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OLYMPIC SAILING
2012
DEFINITIVE GUIDE
S& E RS U CO
28
Yachts & Yachting
July 2012
S, R ILO A ES H T
S E TIM
S, E SS SUPPORTED BY THE A CL
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Olympic sailing 2012
A
s an island nation, it’s hardly surprising that sailing is a sport at which Great Britain excels. For the last three Olympiads the British sailing team has led the world, bringing home more medals than any other nation – there aren’t many other sports where we can confidently claim to lead the world. The British sailing team for 2012 is perhaps the strongest we have ever fielded… there is every chance of exceeding our massive six medal haul from Beijing (remember we have only one entry in each of the 10 classes!). However, anything can happen in an Olympic regatta, and pressures are immense – it wasn’t long ago we were lucky to get one or two medals from each Games, so our team has a lot to live up to. Yes our sailors are on home waters, but the waters of Weymouth are very familiar to many of their rivals, especially the Europeans who have done a lot of sailing over here. But we have the power of the nation behind our team, and they are very well prepared… it’s going to be an exciting event! Based in Weymouth for the duration of the event, myself and the rest of the team at
Yachts & Yachting Magazine will be following the event closely, bringing you exclusive news and in depth interviews the whole way through. This guide contains all you need to know to follow the events… and we’ve even included some information on taking up the sport for anyone inspired to give it a go. Sailing clubs up and down the country will be running numerous events to welcome newcomers. We think it’s a fabulous sport to be enjoyed by all the family, so here’s to making the most of the Games, both in terms of medals, and in terms of inspiring new participants. Best of luck, and enjoy a fabulous summer of sailing.
Gael Pawson, Editor
The British sailing team is probably the strongest ever fielded
to Yachts & Yachting magazine and enjoy further coverage of the Olympic sailing throughout the Games for less than £10! Go to www.subscription.co.uk/ yachts/OS16
Contents 04
Sailing at the Olympics A brief history
06
The venue and courses The course areas and timetable
12
Finn Heavyweight singlehander
14
Laser Men’s singlehander
17
Radial Women’s singlehander
18
49er High performance skiff class
20
470 Men’s and women’s doublehander
24
Star Men’s keelboat class
26
Elliott 6m Women’s match racing class
28
RS:X Men’s and women’s sailboard
32
How to start sailing Together with the RYA we share a quick-start guide to getting started, or getting back into the sport
ISAF world rankings stated were as of 02/05/12
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
3
OLYMPIC SAILING
A brief history...
ABOVE The Sydney Games in 2000 was one of the most spectacular in recent history and marked the start of Britain’s world-leading run of success
4
S
ailing has a long history in the modern Olympic Games. It made its debut at the 1900 Paris Games on the River Seine. Things have changed a lot since then, including the sport’s name – back then it was called yachting, a name which was changed in 2000. In the early years it was mostly yacht or keelboat classes that competed. The first Olympic regatta had an ‘open’ handicap class and six other classes rating from 0.5 to 20 tonnes. The half-tonner ‘Scotia’ is the only yacht to have won two medals, winning silver in the 0.5-1 tonne class and a gold in the ‘open’ class. There were no restrictions on the number of entries per country, enabling France to win all three medals
in the Half-Tonne class – the home nation topped the medal table with four golds, four silvers and six bronze medals! Great Britain was second.
Legendary moments The 1908 Games saw the introduction of the newly-formed Metre classes. They were used for a number of Olympic regattas, but the future lay in one-design classes. The Star, which is due to make a record 19th appearance in Weymouth, made its debut at the Los Angeles Games in 1932. Few competitors contested Olympic yachting during this era and only those of independent means. However it wasn’t unusual for women to compete. Brits Frances Rivett-Carnac (1908 London) and Dorothy Wright (1920 Antwerp)
won Olympic titles with their husbands. The 1948 London Games, known as the ‘austerity Games’, saw the birth of a legend, when 19-year-old Dane Paul Elvstrøm won his first gold in the Olympic monotype (the Firefly dinghy). Seven more Olympic Games and three more golds were to follow. Competitors during this era were strictly amateur, but competition got tougher with bigger fleets. Britain won five medals between 1948 and 1956, compared to 16 between 1900 and 1936. A huge purpose-built marina was constructed at Kiel for the Munich Games in 1972 and the number of classes increased from five to six. For Montreal in 1976, two keelboat classes were replaced by the glassfibre 470
1900
1908
1920
1932
1948
1952
1964
1968
Sailing makes its debut at the Paris Olympics with racing on the River Seine in seven different classes. France wins 14 medals
The Metre classes are introduced. Racing takes place on the Clyde (an England vs Scotland race) and the Solent
Yachts dominated the early years of Olympic competition. Dinghies first raced at the Antwerp Games
The Star class, which is still competing today, makes its debut in the Los Angeles Games
The first postwar Games is known as the ‘austerity Olympics’. The sailing is held in Torbay; Paul Elvstrøm wins his first gold
Helsinki sees the Olympic debut of the Finn class, with Britain’s Charles Currey winning silver behind Elvstrøm.
Keith Musto and Tony Morgan, win Flying Dutchman silver at Tokyo the first time Asia hosts an Olympics
Briton Rodney Pattisson wins his first gold at Mexico (with Iain MacDonaldSmith); gold in 1972 and silver in 1976 follow
Yachts & Yachting
July 2012
Year
Medal
Class
Type
Sailors
2008
Gold
Finn
Singlehander
Ben Ainslie
Gold
Laser
Men’s singlehander
Paul Goodison
Gold
Star
Men’s keelboat
Iain Percy/Andrew Simpson
Gold
Yngling
Women’s keelboat
Sarah Ayton/Sarah Webb/Pippa Wilson
Silver
470 Men
Men’s doublehander
Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield
Bronze
RS:X Women
Sailboard
Bryony Shaw
Gold
Finn
Singlehander
Ben Ainslie
Gold
Yngling
Women’s keelboat
Shirley Robertson/Sarah Ayton/Sarah Webb
Silver
470 Men
Men’s doublehander
Nick Rogers/Joe Glanfield
Bronze
49er
Skiff
Chris Draper/Simon Hiscocks
Bronze
Mistral Men
Sailboard
Nick Dempsey
Gold
Finn
Singlehander
Iain Percy
Gold
Laser
Men’s singlehander
Ben Ainslie
Gold
Europe
Women’s Singlehander
Shirley Robertson
Silver
Star
Keelboat
Ian Walker/Mark Covell
Silver
49er
Skiff
Ian Barker/Simon Hiscocks
Silver
Laser
Men’s singlehander
Ben Ainslie
Silver
470 Men
Doublehander
John Merricks/Ian Walker
1992
Bronze
Soling
Keelboat
Lawrie Smith/Robert Cruikshank/Ossie Stewart
1988
Gold
Star
Keelboat
Mike McIntyre/Bryn Vaile
1984
Bronze
Flying Dutchman
Doublehanded dinghy
Jo Richards/Pete Allan
1976
Gold
Tornado
Multihull
Reg White/John Osborn
Silver
Flying Dutchman
Doublehanded dinghy
Rodney Pattisson/Julian Brooke-Houghton
Gold
Flying Dutchman
Doublehanded dinghy
Rodney Pattisson/Christopher Davies
Silver
Tempest
Keelboat
Alan Warren/David Hunt
Gold
Flying Dutchman
Doublehanded dinghy
Rodney Pattisson/Iain MacDonald-Smith
Bronze
5.5 Metre
Keelboat
Robin Aisher/Adrian Jardine/Paul Anderson
1964
Silver
Flying Dutchman
1956
Silver
5.5 Metre
Keelboat
Bronze
Dragon
Keelboat
Bronze
Sharpie
Keelboat
1952
Silver
Finn
Singlehander
Charles Currey
1948
Gold
Swallow
Keelboat
Stewart Morris/David Bond
2004
2000
1996
1972 1968
dinghy and the multihull Tornado in a bid to modernise the Games. In 1988 the first women’s class was introduced in the 470, the USA’s Lynne Jewell and Alison Jolley won the first women’s gold medal. It was followed by the intrduction of women’s windsurfing and singlehanded classes in 1992, by which time there were 10 classes in total. By 2000 this was up to an all-time high of 11 classes for the Sydney Games. To find out more about the history of British Olympic and Paralympic sailing visit the RYA’s ‘Our Sport Life – Sail for Gold’ Olympic and Paralympic sailing heritage exhibition which will be at the Weymouth Bayside Festival for the duration of the Olympic sailing event (July 27-August 2).
