Practical Boat Owner — January 2018

PA

UKSA

NEWSNEWS

A Royal Navy sailor has

received the Queen’s

Gallantry Medal for helping

in the rescue of 14 sailors

from the Clyde Challenger

racing yacht.

Leading Seaman Sally

Hughes, 28, who received

her medal from the Queen

at Buckingham Palace, was

deployed on HMS Dragon

when the Type 45 destroyer

was diverted to assist the

distressed yacht.

The Clyde Challenger had

lost a mast in 18ft seas, 500

miles south-west of Land’s

End in February. It was

taking on water and drifting

in a worsening Atlantic

storm, with 50mph winds

and heavy swells.

LS Hughes was tasked to

drive the ship’s sea boat, a

24ft rigid inflatable, to

rescue the crew. Despite

the danger to herself and

her crewmate, LS Hughes

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UKSA, the Cowes-based
sailing charity, has announced
expansion plans as it
celebrates 30 years.
The charity, which offers
maritime training opportunities
for young people, has
announced a four-year
programme of investment.
The first phase will see the
construction of a new
accommodation and training
facility, which is scheduled to
begin in October next year.
UKSA said its four main
dormitory buildings are only
ever half-full, partly because
safeguarding regulations
stipulate groups of young
people need self-contained
accommodation. It said the
new accommodation would
enable it to teach more young
people, as well as giving it the
flexibility to train other clients,
including professionals.
Further details about the
programme will be released
in the future.

made 13 approaches over a

gruelling two-hour period to lift

the crew off the stricken yacht

and ferry them back to the

safety of HMS Dragon.

During one of the trips, the

sea boat was swung into the

side of HMS Dragon and the

force of the impact punctured

the boat and injured her arm.

Despite this, she switched to

the reserve sea boat and

UKSA marks anniversary

by unveiling ambitious

future expansion plans

The charity’s patron, HRH

Princess Royal, gave the royal

seal of approval to UKSA’s

plans when she attended the

charity’s 30th anniversary

celebrations at Trinity House

in London. The princess

encouraged the 200 guests to

support the project.

‘In the long term it is so

important that the site is

improved and it is the

opportunity for you to help

make the difference to young

lives. In order to be able to

spread the ability to

encourage, to teach, we need

to supply the appropriate

levels of accommodation,’

said the Princess Royal.

The project is also being

supported by Ian Walker, the

double Olympic medal winner,

reigning Volvo Ocean Race

winning skipper and RYA

director of racing.

Walker also attended the

anniversary celebration.

‘UKSA’s contribution to the

sport of sailing is immense,

but their contribution to so

many young lives is even

greater. Giving opportunities

within the sport to young

people in need is

immeasurable,’ he said.

‘Right now the UKSA site is,

unfortunately, under-utilised –

due to age and changes in

regulations – so with this

investment they will be able to

provide their charitable works

to so many more people,’

he added.

Since it was founded

in 1987 by Noel and Sylvia

Lister, UKSA has trained

150,000 people.

Royal honour for sailor who helped

rescue 14 from the Clyde Challenger

continued with the rescue.

‘There was no place for

fear during this rescue,’ said

LS Hughes. ‘I had been

trained to drive the sea boat

and whilst the conditions I

experienced were

significantly more

challenging than I had dealt

with before, I applied my

knowledge to achieve the

end result.’

Proud moment as LS Hughes receives her medal from the Queen

The Princess Royal at UKSA’s

30th anniversary celebrations

DIARY DATES

Send your diary dates

to [email protected],

see more online at

http://www.pbo.co.uk/events

■ Nautic Paris, 2-10 December

2017. Ancasta is offering
      support to UK buyers wanting to
      visit Nautic Paris to see the wide
      range of new boats it is
      presenting from Beneteau,
      Lagoon and CNB. Email
      [email protected] or call
      +44 2380 450000. http://www.
      ancasta.com/events/paris-boat-
      show-
      ■ London Boat Show 2018,
      10-14 January, at London
      ExCeL, londonboatshow.com
      ■ RYA Dinghy Show 2018, 3-
      March, at Alexandra Palace in
      London, dinghyshow.org.uk
      ■ Jersey Boat Show 2018, 5-
      May, at St Helier Marina,
      Weighbridge Place and Marina
      Gardens, jerseyboatshow.com
      ■ London On-Water 2018,
      10-12 May, at St Katharine
      Docks, London,
      londononwater.com
      ■ Northern Boat Show 2018,
      25-28 May, at Salthouse Quay
      in Liverpool,
      northernboatshow.co.uk
      ■ Silvers Scottish Series,
      25-28 May, at Largs Yacht
      Haven. The Scottish Series is a
      fun-filled weekend, from
      competitive sailing to social
      activities, scottishseries.com
      ■ Round Britain and Ireland
      2018, 3 June, two-handed race,
      Plymouth start, rwyc.org/rbandi
      ■ Poole Harbour Boat Show,
      8-10 June, at Poole Quay Boat
      Haven, pooleharbourboatshow.
      co.uk
      ■ St Kilda Challenge, 14-
      June, bi-annual international
      yacht race from Lochmaddy,
      North Uist and back via St Kilda,
      clyde.org/racing/st-kilda-
      challenge-2018/
      ■ The Irish Sailing and
      Mountaineering Adventure
      Challenge 16 June 2018
      The Irish Sailing and
      Mountaineering Adventure
      Challenge will start at 6pm on
      Saturday 16 June in Kinsale with
      a 12.5km race around the town,
      http://www.ISAMAC-race.com
      ■ Western Boat Show 2018,
      20-22 July, during the Bristol
      Harbour Festival,
      westernboatshow.co.uk