Welcome to the first Brookbank Sailing E-Newsletter – we aim to keep all our customers up to date with Brookbank Sailing activities throughout the year plus bring you special offers on clothing, chandlery and boats & equipment.

You have received this e-news letter as you have previously been getting our canoes and kayaks version. If you are not interested in receiving our new sailing e-news please opt out here.

Special Offers

We have many special offers on clothing from leading brands such as Neil Pryde Sailing, Gill, Gul, Henri Lloyd – Late Spring Special on Dry suits – 15% of all drysuits from Neil Pryde Sailing, Crewsaver, Typhoon, Gul, Gill, Henri Lloyd and Musto. Click here for the full specials range.

The Brookbank Sailing Toolboxes

Every sailor knows that sinking feeling when something breaks on their boat and runs around the dinghy park looking for a spare widget – the Brookbank Sailing toolbox is an excellent portable ‘one stop’ chandlery.

‘Boat failure is not part of a champion’s programme and the new Brookbank Sailing Toolbox range are an essential piece of kit to help sailor’s achieve their best at whatever level’ said Jim Saltonstall MBE – GBR Youth Coach (1977-2000), ISAF Youth Coach (2001-2005) and the GBR Olympic Team coach for Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney 2000.

Every toolbox comes complete with Jim’s ‘Race Training’ book which is for racers at all levels of the sport, from club right through to international.

Inside the 13” Organiser Toolbox worth £110 there is a copy of Race Training with Jim Saltonstall book, Power Grip cleat, several Clam Cleats, Marlow rope and elastic, shackle key and shackles, course cards, PVC and Duck tape, rope stoppers, 5m Stanley measuring tape, compressed sponge stick and a china graph pencil.

Over £230 of hardware in the robust 23” Organiser Toolbox including Marlow ropes and elastic, various Clam Cleats, McLube OneDrop, shackles, course cards, PVC/Duck/Spinnaker repair tapes, Allen rope stoppers, waterproof RYA 2009-2012 Rule book, 12 in 1 Stanley Multi tool, 20m Stanley tape measure, PowerBar Performance Bar, Turbo Flame, large sponge, Starbrite Boat Wash & Wax, cable ties, china graph pencil, permanent marker pens, tiller extension universal joint, Power Grip cleat and Race Training with Jim Saltonstall book.

The 23” Stanley FatMax Waterproof Toolbox incorporates an extensive array of tools and hardware worth normally over £350. Each toolbox has both a copy of Jim Saltonstall’s Race Training and DVD ‘Breeze’, complete McLube kit of Sailkote/ OneDrop/ Hullkote, Marlow ropes and elastic including 4mm fid for splicing, Plastic Padding – Gelcoat & Marine fillers, Heavy Duty Riveter kit, PowerBar Gels and Performance Bar, Ronstan Ball Bearing Blocks with Dyneema link and various shackles, , PVC/Duck/Spinnaker Repair tapes, rope stoppers, waterproof RYA 2009-2012 Rule book, 12 in 1 Stanley Multi tool, 20m Stanley tape measure, Turbo Flame, cable ties, china graph pencil, permanent marker pens, tiller extension universal joint numerous Clam Cleats and the Power Grip cleat.

Master Classes at Brookbank London

Brookbank Sailing launched the Master Class lecture early this year to a resounding success from many sailors gaining the benefit of expert knowledge from sailing coach legends such as Jim Saltonstall ‘The Queen’s Peasant, Steve Cockerill ‘The Boat Whisperer’, Mike McNamara ‘Mr ‘X’ Factor’ and Dave Cockerill ‘RYA National Topper Coach’. These evening lectures are free for all sailors at whatever level being held on Thursday evenings at Brookbank London. We are planning some very exciting new speakers for later this year so watch this space....but in the meantime there are two more great evenings planned in May and June – see below.

June 17th – Marlow Ropes Technical Team – Splicing

Jonathan White and Will Gulliver from Marlow Ropes will be presenting several one hour evening lectures on Thursday 17th June to guide sailors through 'splicing' ropes. The Technical Marlow team will explain varied types of splicing including adjustable, locking and advanced locking, taper, control line and double braid. Also they will be on hand to answer questions on all the new rope developments that sailors require.

September 11th – Master Class goes ‘Afloat’ at Erith Yacht Club

Brookbank Sailing is proud to be working in partnership with Erith Yacht Club, who are the host for this exciting inaugural event on Saturday 11^th September. Erith Yacht Club can now boast an amazing new club house, ideal to host events like this and aims to support and develop sailors through their careers.