Keith Musto/Tony Morgan
British Sailing medals The table below illustrates the amazing success of British Olympic sailing in the last three Olympiads. From a single gold medal in the first post-war Games in 1948, most years saw just a one or two-medal haul with some years yielding no medals at all. Single medals in 1984, 1988 and 1992 grew to two in 1996, then leapt to five in 2000, five in 2004 and six in 2008. 6 5 4 3 2 1 1948 1952 1956 1964 1968 1972 1976 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2012
The Tornado and 470 are introduced. Reg White and John Osborn, win Tornado gold for GBR, with a race to spare
The British sailing team misses the Moscow Games due to a boycott by a number of governing bodies
Britain’s Cathy Foster wins the 470 British trials and finishes seventh at the Olympic Games. Windsurfing is introduced
The first women’s class is introduced, as the 470 (formerly an open class) is split into men’s and women’s divisions
Two more women’s classes are introduced: a singlehanded dinghy (Europe) and women’s windsurfing
Ben Ainslie makes his debut, aged 19, winning silver in the Laser. John Merricks and Ian Walker win silver in the 470
The 49er class is introduced for the Sydney Games. Britain tops the medal table with an impressive five medals, three of them gold
The Games returns to London. The sailing event is held in Weymouth. Britain fields its strongest team ever
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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Sign Post
wHeN & wHeRe? The race formats, schedule and where to watch...
T
oday, there are no large yacht classes, just two small keelboat classes, with the remainder made up of dinghies, skiffs and sailboards. Each nation can only send one entry per class – with 10 classes that means an absolute maximum of 10 medals. Women’s match racing is making its debut at the Games, and altogether there are three women’s classes (set to rise to four in 2016).
Men’s classes: • One person dinghy (Laser) • One person heavyweight dinghy (Finn) • Two person dinghy (470) • Skiff (49er) • Windsurfer – RS:X • Keelboat – Star
Classes
Race formats
Weymouth 2012 sees 10 events;
Nine of the 10 classes are fleet racing
Course area
Time 7/28/2012
Time 7/29/2012
Time 7/30/2012
Time 7/31/2012
Finn
1400 Practice (W)
1200 Race 1&2 (N/W)
1200 Race 3&4 (W)
Star
1400 Practice (W)
1330 Race 1&2 (W)
Elliott 6m
1400 Practice (N)
1200 Round Robin (N)
Laser
1200 Practice (S)
1200 Race 1&2 (S)
1400 Race 3&4 (S)
1200 Race 5&6 (P)
1200 Race 7&8 (N/S)
Radial
1200 Practice (S)
1200 Race 1&2 (S)
1200 3&4 (N/S)
1200 Race 5&6 (P)
1400 Race 7&8 (S)
49er
Time 8/1/2012
Time 8/2/2012
Time 8/3/2012
1200 Race 5&6 (W)
1200 Race 7&8 (S)
1200 Race 9&10 (P)
1200 Race 3&4 (W)
1200 Race 5&6 (W)
1200 Race 7&8 (S)
1200 Race 9&10 (P)
1200 Round Robin (N)
1200 Round Robin (N) 1200 Round Robin (N) 1200 Round Robin (N)
1200 Practice (P)
1300 Race 1&2 (P)
1200 Race 3&4 (P)
1200 Race 5&6 (P)
1200 Race 7&8 (P)
RS:X m
1300 Practice (P)
1200 Race 1&2 (P)
1200 3&4 (N/W)
1200 Race 5&6 (P)
RS:X w
1300 Practice (P)
1200 Race 1&2 (P)
1330 Race 3&4 (W)
1200 5&6 (N/P)
1200 Practice (S)
1400 Race 1&2 (W)
1200 Race 3&4 (W)
1400 Practice (W)
1200 Race 1&2 (W)
470 m 470 w
6
Women’s classes: • One person dinghy (Laser Radial) • Two person dinghy (470) • Windsurfer (RS:X) • Keelboat – Match Racing (Elliot 6m)
classes. Each fleet races over a series of 10 races (15 in the case of the 49er class), with points being awarded according to finish position (1 point for first etc) and the worst scores being ‘discarded’ to give an overall ranking. The top 10 boats then go through to a final medal race, which is a double scoring race and cannot be discarded. The winners are decided based on fleet points (less discards) plus the medal race points. The only exception to this is the women’s match racing, where only two boats race at a time in a best of mini-series of ‘matches’. Initially they
Yachts & Yachting
July 2012
1200 Race 9/10/11(N)
Weymouth Bay West Weymouth Bay East Nothe Weymouth Bay South Portland Harbour
Sailing centre
times are approximate and subject to change. If you look at the timetable, the start times correlate to the start of the first race on that course area. Wind shifts or lack of wind can mean starts abandoned or delayed, so nothing is set in stone! Another great way to follow the sailing is at your local sailing club, many clubs will be organising viewing events during the Games, especially at weekends, contact your local club to find out more. compete in a Round Robin series where they all take it in turns to race one another, then from that the teams with the highest points race one another in quarter-finals and semi-finals, before a final race to decide gold and silver.
Where can I watch it? The BBC promises it will be covering more sailing than ever this Olympiad, with promises to show all the televised races (not all courses will have cameras on). These may be shown on the main channels, on the red button, or online. Part of the problem with sailing, of course, is it is wind-dependent, so all start Time 8/4/2012
Time 8/5/2012
In Weymouth and Portland In Weymouth itself, ticket holders will be able to watch the Medal races and a selection of other races from the ticketed Nothe viewing area. Even if you don’t have a ticket, there will be plenty going on in and around the town to provide an interesting day out. There will be large screens on the beaches and at the Bayside festival, where there will also be lots of exhibits and the 400-person capacity ‘Balmoral’ will be operating Bay cruises at 1200 each day (www. weymouthbaysidefestival.co.uk/).
Time 8/6/2012
Time 8/7/2012
You can’t simply turn up with your own boat as shipping movements are strictly regulated for the duration of the Games, but as well as the Balmoral’s services, there are a number of yacht and powerboat charter companies offering special days out to watch the racing, including Valhalla Yachting, which will have its two Swan 55s at the event (www.valhallayachting. com) and Solent Yachting (www. myolympicregatta.com).
ABOVE There are three course areas in Weymouth Bay - West (W), South (S) and East (E), a course in Portland Harbour (P) and the Nothe (N) course.
Medal race times All racing is scheduled to start at 1200, apart from the medal races, which are scheduled as follows Date August 5 August 6 August 7 August 8 August 9 August 10 August 11
Time 8/8/2012
Time 1300 1400 1300 1400 1300 1400 1300 1300 1300 1200
Time 8/9/2012
Class Star Finn Radial Laser Men’s RS:X Women’s RS:X 49er Men’s 470 Women’s 470 Elliott 6m finals
Time 8/10/2012
Time 8/11/2012
1200 Semi-finals (N)
1200 FINALS
1400 MEDAL RACE 1300 MEDAL RACE 1200 Round Robin (N)
1200 Quarter-final (N) 1200 Quarter-final (N) 1200 Sail-off (N)
1200 Race 9&10 (P)
1400 MEDAL RACE
1200 Race 9&10 (P)
1300 MEDAL RACE 1200 12&13 (N/W)
1300 MEDAL RACE 1400 MEDAL RACE
1200 Race 7&8 (N/W) 1200 Race 9&10 (P) 1200 Race 5&6 (S) 1200 Race 3&4 (S)
1300 MEDAL RACE
1200 RACE 14&15 (N)
1200 Race 7&8 (N/W) 1200 Race 9&10 (P)
1200 Race 7&8 (W) 1200 5&6 (N/W)
1300 MEDAL RACE
1200 Race 9&10 (P) 1200 Race 7&8 (P)
1200 Race 9&10 (P)
1300 MEDAL RACE
Table correct at time of publication but could be subject to change July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
7
Prospecting for Gold.
PHOTO: FRIED ELLIOTT/friedbits.com
“The new swivel cleat we helped develop with Allen has made a real difference to our jib trimming”. Stevie Morrison/Ben Rhodes - 49er
MADE DE IN IN THE UK The Sail for Gold regatta at Weymouth and Portland will be the last opportunity for sailors to test their skills and equipment before the 2012 games. Selected 49er team Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, and 470 team Stuart Bithell and Luke Patience have been working closely with Allen to develop some of the boat fittings that will support them through their campaigns, with new products such as the improved 49er central jib swivel which will optimize the task of trimming for the helm, the adjustable jib cars on the 470 allowing the crew to perfect sheeting and the new Carbon Fiber/ Kevlar telescopic tiller extension on the 470 allowing the crew to helm from the trapeze. We’d like to take this opportunity to wish them and all our development teams the best of luck in this all important event. We’re proud to be part of taking British Sailing to the 2012 games.
www.allenbrothers.co.uk
A few bAsiCs
S
ailing is in many ways a complex and demanding sport. Not only do the sailors have to juggle the demands of sailing the boat; hoisting and trimming the sails, steering and using their body weight to keep it upright and moving through the water as fast as possible, but there are a host of other considerations. There’s the wind, which constantly varies in strength and direction. Then there is the tide or current, its effects need to be taken into account, as do the waves. Then there are the other boats, especially at the start and when rounding marks, putting yourself in the right position to ensure you have clear wind and you have the right of way. You don’t need to know all the intricacies in order to follow sailing, but a few basics are helpful.
The start The startlines for most of the classes are set between orange flags flown
end of the line’ in relation to wind and tide, that sailors will aim to take advantage of. They cannot start before the start gun, but aim to be in the most advantageous position to make the fastest start in as clear wind as possible.
Courses Each class completes several laps of a course designed for its own specific type of racing.
