This Page:-
January, 2024 onwards
(the latest news  -  immediately below)

05/11/24
From Franjo:

Next year will truly be special – full of memories and anniversaries that will remind us of the journey we’ve taken together since the first ICCA regatta. Ten years of persistence, camaraderie, and love for sailing – it's no small achievement! Since 2015, when we brought the unique spirit of ICCA from the Netherlands to the Adriatic Sea, the project has become more than just a regatta. It has become a community of people united by common goals, enthusiasm, and dedication.

A special thanks goes to the crews who have been with us since the very beginning, bringing their energy and loyalty to help preserve ICCA's identity. And, of course, to all the new members who return each year to experience this one-of-a-kind adventure. Without all of you, this story wouldn’t be possible.

Let next year be an anniversary filled with new friendships, unforgettable adventures, and even stronger bonds among us.

Over all these years, quite a few crews have stopped sailing, but we’ve also gained many new ones. Notably, crews from as far as Australia and New Zealand, and more recently from Bahrain, who have all been warmly welcomed. We’re also in talks with sailors from Chicago in the United States and others as well.

Therefore, I invite everyone, including the older teams who haven’t attended recent regattas, to consider joining us next year - and let us know, so we can organize this anniversary at the high level you deserve. 

Hoping to see as many of you as possible, I warmly greet you all.

Any Updates can be viewed via the International Coppers Cup Adria page on this website.

Congratulations to Devon & Cornwall skipper Darren ROACH who competed in the Enterprise Class National Championship hosted at Looe Sailing Club from 27th July until 2nd August.

35 boats competed from England, Wales and Scotland in 8 races over the week.

Having won the National Championship in 2022 Darren took a year out in 2023 so returning this year was going to be a bit of a learning curve to get back up the fleet.

That said, he managed to find his form and won 4 out of the 8 races and secured the title with a 14 point cushion on the boat in 2nd place.

A report on the event was published here: Goat Marine Enterprise National Championship at Looe Sailing Club - Overall

At the PSUK Sailing Section AGM today, regatta dates proposed for 2025 included :

• the West Midlands Police Dinghy Regatta (30th April) - Shustoke S.C.
• the PSUK Offshore Sailing Championships 2025(19-23 May 2025 - see below)
• the PSUK Dinghy Sailing National Championships (11th/12th June, 2025)- Winsford Flash S.C.
• the Avon & Somerset Dinghy Regatta (11th September, 2025) - Chew Valley Lake S.C.

PSUK Offshore Sailing National Championships 2025

From the PSUK Sailing Secretary:

The 2025 PSUK Offshore Sailing National Championships will take place between Monday 19th May and Friday 23rd May 2025, the boats will be the matched Beneteau Oceanis 37’ yachts chartered from Fairview Sailing on The Hamble. Racing will be based from Cowes subject to a Skippers discussion prior to entry forms and sailing instructions being circulated.

The cost of the yacht charter will be £2049.00p per boat which will include spinnakers and fuel.

It is proposed to have a Skippers meeting via TEAMS at the end of November to discuss the format of the week, until those decisions have been made we will not be able to provide an entry fee cost but we will be trying to reduce the cost from 2024.

If you propose to enter the regatta please email me ASAP to let me know so I can arrange the TEAMS meetings and obtain some costings on various options prior to the meeting.

Fairview have set aside ten boats so please contact them ASAP to reserve your boat as it will be a first come first served basis.

To reserve your boat please contact Prue NASH at Fairview Sailing Tel: 02380 457 023, email: prue@fairviewsailing.co.uk

As in previous years it is hoped we will be able to get on the boats during the evening of Sunday 18th May 2024, racing will take place on Monday to Thursday with boats returned to Fairview on the Friday morning.

In 2024 we had eight teams and all had an enjoyable week of racing and socialising, it would be great if we could increase the number of teams.

I look forward to receiving your expressions of interest.

Owen Poplett

Further info from Croatia  -  Next year's International Coppers Cup will most certainly be from 4th to 11th October, 2025

Results of the World Police Sailing Championships 2024 held in Croatia are now available.
 

A reminder that the PSUK Sailing Section AGM takes place at 9am on Thursday, 24th October, 2024 via MS TEAMS.

