Page navigation

Teras cross the Channel:

On Sunday 19 July 2010, eight young sailors, age, just 7 to 16, set off across the English Channel in a fleet of Tera dinghies in a bid to raise money for charity. The 27 mile passage from Dover to Boulogne was achieved in just 5 hours.

 Most of the youngsters belonged to two families: the Bracegirdles; Tristan(12), Yann (10) and Ossian (7) - and the Watkins – Libby (16), Jonny (13) and Rupert (11), together with two of their friends Mathew French (13) and Oskar Bisset (12).  The children had originally met each other on the sailing race circuit, via the Tera National Squads. The Watkins and Mathew French are based on the East Coast (Dabchicks Sailing Club), Oskar in Dover (Downs Sailing Club) and the Bracegirdles sail from Weymouth (Castle Cove Sailing Club).

The crossing took place after eight months of planning including consultation with the authorities and a tour of suitable landing sites on the French coast.  The children were accompanied by a 41’ yacht acting as “mother ship” and two sea-going ribs, with a total of eight adults, including the RYA “Tera” National Squad coach, Jonathan Lewis. Everyone was incredibly supportive and we could not have done it without all the volunteers who helped.

So far the eight Tera sailors have raised nearly £3000 for their chosen charities. To read Tony Bracegirdle's account of their adventure or if you would like to make a donation, please visit the library page of theTera website.

An article about the youngsters will also appear in the next issue of Y&Y, (out Thursday)

Hollowell SC Train & Race Weekend

Saturday 4 September – Race training

Join RS Tera Coach Dan Alldis for a day of race training. (Picture shows Dan in a Tera at the WOBYC training weekend which he coached!)  Photo © Jennie Clark

Starts 10.30 am

Cost £15  

Everyone welcome.                                                                                                                                                                             

To reserve a place or if you have any queries, please email Zoe Handley   or ring 07717 471371                                                

Sunday 5 September – Tera Open

Come and join us at Hollowell SC for a day of Tera racing

For further information visit Club website or check out our Library for NOR (to be added shortly). First race 11 am

Photo © Richard Gibbons

Great pic from the Worlds sent in form the IOM team.......

Here's a great report from James telling us what happened at the Worlds :

The RS Tera World Championships were held at Carnac, Brittany, France. Carnac Yacht Club was full of Teras and Fevas getting pumped up for the week's sailing. Monday 26^th was the first official race. The startline was full of very capable sailors such as Josh Aldridge and Matt French, who ended up finishing 2^nd and  3^rd .On the first day when the one minute gun went nerves on the start line started to build, it was one of the most nerve racking expirences of my life and for a lot of others.

Every one knew what their goal was and what they had to do to win which made the fleet even more competitive, my goal was to sail consistently in the top five and be fast off the start with some cheeky port tack flyers.

Through out the week there was a fantastic sea breeze that kept on picking up, this all went down for great racing where everyone tried their hardest and sailed their best. Matt French and Josh Aldridge both suffered a race with gear breakages. Pietro Graceffa (Italy) had three good firsts but couldnt get the consistency whilst Josh had an inspired third day with two wins to pile on the pressure with Matt always close but I managed to hold it together. It was a huge relief to win the last race on day three even if it was embarrasing to step onto the podium at the end.of the week. A great week I'll never forget. All the sailors thanks go to the Carnac YC and race officials, RS, sponsors Allen,our GB and local coaches and, not least, our families for getting us there.

James Kelly

The sun shone some of the time & the wind blew some of the time & the 2010 HISC Youth Race saw a record number of 38 RS Tera’s competing within three fleets. With winds ranging from 8 to 20 knots the series proved challenging but many are now well on their way to a future in dinghy racing . Thunder storms on Wednesday saw the racing adandoned after the windward mark & re-started again  at 5.30pm !

The Tera Pro fleet was won by Ollie Mathews who has only recently recently moved up to the ‘big rig’ ! The Tera Sport proved very competive with 21 starters & was won by Elliott Wells from fellow Worlds competitor James Eales with Sophie Tulloch in 3^rd.

The Red Ribbon fleet was sailed by those new to racing & the 13 boats battled it out on a triangular course with help & coaching on hand. Katie Cruckshank showed the way with Freddie Peters in 2^nd.

RS Tera Pro

1^st Ollie Mathews – HISC

2^nd Maisie Letten – HISC

3^rd Richard Cope – HISC

RS Tera Sport

1^st Elliott Wells – HISC

2^nd James Eales – Lymington Town SC

3^rd Sophie Tulloch – HISC

RS Tera Rede Ribbon

1^st  Katie Cruckshank – HISC

 2^nd  Freddie Peters – HISC

3^rd Miles Nelson - HISC