You don’t need to know all the intricacies to follow sailing from a pair of vessels known as committee boats. Only the match racing differs, using an inflatable orange racing mark at the port end instead of a second committee boat flag. The starting countdown sequence used is 5-4-1 (five minutes, four minutes, one minute pre-start), and is signalled by flags and sounds. Boats may start anywhere along the line, though usually there is a ‘favoured a Basic trapezoid course
The course and its length varies according to the type of boat racing and the wind speed. Marks (inflatable buoys) are laid by the race officers prior to the start, positioned in relation to the wind and tide. Courses are sometimes shortened and can even be abandoned if the wind drops or shifts too much. Boats are usually sent upwind for the first leg of their course, while the finish is usually downwind. b Windwardleeward
C Added slalom
There are two types of course, windward-leeward and trapezoid. A windward-leeward course, mandatory for the 49ers, requires boats to sail into the wind to one mark, then return with the wind to a second mark. A trapezoid course is a four-leg course with separate starting and finish lines.
above Surfing down a wave to get maximum speed
‘Pumping’ Sailors can only use the natural action of the wind and waves to propel the boat. Pumping the sails and the use of body kinetics is not allowed, except for in the Finn and 470 classes, which may use kinetics above certain wind speeds, and the windsurfing which is exempt. Infringements on the water are signalled with a yellow flag.
Right of way There are three basic rules ensuring boats keep out of the way of each other, although a collision should be avoided at all costs. • Port gives way to starboard • Windward boat keeps clear • A boat behind and on the same tack shall keep clear of one in front
Protest! If a sailor believes another sailor has broken the rules they will call “protest” and fly a red flag to signal an alleged rule infringement by another boat. A sailor accused of a rule infringement can either accept their error and negate it by completing a one or two-turn penalty, or protest it once ashore, in front of a protest committee. The committee listens to all parties and decides which boat was wrong, penalising the offending sailor. For more on the basics of sailing, including some basic lingo, see page 34.
left Example general course types. Courses for the medal races will be windward-leeward, some classes will include a trapezoid, while the windsurfers’ course will include a slalom. The start and finish lines may vary and courses may combine slightly different elements of these three basic formats.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Path to glory B
ecoming an Olympic or Paralympic champion doesn’t happen by accident. When, as we hope, at least one Brit stands atop the podium, draped in the Union Jack with the National Anthem booming, this summer, that sailor’s success will represent the thousands of people throughout the UK who work tirelessly every week to make sure Britain has the best shot of remaining the world’s top performing nation. That champion sailor will probably never know of the existence of the volunteer that spends every Sunday helping out with junior training at their local club, just as that volunteer won’t know the intricacies of what the newly-crowned Olympic champion has been through.
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Yachts & Yachting
July 2012
Yet both these individuals are inextricably linked by their love of sailing, and at the heart of this sits the sport’s chief championer, the RYA. The RYA wears many different hats, protecting and defending the rights and interests of the whole of Britain’s boating community, from yacht and motor cruisers to inland waterways users, powerboat racers and windsurfers. Yet once every four years, the outside world gets the highest profile insight into the pinnacle of what the RYA’s racing department does, thanks to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. And for every medal won, it is recognition for those thousands of people at every level, from every walk of life, that the RYA umbrella covers. Since 2000 Britain has been untouchable in winning Olympic medals. 16 medals - nine gold, four silver and three bronze – won at the last three Games in Sydney, Athens and Beijing equals the total accrued from 1952 to 1996. This has been universally credited to how quickly the RYA capitalised on the arrival of National Lottery funding in 1997 leading to the rapid implementation of a highly-strategic Olympic programme. Add an innovative, high-level corporate sponsorship programme, headed up by long-term investment specialists Skandia, sailors now have access to an extensive support network enabling them to run professional, full-time campaigns, all managed by the RYA.
This network includes coaching, physiology, medicine, psychology, meteorology, nutrition, technical projects and logistics. The big picture dominates everything and cannot stop at those athletes, sports scientists, coaches and administrators in the immediate business of winning medals. It has to capture the kid sat at home who has never been in a boat and the parent who sits at the sailing club drinking coffee. These are the Olympians, Paralympians, coaches and race officials of the future. At the heart of what makes Britain so good at sailing is the RYA’s grassroots programmes; OnBoard, Team15, RYA Training, Volvo RYA Champion Clubs and the teams of thousands of dedicated professionals and volunteers working with and within Britain’s sailing clubs and centres to try to get more people out on the water for the first time and beyond. The theory is that the bigger, more structured the pool of people there is to choose from the more likely you are to develop medal-winning potential. Regardless of their route into the sport, those youngsters identified as being of the right age, ability and potential are invited on to the first step of the RYA’s World Class Performance pathway - one of the world’s most extensive racing and race training programmes for sailors under 19, the RYA National Junior and Youth squad programmes. So just remember, as you sit there this summer watching another sailor add to Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic medal hauls, who is behind them. Natural talent, unwavering commitment and sheer bloodymindedness may get you most of the way, but support takes you over the finish line. And no-one supports like Britain’s sailing community led by the RYA.
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Pinnell & Bax ltd Heathfield Way, Kings Heath, Northampton NN5 7QP Tel: +44 (0) 1604 592 808 | Fax: +44 (0) 1604 592818 | Email: info@pinbax.com
FINN
MEN’S HEAVYWEIGHT DINGHY Specifications Hull length Sail area Hull weight Crew Crew weight Year of design Designer First Olympics
4.5m 10sq m 145kg 1 80-110kg 1949 Richard Sarby 1952
Did you know? The Finn has survived 13 reselections as an Olympic class and 60 years of technical development, from wooden hulls and cotton sails of the 50s, to the composite hulls and carbon masts of today.
12
Yachts & Yachting
July 2012
T
he 2012 Olympic Games marks the 60th Olympic anniversary for the Finn class, which was designed by Richard Sarby in 1949 specifically for the Olympics. Its first Games was in Helsinki in 1952 and it has been used at every Games since. Legendary Danish sailor Paul Elvstrøm took gold in the class that year – his second in a record run of four golds, which Britain’s Ben Ainslie aims to equal in Weymouth. The Finn class by its very nature tends to attracter older sailors than the Laser, and thereby sees a huge amount of highly talented sailors. Many of the world’s top sailing athletes have competed in the class - Russell Coutts, Jochen Schuemann, Roy Heiner, John Bertrand,
John Cutler and Peter Homberg have all won medals in the Finn. A technical boat, the class is a onedesign, with tight rules, but a variety of builders and the opportunity for some innovation and choice when it comes to the selection of masts, sails, builder choice and fittings. The need for the latest technology when it comes to sails and rig make it more expensive to campaign than the Laser, but make it more testing on a sailor’s technical ability as well. It’s very tight at the top and the podium isn’t consistent for anyone really, apart from perhaps Ben Ainslie who you’d expect to get a medal. With a number of other international names vying for the other podium positions this is a tough class to call but the racing is guaranteed to be tight.
PHOTO: TOM GRUITT/Y&Y*
World ranking: 32 Age: 35 Born: 05/02/77, Macclesfield Nickname: Beano Started sailing: Aged 3 on a Folkboat in Holyhead with his parents Strength: Determination Weakness: Time diverted for other projects (America’s Cup) Previous Olympics: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 Career highs: Three Olympic gold medals Sporting heroes: Russell Coutts and Paul Elvstrøm Other interests: Football, golf Ben Ainslie is the country’s biggest sailing name, and rightly so. With four Olympic medals (three gold) he is the country’s most successful Olympic sailor with a record to rival that of the great Paul Elvstrøm. He first graced the pages of Y&Y when he was a young Optimist sailor. A silver medal at his first Olympics (1996) in the Laser was a fabulous result aged just 19. In 2000 he took gold – match racing Brazil’s Robert Scheidt, who had denied him gold in 1996. Ben doesn’t make many mistakes, and he certainly learns from them! For 2004 he switched to the
PHOTO: RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
Ben Ainslie
Finn class, posting gold #2, followed by #3 in 2008. So consistent he almost makes it look easy, and yet he has had plenty of challenges. 2011 ended with a controversial incident that saw him out of a world championship he was favoured to win, and early in 2012 he underwent a major operation for a long term back injury. But he’s no stranger to fighting his way back, with his time diverted to the America’s Cup, he has consistently returned to re-claim his title of Finn king. His steely determination and sheer talent should reward him with a fifth medal in Weymouth.
MEDAL TIP 2012 GOLD
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Pieter-Jan Postma World ranking: 6 Age: 30
Rafa Trujillo Villar World ranking: 2 Age: 36
Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic World ranking: 3 Age: 28
After missing out on selection in the Laser class in 2004, Pieter-Jan made the switch to the Finn in 2005. Going into the 2008 Games in Beijing he looked like a strong contender, finishing second in the Pre-Olympics, but posting a disappointing 14th at the Games themselves. Taking some time out of sailing to study and re-charge his batteries, he returned and finished 2011 with a second at the worlds in Perth.
Rafa started his Olympic career crewing in the Star keelboat at the 2000 Games, where he finished eighth. Switching to the Finn class he won silver in Athens to Ben’s gold, but could only manage eighth in Beijing. Since then he has been a regular on the Finn class podium, although he had a relatively low key 2011, finishing fourth at the pre-Olympic test event, but more recently finished second in Hyeres.