If you have matters to be raised or wish to take part, contact the PSUK Sailing Section secretary, Owen Poplett for details.

Report, Result, Pictures from the Avon & Somerset Open Police Regatta now available to view on their web page.

Notice of Race and Entry Form are now published for the Avon & Somerset Open Police Regatta being held on 5th September, 2024

This year's World Police Sailing Championships in Croatia proceed and final details are being circulated by Franjo to competitors which include Devon & Cornwall, Cleveland and the Garda Siochana

22/07/24

Avon & Somerset Sailing Section have confirmed a date to hold their annual Police Open regatta in 2024.

It costs quite a lot of money to put the regatta and support for the event is crucial.

Thursday, 5th September, 2024 at Chew Valley Lake S.C.

Notice of Race will follow on the A&S page

Anyone contemplating attending for this event might indicate their interest by contacting the A&S sailing secretary Kim Huxtable

Edward James Piggin
21/1/1950 to 20/6/2024

Message from MPSC:

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Edward James Piggin on 20th June 2024. Edward was one of our longest serving and most dedicated members who devoted much of his time to supporting the club over many years.

He joined the club in the early nineties and from the outset played a full part in so many of our activities both on and off the water often accompanied by his wife Katharine who was also a keen sailor.

He quickly progressed from Day Skipper in 1994 to becoming a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster in 1998 and a Yachtmaster Instructor three years later. He ran many Day Skipper courses for the club and many club members benefited from his excellent sailing and teaching both shorebased and practical RYA courses.

With his natural ability on the water, he diversified and achieved his Yachtmaster and Cruising Instructor power as well as becoming a VHF radio assessor amongst his many other skills.

With his jovial manner and sharp wit, he kept members entertained on club cruises and was an active racer taking part regularly in the Met Police Offshores and Police Sport UK events. When not racing he frequently supported the race officer in these events as skipper or crew on the committee boat.

He was an active member of the Exec and non-Exec committees holding a variety of posts such as Harbourmaster, Information Officer and Offshore Race Manager and for a time and prior to the club’s incorporation, was also Vice Commodore in 2001/2.

He was granted life membership in 2002, MPSC Colours in 2003 for outstanding service and MPAA colours in 2008

When the club converted to a company, he was a founder member of the successful Ops Team supporting members sailing activities doing handovers and receptions for the yachts and a great deal of maintenance between times.

He was popular and active in the local community having held membership of Hamble River Sailing Club, RAF Yacht Club and the Royal Southern Yacht Club.

For many years he was the voice of Hamble comms in the prestigious Winter Racing series hosted by HRSC and was an active golf and bridge player.

He even managed to squeeze some boat owning into this owning a share in a Westerly GK29 named ‘Ginny Kwik’ which he sailed far and wide with Katharine and which gave him great joy.

It came as a great shock to all those who knew him when he was diagnosed with cancer just a few months ago and he passed away at home with his family last week.

He was a great man, a talented sailor full of character and will be sadly missed

We send our sincerest condolences to his wife Katharine and daughters Rosalyn and Alison.

The Avon & Somerset Constabulary Regatta at Chew Valley Lake has been held annually for many years. It's a 'police open' event and in order to be viable, it is somewhat reliant on visiting police sailors.

It's a splendid stretch of water and many a police championship event has been held there.

Kim Huxtable, the current sailing Secretary at Avon is endeavouring to secure a date from CVLSC but much also depends on viability. Financial loss is not an option.

Meanwhile the date of Thursday, 5th September, 2024 has been pencilled in and Kim would no doubt be grateful to hear from potential participants. This could decide whether the regatta runs or not.

Call Kim via Email: asfcsailingsecretary@gmail.com to indicate your interest.

Cheshire Constabulary Sailing Section have offered to organise the PSUK Dinghy Sailing Championships 2025 at Winsford Flash Sailing Club. Their proposed date is Wednesday, 11th & Thursday, 12th June, 2025.

PSUK National Dinghy Championships 12-13 June, 2024

The Notice of Race & provisional SI's are now available to view via the PSUK Dinghy Championships page.

Len Gooch

I was browsing through some recent copies of the London Police Pensioner magazine and came across a record of the death of Len Gooch which took place exactly a year ago today.

