H2O Show - Sailing Life

On August 6th 1971 Chay Blyth sailed into Hamble having completed the ‘impossible’ voyage.
He completed a circumnavigation of the globe, travelling west against the prevailing winds in 292 days on board British Steel.
50 years on Sir Chay reflects on that voyage, why he did it and has some advice for those planning their own epic adventure.
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

After the Covid pandemic caused the cancellation in 2020, Cowes Week, the world's most famous sailing regatta returned for its 195th edition.
On this podcast, regatta director Laurence Mead explains how the Royal Yacht Squadron in intrinsic to the event, how the Royal family’s Drago class yacht Bluebottle has been restored, Pip Hare has advice for the students from the Greig Academy and why a Royal Navy minesweeper has been in The Solent.
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

After the first ever peace time cancellation, the world famous Round the Island Race is back for 2021 and it’s 90th anniversary edition.
For the thousands taking part in the race around the Isle of Wight, they will be in the biggest participation event to be held in the UK since before March 2020.
The Island Sailing Club’s Dave Atkinson is the race organiser. He talks about the legacy of the race, the dangers of relying on technology and the challenges of organising a huge event in uncertain times.
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

On this edition, UKSA CEO Ben Willows talks about the importance of the UK Sailing Academy to the maritime industry and to the Isle of Wight’s youngsters.
How world class and record-breaking sailors use their facilities alongside primary schools. And how their new sea.change initiative is designed to encourage teenagers into maritime careers.
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

With 2 two bravery awards and an MBE to his name, Peter Huxtable has recently hung up his wellies and handed back his RNLI pager, after an amazing 51 years service.
Described by his colleagues as a ‘legend’, Peter is credited with saving 449 lives in the years since he first joined up with the Shoreham lifeboat.
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

On this edition, the dream is over for Portsmouth based INEOS Team UK who have lost out to the Italian Luna Rossa team in the Prada Cup.
A win on day 3 wasn’t enough for Sir Ben Ainslie’s team who lost the America’s Cup Challenger series 7-1.
This is a round up of day 4 of the Prada Cup final in New Zealand.
Podcast compiled using material provided by Americas Cup and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

Tributes have been paid to Bob Fisher, the Yachting Journalist known as “Mr America’s Cup”, who has died at the age of 85 at his home in Lymington.

Bob was himself a world champion sailor, and record-breaking navigator... Close friend Sir Robin Knox Johnston was among those to acknowledge Bob's contributions to the sport, adding Bob was "A great character and a great loss."

Dee Caffari MBE said he was "A true legend who will be missed around the globe." and Sir Ben Ainslie paid tribute to Bob from his training base in New Zealand.

Bob was a great friend to the team that worked on the H2O project particularly when the America's Cup contest was on, reporting from wherever the races were for us.

In 2015 though, just days before the America's Cup World Series started in Portsmouth, I visited Bob in his home just outside Lymington. We talked about growing up in Essex and when he first took to the water, the little America's Cup, Howards Way and of course the America's Cup and what it means to him.

Here's the full version of that chat that was first broadcast on July 19th 2015.

Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley. email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

Round the world sailor Alex Thomson is back on the water as he picks up his pre Vendee Globe training regime.
Also, 14 year old Will Sears who was told he’d never sail again competes in a world championship, a team of rowers aiming for a round Britain record and Team GB sailors help deliver vital medicines across Dorset
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

GAFIRS, the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service are looking for new members, we hear from their new coxswain James Baggott.

Also a catch up with Jack Trigger, the youngest sailor to finish the 2018 Route du Rhum. We find out how me manages his diabetes whilst sailor offshore.

And members of the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes mark HRH Prince Philip’s 99th birthday.

Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

On this edition how a New Forest sailmaker is making protective bags for medical staff dealing with coronavirus patients and is using its factory machinery to help local volunteers make scrubs quickly.
Plus relief for the British Olympic sailing squad due to go to Tokyo but uncertainty over funding and a Dorset family sail home after trying to start a new life in South America.
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

Organisers of the Clipper Race took the decision to pause the 2019/20 race due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Race founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston explains why and how the race was halted and the impact on the future of the biennial event.
And both Sir Robin and fellow round the world sailor Dee Caffari MBE offer advice on keeping yourself occupied if you have to self-isolate.
Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

The story of Anna and Cameron McLean from Stow on the Wold who wanted to be the first brother and sister ever to row the Atlantic.

Throughout 2019, BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Nicky Price has been following their story. Speaking to their family and friends and has kept tracks on their training.

She was at the race start in La Gomera to see them off.

Podcast compiled and presented by Neil Sackley.

email: h2o@bbc.co.uk.

On this edition, hear about the dangers faced by fishermen doing their job, mariners passing Portland Lighthouse will soon get a brighter warning, and we hear from Ocean Youth Trust South. Also hear from two adventurers who are preparing to row not one but two oceans in 2020 and there’s an appeal to find a plaque removed from Poole Lifeboat station.

Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.

email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

The J/70 is one of the most competitive sailing classes in the world.
A relatively new class, the J/70 is 22 feet long and is sailed in 25 countries, predominantly in the United States and Europe. In 2019 the world championships were held in the UK for the first time.
In this podcast you’ll hear from the international class association executive director Chris Howell, the skipper of ‘Eat Sleep J Repeat’, the eventual world champions. Also the UK class captain and the lady helm JM7. And the principal race officer talks about putting and event like this on.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

Steam Pinnace 199 was built in 1908 and was one of over 600 similar vessels used by the Royal Navy at the time.
She is the last functional example of her type and as with many vessels and is fresh from her latest restoration in Gosport.
As with so many examples of the historic fleet, 199 has quite a back story. Even down to her name.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

Gosport sailor Alex Thomson is on a mission to win the 2020 Vendee Globe. If he achieves his ambition, he will be the first British sailor to win the grueling race.