‘Bambi’ is consistently in the top end of the fleet. He started in the Laser class, switching to the Finn in 2005 and finished eighth at the 2008 Games. In 2009 wins in the Europeans, Weymouth and Hyeres, third at the worlds and second in the ISAF world cup saw him finishing the year leading the world rankings. In 2011 he posted some solid results, but was fifth at the preOlympics and 10th at the worlds. 2012 started on a better note with silver at the Europeans.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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LASER
SINGLEHANDED DINGHY Specifications Hull length Sail area Hull weight Crew Crew weight Year of design Designer First Olympics
4.2m 7.1/5.8sq m 56.7kg 1 70-90/55-70kg 1969 Bruce Kirby 1996
Did you know? The Laser dinghy is the largest of all the Olympic classes and is sailed in over 140 countries worldwide. Ben Ainslie started his Olympic career in this class
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he Laser is a relatively simple dinghy, a strict one-design, the hulls and rigs are supplied at major championships and allocated via a draw system – in theory all the boats are identical, sails and rigs are strict one-design as are the foils and fittings. The Laser has fewer rig controls than the Finn, for example, keeping the cost of the boat to a minimum. Designed by Bruce Kirby in 1969, the Laser is by far the most widely-sailed Olympic dinghy, with over 200,000 boats having been built. Twenty-seven years after its debut as a car-toppable ‘Weekender’, the ubiquitous singlehander made its first Olympic appearance at Savannah in 1996. The legendary Brazilian
sailor Robert Scheidt won gold at that Games and went on to become the most successful Laser sailor ever, winning eight world titles, a silver in 2000 and a second gold in 2004. Reflecting the worldwide spread of the Laser, which is sailed in 140 countries, the men’s singlehanded dinghy will be the largest class at the 2012 Olympic regatta with 40 boats and the 2012 world championship saw an entry of 180 boats from over 30 countries. The smaller Radial sail has increased in popularity since its introduction in the 1980s, and replaced the Europe as the women’s singlehanded dinghy for the 2008 Olympics. The Radial uses the same hull and fittings as the standard Laser, but has a smaller, differently cut sail and shorter lower mast section.
PHOTO: ONEDITION*
Paul Goodison
PHOTO: RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
World ranking: 13 Age: 34 Born: 29/11/77, Sheffield Nickname: Goody Started sailing: With father, aged four in a National 12 dinghy Strength: Downwind sailing tactics Previous Olympics: 2004, 2008 Career highs: Gold in 2008 Sporting heroes: Lance Armstrong, Steve Redgrave Other interests: Cycling Paul was Ben Ainslie’s training partner for the 2000 Olympics, going on to qualify for the 2004 Games where he finished a painful fourth. That fired his hunger and he went into the 2008 Games in great form, with wins in the 2006 and 2007 test regattas behind him. Even three months off with a broken wrist didn’t put him off. He came away with a well-deserved gold medal, and he is determined to defend his title. Four times European champion, he won the worlds in 2009 – a year in which he dominated the class and was probably his best yet. He then took some time off to sail bigger boats (mostly a Melges 32) to ensure he didn’t get stale before the Olympics. Last
year he was third in the Sail for Gold Regatta, third in the Pre-Olympics, finishing the event on a high by winning the medal race – it was enough to give him the Laser Olympic berth ahead of young Nick Thompson. He was a respectable fifth in the worlds in Perth and 2012 has started well, with a first in Miami and a second in Palma. While Beijing was all about being light, Goody has focussed on bulking up for Weymouth to ensure he is more competitive in stronger winds. A lot will depend on the conditions in Weymouth: if it’s light, Goody is favoured, windy and it’s a different story, but he will be on home turf and if he is feeling fresh, then the gold is his for the taking.
MEDAL TIP 2012 SILVER
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Tom Slingsby World ranking: 1 Age: 27
Andrew Murdoch World ranking: 9 Age: 30
Andreas Geritzer World ranking: 8 Age:34
Tom Slingsby went into the 2008 Games as one of the favourites, having won the worlds in 2007 and 2008, but he had a disappointing event and came home emptyhanded. Now he is looking stronger than ever, having won the worlds in Perth, and followed that with a second world title win in May 2012. He is the definite favourite for gold, especially in windier conditions where he seems to have a definite speed edge on his competitors.
A two-times team racing world champion, Andrew won bronze in the Laser Youth worlds in 1999 and silver in 2000. Fifth in Beijing in 2008, Andrew was third at the worlds in Australia at the end of 2011. That performance resulted in his announcement as first member of the New Zealand Olympic sailing team. More recently, he took bronze at Hyeres, but he had a tough worlds in May finishing 25th, although he won the final race.
At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Austria’s Andreas Geritzer finished fifth. Then four years later at the 2004 Olympics in Athens he went on to win a silver medal, although in Beijing he could only manage 19th. More recently Andreas was sixth at both the 2011 and 2012 worlds, but although he hasn’t starred on the podium, he has looked consistent and his experience will stand him in good stead.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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PHOTOS: BOTH RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
RADIAL
Alison Young World ranking: 4 Age: 25 Born: 29/05/87, Wolverhampton Nickname: Bongo Started sailing: In a GP14 with her father at Trimpley Resevoir aged 9 Career highs: Radial bronze, ISAF Youth Worlds in 2005 Other interests: Uni cycling The selection for the Radial class went right down to the wire - Ali Young’s
inclusion in the Olympic squad was only announced in early May. She is reportedly one of the hardest working members of the team, and has come into form at just the right time. Back in 2005 Ali won a bronze medal at the Laser Radial worlds and was 27th at the women’s worlds later that year. Having graduated in 2008 with a degree in civil engineering, she went full time into sailing and her results have improved year by year, from 89th in 2008, to 26th in 2009, 12th in 2010 and seventh in 2011. In 2010 she was promoted from the Development Squad to the Performance Squad after a flurry of promising results. She was selected for the PreOlympics, where she finished seventh, going on to post a number of fourth places in international events through the end of 2011 and early 2012. A fourth place in Hyeres this April
undoubtedly clinched her selection, together with her performance at the worlds in Perth. Although she was disappointed with seventh, her gutsy performance after a poor first day was an illustration of what she is capable of - she sailed a fantastic remainder of the regatta, and at the Olympics where the pressure is on, being able to react like that will be a big strength. Standing at 5ft 11 and weighing 68kg, she is one of the tallest and fittest Radial sailors. She used to run for her local athletics club near Birmingham, and recently won the Dorset 10mile race in a time of 65 minutes! Unsurprisingly, given her stature and fitness, strong winds are her strength. While she has only once finished a grade one event on the podium, she has been consistently in the top 10, and if her improvement continues, she could just scrape a medal, especially if it’s windy.
MEDAL TIP 2012 4TH
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Marit Bouwmeester World ranking: 2 Age: 24
Evi Van Acker World ranking: 1 Age: 26
Paige Railey World ranking: 6 Age: 25
Marit was second in the Laser worlds in 2010 and went one better in 2011 to take gold, adding to her gold at the Pre-Olympics in Weymouth. It was enough to win the Conny Van Rietschoten Award, the Netherlands’ highest sailing honour. In a fleet with few stand-out sailors, Marit is the most consistent performer in the class and undoubtedly the favourite for Olympic gold.
Consistently on the podium throughout 2011, Evi definitely deserves a medal. In 2008 she was ninth at the worlds and eighth at the Beijing Games. With second places last year at the Sail for Gold Regatta, Pre-Olympics and world championships, she has carried that form into 2012, finishing third in Miami, second in Palma and Hyeres. In two years she has finished second eight times, eighth once and third once - suggesting a definite medal.
A winner of the Laser Radial youth worlds back in 2003, she won both the senior and youth titles in 2005, but missed out on selection in 2008. Paige has regularly been in the medals in recent times, finishing third in the Pre-Olympics and the worlds in Perth. She does post the occasional poor result, but she should certainly be in the medal hunt. Her brother Zach will also be competing in Weymouth in the Finn class.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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49ER
SKIFF CLASS Specifications Hull length Sail area Hull weight Crew Crew weight Year of design Designer First Olympics
6.1m 49.5sq m 145kg 2 145-165kg 1996 Julian Bethwaite 2000
Did you know? Double 49er Olympic medallists Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandez are also accomplished ocean sailors, competing in the two-handed Barcelona World Race and 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race
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esigned by the former 18ft Skiff world champion Julian Bethwaite, the 49er won the Olympic high performance skiff trials in September 1996 outright and was selected by ISAF for the 2000 Games. It made an impressive debut in Sydney Harbour, showing crowds the exciting crash and burn racing that modern high-performance skiffs can deliver. A challenging boat to sail when the wind and the waves get up, capsizes are not uncommon even with the very top boats, which makes for an exciting spectacle as crews are pushed to their limits, and the slightest mistake can result in a lengthy swim. The 49er has a low drag hull, with
wide wings that mean the crews tend to sail standing upright, walking around the boat, both helmsman and crew have trapezes, which they use to gain extra leverage and speed. The rig features a flexible mast topsection more akin to a windsurfing rig, which flexes and responds to gusts, while a giant asymmetric spinnaker makes downwind sailing tactical and exhilarating. The most exciting of the Olympic classes, the crews are lean and athletic. Racing is rapid, with the boats travelling up to 30 knots downwind. Adding to the spectacle in Sydney, the class pioneered national flag-designed spinnakers. A version of the 49er with a smaller rig has just been selected for a women’s skiff event for the 2016 Olympics.
