IFDS Bulletin

Issue 78 - Published Tuesday 4 May 2010

Message from the IFDS President

Just some scattered thoughts and reminders for May: we are now just a month away from the first of three significant events on our schedule: in June the Access Worlds in Rutland, GBR, and the IFDS Blind Sailing Worlds in Italy in conjunction with Homerus followed in July by the IFDS Worlds for the Paralympic classes in Medemblik. Each of these requires an immense amount of planning and coordination on the part of organizers and volunteers; we need to remember to thank them all for their time and energy. Subsequent Bulletins will feature each event and they can be followed as well on the ISAF web site.

Emma Little reports that the IFDS Bulletin is emailed to 1,329 addresses, not including the ISAF Committee Members and ISAF MNA's - this outreach is great for our sport and we should be delighted in the level of interest in what we do. If anyone would like to sign up to receive the bulletin, then please register on www.sailing.org/disabled then IFDS News, then IFDS Bulletins.

A short reminder to IFDS RNA's: All IFDS RNA's must have paid their 2010 IFDS RNA Subscription Fee in order for teams to compete in the IFDS Worlds in the Netherlands. Please remember that this is the first of two country qualifiers for the 2012 Paralympic Sailing Competition. It is important that all outstanding RNA Subscription Fees be received prior to.

Also a word of thanks to ISAF and the organizers of the ISAF Sailing World Cup events. It sounds as if a good year is underway for sailors, despite the recent travel issues in Europe and the light airs in the Semaine Olympique Française, Hyères. As sailors, we are nothing if not persistent in the face of adversity!

Hope to see some of you in Rutland at the Access Worlds and of course many of you in July in Medemblik at the IFDS Worlds.

Best wishes

Linda Merkle
IFDS President

Top News

IFDS Equipment Evaluation Commission (EEC)

IFDS are seeking nominations from individuals who are interested in being nominated to the IFDS Equipment Evaluation Commission (EEC), who are tasked to evaluate Two-Person Keelboat equipment for the 2016 and 2020 Paralympic Sailing Competitions.

Individuals interested in assisting in the evaluation process for the Two-Person Keelboat event are requested to obtain further information from Emma Little emma@isaf.co.uk

Completed Nomination Forms should be returned to Emma Little no later than 0900 BST (+1 UTC), Monday 31 May 2010.

IFDS International Classification Seminar, 2010

IFDS International Classification Seminar on the 2009-2012 IFDS Functional Classification System
In conjunction with the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship 2010, Medemblik, Netherlands

The Medical Committee of the International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) would like to invite delegates to participate in an IFDS International Classification Seminar on the 2009-2012 IFDS Functional Classification System (FCS 2009-2012).

The Seminar will take place at the same time and venue as the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship 2010 (One-Person, Two-Person, Three-Person Keelboats) Medemblik, Netherlands. Scheduled from 5-8 July 2010 the seminar will consist of theoretical, practical training sessions and on the water observations.

If you wish to attend the seminar, you are requested to complete the form available on the website and return it to Emma Little, IFDS Secretary, no later than 0900 UTC, Monday 21 June 2010.

2010 IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship, Medemblik, NED

The 2010 IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship, Netherlands, taking place in July is the first country qualification event for the 2012 Paralympic Sailing Competition.

To date the following nations have registered participants for this event:

2.4mR
Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, United States of America

SKUD18
Canada, Great Britain, Malaysia, United States of America

Sonar
Austria, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, United States of America

Eligible boats may enter this event by completing the form available on the website and returning it to the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club, KNZ&RV, at secr@ifdsworlds2010.com no later than 1800 hrs local time, 1 June 2010.

Event Website

Accommodation, Weymouth, GBR

Thank you to everyone who returned the completed accommodation questionnaires to IFDS.

The questionnaires have been forwarded to Weymouth & Portland Borough Council who will be in touch in order to help you make suitable accommodation reservations.

Weymouth & Portland Website

IFDS Committee Members

IFDS are delighted to announce the appointment of the following committee chairs:

Hugh Elliot (USA) - Chair, IFDS Technical Committee, email: hugh.elliot@earthlink.net
Hugh is a longtime sailor, including a Sonar Paralympic campaign. He is an ISAF International Judge and has been a judge at several IFDS World Championships. In the past he chaired the US SAILING Council for Sailors with Disabilities and has served as a member of the IFDS Technical Committee for several years.

Emma Hallén (SWE) - Acting Chair, IFDS Development Committee, email: emma@skotahem.com
Emma, also a competitive sailor, works with a widely recognized and highly successful community sailing program in Sweden; she is a long time member of the IFDS Development Committee.

Peter Wood (CAN) - Chair, IFDS Events & Scheduling Commission, email: pwood@magma.ca
Peter is a National Judge (he was a member of the jury at the 2007 IFDS Worlds in Rochester), an active racing sailor in the 2.4mR; is active in disabled sailing in Canada and is a past Executive Director of the Canadian Yachting Association.

