London Boat Show opened Friday

by Sail-World/G New on 8 Jan 2006 The London Boat Show opened Friday with the traditional press day and chance to enjoy a less crowded visit. One of the first of the many media events was that of Olympic Gold medalist, Sarah Ayton, presenting and signing a 2006 calendar featuring Sarah with the Opal Marine brands - Bavaria, Legend and Island Packet - and the other sponsors of her Yngling Olympic campaign, Sobstad and Tacktick.

This was certainly a hit with the media photographers who must have enough material to see them through the rest of the winter! Sarah was in upbeat mood, looking forward to getting back in the boat. Sarah together with team members Sarah Webb and Victoria Rawlinson will open the new season by racing their Yngling in the Rolex Miami OCR on Biscayne Bay from January 22-27.

This is the first major event of the new season for the Olympic classes, ranked as Grade 1 by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and is a mandatory event for the 2006 US Sailing Teams as well as the Canadian Team.

They will be competing against teams from France, New Zealand, Canada and Spain as well as the USA.

The 17th Annual US Sailing Rolex Miami OCR is expected to bring together hundreds of sailors from about 30 countries. Along with the Yngling of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Victoria Rawlinson other Team GBR competitors are:

Star:
Iain Percy and Steve Mitchell, Andrew Beadsworth and David Carr

Yngling:
Gemma Farrell, Rachel Howeand Diana Shanks

Tornado:
Edward Barney and Andrew Walsh, Mark Bulkeley and Rob Wilson

49er:
Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks, John Pink and Alex Hopson, Mark Asquith and Paul Campbell-James

Laser:
Paul Goodison

Radial:
Harriette Trumble, Laura Baldwin

470:
Saskia Clark and Christna Bassadone, Sheena Craig and Pippa Wilson, Luke Patience and Chris Grube

Neil Pryde RS:X:
Lucy Horwood