Marlow Ropes boost for Finn star Andrew Mills

by RYA on 17 Feb 2009 Skandia Team GBR’s Andrew Mills’ 2009 season has got off to a fantastic start with the up-and-coming Finn star being awarded the coveted Marlow Ropes Award.

Mills follows in the footsteps of previous award winners double World 470 champions Nic Asher and Elliott Willis and Olympic Yngling gold medal-winner Pippa Wilson in claiming the accolade which entitles the nominated sailor to free Marlow rope for a year.

The Marlow Award caps a memorable few months for the 23-year-old Ashford born sailor.

In November, Mills, who is now based in Lymington, was named the inaugural recipient of the Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Sailor of the Year award, voted for by the Development Squad sailors and support staff and awarded to the sailor deemed most talented and committed.

He then followed that up with victory at the Palamós Christmas Race in Spain, winning the medal race and taking top spot ahead of teammate and Under 21 Finn World Champion Giles Scott.

Marlow Ropes introduced the award more than six years ago with the aim to reward Great Britain’s most promising rookies for their determination, focus and talent with 2007 49er World champions Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes the first winners in November 2002.

Mills insists receiving the award will play an immeasurable part in him trying to attain his 2009 goal of a top 15 finish at July’s Finn Gold Cup in Denmark.

He said: 'To be able to get the best quality rope and not worry about the financial cost of this will guarantee this part of my campaign will be as good as any other Finn sailor in the World, which gives me great peace of mind.

'My primary goal for 2009 is a minimum top 15 finish at the World Championships in Denmark, I also aim to get as much medal race practice as possible in the build up to the Worlds at regattas in Palma, Hyeres, Garda and Medemblick.'

Mills, who started sailing aged five with his parents at Queen Mary Sailing Club, cites his biggest goal as to win Olympic gold at London 2012 and says his interests outside of sailing include all sports and the financial markets.

Skandia Team GBR Development Squad Manager Barrie Edgington said: 'Andrew is a deserving recipient of this prestigious and beneficial award.

'The Marlow Award has always been used to reward up and coming talent in the Skandia Team GBR Development Squad and Andrew has certainly proved himself to be in this bracket with his recent results. In a technical boat like the Finn having the best rope available is essential so this award will be a great help to Andrew in his quest to be the best.'

As well as supporting up-and-coming sailors, Marlow Ropes are also the official supplier and exclusive team ropes partner to Skandia Team GBR thanks to its industry-renowned reputation for producing products tried, tested and trusted in the world’s harshest environments.

In the build up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Marlow worked in conjunction with team sailors to develop the Excel Fusion 75, a new high-performance dinghy sheet aimed squarely at saving weight and reducing water take-up to a minimum.

Marlow Marketing & Yachting Sales Manager and company director Paul Honess said: 'Marlow have been involved with the RYA’s Performance and Development squads for many years now and we find that working with team members such as Andrew helps us to develop our products.

'In turn we at Marlow help to educate team members on the latest materials and rope constructions to help keep British sailors at the leading edge.'