We welcome all three to their new positions and look forward to working with them in the future. Details of all of these representatives will be featured more extensively in subsequent Bulletins.

A full list of individuals on IFDS Committees can be found on the website at www.sailing.org/disabled; IFDS Management; Structure & Committees.

IFDS Committees

Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class World Championships, Rutland Sailing Club, GBR

Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class World Championships and SKUD18 International Championship, Rutland Sailing Club, GBR, 4-11 June 2010

All Access Class and SKUD18 sailors wishing to participate in the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class World Championships and SKUD18 International Championships hosted by Rutland Sailing Club, England from 4th to 11th June 2010 are advised to view the event website.

The Notice of Race, entry form and details of accommodation, boat chartering, regatta programme etc will be published on the event website when available. To ensure that competitors are kept up to date, we are asking that entry forms are returned as soon as possible so that we can plan for the correct number of competitors and supporters and email document releases and general information by email when they become available.

There are a number of Access 2.3 and 303W boats available for charter. Unfortunately, there are no spare SKUD18 or Access Liberty boats available in the UK and all European competitors are expected to bring their own boats to the UK for the event.

Event website

ISAF Sailing World Cup

Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia MAPFRE 2010, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

It was another challenging day for all competitors racing on the penultimate day of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia Mapfre on the bay of Palma with big windshifts causing a number of races to be abandoned.

The first medals of the regatta were decided in the 2.4mR class which saw Dutch sailor Thierry Schmitter claim gold ahead of Britain's Helena Lucas with Dutch competitors also claiming third and fourth spots. Sixth place for Paul Tingley (CAN) maintains his lead in the ISAF Sailing World Cup standings but Schmitter has closed the gap and moved up to second overall. Top five finishes from Barend Kol (NED) in fourth and Megan Pascoe (GBR) in fifth tie them on points.

For the latest news, photos and videos, as well as Standings, event details and more, visit the ISAF Sailing World Cup website at www.sailing.org/worldcup

Top Three Results
1. Thierry Schmitter, NED
2. Helena Lucas (GBR)
3. Andre Rademaker (NED)

Full results can be found on: http://www.trofeoprincesasofia-mapfre.org/result.php?miclase=2.4%20mR

Semaine Olympique Française, Hyeres. France

Competing in the Semaine Olympique Française, Hyeres, racing in the Paralympic Classes of the One-Person and Three-Person Keelboats has concluded. Damien Seguin (FRA) won the One-Person Keelboat event after winning four races. Thierry Schmitter (NED) placed second in front of Megan Pascoe (GBR). In the Sonar, Dror Cohen (ISR), won the event with a narrow lead over the Dutch team of Marcel Van de Veen and Norway's Aleksander Wang-Hansen.

For the full results visit the website: http://sof.ffvoile.net/

IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships, 2010, Homerus, Blind Match Racing

Circolo Vela Gargnano on Lake Garda, Italy will host the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships, 2010, Homerus Blind Match Racing from June 20-27. Conducted in conjunction with Homerus Associazione Onlus, the event will employ the ISAF Experimental Appendix CBS for Blind Match Racing using the innovative Homerus system of acoustic buoys.

Teams from Australia, Finland, Great Britain, Italy, New Zealand, Spain and USA have already confirmed their entries. This is the 12th Homerus International Championships and the inaugural event to be conducted as an IFDS authorized World Championship. A separate series of match races will be held for the B1, B2 and B3 classifications for the first time in Bogliaco. The B1 Division for totally blind sailors will be an IFDS World Championship, while the B2 and B3 Divisions will sail Level 2 IFDS International Championships.

Sailors competing in this event must be IBSA classified B1, B2 or B3 - legally blind. The championships are sailed in pairs of identical keelboats by a two-person blind or vision impaired crew with a sighted observer on board. Three acoustic buoys, each with a unique signal, define the course and each boat has its own acoustic device that changes signature when it is on port or starboard tack.

Proposed Disabled Sailing Events

Italy, ITA

Regatta Proposal

A Match Race Regatta in Sonar's at the SCGS, Società Canottieri Garda Salò, Lake Garda is proposed to take place on either 24-26 September 2010 or 1-3 October 2010.

Please contact Massimo Dighe and inform him of your interest to participate in the proposed events, email massimo.dighe@gmail.com

Death of IOC Honorary President Juan Antonio Samaranch

The IPC is saddened to learn about the death on 21 April of International Olympic Committee (IOC) Honorary President Juan Antonio Samaranch, who was widely credited with renewing and fundamentally changing the landscape of the Olympic Movement, as well as influencing the Paralympic Movement. Mr. Samaranch was involved in the agreement between the IPC and IOC, which strengthened the relationship of the organizations and thoroughly developed the future of the Paralympic Movement. In October 2000, on the occasion of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, an Agreement of Co-operation was signed by the IPC and IOC, which outlined the principles of the further relationships between the two organizations.