PHOTO: ONEDITION*
Stevie Morrison & Ben Rhodes
Ben Rhodes (L) Stevie Morrison (R)
World ranking: 27
PHOTO: RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
Stevie Morrison Age: 33 Born 25/11/78, Eastbourne, Nickname: Morse Started sailing: Aged 11 in a Cadet in Exmouth Strength: Simplifying it Ben Rhodes Age: 31 Born:10/05/81, Southampton Nickname: Rodent Started sailing: Cadet, aged 8 Strength: Strategy for shifty or tidal conditions
Injury threatened this team’s selection, with a number of younger teams snapping at their heels. They were one of the last teams to be confirmed by the selectors. Going into the 2008 Games, Stevie and Ben were one of the favourites, having won every major title at some point in the previous 18 months. But after leading the regatta on day one, gear failure put them off their stride, and they finished a disappointing ninth. They have performed consistently well since, especially in Weymouth, although not quite as dominant as in 2007-8. Third at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta, they were unlucky to finish fourth at the Pre-Olympics. Then, at the worlds in Perth, Ben was forced to pull out due to injury. The focus was then on recovery. They returned for Palma, finishing seventh, and their recent fourth and top British finish at Hyeres was enough to earn them selection. They have the experience, are hungry, talented and in an up phase… injury aside they should bring back a medal.
MEDAL TIP 2012 SILVER
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen World ranking: 1 Ages: 26, 24
Peter Burling & Blair Tuke World ranking: 7 Ages: 21, 21
Iker Martinez & Xavier Fernandez World ranking: n/a Ages: 35, 36
Fifth at the 2008 Games, Outteridge has since won the 49er worlds four times and finished second in 2010. In 2011 the pair also won the PreOlympics in Weymouth. The Australians pretty much invented modern skiff racing and seem to like the waters of Weymouth. Their world ranking is well-deserved and the world champions are favourites to take gold this summer.
Peter Burling was just 16 when he crewed in a 470 at the Beijing Olympics, even winning the medal race! Blair was Splash world champion in 2006. The pair joined forces in 2009. Third at the Pre-Olympics, they were second in the worlds at Perth and again in Zadar in May 2012. Young they might be, but supremely talented and in the last two years they have only recorded two results outside the top three.
Even though they are busy right now racing round the world in the Volvo Ocean race, you can’t count this pair out. Gold medallists in Athens, silver medallists in Beijing and world champions in 2010, they have barely sailed the 49er in recent years, busy with ocean racing. They still won silver at the Pre-Olympics last summer and are currently leading the Volvo Ocean Race – a formidable team.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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470 MEN
DOUBLEHANDED DINGHY Specifications Hull length Sail area Hull weight Crew Crew weight Year of design Designer First Olympics
4.7m 13.15sq m 120kg 2 110-145kg 1963 Andre Cornu 1976
Did you know? The 470 became the first non-open Olympic class when a separate women’s event was introduced in 1988. 2012 sees four of the 10 classes allocated to women and 2016 will see sailing’s first mixed gender class.
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he 470 remains the durable staple of Olympic twoperson sailing both for men and women. Designed by Andre Cornu in 1963, it has gone from strength to strength. It first appeared on the Olympic stage at the Montreal Games in 1976, when it was an open twohanded class, although there were few women who competed in the event – famously Britain’s Cathy Foster won the British trials and competed at the 1984 Games, finishing seventh overall. In 1988 at the Seoul Games, a separate women’s class was introduced. A one-design, but with a variety of licensed builders and sail and rig manufacturers, class rules require that glass reinforced polyester is used
for much of the hull construction. The class has seen some technical development since its introduction, but after more than two decades technical advances are negligible. As well as a mainsail and jib upwind, there is a single trapeze for the crew and a conventional, symmetrical spinnaker is flown downwind. The boat demands a high level of technical knowledge across the wind range. The top level of the fleet is very even in terms of speed, making it tactically demanding. The 470 is a relatively small class in the UK, but remains popular across Europe with over 40,000 boats worldwide. Helmsmen in the class tend to be small in stature, with larger crews, height being an advantage to gain maximum leverage on the trapeze.
Luke Patience & Stuart Bithell
World ranking: 9 Luke Patience Age: 25 Born 04/08/86, Aberdeen Nickname: LP Started sailing: Aged 7 in an Optimist in Rhu Marina Strength: Boat speed in wind
PHOTOS: BOTH RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
Stuart Bithell Age: 25 Born:28/08/86, Manchester Started sailing: Aged 7 in a Firefly with his dad at Hollingworth Lake Strength: Tactics There was quite a selection battle in the men’s 470. Ever since teaming up in late 2009, and making an immediate impact with a silver medal at the 2009 worlds, Luke and Stuart have been the most consistent podium performers. Before Perth, their highlight in 2011 was a bronze at the European championship, but they missed out on selection for the PreOlympics to double Olympic medallist Nick Rogers. Then, in winning silver at the 2011 worlds in Perth, they firmed up their grasp on the 470 Olympic berth. That they came out and won the medal race by a considerable distance underlined
Stuart Bithell (L) Luke Patience (R) their confidence when the pressure is on. The selectors were convinced. The duo hasn’t had a great start to 2012, finishing in the teens in both Miami and in Palma. However, they won silver at the Europeans, and with the pressure of selection off them, their focus is fully on preparing for Weymouth, rather than individual regatta results. Having ‘absolutely beasted it’ in the gym over the months preceding the worlds Luke and Stuart put on a little extra muscle which they will lose for next season, Weymouth being a venue where Luke says you can afford to be a little under rather than over weight.
MEDAL TIP 2012 BRONZE
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Matthew Belcher & Malcolm Page World ranking: 1 Ages: 29, 40
Pierre Leboucher & Vincent Garos World ranking: 19 Ages: 31, 30
Gideon Kliger & Eran Sela World ranking: 6 Ages: 32, 27
Australia’s double world champions Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page are definitely favourite for gold. The products of an awesome Aussie 470 programme which has delivered Page five world titles, and Olympic gold medals for Nathan Wilmot and Page in Qingdao and for Tom King and Mark Turnbull in Sydney. Great all-rounders, they are the team to beat.
Pierre has been competing at world level in the 470 for 10 years, but this will be his first Olympics. The duo had a brilliant run in 2011 winning in Hyeres, Sail for Gold and beating the Aussies in the Pre-Olympics, although they slipped to sixth at the worlds. Vincent missed Hyeres due to injury, but the pair are back at full strength and with a new boat, if they can repeat their 2011 form they should medal in Weymouth.
Israel has historically been strong in the 470 class. This will be Gideon’s third Olympics, having finished 14th and 15th in Athens and Beijing, but with a different crew. Their recent run of form has seen them on or close to the podium, winning bronze at the Pre-Olympics, and finishing fourth at the worlds in Perth. They were second in Palma and fourth in Hyeres and will certainly be in the hunt.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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PHOTOS: BOTH RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
470 WOMEN Hannah Mills & Saskia Clark
World ranking: 6 Hannah Mills Age: 24 Born: 29/02/88, Cardiff Started sailing: On a Mirror dinghy on holiday in Cornwall Career highs: Optimist world champ 2003, 420 worlds 2006 Saskia Clark Age: 32 Born: 23/08/79, Colchester Nickname: Sas Started sailing: With her father in a Blue Peter dinghy Strength: Analysing performance and keeping it in perspective Previous Olympics: 2008 (6th)
This is a brilliant example of the dynamics of a partnership being spot on, with a great blend of youth and experience. These two sailors were thrown together when double gold medallist Sarah Ayton announced her retirement early in 2011. Saskia Clark, the British team’s most experienced women’s 470 crew, had plenty of unfinished business after the Beijing Olympics, where she finished sixth - suddenly she was without a helm. The subsequent announcement of her partnership with the young, highly talented Hannah Mills seemed a logical move. Hannah first made her name at the age of 15 in the Optimist class, where girls and boys compete on equal terms. Hannah proved herself to be among the very best in the world. In 2002 she became the first girl to win the UK Optimist nationals, then, as well as winning the girl’s title at the 2003 Optimist worlds she posted what was then the UK’s best ever result in the event. From there she moved to the 420 where she found more success, winning the worlds
Saskia Clark (L) Hannah Mils (R) in 2006. Undoubtedly talented, the experience and knowledge that Saskia was able to bring was just what was needed to lift Hannah to the next level. The duo paired up just before the 2011 Princess Sofia regatta in Palma, and went on to win a silver medal in Hyeres a month later. They followed this with silvers at the Sail for Gold Regatta and the Pre-Olympic test event – it was enough to convince the selectors and their berth to the Games was confirmed. They went on to prove they were worthy of selection, winning silver at the worlds in Perth and in Miami. At the beginning of 2012 they were ranked second in the world. A disappointing 10th at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma shows they are not beyond the odd slip-up, but that only seems to have fuelled their hunger. They put in an impressive performance at the class worlds in May to win gold. While there is plenty of competition in the class, they definitely have the potential to deliver in Weymouth.
