Edward Leask new Chairman of Olympic Venue

by Fast Track Sailing on 25 Nov 2008
Former Olympic sailor, Edward Leask was announced as the new Chairman of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy - the Olympic venue for 2012. He will be joined by Jeremy Pope OBE as Vice Chairman at WPNSA.

The new Chairman of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), the 2012 sailing event venue, has now officially taken the helm of the globally recognised yachting venue.

Edward Leask was announced as Chairman, today 24 November, following a lifetime’s involvement with the marine sporting world; representing GBR on the water and launching yachting into the sports marketing industry.

Edward will be joined by Jeremy Pope OBE as Vice Chairman at WPNSA. Jeremy is very active in the South West as the past Deputy Chairman of the South West of England Regional Development Agency.

Both Edward and Jeremy have been involved with development of the Academy since its inception during 2000 through to present day as the official 2012 sailing event venue.

Edward Leask, Chairman of WPNSA, commented,

‘I am very proud to take the helm of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy as Chairman following on from the inspirational Bill Ludlow. I am looking forward with Jeremy Pope to continuing Bill’s commitment to a sustainable legacy programme through which everyone has the opportunity to try water sports.

This is an exciting time for British yachting following the medal success in Qingdao and I feel the new facilities at the Academy will help future GBR podium finishes in 2012 and beyond. We have a strong team at WPNSA including new Directors; sailing legend Ben Ainslie, Rod Carr OBE and John Derbyshire.

We are confident the venue will live up to expectations as a world class facility for local dinghy regattas through to racing yacht events with continued support from our sponsors Scottish and Southern Energy and Charles Russell LLP’.