Sailing stars unveil new crane at Weymouth Sailing Club
by Ellie Williamson, RYA 19 May 2010 22:03 AEST
18 May 2010
Skandia Team GBR sailing stars unveil the new crane at Weymouth Sailing Club © Skandia Team GBR
The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing events may still be two years away, but Weymouth and Portland’s sailors can already see the benefits thanks to investment in a new crane at Weymouth Sailing Club.
Officially commissioned on Tuesday (18 May) by the Royal Yachting Association’s Olympic Manager Stephen Park OBE and Britain’s Beijing 2008 sailing medallists, the crane is the only one of its kind in the port of Weymouth.
Funded through sponsorship from Skandia Team GBR, Yachting New Zealand and the French Sailing Federation, the crane will provide a tangible and lasting legacy for local sailors.
The British sailing team plans to use Weymouth Sailing Club as both a training and hospitality base in the build up to and during the 2012 Games.
“I’m delighted to have been asked to officially commission Weymouth Sailing Club’s brand new crane,” commented Stephen Park.
“It will be an invaluable asset, not just for our team as we plan and prepare towards 2012, but also for sailors in the local community who now have a very real legacy even with two years to go until the Olympics gets underway.”
Park continued: “Huge thanks must go to Weymouth Sailing Club – to all volunteers who invested their time and technical expertise in the crane project, but also to the club members for the very warm welcome they’ve extended to all of us at Skandia Team GBR.
“The Games in 2012 will be a wonderful celebration where we hope Britain’s sailors will make history once again, and we’re really excited about sharing that journey with the support of Weymouth Sailing Club and the Weymouth and Portland community.”
Mark Bugler, Commodore at Weymouth Sailing Club, added: “Weymouth Sailing Club is proud to be supporting the British team in its preparations towards 2012, and indeed has a long history of support for Olympic classes sailing dating back to the days of the Weymouth Olympic Week, where we were heavily involved in race management and the supply of race teams.
“We are very grateful for the investment by Skandia Team GBR and the New Zealand and French teams in our magnificent new crane, which will provide us with a practical and permanent reminder of Weymouth’s part in the world’s biggest sport event long after the medals have been won.”