The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy Marks 2 Years to the Games
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) will have nearly 500 young sailors competing at the Volvo Musto Optimist British National and Open Championship on July 25 to mark the 2 years to the 2012 Games starting. The youth regatta, feeder to all Olympic classes, runs 24 -30 July and is the UK’s largest Optimist event attracting international sailors to this unique venue. The Nationals will welcome sailors from across Europe, Asia and even Oceania to the 2012 sailing venue for what promises to be the biggest and best National Championships yet and who will all be part of the national, London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) celebrations taking place on July 25.
Tying in with the Optimist event this weekend is the LOCOG Open Weekend, an annual UK-wide celebration on 25 July to celebrate two years to go until the London 2012 Olympic Games. It will include hundreds of events across the UK with a key event being held at the WPNSA. This year has a fresh theme of ‘Challenge Yourself’ and fitting with this the Academy is setting a public challenge to predict if 300 youth Optimist sailors can tack on the whistle at the same time. A unique challenge that that has never ever been attempted before!
To add to the ‘2 years to go’ excitement at the Academy, Olympians Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark will be on hand to help the young sailors get inspired to become future racing stars, taking time out of their busy campaigns to pass on their wisdom to young hopefuls.
Triple Olympic champion Ben Ainslie began his journey to the top of the sport in an Optimist and he will also be taking time out of his busy schedule to make an appearance during this special week. With many of Britain’s best sailors having started their career in an Optimist, this unique week promises to witness the new breed of British talent coming through from the grassroots.
John Tweed, Chief Executive at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, said, “The Volvo Musto Optimist British National and Open Championship produces a fantastic week of racing year after year and we are very privileged to be hosting it for 2010 to mark 2 years to the Games. With world class facilities at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy we are well equipped to deal with the large number of youth boats and sailors.”