MEDAL TIP 2012 GOLD
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Lisa Westerhof & Lobke Berkhout World ranking: 3 Ages: 31, 32
Ai Kondo & Wakako Tabata World ranking: 1 Ages: 31, 28
Tara Pacheco & Berta Betanzos World ranking: 2 Ages: 23, 24
Bronze medallists at the pre-Olympic regatta, airline pilot Lisa (who finished ninth at the 2004 Games) and her crew, Lobke (five-times world champion and 2008 Olympic silver medallist) are a formidable partnership with plenty of experience. They have just won gold in Hyeres and have won the last three grade one events. The Dutch also seem very at home in the waters of Weymouth… powerful ingredients.
First at the PreOlympics last year, the Japanese have benefitted from training closely with the men’s team and having a second Japanese women’s team in the world top 20. With their highly experienced coach, they will be a force to be reckoned with. They have had a few up and down results but this is a common theme in the women’s 470, with many top teams also counting poorer results.
Former junior 470 world champion (in 2009) Tara Pacheco seems to have mastered the transition from youth to Olympic sailing with remarkable ease. She and her crew Berta Betanzos won the 2011 Europeans and the world title in December. They might be young, and inexperience could trip them up at times, but they have shown what they are capable of. The duo has just finished fifth in Hyeres.
July 2012
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STAR
MEN’S KEELBOAT Hull length Sail area Hull weight Crew Crew weight Year of design Designer
6.9m 26.5sq m 671kg 2 181-227kg 1911 Gardner/ Sweisguth First Olympics 1932 Did you know? Paul Elvstrøm won two Star world championships as did America’s famous America’s Cup skipper Dennis Conner
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he Star is the oldest Olympic class and 2012 is its swansong as it is due to be dropped for 2016. Designed by William Gardner and Francis Sweisguth back in 1911 this 100-year-old boat delivers some of the most testing sailing in the Games, attracting as it does many of the sport’s top brains. The Star made its first appearance at the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles and has raced at every Olympics since with the exception of the 1976 Games where the Tempest was a temporary replacement. The Star is essentially a North American lakes-type scow, originally of flat-panelled wood construction. The combination of a large, overpowered rig, a big mainsail and small jib makes
it physically and mentally demanding to sail. There’s no spinnaker, but the jib is boomed out with a whisker pole downwind. The crews use a harness to help hang themselves in a low hiking stance off the windward side of the boat with only their lower legs inside and tend to be large in stature. Although multiple builders and equipment suppliers are allowed, as with other long-standing Olympic classes, technical developments in terms of attaining a real speed edge are largely history and the fleet speed at Olympic level is very even. The Star has really become the elite class of Olympic sailing that many already successful Olympic sailors graduate to and stick with, seeking world titles and further Olympic glory.
Iain Percy & Andrew Simpson
World ranking: 22 Iain Percy Age: 36 Born: 21/03/76, Southampton Nickname: Perce Started sailing: In a Skipper 14 on the Norfolk Broads Previous Olympics: 2000, 04, 08 Career highs: Two golds
PHOTOS: BOTH RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
Andrew Simpson Age: 35 Born 17/12/76, Chertsey Started sailing: Aged six with his dad in a Seafly Previous Olympics: 2008 Career highs: Gold in 2008 Both Iain Percy and Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson have been top Finn sailors. Iain started out in the Laser class, winning the 1983 youth worlds and becoming Ben Ainslie’s training partner. He moved to the Finn where he won the worlds in 1999, a prelude to a confident and composed Olympic gold medal win in 2000. Switching to the Star, he teamed up with Steve Mitchell and the duo won the worlds in 2002, but finished a disappointing sixth at the 2004 Olympics, which Iain describes as the worst moment in his career. Bart, Olympic training partner for Iain in 2000 and Ben Ainslie in 2004, had
Andrew Simpson (L) Iain Percy (R) finished third in the 2003 Finn worlds, but his path to the Olympics had always been blocked. Joining up with Iain brought Bart’s light airs tactical abilities to the team. They went into the Beijing Games as medal contenders and came away with a stunning victory. It was the first British gold in the class since that of Mike McIntyre and Bryn Vaile 20 years earlier, in 1988, and they cemented their status at the top of the class with a worlds win in 2010. 2011 was a good year, and their results included silver at the pre-Olympics, although injury forced them to pull out of the worlds. They started 2012 in fine form with a win in Hyeres and second at the 2012 worlds. The Star, more than any class is almost impossible to call, but these two know how to dig deep and pull it out of the bag when it counts, and they are on home territory…
MEDAL TIP 2012 SILVER
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Robert Scheidt & Bruno Prada World ranking: 7 Ages: 39, 40
Fredrik Loof & Max Salminen World ranking: 2 Ages: 42, 23
Peter O’Leary & David Burrows World ranking: 8 Ages: 29, 35
The Brazilians have always been a force to be reckoned with in the Star. The talented Laser sailor Robert Scheidt switched to the class after 2004. In 2007 the duo won both the worlds and the Pre-Olympics and won silver in Beijing. They had a stunning 2011 winning more than any other team, including golds at the Pre-Olympics and the worlds, also winning the recent 2012 worlds and have to be gold medal favourites.
Freddy Loof is another former Finn sailor, having finished fifth in the class in the 1992 and the 1996 Games, before claiming a bronze in Sydney in 2000. In 2001 he stormed into the Star class winning the worlds, a feat he repeated in 2004, although he only managed a 12th at the Olympics. He was back in 2008 to win bronze in Beijing. A hugely experienced sailor, with a young, fit crew, he will have his eyes firmly on gold.
Perhaps an outsider, but Peter O’Leary is a hugely talented sailor, and the experience of going to the 2008 Games with his former crew Stephen Milne will have stood him in good stead, the pair finished in 13th place. Now teamed up with David Burrows, 2011 saw a fourth at the PreOlympics and fourth at the Europeans. Although they only managed 12th at the 2011 worlds, they have just posted a fourth at the 2012 worlds.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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ELLIOT 6M
WOMEN’S MATCH RACING Specifications Hull length Sail area Spinnaker Hull weight Crew Crew weight Year of design Designer
6m 23.6sq m 28sq m 695kg 3 205kg 2000/2008 Greg Elliott
Did you know? The women’s match racing event replaced the women’s fleet racing keelboat, the Yngling, after 2008. The Yngling class lasted for two Games, but the Elliott will appear for just one cycle.
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he Elliott 6m will make its Olympic debut at Weymouth in the women’s match racing class. Designed by New Zealand’s Greg Elliott, the Olympic boat is a modified version of the Elliott previously used at World match racing events. The rig and sail area have been reduced from the original design to allow sailing in a greater wind range with a maximum crew weight of 205kg. The fixed keel has also been changed to allow for lifting or removal. The boats fly conventional spinnakers on a pole downwind. The match racing format is different from the other sailing events, and has appeared at the Games before but only as a past men’s event. Rather than fleet
racing, the boats sail one-on-one, first through a series of round-robins, and then it’s into a knockout type event where the winning team in a series of five ‘matches’ goes through each time. It requires particular tactical skill, as speed is only part of a successful race, there are plenty of opportunities for a more tactically skilled sailor to force an error. Watching the event you will notice that there is a period before the start when the boats are ‘duelling’ for position. 2012 might be the debut of women’s match racing, but its Olympic appearance looks like it will be brief as it isn’t scheduled to appear again in 2016. Keelboat sailing is generally more expensive, which is much of the reason behind its removal for 2016.
PHOTO: ONEDITION*
Lucy Macgregor, Kate Macgregor & Annie Lush
World ranking: 2 Lucy Macgregor Age: 25 Born: 28/11/86, Poole Started sailing: As a baby cruising with parents, learnt aged 7 in Optimists & Mirrors Kate Macgregor Age: 21 Born: 12/01/91, Poole Nickname: Mini Mac Started sailing: In an Optimist
PHOTO: RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
Annie Lush Age: 32 Born: 11/04/80, Poole Started sailing: With her dad on a Trapper, aged 7 on her own Lucy, Kate and Annie all hail from sailing families and grew up in Poole. As well as progressing through the dinghy classes in the UK, they are all from bigger boat racing families - the Macgregor sisters in particular spent plenty of time yacht racing with their father. Lucy started off crewing for older sister Nicky in a 420, finished second at the worlds in 2004, which put her into the RYA’s
Lucy Macgregor (L) Annie Lush (M) Kate Macgregor (R) Olympic Development Squad. From 470s, Lucy moved into the Yngling, and then showed her match racing prowess winning the Delta-Lloyd regatta in 2009. In 2010 Kate joined the team, and having sailed with a few crew configurations, settled for the dynamic combination of her younger sister and the experienced Annie Lush. Together they won the 2010 worlds and showed their potential. Annie has been competing on the women’s international keelboat circuit for nine years and sailed in three different keelboat campaigns. Annie and Lucy crewed for Shirley Robertson in her 2008 campaign, missing out on the Olympic berth in 2008 to Sarah Ayton. Seventh at the Pre-Olympics was a disappointment for the trio, but they were undoubtedly the top British and their selection was confirmed early on. They have continued to show themselves very capable of medalling ever since, claiming silver at the 2011 worlds in Perth and winning in Miami at the start of 2012.
