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CoMech Team Compete In The Clemtech Clipper Sailing Challenge

CoMech Team Compete In The Clemtech Clipper Sailing Challenge

The bi-annual Clemtech Clipper Sailing Challenge was again a thrilling fast-paced race around the Isle of Wight, not for the faint-hearted and the CoMech team yet again stood up to the task ahead.

The Clipper Challenge, which took place in September, welcomed experienced crews from the UK rail sector. The challenge saw six boats taking part with fully crewed Clippers, fully equipped round-the-world racing yachts. This was the third year the challenge was organised and the race set off from Portsmouth anticlockwise around the island and past the Needles and up the Solent to the finish line at the Royal Yacht Squadron.


The first day’s racing saw fantastic weather and the race got off to a great start. The experienced CoMech team took advantage of the prevailing wind by using well-seasoned tactics. At times the determined crew faced up to fifteen-foot swells and with some close yacht on yacht racing with the other teams, but the CoMech team were not deterred and every crew member played a role in finally finishing fourth at the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line.


The second day’s hotly contested racing saw the fleet racing in the Solent starting at Cowes, the objective to score as many points as possible by passing buoys with different scores, the finish line being outside Portsmouth, it was a close finish with all the crews desperate to hear their score for both the races. CoMech came second behind the Clemtech Crew.


CoMech Directors Matthew Pallett and Keith Pallet commented: “Last year the conditions were fantastic for the first three hours then the wind really picked up at St Catherine’s Point which proved very difficult towards the latter stages of the course. This year the swells were a lot higher and the racing was very tight, but we are both keen sailors so the conditions didn’t deter us from trying to get our hands on that trophy. Although this is not a serious race we really wanted to win!”


This was a fantastic opportunity for our staff, clients and suppliers to take part in what has become a firm favourite event in the UK Rail calendar.

CoMech Team Challenge

The Clipper Challenge, which took place in September, welcomed experienced crews from the UK rail sector. The challenge saw six boats taking part with fully crewed Clippers, fully equipped round-the-world racing yachts. This was the third year the challenge was organised and the race set off from Portsmouth anticlockwise around the island and past the Needles and up the Solent to the finish line at the Royal Yacht Squadron.


The first day’s racing saw fantastic weather and the race got off to a great start. The experienced CoMech team took advantage of the prevailing wind by using well-seasoned tactics. At times the determined crew faced up to fifteen-foot swells and with some close yacht on yacht racing with the other teams, but the CoMech team were not deterred and every crew member played a role in finally finishing fourth at the Royal Yacht Squadron finish line.


The second day’s hotly contested racing saw the fleet racing in the Solent starting at Cowes, the objective to score as many points as possible by passing buoys with different scores, the finish line being outside Portsmouth, it was a close finish with all the crews desperate to hear their score for both the races. CoMech came second behind the Clemtech Crew.


CoMech Directors Matthew Pallett and Keith Pallet commented: “Last year the conditions were fantastic for the first three hours then the wind really picked up at St Catherine’s Point which proved very difficult towards the latter stages of the course. This year the swells were a lot higher and the racing was very tight, but we are both keen sailors so the conditions didn’t deter us from trying to get our hands on that trophy. Although this is not a serious race we really wanted to win!”


This was a fantastic opportunity for our staff, clients and suppliers to take part in what has become a firm favourite event in the UK Rail calendar.

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By Seleena Credo 02 Oct, 2023
It’s well understood how United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability, and quality of calibrations and measurements. CoMech have been operating under UKAS ISO/IEC 17025 for many years. Our laboratories have been rigorously assessed to ensure they meet this internationally recognised standard for competence, impartiality, and performance. Our team comply with the standards set under ISO/IEC 17025 which specifies the quality management system. CoMech provide calibrations that are performed using proper methods, equipment, and traceable reference standards. Traceability is key, as an accredited laboratory CoMech’s calibration results provided to our customers in the rail and aviation industries can be linked back to a known and reliable reference which enhances the reliability and comparability of measurements. Traceable back to National Physical Laboratory (an unbroken chain of calibration). 2023 on track CoMech have recently undergone UKAS’s annual surveillance and passed due to our stringent processes and procedures here in our calibration laboratories. UKAS accreditation involves rigorous assessments, including proficiency testing, inter-laboratory comparisons, and regular audits. This continuous evaluation process helps identify and address any continual improvement in processes and procdures, leading to improved quality assurance and overall performance. Temperature controlled laboratories are known to reduce the risk of having results impacted by variations, having the consistency from the CoMech labs gives the reassurance that every calibration completed minimise effects of temperature fluctuations in our buildings. Our highly experienced team of technicians must first undergo stringent internal training and then complete regular competency testing. Here at CoMech Interpersonal and inter lab testing where the team are comparing measuring equipment with other labs to make sure compliance. And further to that comparing results across different employees to ensure standards are met. All of this gives client extra reassurance that we’re doing things in a highly controlled manner to give the very best in calibration. Calibration for industries Accurate measurements are essential in various industries such as rail, aaviation, food and drink manufacturing, healthcare, and research. Inaccurate measurements can lead to product defects, compliance issues, and increased costs. UKAS-accredited calibrations help mitigate these risks by providing reliable and high-quality measurement results. Anyone can complete calibration however using a UKAS accredited calibration service can give you the competitive advantage to succeed. Simply because you are demonstrating your commitment to quality and assurance plus it shows a dedication to producing quality and reliable products yourself. In some industries, regulatory bodies require that measurements and calibrations be performed by accredited laboratories to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations. UKAS accreditation can help organisations meet these regulatory requirements.  Committed to improvements continuously As a UKAS-accredited laboratory we are committed to continuous improvement. Regular assessments and audits encourage our team to be committed to continuous improvement and to identify areas for enhancement and new idea generation by the team. UKAS accreditation for calibrations offers numerous benefits, including enhanced credibility, international recognition, compliance with standards, measurement traceability, quality assurance, risk reduction, and competitive advantage. It's a way to ensure that calibration results are accurate, reliable, and aligned with internationally recognized best practices. From CoMech’s perspective UKAS instils confidence in the accurate calibration results provided by our team. Read our current UKAS scope here and keep your eyes peeled for our next announcement on this topic!
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