In 2019 Alex took delivery of the boat that he hopes will sail him into the record books.

In this podcast, find out what happened when Alex took the BBC's Tony Husband for a spin on the Solent.

Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley

Email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

3 medals for British sailors in World Cup series in Japan and the GB rowers compete for Olympic places.
Also, iFly15 has been in the Solent, Christchurch Sailing Club opens its new accessible facilities and Jeanne Socrates becomes the oldest person ever to circumnavigate the globe completely unassisted.
Plus a flavour of the the Southampton Boat Show.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

The team at NCI Calshot keep an eye on one of the UK's busiest stretches of water from a unique vantage point, 112 ft above Calshot Spit.

During daylight hours they maintain a continuous visual watch from Ryde to Cowes, from Fawley across to Netley. From kayakers to the ferries, personal water craft to sailors in Cowes Week or the Round the Island Race, nothing moves that they are not aware of.

On this podcast hear from some of the volunteers, discover the look out's history and find out how they were recognised with a Queens Award in 2019.

Podcast presented and produced by Neil Sackley.

email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

This edition is in Cowes, the home of powerboat racing ahead of the 2019 festival.

UKOPRA officer Dorian Griffith talks about powerboating under the new governing body, the history and the future of his sport.

Race veteran Shelley Jory-Leigh reflects on her experiences of the Cowes - Torquay endurance race and the brand new team driving 'Pippa' give us an insight into running a powerboat campaign.

Podcast presented and produced by Neil Sackley.

Email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

This year, teams have been competing in the new SailGP series.
It’s an International competition which is an America's Cup type in shore racing series.
Having started in Sydney, the series went to San Fransisco & New York before landing in Cowes for the first European round.
In this podcast, we go behind the scenes as the Great Britain team train on a simulator and the skippers give their reaction to the racing in Cowes.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.

email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

It’s 40 years since a storm ravaged the Fastnet race.
Fifteen competitors and four others lost their lives in 1979 when gale force winds hit the fleet.
Of the 303 boats that started from Cowes, only 87 finished the race. 5 sank and 22 were abandoned.
The BBC’s Anjana Gadgil and Sally Taylor have been speaking to some of those who were involved in that race.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

With 143 yachts competing in 17 classes, the Cowes Classic regatta organised by the Royal London Yacht Club, is one of the most spectacular of the year.

Racing was suspended on day 2 due the adverse weather conditions, but we caught up with the organisers and some of the competitors on Monday afternoon, following a near perfect opening day.

Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley
Email: h2o@bbc.co.uk
Pic: Tim Jeffreys

On this edition, we’re at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy for the RYA Sailability Multiclass Regatta. Also, we hear from a family who had a luck escape when their yacht caught fire, The Jubilee Sailing Trust is in financial difficulties and we’re onboard as a tall ship imports goods into the UK – like in the olden days!
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk
Pic: RYA

On this edition, we hear from Sir Robin Knox Johnston as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his epic round the world voyage.
Also this week, the world's biggest maritime technology event took place in Southampton and plans have been unveiled to use DNA to identify some of the victims of the Titanic disaster.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

On this week’s edition, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede wins the Golden Globe Race.
Also Britain's Olympic sailing hopefuls kicked off their 2019 campaigns in Miami, we find out what 2019 might have in store at local sailing clubs, A project to photograph every RNLI lifeboat station in the UK underway, and we meet some of the crew of the historic cross channel hovercraft.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

A cruise ship steward is sentenced to hang after an actress disappears on-board a voyage from South Africa to Southampton, but was he really guilty?

Richard Latto presents fresh evidence in this fascinating cold case investigation.

Hear from a key witness who didn't give her vital evidence at the 1948 trial at The Great Hall in Winchester. For the first time, see the full story of events as detailed in the extensive police file, saved by the Hampshire Policy Society from incineration.

Author Antony M Brown reveals his incredible research into the death of an actress who dreamt of Hollywood, but never made it back to England.

First published in March 2018.

On 11th of November 2008, the iconic liner QE2 left Southampton on her final voyage, bound for a new life as a floating hotel in Dubai.
On the day, BBC Radio Solent had reporters at strategic points along and on Southampton Water.
In a special programme, memories of special times on board were shared by those who sailed, worked and watched her.
There are recollections of her time in the Falklands and reactions from those who gathered on the waterside to watch her leave.
Podcast produced by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

On this week’s edition, Alex Thomson and Jack Trigger look ahead to the 40th anniversary Route du Rhum. Also the map of World War 1 shipwrecks is launched, new rules on sailing in restricted visibility off Cowes have been introduced, and from the archive, the world famous comedian who polished his act whilst working at a shipwrights in the south.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

On this week’s edition, a Red Funnel car ferry is involved in a collision and runs aground.
Plus, Trafalgar Day, a call to ban INEOS Team UK from the America’s Cup. Poole lifeboat, no Type 26's for Porstmouth and It's the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest sea rescues conducted by a single unsupported helicopter.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk

This week: Sir Ben Ainslie and his backer talk about their America’s Cup dream.
Also, the Dorset designed AB dinghy class marks its 60 anniversary, Hamble Lifeboat its 50th and Alan Priddy unveils his round the world powerboat. A boat used by disabled youngsters in Dorset is destroyed by fire and we mark Merchant Navy day.
Podcast produced and presented by Neil Sackley.
email: h2o@bbc.co.uk.