Sunsail news
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Dee Caffari nominated for The Cowes Week Ladies Day Trophy
The Cowes Week Ladies Day Trophy recognises the achievements and contribution of women in sailing across the board - from the Corinthian sailors overcoming difficulties in order to succeed in sailing, to those who have undertaken remarkable challenges or encouraged others into the sport.
We have nominated Dee Caffari for the Ladies Day Award because:
- Dee is a leading light in promoting women in sailing. She has continued to push the boundaries for yachtswomen, as a member of Oman Sail Women’s Team, and the Magenta Project, a new initiative developed to get more women into sailing by positively promoting them, mentoring them and raising their profiles. They have recently begun a very exciting women’s foiling programme. Dee continues to show girls and women everywhere that if they dream big, they can accomplish anything.
- On top of this, Dee has raised the profile of the sport to new levels in the public eye, via her involvement with BBC Sport Relief’s Hell on High Seas, and helped raise over £1m for charity in the process.
- From a charitable perspective, Dee raced in the Three Peaks Yacht Race to raise money for Sail4Cancer, and continues to support this charity, the UKSA and many others.
Arguably there is no other woman in sailing today who is doing more to get women into sailing, raising the profile of sailing in general and raising so much money for charity.
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Flotilla Sailing and kiteboarding in the Bahamas, a new and unique adventure with Sunsail
Sunsail have launched a unique new concept by combining flotilla sailing in the Bahamas with a focus on kiteboarding, led by professional sailor, ocean guide and kiteboarder Brock Callen.
US native Callen, who is a part of the BEST kiteboarding team will take a group of enthusiastic kiteboarders around the Abacos between the 5th and 12th of November, making sure they hit the best spots for boarding everyday while also taking in the sights, sounds and culture of Abacos.
Callen feels that sailing and boarding are a perfect combination, he says: “I’ve been lucky to do both in some of the most epic venues. But the opportunity to live on the boat and use that as the platform for all the fun is definitely the best. This trip is designed with that concept in mind. To use the Sunsail boats to take us all over the Abacos so we can explore and kite and enjoy our natural surroundings. I want to roll over, have my coffee, and throw my kite in the water to ride before breakfast.
“I want to look through the binoculars and see a deserted beach and take the boat there and then ride in crystal clear Bahamas water. That’s what we all want, right? ”
A loose itinerary is planned, depending on the weather and conditions, and will dictate where the group heads each day to maximise their kiteboarding experience, though guests can expect to visit the top beaches, bars and restaurants available.
Anyone can take part despite regardless of their sailing experience with bareboat, skippered and by –the- cabin options available to book. Space is very limited as only a maximum of 5 flagship Sunsail 444 catamarans will be available for this new, one-off adventure.
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Tinwood Partnership Adds Sparkle to Sunsail’s World
Sunsail is pleased to announce a partnership with renowned English Vineyard Tinwood Estate to supply their sparkling wine for 2016.
Tinwood’s Blanc de Blancs, Brut and Rose will be served at many of Sunsail’s events in the UK, along with tasting opportunities and competitions to be unveiled in the coming months.
Sunsail UK’s Events Director, Simon Boulding says: “We are delighted to be working with a distinguished brand that is part of a growing and successful English sparkling wine industry. We will be serving Tinwood sparkling wines at our regattas and awarding Tinwood to winning teams to help them toast their success.”
Tinwood’s three classic varieties are grown on the chalk soils on the foot of the South Downs and its hoped that the sophistication of their product can add a little extra sparkle to Sunsail events. To find out more visit Tinwood Estate official website here.
For further information about Sunsail events visit https://www.sunsail.co.uk/events.
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Definitely a cool thing for teens to do in the summer holidays - learn to sail with a world champion!
Keeping teenagers active and occupied in the summer months is a challenge. So how about a new activity to count toward a Duke of Edinburgh Award being taught by two-time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Sarah Ayton OBE?