RNA News

Royal Yachting Association, GBR

Take One Small Step Competition, GBR

Tony Mason is hoping to win 50K towards setting up a Watersports Centre on the River Medway in Kent, GBR. The centre will be focusing mainly on providing Watersports opportunity for those with disabilities.

Further information - https://www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk/Entry/View/821

Future IFDS Bulletins

IFDS welcomes feedback from past IFDS Bulletins and contributions for future issues. The IFDS Bulletin is published every month and your contributions are invited. Please send information to ifds@isaf.co.uk

Use of ISAF/IFDS Information

IFDS is pleased for you to reproduce any part of the IFDS Bulletin, with due credit to IFDS as the source.

Please feel free to forward the IFDS Bulletin to your email distribution lists.

Event Reports

Yachting Australia, AUS

Breathtaking Arrival, Jamie Dunross, AUS

On the 18 April 2010, Jamie arrived safely at Constitution Dock in Hobart.

'The day's trip coming across the bottom of Tasmania and up the Derwent River into Hobart was just surreal. It is such a beautiful and unspoilt part of the world. I haven't seen coastline like it anywhere - very "lost worldish" and oozing with life. Birds and seals everywhere.

I'm now adjusting to being back on land and in the chair again, instead of dragging myself around the boat. Will try and be back out on the water shortly, there's not a lot to be done to the boat but some essential repairs have to be completed before I take off again.'

On the 23 April 2010, Jamie Dunross leaving Hobart for Sydney.

Jamie is leaving Hobart for the next leg to Sydney on Saturday 24 April 2010 around 0900 hours local time. You will again be able to follow his tracker as he journey's north.

Event Website, Jamie's circumnavigation of Australia - http://www.solo1.com.au/

Sailing Medals Awarded at the Special Olympics Australian Games, AUS

Medals have been awarded at the Special Olympics National Summer Games Sailing Competition in Adelaide, South Australia.
Queensland topped the Gold Medal count with two, while New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory claimed one Gold apiece.

Held every four years, the Special Olympics National Summer Games include a variety of sporting competitions for people with an intellectual disability. Sailing was included for the first time in 2010 and drew entries from five States and Territories.

The regatta comprised six races for each Level sailed over three days at the Adelaide Sailing Club at West Beach. The club did a magnificent job of hosting the regatta and the sun shone every day. Wind conditions were light for the first two days and the strong tidal flow made the course challenging for all. The two-person Levels were sailed in Access 303s and the single-person Level in the Access 2.3 class sailboats.

More - http://www.sailing.org/news/32489.php

Upcoming Events

4. Prien-City-Cup

Date	13-16 May 10
Venue	Chiemsee, Prien
Nat	GER

For more information on this event click here

Date	Regatta	Venue	Nat
14-16 May 10	California Invitational Blind Sailing Regatta	Alameda Estuary, San Francisco Bay, near Alameda, California	USA
20-26 May 10	2010 Pan-Pacific Cup Trapseat Championships	Redding, California	USA
26-30 May 10	Delta Lloyd Regatta	Medemblik	NED
4-6 Jun 10	2nd Annual Robie Pierce Regatta	Larchmont YC, New York	USA
5-6 Jun 10	1. Edersee Cup	Edersee, Edersee-Bringhausen	GER
6-11 Jun 10	2010 Combined Access Class World Championships	Rutland Sailing Club, Gibbet Lane, Edith Weston, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8HJ	GBR
6-11 Jun 10	2010 SKUD18 Championship	Rutland Sailing Club, Gibbet Lane, Edith Weston, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8HJ	GBR
19-27 Jun 10	Kieler Woche (Olympic Classes 19 - 23 June)	Kiel	GER
19-27 Jun 10	Kieler Woche (International Classes 24 - 27 June)	Kiel	GER

For full IFDS events calendar click here

Recent Events

Date	Regatta	Venue	Nat
30 Apr-2 May 10	13. Berlin Cup	Müggelsee, Berlin	GER
23-30 Apr 10	Semaine Olympique Francaise	Hyeres	FRA
17-18 Apr 10	2010 New Zealand Blind Sailing Championship	Westhaven, Auckland	NZL
27 Mar-2 Apr 10	Trofeo SAR Princess Sofia MAPFRE	Palma de Majorca	ESP
27-28 Mar 10	7.Ruhr-City-Cup Essen	Baldeneysee, Essen	GER
15-20 Mar 10	Barcelona Olympic Sailing Week	Barcelona	ESP
10-14 Mar 10	Athens Eurolymp Week	Athens	GRE
19-21 Feb 10	St. Petersburg Midwinter's	St Petersburg	USA
25-29 Jan 10	Miami Olympic Classes Regatta	Miami	USA
24-30 Jan 10	US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR	Miami	USA

Click here for ISAF Events and World Rankings