I first met Len in 1957 when we were both serving at Cannon Row P/Stn. In those days he was organising car rallies and later transferred to TDV - traffic.

I met Len again in 1973 at the very first National Police Regatta being held at Queen Mary Sailing Club. At this time police sailing was not yet recognised by the then Police Athletic Association, although a number of Forces were starting to organise their own regattas. These were the days before the Internet, when publicity and communication relied on post and telephone. During this time Len travelled to a number of the events with his Albacore and faithful crew Clive Bishop, providing reports and results for publishing in the Met's own magazine 'Gybe Oh'. This being the sole means of recording events, it was then circulated to the Met's burgeoning sailing section and other interested forces. Some old copies of the magazine appear on this website and provide some records of regattas held including Len's involvement over the years.

He retired from the Met in 1987 but continued to take part in police regattas during the summer and assisting at an orphan's village in Zimbabwe during the winter.

I last met him in 2015 at Poole YC by which time Len had finished competitive sailing.

Considering the input Len had, not only in the MPSC but in police sailing nationally, belated though this is, I felt that Len's passing should not go by without remark.

BB

PSUK Offshore Championships 2024

Latest circulation from the organiser:

Hi All,

Please find the entry form for the PSUK Offshore Sailing Championships 2024.

The regatta is being held between Monday 13th May and Friday 17th May 2024 with the boats available on the evening of Sunday 12th May 2024.

If you wish to take part and have not yet booked your boat, Fairview have one or two boats still available. Please contact Prue Nash at Fairview, Tel: 02380457023 or email prue@fairviewsailing.co.uk.

Please let me know if you do book a boat and I will send you the NoR which was previously circulated.

For those of you who have booked your boats, it would be helpful if you could complete the application form and submit it and transfer the entry fee to the account specified.

Owen.Poplett
Owen.Poplett@sussex.police.uk

PSUK Offshore Championships 2024

Latest circulation from the organiser:

Please find the Notice of Race for the 2024 PSUK Offshore Sailing National Championships to be held between 13th and 17th May 2024.

The yachts will be the Beneteau Oceanis 37’s from Fairview Sailing.

Please book your boat direct through Prue at Fairview Sailing tel 02380457023. When you have booked your boat please email me so we know who is entering.

I will be away from today until 5th February, I apologise for not being available to answer any questions until then.

I look forward to a lot of entries on my return.

Owen Poplett

PSUK Dinghy Championships 2024

Latest circulation from the organisers:

I hope the New Year is treating you all well.

The PSUK National Dinghy Championships is back for 2024 at Shustoke SC on the 12th and 13th June, 2024.

We hope to pick up where we left off last year with another great event.

Booking is now open on the Shustoke SC website here. .

Prices remain the same as last year and all the same camping, food and most importantly bar arrangements are in place.

I’ve attached a poster that can be shared with force Sports and Social Clubs. (See PSUK Dinghy Championships page ..)

If you have any contacts with police sailors that didn’t come last year, please let them know as they may not get this email. Also, if you have any contacts in northern forces, could you pass them on or give them mine? It would be great to grow the fleet again this year if we can.

I’m sure there will be more emails as we get nearer to the summer, but if you have any questions, please message Harvey or I and we will hopefully be able to help.

Cheers

Olly
Oliver.Saunders@northants.police.uk

Avon & Somerset Sailing Section are still deliberating whether they will hold their annual Police Open regatta in 2024.

It costs quite a lot of money to put these events on and they made a loss last year.

They will be holding a committee meeting hopefully some time later this month to decide on what they do going forward.

Anyone interested in the continued support for this event might indicate their interest by contacting the A&S sailing secretary Kim Huxtable

A Happy New Year to all from Barnacle Bill

- Below are reminders of events to follow in 2024

PSUK Dinghy Championships 2024

- Wednesday/Thursday, 12th-13th June, 2024 at Shustoke S.C. hosted by West Midlands Police

WPSC 2024

The latest message from Franjo plus the initial Enrolment form for the next year's event can be viewed via the World Police Sailing Championships page.

Devon and Cornwall Regatta 2024

Please note 15th June 2024 which is the Devon and Cornwall Regatta in Brixham

November, 2002 to November, 2003

March - September, 2005

October, 2007 - December, 2008