Sunsail’s Youth Sailing Academy weeks are as popular with parents as they are with the teenagers themselves. Courses offer a mix of sailing instruction and other, non-sailing activities including canoeing, on-shore games and beach barbecues.
Over On a one week course students can work towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award or gain a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Competent Crew qualification.
This summer Sunsail are expanding its Youth Sailing Academy with an additional course starting on August 15th. Best of all, this course will be in partnership with Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2015, Sarah Ayton.
Sarah says: "It's my passion to recreate what I achieved through the next generation. With tenacity, determination and world class coaching I want to give the opportunities to develop talent.
“Whether it's a hobby or with aspirations to be a world champion I want to be a part of the journey to help teenagers be the best they can be."
Sarah will meet the academy students and go out sailing with them for a day during their course – she will teach them sailing, coach them and no doubt inspire them to take their sailing to the next level.
Accommodation on board for the duration is mixed gender, with boys and girls in separate cabins and boats are allocated by age, where possible. Youth Sailing Academy weeks are all-inclusive of food and soft drinks and are suitable for teenagers aged between 13 and 17.
All Sunsail’s instructors are RYA qualified, DBS enhanced and are experienced at instructing teenagers. The cost of the course is £729 per student.
For further information and details, please visit Youth Sailing Academy page or contact Louise Williams, Sunsail UK School Principal on 02392 222221 or by email [email protected].
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Helena Lucas MBE becomes Sunsail ambassador
Sunsail is delighted to announce the sponsorship of leading Paralympic sailor Helena Lucas MBE, supporting her as she gets ready to defend her London 2012 gold medal in Rio this summer.
Leading the way as the first-named member of the Great Britain team for Rio in April last year, Helena Lucas made history in London 2012 when she claimed 2.4mR Class Paralympic gold, becoming both the first-ever female winner of the 2.4mR Paralympic class and Britain’s first-ever Paralympic sailing gold medallist!
Beginning with 470s in 1997, she started on the Paralympic 2.4mR Class in 2003 before making her Paralympic Games debut at Beijing 2008, finishing seventh. And now she’s preparing for Rio 2016, but beyond her medal campaign, she’s looking forward sailing in different classes and expanding her sailing experiences and career along the way.
Helena Lucas commented: “I am delighted to have Sunsail's support for the last few months of Preparation for the Paralympic Games in Rio and really looking forward to some fantastic Sunsail sailing holidays after the Games”.
Scott Farquharson, General Manager of Sunsail, commented: “We met Helena at a Little Britain Challenge Cup charity cheque presentation and were bowled over by her passion for sailing. Sunsail is delighted to be able to support Helena in her Rio 2016 campaign and quest for a second Paralympic gold medal with this sponsorship.”
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Dee Caffari MBE becomes Sunsail Ambassador
Sunsail is dedicating itself to the mission of opening sailing up to more people, in particular women, and to that end we have appointed British yachtswoman Dee Caffari as a brand ambassador for Sunsail UK. Dee Caffari will be attending several events during the year with Sunsail, including Ladies Day at Cowes Week and an event at Southampton Boat Show with many more in the pipeline.
A true world beater and inspirational record breaker, it’s the joint mission of Sunsail and Dee Caffari to grow participation in sailing, with a strong emphasis on encouraging female sailors to challenge and open up the sport further for both genders.
About Dee
The first woman to have sailed single-handed and non-stop around the world in both directions and the only woman to have sailed non-stop around the world three times, Dee Caffari was more recently part of the all-female crew in the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15. A big change from her previous teaching career, Dee began sailing in her mid-twenties, training with UKSA, completing her Ocean Yachtmaster course and going on to work for British sailor Mike Golding OBE.
She’s also a patron for the charity Sail 4 Cancer; a charity Sunsail is actively involved in with the aim of raising funds and awareness for the great work that they do.
Caffari says “I am passionate about the sport of sailing and if I can help others get involved and experience what the sport can offer it makes me happy. Working alongside Sunsail UK is a great opportunity as together we can offer everyone access to the sport at a variety of levels, from racing to cruising on amazing holidays in stunning locations.”
