Paralympic Gold Medallist Joins Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy Board
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) are marking the end of a glittering 2012 Olympic summer with the appointment of Helena Lucas, the Paralympic Gold Medallist, to the Academy’s Board as a Director of the WPNSA.
Helena, a Portland resident, was the only female in her Paralympic single handed fleet and went on to take victory after an intense 11 race series with one discard. An immense achievement, the Weymouth and Portland Games led her to fulfilling her dream of a Gold Medal after a tough event in Beijing four years earlier.
Helena is always a welcome face at the Academy having regularly trained and raced on site during her 2.4mR class Paralympic campaign. A friendly face ashore and tough competitor afloat, Helena will offer a wealth of support to the Academy’s future within Paralympic sports.
Helena Lucas, 2012 Paralympic Games Gold Medallist:
“I feel truly honoured to be given such a significant opportunity to become a Board Member of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.”
She will join an already illustrious set of individuals on the WPNSA Board who each have a particular passion to ensure a long term future for the international recognised water sports venue. A fellow WPNSA Director, Ben Ainslie CBE, is the most decorated sailor of our times.
John Tweed, Chief Executive of the WPNSA, commented:
“Helena will be a very positive influence on the Academy; having spent the majority of the last 4 years regularly training on site she knows the venue extremely well. To win a medal at the Paralympics is a phenomenal achievement, but to win with a 9 point lead in front of an all-male fleet is truly outstanding. The WPNSA Board all feel that this inspirational female sailor will provide a vital link to Paralympic sailing for years to come and provide an invaluable insight to the challenges faced by all disabled sailors at whatever ability.”