Laser Round Britain

Dr Andrew Hill-Smith was inspired by a friend and also his uncle, who both died from motor neurone disease.

He was due to set sail from Gosport on 10 April, hoping to raise £5,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. He aims to be back home by the end of the summer, with distances of 10 to 50 miles per day.

Andrew said: “It will be hard work. There will be problems along the way. The boat might break. I might physically break. But I think emotional exhaustion will be the biggest problem.”

If successful, Andrew believes he will be the third person to sail around Britain in a Laser.

Donate via laseraroundtheuk3.uk more people will start to see the benefits of YTC.”

Richard Craven, Honorary Handicapper for Scarborough YC, where YTC has now been adopted, said: “People like the idea of it being a measured system, rather than using empirical data which can be skewed. YTC is an actual calculation, straightforward and transparent – there’s your numbers, there’s your rating. It’s based on length, weight and sail area and it doesn’t change from race to race. And if you want to race seriously you can go IRC.”

Enthusiasm for YTC in Northern Ireland has included all nine clubs on Belfast Lough adopting the new rating system for their racing and joint regattas.

Robin Gray, a member of Ballyholme YC on Belfast Lough - who is also an International Race Officer, Chair of the RYA Race Management Committee and RYA Regional Race Management Coordinator – said: “People just want a handicap and to go racing. A personal handicap is more of a hindrance and NHC normalises at different levels within clubs, so when boats come together for regattas the numbers are not effective. The question for clubs to ask is ‘are you happy with NHC?’ If the answer is no, YTC is the alternative. YTC is completely free, you can see the numbers and you know where you are, and it’s simple to apply for your certificate.”

Find out more or get a YTC number for your boat at ytc.rorcrating.com or swytc.org.uk