MEDAL TIP 2012 SILVER
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Anna Tunnicliffe, Deborah Capozzi & Molly Vandemoer World ranking: 1 Ages: 29, 31, 33
Claire Leroy, Marie Riou & Elodie Bertrand World ranking: 3 Ages: 32, tbc, 31
Ekaterina Skudina, Elena Oblova & Elena Syuzeva World ranking: 4 Ages: 31, tbc, 25
After missing out on selection for the 2004 Games, Anna won the gold medal in the Laser Radial class in 2008 before switching to match racing. Gold medal winners at the worlds in Perth, the team still had to undergo rigorous selection trials in April against close rival Sally Barkow. The USA has always been strong at Match Racing, definite gold medal favourites.
From a family of sailors in northern Brittany that goes back generations, Claire has been competing on the ISAF graded match racing circuit for some 10 years, reaching the top of the rankings back in 2005 when she dominated the discipline aged just 20. She won the worlds in 2007 and 2008, was fourth in 2009 and 2010, bringing back bronze from Perth in 2011.
Ekaterina started sailing in Optimists and won the women’s title at the 1998 Snipe worlds. From 470s she went into the Yngling (women’s keelboat), finishing eighth in Athens and sixth in Beijing before switching to match racing. The team (whose website looks more like a fashion site!) won silver in the Pre-Olympics, were fourth in Perth and most recently won bronze at Hyeres.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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RS:X MEN
BOARD SAILING Specifications Hull length Sail area Hull weight Crew Crew weight Year of design Designer
2.86m 9.5/8.5sq m 15.5kg 1 55-80kg 2004 Jean Bouldoires & Robert Stroj First Olympics 2008 Did you know? Windsurfing is due to be replaced by kitesurfing for the 2016 Olympic Games both for men and women
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W
indsurfing was introduced as an Olympic sport for the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, with the addition of a women’s event for the 1992 Games in Barcelona. With the sport being relatively young at its introduction, the choice of board has generally been controversial, never more so when a recent meeting of the International Sailing Federation saw kitesurfing – a totally different discipline – chosen as the ‘board sailing’ event for the 2016 Games. Weymouth then looks likely to be windsurfing’s Olympic swansong. Despite being very physically challenging, many top windsurfers have long careers in the sport, attending
multiple Games (four or even five Games is not uncommon – that’s 20 years of competition!). The RS:X was adopted for the 2008 Games – a specifically developed hybrid board, somewhere between the long thin racing windsurfers of yesteryear and the short wide racing boards in use today, designed to race in anything from 3-30 knots. A high technology rig features a carbon mast and boom, with the same board being used for the men’s and the women’s discipline, the difference being in the size of the sail. In lighter airs you will notice the technique for sailing these boards is very distinctive, with the sailors actively ‘pumping’ the sail in order to gain forwards momentum – something which is illegal in the other sailing disciplines.
Nick Dempsey
PHOTOS: BOTH RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
World ranking: 16 Age: 31 Born: 13/08/80, Norwich Nickname: Dempo Started sailing: Aged seven on a Mistral at Ferry Meadows, near Peterborough Previous Olympics: 2000, 2004, 2008 Career highs: Olympic bronze in 2004, 2009 world champion Sporting heroes: Roger Federer Other interests: Golf, cycling, surfing This is Nick Dempsey’s fourth Olympic Games and his sights are fully set on gold – his wife Sarah (nee Ayton) has two! At his first Games in 2000, aged just 19 he was 16th, and after battling hard he won a thoroughly-deserved bronze medal in Athens in 2004. He was, however, bitterly disappointed to finish a painful fourth at the last Olympic Games in Beijing. He bounced back to show the world what he was capable of, winning the RS:X worlds in 2009. Light winds have never been his particular strength, which always made Beijing less of a certainly for him, but in Weymouth he will be on home turf with his
family on hand. He has the strength and determination to dig deep both mentally and physically when needed – as fully demonstrated in Athens when equipment failure gave him the worst start in the first race, and he went on to win the final race to win bronze by just one point. In 2011 Nick was consistently in the top three for most of the year and took silver at the Pre-Olympic test event, although he was a disappointing 13th at the 2011 worlds in Perth in December. 2012 has been a great year so far with a win in Miami and second at the worlds in Cadiz in March. We think he will get a medal, the question is what colour?
MEDAL TIP 2012 SILVER
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Przemek Miarczynski World ranking: 2 Age: 32
Julien Bontemps World ranking: 3 Age: 33
Dorian Van Rijsselberge World ranking: 11 Age: 24
Poland is a dominant force in windsurfing, illustrated by the fact that the world’s number one ranked sailor in the class, Piotr Myszka, lost out on selection to Przemek ‘Pont’ Miarczynski. Third at the pre-Olympics, Pont was fourth at the 2011 worlds, winning the Europeans earlier this year and most recently second in Hyeres. This is his fourth Games, his best result a fifth in Athens, but a competitive selection process can only have helped him.
The Beijing silver medallist has had a brilliant 2012 so far, following his selection for the French team in January. After a fifth at the Europeans, he has dominated since, winning the RS:X world title in Cadiz in March and most recently taking gold in Hyeres – always there or thereabouts, it seems he is peaking at just the right time. This will be his third Games so he has plenty of experience and will certainly be in the hunt.
The gold medal winner at the pre-Olympic regatta in Weymouth last summer, Dorian followed that victory with an impressive win at the 2011 worlds in Perth in December, although he was fourth at the 2012 worlds in Cadiz this March. A relative youngster in the windsurfing fleet he will be hungry to show that youth has something to say for itself and has shown himself at home on the waters of Weymouth.
July 2012
Yachts & Yachting
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ider v o r tics Pam GBR s i g l Lo ndia Te a i c Offi YA Ska to R
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Bryony Shaw
wind conditions Weakness: Upwind in steep chop Previous Olympics: 2008 Career highs: Bronze in 2008 Sporting heroes: Kelly Slater Other interests: Golf, surfing, snowboarding
World ranking: 7 Age: 29 Born: 28/04/83, Wandsworth Nickname: Britney, Brownie Started sailing: Aged nine on holiday in southern France Strength: A good all rounder, best when sailing in a mix of
Bryony was bitterly disappointed when she missed out on selection for the 2004 Olympics, and had to wait a further four years for her debut. In Beijing she was delighted to win bronze, having trimmed down for the light wind venue. It was Britain’s first women’s windsurfing medal, and she will be looking to add to that with
PHOTOS: BOTH RICHARD LANGDON/SKANDIA TEAM GBR*
RS:X WOMEN
an even better result in Weymouth. In recent times, she has consistently posted podium finishes, including finishing with a bronze medal at the pre-Olympic test event last July. Her world ranking reached an all time high when she hit number one in January of this year, but the world championship itself continues to elude her. Seventh at the worlds in Perth at the end of 2011, she finished just outside the medals at the 2012 worlds in Cadiz – a taste of the bitter ‘leather medal’ (fourth place) not a bad way to feed her hunger ahead of Weymouth. Her sailing is ideally suited to Weymouth, where the conditions are likely to be varied.
MEDAL TIP 2012 BRONZE
THE MAIN OPPOSITION Lee Korzits World ranking: 8 Age: 28
Zofia Klepacka World ranking: 1 Age: 26
Alessandra Sensini World ranking: 19 Age: 42
Three years ago no one would have predicted that Lee would win two back-to back world titles. She won her first world title at the age of 19, but after a 13th at the 2004 Olympics, she failed to qualify in 2008. Then in 2009 she was severely injured after being hit by another surfer – doctors doubted she would ever sail professionally again. But in 2011 she won silver medal at the Europeans, and back to back golds at the 2011 and 2012 worlds.
Like Israel, Poland doesn’t just have strength and depth in the men’s windsurfing, but also in the women’s. This will be Zofia’s third Games, having finished 12th in Athens aged just 18. Despite winning the 2007 worlds, she could only manage fifth at the 2008 Games, but has shown such consistent form recently that she has to be a medal favourite. Second at the 2011 words in Perth was followed by another second at the 2012 worlds in Cadiz.
In 2008 Alessandra Sensini became the first female sailor to win four Olympic medals and she recently finished second at the RS:X worlds to show she will still be a force to be reckoned with. She has an amazing record, as well as her four Olympic medals (one gold, two bronze and one silver) she has won three gold, two silver and a bronze world championship medal, and three gold, two silver and two bronze European medals. A true legend.
