BUSA Fleet Racing Championships 5-6 November 2005 Over 300 sailors will descend upon Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy this weekend in what promises to be one of the biggest student events of year. The BUSA Fleet Racing Championships will give students the opportunity to race against each other individually in Larks, Lasers, Laser 2's, Fireflies and a Handicap Class, as well as competing for an overall Universities Team Trophy. BUSA Sailing and BUSA Sport have been working together to try and make this the biggest Fleet Racing Champs to date, and they've succeeded, with 165 boats competing over the weekend. Defending Champions will be returning to race against new students and with forecasts predicting winds in excess of 20 knots, any tiredness caused by the social at Rendezvous is sure to be washed away quickly. The latest news, information and the all important results will be posted here andon the BUSA website [www.busa.co.uk]. Sea-faring Open Day on Portland HMS Portland , a type 23 frigate, has just returned from a six month deployment in the South Atlantic. Visitors will be able to meet the officers and crew who conduct tours of the ship from 12.30pm to 16.30pm giving visitors an understanding of life on board a working warship. The ship will berth at Queen's Pier on Portland. She is visiting the borough during the week of 20-24 October as part of nationwide celebrations for the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. To coincide with the open day of HMS Portland, staff at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy will be on hand from 10am to 5pm to give guidance on sailing courses and facilities that are on offer throughout the year. Weymouth & Portland Borough Council representatives will also be at the Sailing Academy to answer any questions on proposed business and leisure developments as the area prepares to host the sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Refreshments will be available. Also open to visitors will be Global Marine Systems Ltd's CS Sovereign , one of two cable ships based at Portland that repairs and installs underwater communications cables. Other ships that can be viewed but not boarded will include the TS Pelican of London, predicted to be the fastest sail training ship afloat, and British antarctic research ship, RRS Shackleton . Information on Portland Port's proposed developments to accommodate the increase in traffic using the port will be on display in the Britannia Passenger Terminal, along with background information from Portland Gas Ltd on the planned natural gas storage project. Visitors will be admitted to the Britannia Passenger Terminal between 1200 and 1700. ENDS*** ENDS***ENDS Release issued by Jacqui Gisborne, Marketing and Press Officer, on 10 October 05 For further general information on the above +44 (0)1305 838383 or + 44 (0)7980 730073 For further information on Portland Port contact Rupert Best , Director for Communications, on +44 (0)1308 488765 or 07785 507099 or email rupertbest@portland-port.co.uk For further information on HMS Portland contact Philip Unwin , Deputy Naval Regional Officer, Wales and West of England, on +44 (0)117 9530996 For further information on Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy contact Rosie Julian on +44 (0)1305 866000 or email rosiejulian@wpnsa.org.uk Draper-Hiscocks clinch Gold Series and National Ranking wins In their first competitive events since the Worlds in Moscow just over six weeks ago, the Weymouth locals tightened their grip on the €2,500 Gold Series, building on their 15 point lead from the opening weekend (8-9 October) to finally finish 21 points ahead of fellow RYA Team GBR performance squad members Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes in second place after 14 races. Denmark 's Jonas Warrer and Martin Kirketerp were third behind Morrison and Rhodes with 76 points, while GBR's David Evans and Rick Peacock scooped the Gold Series' €200 prize for the highest ranked under 20-year-old team. The six-race National Ranking Series event for the 49ers also saw Draper-Hiscocks and Morrison-Rhodes occupying the top two steps of the podium, with French duo Alexandre Monteau and Pamieu Guillou taking third place. Having only resumed training this month, the European Champions were pleased with their performance on home ground. "The standard of the fleet was pretty good, with quite a few boats in the top ten and the top ranked boats from abroad as well, so there was some good steady racing," said Hiscocks. "We're pretty happy and it was good fun - one of the most successful Gold Series' we've had for a few years." In the Tornado class, RYA Team GBR's performance squad took a clean sweep, with Rob Wilson and Mark Bulkeley taking first place overall on seven points thanks to three race wins and three second places across the six races. World ?? medallists Leigh Macmillan and Will Howden were in second with nine points, with Andrew Walsh and Ed Barney in third. Chris Brittle, Ed Wright and Matt Howard took the expected 1-2-3 in the heavyweight Finn class, with Brittle winning four of the six races, while Martin Pascoe topped the 2.4m Paralympic class table with three race wins, ahead of George Barker in second and Megan Pascoe in third. The men's 470 event went to the wire, with Luke Patience and Chris Grube coming through a three-way battle for first place in the final race of the day . The delighted Team GBR development squad sailors overcame Jon Gimson-Stuart Bithell and Neil Marsden-Ian Dobsen to clinch the win - their first National Ranking Series victory. "It was all down to the last race," explained Patience. "All three of us could have won, so there was quite a lot of pressure heading into the last race, and we were obviously trying to count the points to see just how much we needed to win by." RYA Team GBR's Pippa Wilson and Sheena Craig were the highest placed women's boat. The penultimate edition of the 2005 RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series will head inland to Rutland (29-30 October) before finishing in Warsash (12-13 November). Visit www.wpnsa.org.uk for full results . EndsBack to top Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Lindsey BellRYA Team GBR Communications Officer T: 02380 604 216 M: 07900 570530 www.rya.org.uk RYA National Ranking Series heads to Weymouth 15-16 October This weekend (15-16 October) sees the start of the autumn trio of RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series events, with the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy playing host to this fourth contest in the 2005 series. This event plays an integral part for those wanting to progress up the Olympic class national ranking ladder and win grants to go on and compete at international regattas. For those more experienced sailors, the event serves the purpose of providing top class racing on home soil. The Weymouth regatta will host boats from five of the Olympic and Paralympic classes - the 2.4m, 470 (men and women), Finn, Tornado and also the 49er, where this national ranking event is combined with the final weekend of the RYA 49er Gold Series. World silver medallists Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks racked up a 15 point lead over their nearest rivals in the opening eight races of the €2,500 Gold Series last weekend - but with double points up for grabs from the final day of racing on Sunday, there's still everything to play for. RYA Team GBR performance squad members Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, and Danish pairing Jonas Warrer and Martin Kirketerp are currently closest rivals to the European Champions, on 32 points apiece. In the Tornado class, Andrew Walsh and Ed Barney currently have a slender two point lead over Simon Northrop and Matt Young at the top of the national ranking list, while in the heavyweight Finn class there's an even closer battle at the top of the tree, with just one point between Chris Brittle, Ed Wright and Matt Howard in first, second and third respectively. Nic Asher and Elliot Willis still head up the 470 men's rankings, although the second placed Neil Marsden and Graham Nelson are snapping at their heels just two points behind the leaders. Pippa Wilson, the 