and F40 Class Rules, as well as the itinerary. Please note, at this year's opening night we will not be having a marquee due to lower sponsorship levels. Food will be served before the opening ceremony, with the first service at 19:00. We politely ask all crews to be as quick as they can when eating to allow other crews to sit down for their meal. Sponsorship Update We are delighted to announce that we have gained two Gold level sponsors, WH Bence and Allsigns, who will be supporting the opening night and social evening. As you can see from our itinerary, the opening ceremony follows the buffet meal in The Port House. UK Firefghters Sailing Challenge 2018

This year, the training session will be prior to the Skippers brief, and will be held in the dining area in The Port House. This will start at 17:30, followed by the Skippers brief at 18:30. Racing on Tuesday will start at 10:30 and we hope to have a minimum of four races, weather and time permitting. Berthing will be in Cowes Yacht Haven. The evening social will commence at 17:00 with a hog roast and drinks. Music will be supplied by the ever-popular Hampshire FRS band, 'Snatch Rescue'. Racing on Wednesday will start at 10:00, also with a minimum of four races, and we will be back into Cowes for the Gala prize-giving dinner at 19:00. Thursday is the UKFSC Passage Back Race. Yachts will start in the order of placing over the first two days in timed groups. We usually finish off back at Portsmouth at approximately 14:30. The Skippers' briefings for Wednesday and Thursday will be held on the dockside at 08:30 in Cowes Yacht Haven. Mason King, who our regulars know as one of the Met Police competitors for a number of years and a regular winner, will not be racing this year, but he will be out on the water giving assistance to those that would like it. He will follow this up in Cowes both days after racing to show clips of sail trim and explain where improvements can be made. Very useful advice for those wanting to go home with a trophy. Have a great Challenge and good luck! Mick Norman, Chairman UKFSC Supporting Emergency Services and Health

ITINERARY MONDAY 7 MAY 17:00 hrs Skippers collect boats from Sunsail offices at Lockside 17:30 hrs Racing tuition with Mason King in the dining area at The Port House 18:30 hrs Skippers Brief in the dining area at The Port House 19:0021:00 hrs Buffet dinner at The Port House, sponsored by Allsigns. 21:00 hrs Opening Ceremony, introduction of sponsors and skippers UK Firefghters Sailing Challenge 2018

ITINERARY TUESDAY 8 MAY 07:30 hrs Breakfast rolls in The Port House. Tea and coffee included 10:25 hrs First warning signal 10:30 hrs Start of first race (please note, it can take upto an hour to get to the starting area). 16:30 hrs Boats dock in Cowes Yacht Haven 17:00 hrs till 21:00 hrs Evening social, hog roast and drinks. Sponsored by WH Bence. Entertainment by Snatch Rescue. 1st Floor Cowes Event Centre Supporting Emergency Services and Health

ITINERARY WEDNESDAY 9 MAY 08:30 hrs Skippers brief, dockside, Cowes Yacht Haven 10:00 hrs Start of first race. 16:30 hrs Boats dock in Cowes Yacht Haven 17:00 hrs Gala dinner, Cowes Event Centre Guest speaker: Hannah Stodel, GBR Paralympic Sailor (https://www.hannahstodelracing.com) UK Firefghters Sailing Challenge 2018

ITINERARY THURSDAY 10 MAY 08:30 hrs Skippers brief 10:30 hrs Start of the UKFSC Passage Back Race. Crews starting in finishing order from first 2 days. 16:00 hrs Prize-giving and goodbyes. The Port House, Port Solent PRIZE-GIVING Trophies will be awarded at Wednesday's Gala dinner for the following achievements: First, second and third placed Fire Service Boats 1st placed visiting Boat 1st placed White Sails Boat 1st sponsors Boat Various services also award their own trophies for the winning boats in their own particular service. The UKFSC Passage Back race trophies will be presented to 1st Spinnaker and 1st White Sails. This will take place in The Port House at approx. 16:00. Supporting Emergency Services and Health

RAFFLE Many of you will know that, as well as the racing, we are also very proud to raise money for various charities. Since our inception we have raised almost 100,000. Let's meet that figure this year!! With this year's lower sponsorship levels, we may not be able to give the amounts we have in the past, so please Skippers, encourage your crews to buy the raffle tickets that are issued. More will be available on the gala night. This year we have some fantastic prizes. Elliot Brown watches have donated a special edition Firefighters watch, valued at over 500. More details of other prizes on offer will be announced on the evening. The proceeds of all the monies raised from the raffle will be split 25% to The Firefighters Charity, 25% to The RNLI, 25% to the nomination of the first placed FB boat and 25% to the nominated charity of the guest speaker. CREW INFORMATION NEEDED We need every Skipper to ensure that polo sizes have been submitted to us a.s.a.p. Teams not submitting their size preference may be disappointed. Email details to: polos@ukfsc.org.uk Also please tell us if anyone in your crew has any special dietary requirements. Numbers for the meals are based on teams of 8 unless we are told otherwise. Additional members are charged extra. UK Firefghters Sailing Challenge 2018

SPONSORS UPDATE We are very pleased to welcome back a previous Silver level sponsor, WH Bence, now as a Gold level sponsor, alongside new sponsor, Allsigns. Allsigns are an impressive company that make all types of signage including wraps for advertising on vehicles. We thank Boddingtons Electrical for their continued support at Silver level. Another new sponsor at Bronze level is Coldcut Systems (Coldcut Cobra), who manufacture cutting extinguisher systems. Also returning for their sixth year are Bronze level sponsors, Skilltrack and The Big Choice Group. We have spoken before about the need for sponsors. As you can imagine, to run an event as successful as ours, and to provide the level of entertainment, facilities and support, does cost. Team entry fees cover the food costs, moorings and racing support but not the additional social items, as well as the amount of charitable donations we are able to give. If you do have any links to potential sponsors, then please let us know. Supporting Emergency Services and Health

PORTSMOUTH TIDE TABLES Tuesday 8 May 2017 Time Type HT 05:40 HIGH 3.7 10:46 LOW 2 18:23 HIGH 3.8 Wednesday 9 May 2017 Time Type HT 00:29 LOW 2.2 06:45 HIGH 3.7 12:56 LOW 2 19:26 HIGH 3.8 Thursday 10 May 2017 Time Type HT 01:33 LOW 2.1 07:49 HIGH 3.7 13:49 LOW 1.8 20:26 HIGH 4 UK Firefghters Sailing Challenge 2018