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Yachts & Yachting
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GettinG
started Inspired by our Olympic sailors to try the sport yourself? There’s never been a better time for the whole family to get involved…
S
ailing offers an incredibly wide variety of experiences – for some it’s a sociable and relaxing experience in which a highlight would be a sunny evening cruise in light winds to a favourite place for dinner. For others it’s a high adrenaline, high action sport fuelled by the buzz of skimming across the waves on a windsurfer, or flying across the water in a small dinghy. Alternatively sailing offers the chance to explore some of the world’s most interesting places – and cultures – or the opportunity to prove your skills by beating everyone else in a race, with winning a place at the Olympics the ultimate goal. One of the sport’s real strengths is it caters for a real diverse range of abilities and ages. It truly is a sport that whole families can enjoy together.
It’s easy to get afloat Getting out on the water is much
easier than many people imagine and is becoming increasingly accessible. There area some 2,500 RYA recognised training centres throughout the world, as well as around 1,500 RYA affiliated sailing clubs with all the facilities you need to continue your sailing. This is as true whether you want to start sailing in a highly responsive dinghy, or learn the basics of crewing, and then skippering, a larger yacht. It’s a surprise to many non-sailors that most people live no more than an hour away from a sailing venue, and most have access to a range of options. Even if you live hours from the coast, you are likely to find a number of lakes, reservoirs or rivers with numerous opportunities for sailing nearby. Your local RYA Training Centre is the obvious starting point – this could be a commercial activity centre or a local sailing club. It is one of the best ways to get involved in the sport, with structured training in a safe and supportive environment that’s proven to
rapidly build both skills and confidence. The next step for many is joining a sailing club. These are sociable organisations that depend on a flow of new members for growth and survival. All successful clubs are geared up to welcome potential newcomers and will be delighted to invite you to take a look around and chat with a few members about how you can get involved. Many clubs and centres organise ‘have a go’ days to encourage new members – these are perfect for experiencing your first taste of sailing or windsurfing.
reasons to sailing 10 go
• Freedom • Adventure • Friendships • Challenges • Relaxation • Close to the elements • Fitness • Fun • Exciting • Get away from it all • Learn new skills
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Clubs offer a range of fantastic facilities and many have a variety of dinghies and windsurfers available to rent, effectively at cost price. This means you can practise as much as you like and join in with club racing without needing to buy a boat.
Do I need training? It’s always a good idea to get some training so you can really get the most out of your boating and be safe when out on the water. RYA qualifications are known and respected the world over, with around 165,000 people taking a course every year. The structured training programme, taught by qualified and highly-trained RYA instructors, covers every facet of the sport, ensuring everyone acquires the skills and the knowledge to sail safely and competently in their chosen discipline. The RYA’s National and Youth Sailing Schemes offer a series of twoday courses, starting at Level 1 and progressing to Level 3 for anyone wanting to learn in dinghies, small keelboats or multihulls. Designed for beginners, these courses start by teaching basic skills to get you sailing
independently in light winds and taking you right through to become confident sailing in stronger conditions. When you’re ready to continue your training, the RYA’s advanced and improver courses are the next step. There are courses that suit all sailing interests, including Performance Sailing, Day
and Competent Crew courses are the perfect way to learn the basic principles of sail cruising while meeting like-minded people and exploring new locations. After a five-day or threeweekend Competent Crew course, and a similar length of shorebased training, you’re able to start training to be a
All successful clubs are geared up to welcome potential newcomers Sailing and Seamanship Skills. To learn to windsurf, take a course with the RYA National Windsurfing Scheme. This begins with Start Windsurfing, progressing through to intermediate and advanced levels. With the right instruction, the right equipment and regular time on the water, you will be surprised at just how quickly you can progress.
Sailing a yacht If you fancy learning to sail on a larger yacht, the RYA’s Start Sailing
yacht skipper, via the five-day or threeweekend RYA Day Skipper course.
What gear do I need? All the essential kit and safety equipment will be provided by the training centre while you are learning and they will then help you choose the equipment you need to continue sailing afterwards. Marine quality waterproofs are of vital importance, although depending on what kind of boat you are in and the time of year, a wetsuit may be advisable for dinghies – with some boats you
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Start sailing
BASIC LINGO BEAM BEAT BLACK FLAG
Width of the boat To sail upwind on a zigzag course When hoisted, this disqualifies boats crossing the startline early BOOM Horizontal spar attached to the bottom of the mainsail BOW The front of the boat CLOSE-HAULED To sail upwind with the sails fully pulled in DIRTY AIR Wind that is disturbed, usually by other boats DNF An abbreviation used when a boat did not finish a race DOWNWIND To sail away from the wind DSQ In results shows a boat was disqualified from a race FOILS The rudder and centreboard/ keel GENNAKER An asymmetric spinnaker GYBE To change direction by turning the stern of the boat through the wind HEAD TO WIND When the bow of the boat points into the wind HEAD UP To sail closer to the wind HEEL The way a boat tips to one side as it sails HELMSMAN/HELM The person who steers the boat HIKE To use crew weight to keep the boat flat by leaning out HULL The body of the boat JIB The smaller sail at the front of the boat KITE A spinnaker KNOT Speed measurement referring to nautical miles per hour LEE/ LEEWARD Side of a boat furthest away from the wind; the sheltered side MAINSAIL/MAIN The principal sail on a boat MAINSHEET The rope that adjusts the main OCS On course side; used when a boat is over the starting line PORT The left side of the boat when facing forward REACH Sailing across the wind RUDDER A flat structure attached to the back of the boat used to help steer SHEET Rope used to pull the sails in or out SPINNAKER A large sail used when sailing downwind STARBOARD Right TACK To turn the bow of the boat through the wind TILLER The handle used to move the rudder TOE STRAPS Straps in the boat that crew can use to secure their feet TRAPEZE A wire crews hook onto and enables them to hang from the boat’s side UPWIND Sailing towards/into the wind WINDWARD The side of the boat closest to the wind
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expect to be on the water, but with others the thrills and spills mean that time spent in the water is an integral part of the excitement of the sport. If you don’t own the necessary gear, many clubs and training centres will be able to lend you some for a small fee.
What about buying a boat? It’s really not necessary to own a boat. This usually comes as a surprise to many newcomers to sailing, but huge numbers of active and competent sailors are able to completely avoid the expense and responsibility associated with ownership. This might sound too good to be true but, with the exception of a handful of singlehanded classes, everyone that owns a boat is dependent on having crew to help sail their craft. While some have plenty of willing volunteers among friends and family, for many it’s a constant struggle to find enough people to sail as often as they would like. Of course, many keen sailors eventually find they do want to own their own vessel. In many ways buying a boat is like buying a car – it’s possible to spend a huge amount of money on the latest and most luxurious model. But the reality is that most boat owners sail much
more modest craft. Secondhand dinghies that offer exciting and instructive racing at local clubs cost only a few hundred pounds, while older small cruising yachts with recently updated equipment (think of it like a recently modernised house) can be found for under £10,000.
It really is that simple! There is always something new to learn, so just one warning: you are likely to get hooked. Sailing is a fabulous sport you can enjoy throughout your life. To find out more about RYA courses, details of the right course for you and where to do it visit www.rya.org.uk/training
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Helping you to get the most out of your boating
A
s an RYA member you play an active role in protecting your boating’s freedoms by directly supporting the lobbying activity we do to: maintain and promote safe and responsible recreational boating; influence national legislation that may impact on any aspect of recreational boating or navigational safety; resist proposed legislation that may adversely affect any aspect of recreational boating and navigational safety, or that we believe to be disproportionate, ineffective or unenforceable You get access to a vast wealth of expert advice and guidance on a whole range of topics from boating abroad and the latest legal issues to tips on buying your boat or where to take an RYA training course. Members also enjoy a whole host of special member benefits, discounts and offers on a range of events, products, and services including; boat shows, chandlers, cars, holidays, kit, books, travel, clothing, magazines, insurance, days out, fast track certification, advice, charts and guides… and much more. We keep you up to date with all the latest news through the RYA magazine and monthly newsletters and you’ll be the first to know about special events arranged exclusively for RYA members.
We offer a range of membership types to best suit your needs: Personal, Family, Under 25, Youth, Junior, Instructor, Gold or Life. And if you stay with us for five years you’ll become an RYA Gold member entitling you to enjoy additional benefits and access to special Gold member events. Getting you out on the water is what the RYA is all about. Each year we organise all kind of events like cruises and competitions, talks and shows where you can meet up with friends, members and RYA staff to share your experiences. We also set and maintain a recognised standard for recreational boat training through a network of over 2,500 RYA Recognised Training Centres in some 45 countries, giving you plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and get the training you need to get the most out of your boating.
Join us today!
Joining the RYA or renewing your membership is inexpensive and simple to do – by phone, online or by post.
To find out more see www.rya.org.uk
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United We Stand
US Sailing Team Athletes Erik Storck, Paige & Zach Railey, Stuart McNay, Trevor Moore & Graham Biehl
1
As another battle for maritime supremacy approaches, the colonists are once again the underdogs. And while the stakes are not as high this time around, the men and women of the US Sailing Team are just as fired up to give it their best shot in Weymouth this Summer. Here at Atlantis WeatherGear, we’re proud to be Team USA’s apparel provider. And whether they stand on top of the podium or not, we stand in awe of the effort they’ve put in and the dedication they’ve shown in representing our country. Discover the new revolution. Discover your Atlantis. AtlantisWeatherGear.com
Mick Anderson