2004 ISAF Youth World champion, and crew Sheena Craig are the top ranked team in the 470 women's fleet and are eight points clear of their nearest competitors, Lucy MacGregor and Mary Rouk. The 2.4m Paralympic class also sees a close contest for the top ranking spot - Megan Pascoe and Michael Cogswell are on equal points (seven each), with the number three ranked George Barker only a fraction off the pace with eight points. "We're looking forward to kicking off the autumn series of races, as we've seen some fierce competition across all the classes so far this year," said RYA Olympic Development Squad Manager Barrie Edgington. "We've got some great new talent coming through - several of the sailors from the ISAF Youth Worlds will be looking to use these events as an introduction to the Olympic classes, so it'll be interesting to see how they fare against some of the more seasoned campaigners." The final two RYA NRS events of the year will take place at Rutland (29-30 October) and Warsash (12-13 November). Ends Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Lindsey Bell RYA Team GBR Communications Officer T: 02380 604 216 M: 07900 570530 www.rya.org.ukDraper-Hiscocks on top in RYA 49er Gold Series World silver medallists Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks got off to a strong start at the opening weekend of the RYA 49er Gold Series at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (8/9 October), stretching ahead to 15 points clear of their nearest rivals after the first eight races. The European champions managed just one race victory over the first weekend, but a consistent set of second and third place finishes pushed them ahead of fellow RYA Team GBR performance squad members Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, and Denmark 's Jonas Warrer and Martin Kirketerp, both on 32 points. Morrison and Rhodes had a solid opening day on Saturday, finishing just two points adrift from Olympic bronze medallists Draper-Hiscocks, but their four races on Sunday produced two tenth places finishes, a first and a 13 th (since discarded) to set them slightly off the pace. GBR currently occupy seven of the top ten positions in the series rankings. Roger Gilbert and Olivier Vidal, currently in seventh place, scored a notable two wins in races five and six, while eighth-placed David Evans and Rick Peacock finished on a high, crossing first in the eighth and final race of the weekend. Paul Campbell James and Mark Asquith are in fifth, John Pink and Alex Hopson in sixth, and James Macintosh and Johnny Clegg in tenth. Draper-Hiscocks may have made their mark in the Weymouth waters, but there's still everything to play for on the closing weekend of the RYA 49er Gold Series (15/16 October), which is incorporated into the RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series. There are still three races to go in the 11-race series, with all races on Sunday 16 October scoring double points, which cannot be discarded, and should make for a fierce final day of competition. The teams are fighting for a share of the €2,500 prize fund on offer - €200 of which will go to the highest ranked under 20-year-old team. For full results, visit www.wpnsa.org.uk/results/49erGoldSeries8-9October.htm End Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Lindsey Bell RYA Team GBR Communications Officer T: 02380 604 216 M: 07900 570530 www.rya.org.ukCampbell-James comes out on top The fourth Quarter Final match was much closer and the young team lead by Jon Pinner (6-5) pushed the higher ranked Nick Cherry (7-4) into a third match. Unfortunately for Pinner, Cherry's experience helped him through to the semi finals. 3. Andrew Cornah, Sam Carter, Andy Bryson, Rob Millar, Dave Cheshire 5. Rob Grieg-Gran, James Roche, Ed Walker, Claire Paramore 6. Jon Pinner, Tom Heywood, Bethan Carden, Nikki Russell, Matt Pinner 7. Sam Richmond, Matt Adams, Jezza Fowke 8. Lucy Macgregor, Nicola Macgregor, Jools Scott, Annie Lush, Pippa Wilson 9. Ali Hall, Tudur Owen, Gareth Owen, David Royse 10. Richard Mason, Sam Pearson, Dan Schieber, Robbie Allam 11.Ian Dobson, Mary Rook, Andy Tunnicliffe, Jo Macdonald, Dave Newey 12. Gemma Farrrell, Lucy Burn, Rachel Howe, Di Shanks, Rachel Larman End Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Myrrh Walker RYA Racing Communications Assistant t. 023 8060 4219 m. 07769 505 203 Campbell-James takes the lead at the RYA National Match Racing Championship After day one the top seed Mark Campbell-James leads with five wins with Christian Hamilton in second place with four wins. There were several upsets out on the course, notably when seventh seed Jon Pinner beat the number three seed Nick Cherry and second seed Christian Hamilton in successive matches. Although Campbell-James holds a definitive lead, middle scores still remain very close and most teams retain a good chance of making the knockout stage of the event on Sunday. Racing continues through to Sunday 9 October 2005. Results 1. Mark Campbell-James 5 - 0 2. Christian Hamilton 4 - 1 3. Nick Cherry 3 - 2 4. Andy Cornah 3 - 2 5. Ali Hall 2 - 3 6. Gemma Farrell 1 - 4 7. Jon Pinner 3 - 2 8. Rob Grieg-Gran 2 - 3 9. Richard Mason 1 - 4 10. Lucy Macgregor 2 - 3 11. Ian Dobson 2 - 3 12. Alex Cherry 2 - 3 End Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Myrrh Walker
A series of qualifying events have taken place throughout the year, with the top two teams winning a place in the final. Three Youth teams will also compete at the event, two of the teams qualifying at the RYA Youth Match Racing Championship. Racing will take place over three days in the RYA J80's, with each team starting off by sailing a round robin, where each skipper will race every other boat in their group once, and then ranked according to their performance. A second series will then be raced with the top six boats going through to the next series. In the final round robin the six qualified skippers from series one and two will race each other once and a winner will be determined. Qualifying through their national ranking are Mark Campbell-James and Christian Hamilton ranked second and fourth respectively in the UK . As a joint winner of the National Match Racing Final in 2004, Campbell-James is the defending champion at this event. Most recently finishing third the 2005 Knickerbocker Cup, Campbell-James watched his match racing world ranking go up to 18th in the world. Campbell-James and his crew will be hungry to prove they are the best and will be one of the toughest teams to beat out on the water. The RYA Match Racing qualifying series, held over three weekends, separated the weak from the strong. Nick Cherry, Ali Hall, and Rob Grieg-Gran and their crew all made the cut and will be out on the water at the Final. Also asserting her presence on the water will be Gemma Farrell who will helm the only all woman's boat. Two more teams, one led by Alex Cherry and the other still unconfirmed, qualified for the weekend's event at the Match Racing play-offs and will be joining the competition. A strong group of youth sailors will also set out to pit their skills against the more seasoned match racers. Ian Dobson, Richard Mason, Jon Pinner and their respective teams, all under 19, will sail in the Finals after qualifying at the Volvo RYA Youth Match Racing Championships and at Youth Cowes Week. Finally, sailor Andrew Cornah and his team from Southampton University earned their spot in the Final at the BUSA Match Racing Championships this spring and will try out their tactics on the wider match racing circuit. Racing gets underway on Friday 7 October and continues through to Sunday 9 October. End Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Myrrh Walker Weymouth Speed Week Weymouth Speed Week attracts the fastest speed sailors from around the world, including Bjorn Dunkerbeck & our own Dave (Whitey) White. It caters for all sailing craft, experimental and production, but windsurfers have dominated in recent years with Bjorn breaking the Weymouth record last year that had stood for over 24 years! The action takes place from the 8 th -14 th of October, and is held at the all new Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy . For the early birds there will be a coaching session from Bjorn & Whitey on the Friday before (7 th ) covering equipment tuning & speed technique. Red Bull are providing the opening party & there will be lots of prizes & Trophies from Neil Pryde, Tushingham, Thommen T1, Sportife, Club Vass, Naish , 604 distribution, Gaastra, & Tabou for all categories including a Novice prize. Come along and see the action & some day tickets available all week on a 1 st come 1 st served basis. How Fast Can You Go? Contact Pete Davis for all media enquiries. Budding young sailors enjoy great racing at the RYA Zone Championships As part of a scheme developed by the RYA, the weekend gave the youngsters a chance to experience high quality racing in a well organised environment. Under the watchful eye of coaches and RYA High Performance Managers the weekend, which was regarded as an indicator for the RYA Zone Squads, was an opportunity for budding sailors to progress through the RYA Junior Programme. Strong winds across the country did nothing to dampen the spirits of the youngsters racing in Optimists, Cadets, Mirrors, Toppers, Windsurfers, Dragoons and a range of dinghies in the handicap fleets. A total of 277 boats and over 360 sailors attended the RYA South Zone Championships to test out the London 2012 Olympic Sailing venue at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA). With windy weather on both days, sailors were full of energy and the racing was just as exciting. Battling it out for the top spot in the Laser 4.7 were Philip Garner from Warsash and Tom Hayes from Blithfield. The two 15 year olds took two wins each; however Garner took a third place and Hayes a fourth, leaving Garner with the Championship crown. Duncan Truswell, RYA Junior Racing Manager praised WPNSA. "This was the biggest event that WPNSA has held since officially opening their doors. They hosted a great event and we can't thank them enough for all the hard work they put in. The competition at this event was at an all time high just proving that we may have a future Olympian in our midst." At Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Burnham, Oliver Herve and Charlie Barr sailed just one of 145 boats enjoying the brisk breeze at the East Zone Championship. The pair pushed their Cadet to the limits claiming a consistent string of first places and the top position in the Cadet fleet. The South West Zone Championships, held at Restronguet Sailing Club, also got off to a slow start when blustery conditions forced officials to call off the first day of racing. Andy Walsh, RYA Team GBR Tornado sailor held coaching workshops and gave the land-bound young sailors some top racing tips. On Sunday the weather proved to be better, as glorious sunshine and an ideal 12-18 knots prevailed. With four races sailed in shifty conditions the budding sailors really got to show off their skills. Sailing to victory at Ullswater Yacht Club was Charlotte Greenhalgh. Competing in the Topper class, Greenhalgh was one of 99 sailors to compete in the West Zone Championships. In the Optimist, Callum Stewart also proved to be unstoppable winning the Optimist fleet two points ahead of his nearest competitor. The north saw 98 competitors roll up to Carsington Sailing Club to compete for the Zone title. Sailors enjoyed five races in gusty conditions with Saturday's strong winds proving too much for some of the competitors. At the prize giving, Club organiser Andy Banks spoke enthusiastically about the event and about how pleased they were for the chance to host the Zone Championships. An enthusiastic Ellie Furneaux, who was competing at the Weymouth event, in a Dragoon with her brother beamed, "I would definitely do the Zone Championships again. The best part of the event was being out on the racecourse. It was great, I enjoyed it loads!" Summing up the weekend championships across the country RYA Junior Racing Manager Duncan Truswell said, "I have nothing but praise for the junior sailors who are a credit to the organisation in the way they conducted themselves both on and off the water. I speak for all the staff within Youth Racing and specifically the Zone Coaches when I say we are very much looking forward to working with the sailors over the course of the winter and we hope that the weekend events will encourage them to take their racing career to the next level." "This has been a fantastic weekend for the RYA Junior Programme." John Derbyshire, RYA Racing Manager summed up, "This was the biggest multi class event RYA has delivered in recent years and our thanks go out the several hundred volunteers who gave up their time to help us lay on such an important weekend in the junior calendar." Due to the exceptionally high number of entries a full list of results can be found at www.rya.org.uk/racing . If you require specific results sent through or photography from the RYA Zone Championships please contact Myrrh Walker , RYA Racing Communications Assistant e. myrrh.walker@rya.org.uk t. 02380 604 219. Back to top Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Myrrh Walker
RYA Zone Championships expected to get off to a record start On 1-2 October over 1000 junior sailors under the age of 16 will and take part in the 2005 RYA Zone Championships. With racing set to take place in six zones across England , the Zone Championships signal the climax of the Junior Racing season and for most classes the start of a hard winter's training. "We have had record entries in almost every class." Duncan Truswell , RYA Junior Racing Manager explained. "I don't know if the rise in number is due to London 2012 or because more children are giving sailing a go, but it's great to see new faces on the water and to have so many entries in such an exciting event." The Zone Championships marks the end of Junior Racing for the season and for most junior sailors the RYA Zone Championships are the pinnacle event of their year and the focal point of their sailing activity. Sailors prepare for the Championships throughout the year by participating in their local club races and training sessions. For many of the young athletes the Zone Championships is an opportunity for them to step out of club competition and into racing on a Zone level against the areas best young talent. Competitors will compete in several different dinghies including, Optimist, Topper, Cadet, Mirror, Feva, Laser 4.7, and the Hobie Dragoon. Windsurfers will also get a chance to battle it out for top positions on the 3.5m, 4.5m, 5.5m, Bic Techno 293OD and on the MJOD. Also attending the Championships will be the RYA National Junior Squad sailors and other competitors hoping to be invited for additional RYA Zone Squad training. The RYA Zone Squads provide coaching, workshops and training to a select group of junior sailors and therefore are a must for any young sailor with aspirations of becoming a top level competitive sailor. Not only will sailors spend time on the water but the RYA have also organised a debrief on the Saturday night. Sailors across all the zones will benefit from a video debrief where they can watch the highs and lows of the days racing. They will also be able to get some top tips from some of the countries best coaches including Ian Clingan, Laser Radial Olympic Coach, Rob Andrews , 2004 Athens Olympic Games Tornado Coach and Peter Aitken, RYA Mirror National Junior Coach. An excited James Patience, 13, from Grafham Water Sailing Club in the East Zone and a Topper Zone Squad sailor explained, "I have been waiting all year for this event and I'm really excited to sail in the Zone Championships. I get to see all my friends, go sailing and have great fun. I really want to be in the Zone Squad again because I learnt loads and loads last winter from our brilliant coaches." RYA Racing Manager, John Derbyshire commented; "The Zone Championships are a fantastic opportunity for young sailors to pit their skills against the best in their zone in a safe and friendly environment. For many sailors it represents the culmination of their summer training programmes within their Volvo RYA Champion Clubs and is a key selection event for those wishing to partake in RYA training programmes over the winter. Competing in the Zone Championships should help young sailors gain valuable racing experience over the course of the weekend, but above all I want them to have fun and enjoy it!" The Zone Championships will be held at the following venues: South, Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy; South West, Restronguet Sailing Club; West, Ullswater Sailing Club; North, Carsington Sailing Club; East, Royal Corinthian Yacht Club; South East, Island Barn Sailing Club. End Notes for Editors Ø Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Ø The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. Ø It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations. Ø Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at www.sportengland.org . The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme and Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme are supported by Volvo. Ø Further information can be found at www.rya.org.uk For more information please contact: Myrrh Walker