There are three fleets (all with a handicap less than 1250 and sailors over the age of 18 years old) – Single Hander / Double Hander / Asymmetric with a maximum of 10 boats per fleet and sailors will need to be capable of racing in 25 knots of breeze. Places are limited and are expected to be booked quickly – training fees for single-handers and double-handers are £40 and £55 per boat respectively. Full booking details coming soon on the website here.

The Brookbank Master Class ‘Afloat’ is kindly sponsored by Brookbank Sailing, Harken, Marlow Ropes, Neil Pryde Sailing and media sponsors Yachts & Yachting magazine and Y&Y.com. Technical experts from all of the manufacturers will be on hand throughout the day to offer advice and support to participants. One lucky sailor from each of the three fleets will walk away with kit worth over £500 (including the Brookbank Sailing Regatta Toolbox®) donated from all of the sponsors in a draw at the end of the event.

Sponsorship and Supporting Local Events

Brookbank Sailing wants to be supportive of getting sailors on the water and not always the sailor in first place. We have supported a number of events, squads and individuals all ready this year in partnership with Neil Pryde Sailing. There may be a trend to our sponsorship currently as we have been confirmed as ‘Topper London’ and are selling the full range of Topper Sailboats kit and boats at the London superstore.

London Topper & RS Feva Traveller Series at King George Sailing Club

King George Sailing Club hosted the first of the London Topper & RS Feva Traveller Series on Saturday 15^th May which leads young sailors into competing at the Thames Water London Youth Games Regatta in June.

Brookbank Sailing supports this major initiative that the RYA OnBoard team are creating for young sailors from all backgrounds and London boroughs to have the opportunity to get out on the water and have fun competing.

Broxbourne Sailing Club Topper Open Meeting

Brookbank Sailing sponsored the Topper Open meeting at Broxbourne Sailing Club on Saturday 22^nd May and is highly impressed with the new club house that should be completed shortly before the summer holidays. Racing was competitive as always with the Eastern Area Traveller Series and James Wilson (Rollesby Broad SC) managed to win three out of three races to win the open meeting overall (pictured below). Steven Clayton Royal Harwich YC) came in second, Kathryn MacRitchie (Stewartby SC) won third and first lady with Jos Mullan (Priory SC) finishing 4^th and an impressive first Under 13.

Topper Eastern Area Development Squad 2010

Earlier this year Brookbank sponsored the Topper Eastern Area Development Squad 2010The presentation was held at the RYA Dinghy Show with Bryony Shaw (first GBR woman windsurfer to win a medal at the Olympic Games) kindly presenting the sailors with their personalised Neil Pryde kit and hoodies. Good luck for the 2010 season!!

Bryony Bennett-Lloyd

Bryony is a leading sailor in the National Topper Squad and is currently sponsored by Neil Pryde Sailing and Brookbank Sailing. She is enjoying using the new Neil Pryde Race 5000 clothing range which Brookbank Sailing stocks the full range for both the ‘Young Guns’ and adult sailors.

Bryony says that ‘It makes such a difference being able to wear the best gear. I really like the race skin top because it means that I can wear it instead of a baggy spray top and it doesn’t catch on anything around the boat in addition to allowing full movement while keeping me warm and dry! I also like the thermalite because it keeps me the right temperature in a wide range of conditions. When I wear the rash vest over either or both layers my squad say I look rather professional which must be good!!

Simon at Brookbank Sailing has been really helpful in helping me select the right layers. Having that support from Brookbank Sailing and the right kit from Neil Pryde I believe has given me a boost going into my competitions, for example at the Inland Championships: It was really warm and sunny on the Saturday but with no wind and I was wearing the thermalite, staying a comfortable temperature, whereas on the Sunday it was really cold and windy and whilst most others were freezing and unable to perform to their best, I was lovely and toasty layered up with the thermalite, race skin and rash vest. By the end of the weekend, I finished 17^th and 2^nd female.

Even if you aren’t competing, it is important to have the right gear. When I’m helping out at my junior club sailing days at Hickling Broad it’s such a shame when I see people getting cold after they have capsized when they could be enjoying the day far more (and looking a bit cool!). I can’t wait to wear my new hiking pants that I have just got, they have loads of grip, good padding and really comfortable. ’ Look out for the Brookbank Sailing and Neil Pryde Sailing stickers on Bryony’s boat and come and have a chat at any time.

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RYA Shorebased Courses

Our team of highly qualified RYA Instructors are committed to delivering informative and enjoyable sessions in the Brookbank Master Class training facility.

The shore based courses aim to provide you with total flexibility - individuals or groups and tailored at a time to suit you including evenings and weekend.