Scott Farquharson, General Manager commented, “Dee Caffari is an exceptional athlete. Her sheer endurance, sense of adventure and passion for this exhilarating sport is second to none. These qualities along with her charisma and love for travel make her the perfect choice for the world’s largest sailing holiday company. We look forward to working with this highly respected ambassador to promote sailing at its best”
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Sunsail is set on Palma de Mallorca
31 March 2016
Our Palma base is getting ready for summer, with our current fleet of Sunsail 41, 47, and 444 yachts being joined by four 36i’s and another 41 ready for the peak sailing season!
Sunsail general manager Scott Farquharson: “Mallorca is one of my favourite Spanish islands to be discovered by boat and there are direct flights from most UK airports making it an ideal sailing destination not just for families. We are proud to expand again to offer our customers an even wider choice of destinations, as well as best quality and value on their sailing holiday.”
About Mallorca
Sailing the aquamarine coastline of Mallorca puts you in arm’s reach of hundreds of spectacular beaches, coves and sheltered bays, only accessible by sea. There’s plenty to do once you’ve anchored up too, with vineyards and orange groves as well as ancient towns and villages like Sóller and Porto Cristo to be explored onshore.
Experienced sailors will fall in love with Spanish sailing holidays in this level 3 area, with the strong winds and temperate climate from April to October making for some of the most rewarding sailing in the Balearics.
And it’s not just fun above the waterline. Bring your diving gear or strap on your snorkel to explore below the surface. Just 10km off the south-east coast of Mallorca, is the unique Cabrera Archipelago National Park, one of the best scuba diving areas in the Mediterranean with extensive underwater seagrass meadows. Look out for the groupers, octopi, loggerhead turtles and even dolphins that call this area home. The islands of Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera are also within an easy sailing distance.
Sailing requirements & qualifications
- Sailing experience level 3. Only suitable for confident sailors who have experience with long spells of open water sailing, broad tidal ranges, strong winds and remote anchorages.
- To sail in this destination you'll need at least an ICC or an RYA Day Skipper qualification or above.
Prices from £2,552 for a bareboat charter based on a Sunsail 41 – three cabins mono or similar - for one week (includes outboard, end cleaning, fuel and YDW) departing in October 2016. Flights and transfers can be booked individually at a supplement.
For more details please call 020 3797 4622 or visit www.sunsail.co.uk
Marina location:
Marina Naviera Balear, Paseo Maritimo n°4, 07014 Palma de Mallorca.
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GILL: new official clothing partner
We’d like you to introduce you to our new official clothing partner for the UK operation of Sunsail Holidays, Events and Schools. Specialist marine clothing brand Gill brings years of quality and expertise, able to rise to the challenge in any sailing experience with Sunsail. Gill will be the exclusive provider of technical sailing clothing to Sunsail’s employees, skippers and customers.
The Sunsail Racing Series will now be known as the Gill Sunsail Racing Series, with Gill sponsoring all eight rounds throughout the year in the Solent and contributing prizes for the winners of the final, held in November 2016.
Bryan Stewart, Sales & Marketing Director at Gill: “We are very proud to be working with Sunsail and support their sailing programs with Gill Technical Gear. We have worked with them in the past, and we have always had an excellent relationship. We know, our gear will keep the sailors warm, dry and comfortable in all conditions”.
Simon Boulding, Events Director Sunsail: “Whether our clients are racing in the Solent in the Gill Sunsail Racing Series, cruising in the Mediterranean or on a Whale Shark flotilla in the Caribbean, we are delighted to be able to deliver and recommend Gill Technical Gear to meet the demands of sailing in all conditions around the globe.”
For more information visit www.sunsail.co.uk and www.gillmarine.com
About Gill Marine
Gill is a rare thing these days, a company that does one thing, we make ultra-technical sailing clothing. Our gear keeps you comfortable in all conditions.
We design everything by listening to sailors and their needs, and we test everything both in our lab and on the water to make sure our sailing kit delivers.
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