Phil Harding, Head of Sustainable Business in the Sustainability and Environmental Technologies Team at GOSW said: "I am very impressed with what they are doing at the academy and can confirm that the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is now listed as a user of the guide". "Interest in this new guide is gathering pace and feedback from around the UK has been excellent. GOSW is currently in discussions with Defra in London who are looking at how take up across Government Departments can be implemented". Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy has been redeveloped with the assistance of funding from the South West Regional Development Agency, Sport England Lottery Fund and others and officially opened on 9 th June, 2005 . It exists for three main reasons: to promote the sport of sailing at all levels of competence and ability, to provide a facility for the community to use and to contribute to substantial economic regeneration. John Tweed , Director of Development for the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy said: "The Royal Yachting Association have described our plan and practices as an 'exemplar' for others and will be using the Academy as a case study in encouraging adoption of green practices throughout the industry. We are delighted to have been included in the Greener Events Guide and with our ability to host conferences and events whilst minimising the effects on the environment". Notes to Editors: 1.The Government Office for the South West, launched the 'Greener Events' guide at the beginning of July to help focus event managers and venue operators on issues such as reducing and offsetting carbon dioxide emissions, using more locally produced food, and reducing waste when running and managing events. The guide will help event managers plan ahead and look at more than just the layout and facilities when choosing venues. Examples include:
The direct link for locating the guide can be found on the business page of: Back to top A full programme of sailing and social activates has been planned for the competitors and families. The Opening Ceremony will be held at 1800 on Saturday 6 August and will be attended by the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland , Councillor Les Ames, and International Canoe Federation Vice-President Albert Woods who will formally open the Championship. A large and talented British team is looking for victory on home waters, but there will be serious challenges from around the world. Sailors to look out for include: Mark Goodchild (UK), 2 times World Championship Runner-up, 2 times IC Europa Cup winner and multiple IC National Champion, sailing in the IC class. Simon Allen (UK), 2 times IC Europa Cup winner, former IC National Champion, sailing in the IC class. John Ellis (UK), former IC National Champion, sailing in the IC class. Max Tollqvist (SWE), former IC World Champion (1981), sailing in the IC class. Ola Barthelson (SWE), former IC Europa Cup winner, sailing in the IC class. Robin Wood (UK), 3 times IC World Champion (1987, 1993 & 1996), former IC Europa Cup winner and AC Europa Cup winner, 2 times IC National Champion, 2 times AC National Champion, sailing in the AC class. Colin Brown (UK), 6 times IC National Champion, sailing in the AC class. Gareth Caldwell (UK), former IC Europa Cup winner and IC National Champion, sailing in the AC class. Rob Michael (UK), former AC National Champion, sailing in the AC class. Paul Patrick (UK), former AC National Champion, sailing in the AC class. Steve Clark (USA), 2 times IC World Champion (1984 & 2002), 'C' Class catamaran expert ("COGITO"), sailing his own experimental-design of AC. Anders Petersson (USA), former IC Europa Cup winner for Sweden , now based in USA , sailing in AC class. Separate from the World Championship but held in conjunction with it will be team racing for the New York Canoe Club International Challenge Cup, the oldest international trophy for small boats in the world and second only in age to the America's Cup itself among yachting trophies. The New York Cup was first presented in 1884, and has been held by the UK since 1993. The match will be sailed in ICs and the UK team will be keen to maintain its grip on the trophy. In addition to the New York Cup racing in the ICs, there will also be a challenge from the UK AC sailors to a team from the Rest of the World for the recently presented Worcester Regatta Trophy. Race reports and results will be posted here on our results page and on the Class website at www.intcanoe.org.uk/worlds2005 An exciting event afloat and ashore is in prospect." Peter McLaren National 18 Foot Class to hold their European Championship at Britain's Olympic Sailing Centre. The National 18 foot Class will be the first to hold a major international dinghy championship at Britain's 2012 Olympic Sailing Centre. The championship, with entries from England, Scotland, Eire and the Isle of Man, will be held at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) from Sunday 31 July to Friday August 5 2005. The event is being organised jointly by Tamesis Club, founded in 1885 on the River Thames at Teddington, Middlesex, and the Portland Castle Sailing Club. The championship rotates between Cork, Findhorn (near Inverness), Port St Mary in the Isle of Man and various venues in England, and attracts over thirty boats with more than 100 people. There will be two races each day, with the first start at 11.00, and a single practice race on Sunday 31 July at 14:00. The racing will be organised to give each of the three types of National 18 an opportunity to share in the prizes, with the classic wooden boats and older glass fibre ones starting together and sailing the same course, but the classics will sail about two thirds the distance. The racing is being supported by a full social programme with events arranged for every evening in Portland and Weymouth. Jeremy Vines, Chairman of the Tamesis Club Organising Committee, said, "We are privileged to have the use of the 2012 Olympic sailing centre for our championship and hope our activities will help the WPNSA test the already excellent facilities at Osprey Quay in a way that will help to enhance their development for the Olympics Being a river-based club, Tamesis has to seek an open water venue when it is our turn to organise the championship, as we did four years ago in St Mawes in Cornwall Having taken part in the inaugural regatta at Portland in June, when the centre was formally opened by HRH the Princess Royal, President of the Royal Yachting Association, I know what a splendid sailing location it is." Phil Gollop, Director of Operations, WPNSA, said, "We are delighted to welcome the National 18 Class to the Sailing Academy. It's fantastic to be hosting a National Championship for one of the more traditional classes of well-established dinghies. We hope that the conditions of Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay will provide a week of challenging and exciting racing. WEBSITES For further information please contact the following: Rosie Julian, Events & Marketing, WPNSA Jeremy Vines, Chairman, Tamesis Club Organising Committee Richard Howells, Tamesis Club National 18 Class Captain END Notes to editors- National 18s
Notes to editors- WPNSA • WPNSA is the official venue for the London 2012 Olympic sailing events. • Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour are widely recognised as the finest small boat sailing waters in Northern Europe. • WPNSA received £7.85 million of funding in 2004 to develop a new purpose built Academy. Major contributors were the South West Regional Development Agency, Sport England Lottery Fund, the English Institute of Sport and the Royal Yachting Association. Many other contributions have been made including those from Dorset County Council, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, West Dorset District Council, Charitable Trusts and individuals themselves. • WPNSA regularly hosts major Championship events such as the 420, J24 and Hunter 707 National Championships 2005 and the ISAF Youth Worlds and the 49er Europeans in 2006. • The British Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams regularly train at WPNSA. Much support is given to sailors on their path to World Class Potential, including reduced rates on membership and boat storage. • Four of Team GB's Athens Olympic Medallists are members of WPNSA- Sarah Ayton (Gold, Yngling), Nick Dempsey (Bronze, Mistral), Chris Draper (Bronze, 49er) and Simon Hiscocks (Bronze,49er). • The Academy exists to: Promote the sport of sailing at all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events to include all people, especially those with difficulties. Provide a facility for the community to use, for example, actively encouraging Dorset schools to bring sailing into their outdoor activities, and providing services such as the boat hoist and storage. Contribute to substantial economic regeneration. Since we have been operating here, Dorset County Council studies indicate that we have created demand in service and marine industries worth in the region of £10m. The projection is that by 2006/7 we will be adding something in the region of £6m each year to the local economy. • Facilities on shore include a licensed clubhouse, restaurant, conference/ meeting rooms, slipways, a boat hoist, extensive dinghy and car parks, a permanent crane, and storage for all types of boats. The National Lottery Gets Ready To Go For Gold With London and the UK emerging triumphant in the thrilling race to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, National Lottery operator Camelot Group plc has revealed the first stage of its plans to help fund the events. These include the launch of a new scratchcard, Go For Gold , which goes on sale from tomorrow (Thursday 28 July). This will be used specifically for the funding of the London 2012 Games. National Lottery funding will contribute up to £1.5 billion towards the costs of the London 2012 Games, of which £750 million will come from a series of dedicated lottery games for the funding of the Games. Camelot forecasts that sales of over £2.65 billion will be required between the financial years 2005/6 and 2012/13 in order to generate this defined Good Cause revenue*. Subject to approval by the National Lottery Commission and the International Olympic Committee, the portfolio of lottery games is likely to include a new draw-based game which Camelot aims to launch in 2006, one-off event games based around special occasions connected to Team GB, a series of scratchcards and interactive instant win games. Camelot is also exploring opportunities for London 2012-themed television game shows linked to scratchcards or draw based games. Camelot had geared-up to start production of Go For Gold , the first dedicated game off the starting blocks immediately after the Bid decision on 6 July, enabling the scratchcard to sprint into shops. All the money raised for Good Causes through sales of Go For Gold will go towards raising the lottery funds required to stage the 2012 Games in the UK . Over 11 million Go For Gold scratchcards have been printed, with a total prize fund of £ 6,515,896 available to win at launch. The scratchcards will cost £1 to play, with 11 prize levels from £1 up to a top prize of, appropriately, £2,012. With the approximate odds of winning a prize a fantastic 1 in 4.93 there is a great chance for National Lottery players to strike gold themselves, while also helping to raise money for the 2012 Games at the same time. Go For Gold is the first in a series of dedicated lottery games that will be launched between now and 2012. These games will be the first of their kind where pl ayers will know all the Good Causes money generated will benefit a defined Good Cause - the London 2012 Games. More than £3 billion has already been invested in sport with money raised by National Lottery players across the UK since 1994. Lottery funding has hel ped community, school and elite sport as well as major capital projects like the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the Manchester Commonwealth Games. This investment strengthened London 's bid for the 2012 Games by developing some of the best training facilities in the world at national sports centres across the country. Dianne Thompson, Chief Executive of Camelot comments: "National Lottery players can all play a part in realising the UK 's Olympic dreams. Our message to our players is this really will be your Games and your chance to contribute to an event that will not only be a catalyst for regeneration in London , but will also create a lasting legacy for sport in the UK . "National Lottery players have already raised an incredible £3 billion for UK sport over the past 10 years, including £200 million to support elite sport in the run-up to Athens 2004. This is a phenomenal achievement and something of which our players can be really proud. Now there's a chance to build on this achievement and play a role in bringing the greatest show on earth to the UK ." The trademark Go For Gold has been licensed by FremantleMedia Worldwide, the licensing division of FremantleMedia, one of largest international creators and producers of programme brands in the world. -Ends- For further information, please contact Camelot Press Office : 020 7632 5711 The London 2012 Press Office : 020 7093 5100 Notes to Editors: * The remaining £340 million will come from the Sports Lottery Fund, and, if needed, up to £410 million from mainstream National Lottery games from 2009. • Camelot Group plc is the operator of The National Lottery ® and is committed to raising money for the Good Causes designated by Parliament. Camelot is not responsible for distributing or awarding these funds • To date, over £17 billion has been raised for Good Causes by The National Lottery, benefiting more than 190,000 individual projects across the UK in the biggest programme of civic and social regeneration since the 19 th Century. The National Lottery has given away £25.1 billion in prizes and created more than 1,700 millionaires or multi-millionaires since launch in 1994 • Camelot runs one of the most cost-efficient lotteries in the world, with around 5 per cent of total revenue taken in operating costs. At 40 per cent of total sales (28 per cent to Good Causes and 12 per cent in lottery duty to the Government), Camelot returns a higher proportion of lottery revenue back to society than any other lottery operator in the world. National Lottery retailers receive 5 per cent of total revenue in commission, and 50 per cent of sales is paid out to players in prizes • Camelot is committed to the highest standards in player protection and social responsibility in both the retail and interactive environments. The National Lottery website and Sky Active services have been accredited by GamCare, the UK's leading charity for information, advice and practical help regarding the social impact of gambling - while Camelot's approach to game design, test purchasing and retailer vigilance campaigns ensures player protection at retail. Camelot has been ranked among the top 30 UK companies in Business in the Community's 2005 Corporate Responsibility Index, becoming a sector leader in the leisure category • For further information on Camelot, The National Lottery and its games, please visit the following websites: www.camelotgroup.co.uk and www.national-lottery.co.uk • Players of all National Lottery games must be aged 16 or over. Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy looks to the future Following the IOC's announcement that London will host the 2012 Olympic it is now confirmed that the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will be the official venue for the sailing events. Phil Gollop, Director of Operations at WPNSA, said "All of us at the Sailing Academy are absolutely thrilled at the result. Bringing the Olympic sailing events to Weymouth and Portland has been our ultimate goal for the past six years. We offer some of the best small boat sailing waters in the World, and look forward to welcoming a whole range of Nations in 2012. We hope this decision will continue to inspire people of all ages and abilities to take an interest in sailing and come and make the most of this fantastic facility." John Tweed , Director of Development at WPNSA continued "We are absolutely delighted that the Olympic bid has been successful. We have a World Class facility here, situated at the heart of a World Heritage site and we know that we can stage a first class Olympic regatta. Hosting the sailing events will have a lasting effect on Weymouth and Portland area and indeed on the whole of the South West. This is the culmination of many years work- we have had very strong support from local people, the media and all of the local authorities. The success of the bid owes much to the support from the community, business organisations and government at all levels."
Today, the first phase of the new £7.85m Academy - funded by the South West Regional Development Agency, Sport England, the RYA and a broad partnership of local authorities, charitable trusts and individual donations- was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal, President of the Royal Yachting Association. Over 300 guests attended, including representatives from the key businesses and organisations that have supported the creation of the Sailing Academy, local dignitaries, industry leaders, politicians past and present and future Olympic and Paralympic sailors. The day was celebrated with a festival of sailing with local schoolchildren and celebrities taking part in the on-water activities. A ' Liberty ' sailing boat was presented to the Academy for use by disabled sailors. The state-of-the-art Academy - which includes new pontoons, launching ramps and extensive development of on-shore facilities including a dedicated EIS strength and conditioning gym, tailored to the specific needs of the sport - represents an exciting opportunity for people, including those with disabilities, who have never tried sailing before. The world-class facilities now available at the Academy, coupled with a close partnership between the RYA and the English Institute of Sport (EIS) look set to provide the perfect platform for Britain 's next generation of elite sailors who are looking ahead to Beijing 2008. The event was also an opportunity to endorse the London 2012 Olympic Bid. If successful, the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will be the official venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Bill Ludlow, Chairman of WPNSA said: "The opening ceremony is the culmination of four years dedicated work to achieve the creation of this outstanding, purpose built facility. This could not have been accomplished without the considerable and generous support from many National and local organizations and individuals . It is our great privilege to welcome HRH The Princess Royal and representatives of these many key funders to this very special and poignant occasion." Juliet Williams, RDA Chairman said: "The majority of the funding for the new Academy has been contributed by the South West of England Regional Development Agency and Sport England with other important contributions from local authorities, charitable trusts and individuals. The South West Regional Development Agency is both delighted and proud to be part of today's official opening of the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. "Our investment in these world class facilities will provide an international platform for sailing, and will contribute, not only to significant and long lasting sporting achievements, but to the economy of the area and the South West as a whole. The RDA offers its very best wishes to all those who sail and compete from the Sailing Academy ." Roger Draper, Chief Executive of Sport England said: "With the Olympic bid decision just around the corner, this new academy is a huge boost for our next generation of elite sailors. They now have a world class training base from which to achieve even greater success on the international stage. "Sport England 's £3 million investment in this Academy will benefit not only those with Olympic potential but also those who want to get involved in sailing for the first time." Clive Clifford, CEO RYA Sailability said: "The opening of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy represents an exciting new opportunity for people with disabilities who have never tried sailing before, for those who want to develop their handling skills and for our paralympic sailors to train and reach new levels of competition. Sailability is delighted to be involved with this vital new facility and looks forward to bringing our key regattas to the venue over the coming years." Wilma Shakespear, EIS National Director said: "It's great to see the academy complete and everything in place to build on the success already achieved by our Olympic sailors. We've worked closely with the Royal Yachting Association over the past couple of years to ensure that the facilities and EIS support administered out of the Academy is of world standard. "They have achieved magnificent results to date with relatively limited facilities, which underlines the strength of their program. Now, our most talented sailors will have a facility that complements their international status." END Notes to Editors Contacts South West Regional Development Agency Sport England Royal Yachting Association English Institute of Sport RYA Sailability London 2012 Dorset County Council Weymouth & Portland Borough Council West Dorset District Council Information about WPNSA · Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour are widely recognised as the finest small boat sailing waters in Northern Europe . · WPNSA received £7.85 million of funding in 2004 to develop a new purpose built Academy. Major contributors were the South West Regional Development Agency, Sport England Lottery Fund, the English Institute of Sport and the Royal Yachting Association. Many other contributions have been made including those from Dorset County Council, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, West Dorset District Council, Charitable Trusts and individuals themselves. · WPNSA has been selected as the venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing events, should London be chosen to host the Games. The successful bid will be announced on 6th July 2005 . · WPNSA regularly hosts major Championship events such as the 420, J24 and Hunter 707 National Championships 2005 and the ISAF Youth Worlds and the 49er Europeans in 2006. · The British Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams regularly train at WPNSA. Much support is given to sailors on their path to World Class Potential, including reduced rates on membership and boat storage. · Four of Team GB's Athens Olympic Medallists are members of WPNSA- Sarah Ayton (Gold, Yngling), Nick Dempsey (Bronze, Mistral), Chris Draper (Bronze, 49er) and Simon Hiscocks (Bronze,49er). · The Academy exists to: Promote the sport of sailing at all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events to include all people, especially those with difficulties. Provide a facility for the community to use, for example, actively encouraging Dorset schools to bring sailing into their outdoor activities, and providing services such as the boat hoist and storage. Contribute to substantial economic regeneration. Since we have been operating here, Dorset County Council studies indicate that we have created demand in service and marine industries worth in the region of £10m. The projection is that by 2006/7 we will be adding something in the region of £6m each year to the local economy. · Facilities on shore include a licensed clubhouse, restaurant, conference/ meeting rooms, slipways, a boat hoist, extensive dinghy and car parks, a permanent crane, and storage for all types of boats. Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy Press Advisory: Officical Opening of WPNSA by HRH The Princess Royal Pursuit Race Attending the official opening and taking part in the sailing events, will be past and present Olympic and Paralympic medallists, competing against top class sailors from all over the country. The official opening will also be an opportunity to endorse the London 2012 Olympic Bid. If successful, the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will be the official venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events. A media release including up to date programme to follow (release date Wednesday 1 st June). Press boat facilities available on request. To confirm your attendance or request any further information, please contact: END WPNSA Notes • WPNSA received £7.85 million of funding in 2004 to develop a new purpose built Academy. Major contributors were the South West Regional Development Agency, Sport England Lottery Fund, the English Institute of Sport and the Royal Yachting Association. Many other contributions have been made including those from Dorset County Council, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, West Dorset District Council, Charitable Trusts and individuals themselves. • WPNSA has been selected as the venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing events, should London be chosen to host the Games. The successful bid will be announced on 6th July 2005. • WPNSA regularly hosts major Championship events such as the 420, J24 and Hunter 707 National Championships 2005 and the ISAF Youth Worlds and the 49er Europeans in 2006. • The British Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams regularly train at WPNSA. Much support is given to sailors on their path to World Class Potential, including reduced rates on membership and boat storage. • Four of Team GB's Athens Olympic Medallists are members of WPNSA- Sarah Ayton (Gold, Yngling), Nick Dempsey (Bronze, Mistral), Chris Draper (Bronze, 49er) and Simon Hiscocks (Bronze,49er). • The Academy exists to: Promote the sport of sailing at all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events to include all people, especially those with difficulties. Provide a facility for the community to use, for example, actively encouraging Dorset schools to bring sailing into their outdoor activities, and providing services such as the boat hoist and storage. Contribute to substantial economic regeneration. Since we have been operating here, Dorset County Council studies indicate that we have created demand in service and marine industries worth in the region of £10m. The projection is that by 2006/7 we will be adding something in the region of £6m each year to the local economy. • Facilities on shore include a licensed clubhouse, restaurant, conference/ meeting rooms, slipways, a boat hoist, extensive dinghy and car parks, a permanent crane, and storage for all types of boats. Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy Sails Away with a National Lottery Blue Plaque Olympic sailing medallists Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks took time out of their busy training sessions to unveil the National Lottery Blue Plaque, marking £3 million of Lottery investment from Sport England into the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy . Chris and Simon sail a 49er, a very high performance dinghy, and claimed the Olympic Bronze medal in Athens last year. Simon also won a Silver medal in the 49er class at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The £3 million Lottery investment from Sport England, alongside £3.3 million from the South West Regional Development Agency, was used to fund the redevelopment of the National Sailing Academy , transforming it into a unique sailing venue which is used by many of the country's finest athletes. The refurbishment includes new purpose built on-shore facilities, incorporating a licensed clubhouse, conference/meeting rooms, shipways, a boat hoist, extensive dinghy and car parks, a permanent crane, and storage for all types of boats. \Jim Clarke, Regional Director, Sport England South West , said: "W e are delighted to have invested National Lottery funding into the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy . It is a great example of how elite and community sport can work hand in hand to create our next generation of athletes and help inspire the local community to get active and improve their lifestyles. "The facilities here can lay claim to being the best in the world and I hope both elite athletes and the local community continue to take full advantage of them." Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour are widely recognised as the finest sailing waters in the UK for small boats, whilst the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is home to arguably the UK 's finest sailing facilities. It is no surprise then, that it was selected as the preferred venue for 2012 Olympic sailing events, should London be chosen to host the Games. In addition to being one of the country's most prestigious training and event venues for elite athletes, the Academy also operates a very successful teaching centre, and an active members club catering for all abilities - from complete beginners to Olympic medallists. John Tweed, Director of Development at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy , said: "We are very pleased to receive a National Lottery Blue Plaque in recognition of our funding from Sport England. The grant has made an invaluable contribution to sport at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and also to the local area. "We can now offer a world-class sailing venue to some of the UK 's best athletes, whilst also catering for those less advanced. The redevelopment of the academy should give us a great chance of winning our bid to host the 2012 Olympics." To date, over 10,000 Blue Plaques have been awarded to Lottery funded projects to show exactly where National Lottery money has been spent and how players have made a difference to communities across the UK . National Lottery players have raised over £16 billion for good causes - benefiting over 185,000 projects, both large and small. More than £3 billion of Lottery funding has been invested into sport in the UK , from grass roots through to elite athletes, with over £196 million distributed to 1,908 projects in the South West alone. This has helped a wide range of other local organisations such as Weymouth St Paul's Harriers and Athletic Club, YMCA Red Triangle Club, The Wey Valley School. For further information please contactHelen McCulloch or Sam Morgan at Harrison CowleyTel: 0117 9292311 Mob: 07739 805107Notes to Editors: • The funding areas that benefit from National Lottery money are sports, arts, charities, heritage, millennium projects, education, health and environment. For more information please visit The National Lottery Good Causes website: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk
Olympics will be good for business Mick Aitken was centrally involved in the establishment of EventsCorp in 1985 - the first of Australia 's world-renowned state government-owned events agencies that helped pave the way for Sydney 's successful bid. He went on to become the executive manager for the highly successful British Olympic and Paralympic Preparation reparation Camps which were located way north of Sydney in the state of Queensland . Mick's message for Dorset and the South West of England will be that the Olympics is not just the greatest sporting event on earth, but also one of the greatest opportunities for business. 'Sydney was just the most terrific environment for businesses large and small from right across the country," he said. "Look at Queensland - the state started with a target of A$50 £20 million of Olympic contracts, and ended with more than A$400 £200 million. Of that, A$128 £50 million was won by more than 100 small to medium sized businesses like mine. " The Olympics isn't just the greatest sports show on earth, but one of the greatest showcases for business too. The unprecedented profile and exposure gained for Australian business acumen and expertise at the Sydney Olympic Games has catapulted our goods and services into the global goods and services premier league. "So much so that Australia expects to secure A$3 £1.25 billion of the estimated A$30 £12.5 billion being ploughed into the 2008 Beijing Games...that's equivalent to the entire cost of hosting the Games in Sydney ." Mick Aitken runs his own international sports business consultancy in Queensland , Australia , and retains his strong links with this country. He has been involved in preparing major events strategies for Scotland and England 's Northwest as well as acting as a 'world class adviser' to UK Sport on major events held in this country such as the 2003 IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships. He is currently working with Yorkshire Forward and a number of the other nations and regions to help understand and take advantage of the opportunities which will flow from backing a successful London 2012 bid. The visit has been organised by the South West Olympic Steering Group. "This is a great opportunity for local business people to hear about the real potential of the Olympics from a man who knows from first-hand experience what he's talking about," said Juliet Williams , co-chairman of the Steering Group and chairman of the South West of England Regional Development Agency. Mick will be visiting the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy this evening and talking to an invited audience of local businessmen and community leaders. Further information about the meeting is available from Sue Handford who can be contacted by email at sue@chocolatedog.co.uk For further press information or to arrange an interview with Mick Aitken, please contact Sue Handford on sue@chocolatedog.co.uk . or phone 07785 593 690 or 01208 841691. PR Opportunity with Jude Kelly Kelly, one of the most important figures in British theatre, will be visiting the nominated site for sailing events - the only sporting venue to be named for the bid outside London - in her role as ambassador for the arts and Chair of Culture and Education of the bid for the Olympics. Ms Kelly will receive a tour of the site and be guest of honour at a cultural forum with members of the cultural community in Dorset . "I am delighted Jude has joined us to visit the region," said Sue Handford of South West RDA Olympic Bid Office. "The Olympics and Paralympics are more than just sport: there is a huge cultural dimension and we want to link to the celebrations and festival opportunities planned for the years before and after the Games. "The South West has the only venue outside London for an event- sailing at the National Sailing Academy - but we want the whole region to participate and benefit - as after all we have some of the most inspirational and creative people in the world" Ms Kelly will also be visiting Ashburton to discuss the opportunities that the Olympics offers to the Culture South West Board. "The Games will give the world the most passionate, energetic, diverse and spectacular celebration that has ever accompanied an Olympic or Paralympic Games," said Ms Kelly. "The South West has a world class reputation for its arts, culture and education, and its people are creative witty and dynamic - so I want to personally invite them to join our plans for the 2012 Games." Notes to Editors: Jude Kelly is a theatre director and producer, who for the last five years has been one of the top ten most powerful people in British Theatre. She is an ambassador for the arts and Chair of Culture and Education of London's bid for the 2012 Olympics. Jude Kelly founded Solent People's Theatre in 1976 and made her name as Artistic Director of Battersea Arts Centre in the1980s establishing it as a national venue. In 1986 she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company before becoming the first Artistic Director of the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds . As Artistic Director and then CEO of the country's largest regional theatre, she established the West Yorkshire Playhouse as an acknowledged centre of excellence on a local, national and international scale, developing an ever-expanding policy of access for all. Amongst many successes her production of Singin' in the Rain transferred twice to the Royal National Theatre in London and was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Musical Production in 2001. She directed Ian McKellen in The Seagull and The Tempest , Patrick Stewart in Johnson over Jordon and Othello , Dawn French in When We Are Married , the English National Opera in The Elixir of Love (South Bank Award - Newcomer Opera), and over 40 productions for stage and screen, including the Royal Shakespeare Company, The York Festival (also Artistic Director 1985-88), Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Sydney Festival, and Channel 4. In 1997 she was awarded the OBE for her services to the theatre. Jude Kelly is much in demand as a commentator and spokesperson for the arts, appearing on national radio and television, such as Woman's Hour , Desert Island Discs , Night Waves, Newsnight , Any Questions , Question Time, and BBC1's This Week . She has received six honorary doctorates, and i n 2002 she was presented with the Women of the Year Award and Yorkshire T.V Personality of the Year Award. She has represented Britain within UNESCO on cultural matters and sits on the Arts Advisory Committee for Royal Society of Arts. She is also Chair of Common Purpose International Trust, Joint-Chair with Lord Puttnam of Curricula Advisory Committee on the Arts, board member of The British Council, and Visiting Professor at Kingston and Leeds Universities . She has been recently appointed Chair of the Culture Committee for London 's 2012 Olympic Bid and as a board member of the Liverpool Biennale. Jude Kelly's current venture is METAL, an artistic laboratory space she founded to provide artists and thinkers with the opportunity to further the practice and philosophy of their work through experimentation and discussion alongside other artists and other disciplines . Metal's multi-disciplinary team develops bold, creative ideas in different contexts - from influencing social, physical and economic change in urban landscapes to large artistic expressions and content for film and television. Jude Kelly is currently developing a number of projects, including a piece of music theatre with the writer Jimmy McGovern and the opera singers Willard White and Amanda Roocroft which reveals a forgotten history of the cotton trade and how the cycle of dependency connected two families across the Atlantic Ocean . A unique combination of two popular musical forms - gospel and spirituals, and brass band - will tell the story of Sokoto, a slave fighting for freedom in Alabama , and Tom, a Liverpudlian cotton-mill worker, who secretly builds ships with other mill workers out of desperation to maintain the cotton trade. A battle on the Atlantic becomes a clash of unlikely foes: ships sink but redemption prevails. This autumn, Jude Kelly will tour her lecture on Fear of the Artist, which collates her investigation into nature of fear, risk and control that she embarked on after receiving a prestigious NESTA Dreamtime Award. In 2005, she directs On the Town with the English National Opera. It will be the first time this show will be performed on the stage of the London Coliseum. Music Conductor: Simon Lee. Choreography: Stephen Mear. Premieres: March 2005. NOTES To arrange an interview with Jude Kelly, please contact: Chris Lawrenson, Account Manager, Aylesworth Fleming PR, Poole Hill, Bournemouth , BH2 5PS Tel: 01202 295723/ Mob: 07947 793948 or e-mail: chrisl@aylesworth-fleming.co.uk PRESS RELEASE: Britain's Olympic Medal Winners Race For 2012 Athletes from as far afield as Nottingham, West Sussex and Yorkshire will be making the journey south to take part in the event, together with local children from the Weymouth Rowing Club who will be there to pick up some tips. Those attending will include: Sarah Ayton- Olympic Gold Medallist (Sailing) The event ties in with an Open Day at the Sailing Academy to welcome one and all to visit the 2012 venue and join in the excitement, watching from the centre's pontoons. To l |