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Ainslie retires from Olympic sailing

His spot in Olympic sailing history secure, Ben Ainslie will now try to become the first Englishman to hoist the America’s Cup in victory. That would be one silver trophy he’d be eager to achieve. The four-time gold medalist announced his retirement from Olympic sailing early Tuesday, saying it was time to move on to the challenge of trying to end Britain’s long drought in the competition for the oldest trophy in international sports, the America’s Cup. Ainslie’s decision wasn’t a surprise. While he said he wanted to take some time after winning the gold medal in the Finn class at the London Olympics, he’s already sailed in two America’s Cup World Series regattas with his Ben Ainslie Racing team, finishing second in one of them. The 35-year-old Ainslie became the most successful Olympic sailor ever when he won his fourth straight gold medal at Weymouth in August. He also won a silver medal at Atlanta in 1996 in his first Olympics. “When I look back there are so many special memories; from that first medal in Atlanta 16 years ago to carrying the flag at the closing ceremony in London 2012,” Ainslie said in a statement. “London was an incredibly special Olympics, competing on home waters and in front of a home crowd, I don’t think anything will be able to top that experience. But you have to move forward and it is time to move onto the next challenge in my career.” Ainslie was so successful as an Olympian that he was called Britain’s greatest sailor since Admiral Lord Nelson, who was killed while leading his fleet to victory over the French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar. A statue of Nelson rises high above London’s Trafalgar Square. Ainslie, known for an intense focus and work ethic, felt that comparison was hype. “I didn’t rescue the nation from the depths of Napoleon Bonaparte,” Ainslie said after winning his final Olympic gold. “You do the best you can do in your style of racing.” Ainslie was 19 when he took silver in the 1996 Olympics in a bitter loss to Brazil’s Robert Scheidt in the Laser class. Scheidt induced Ainslie into a penalty at the start of the final race and then sailed to gold. It was the last time Ainslie didn’t stand atop the medals podium. Four years later, Ainslie expertly exacted his revenge on Sydney Harbor to beat Scheidt for the gold. After moving up to the heavyweight Finn class, Ainslie had another remarkable performance at Athens in 2004. Disqualified from his second-place finish in the second race due to a protest by a French sailor, the British star fought back from 19th overall to win the gold. Now his racing shifts to bigger, faster boats. He’ll skipper his 45-foot wing-sailed catamaran in the remaining regattas in the America’s Cup World Series and then will sail with defending America’s Cup champion Oracle Racing in the 34th America’s Cup on San Francisco Bay in 2013. It’s expected that he’ll helm one of Oracle’s two 72-foot catamarans in the buildup to the America’s Cup match. Oracle suffered a setback when its first 72-foot catamaran capsized on San Francisco Bay in mid-October, destroying its giant wing sail. Oracle’s second 72-foot cat is under construction. Ainslie’s goal is to then launch a British challenge for the 35th America’s Cup. Great Britain has never won the America’s Cup, which began in 1851 when the schooner America beat a fleet of British ships around the Isle of Wight. Ainslie lives in Lymington, across the Solent from the Isle of Wight. “The America’s Cup has always been a goal for me,” Ainslie said. “With the new format of the America’s Cup World Series and the increased commercialization of the event, I feel confident that we can continue to build toward creating a commercially viable team, with the ultimate goal of challenging for the 35th America’s Cup.” John Derbyshire, performance director of the Royal Yachting Association, said Ainslie “has nothing left to prove in Olympic terms and there can be no question that he’s more than achieved his first goal. It’s therefore entirely understandable that he should now want to turn his attentions to the second, and hopefully lead a British team to win the oldest trophy in sport for the very first time.”

Ellen MacArthur sailing charity to open Scottish hub

DAME Ellen MacArthur will soon set sail around the Scots coast – with a group of brave youngsters. The group will be ­celebrating the new Ellen MacArthur Trust hub in Largs, Ayrshire. Ellen, 36, set up her charity almost 10 years ago to help people aged eight to 18, who are recovering from cancer. And as they prepare to open their first Scottish base, she says rather than using her skills to inspire the young sailors, she is in no doubt that she will be the one being inspired by them. Ellen said: “In the 10 years I have been going out in a boat with these ­amazing children, I have been blown away by how inspiring they are. “I have faced big challenges in my boat but these are ­challenges I have chosen. “These children had no choice and battle against something harder than many of us could ever imagine – but they do it with the biggest smiles on their faces. “We have always included children from Scotland on our trips but as our main base is in the Isle of Wight, it has meant our children from Scotland have had lengthy journeys to get to us. “I love sailing around ­Scotland and for us to have a sailing hub there now is a dream we have been working towards. Round-the-world sailor Ellen MacArthur steers cancer victims to brighter tomorrow “Our first trip sets sail from Largs next summer and I’m looking forward to it.” The Ellen MacArthur Trust aim to help youngsters regain their confidence after ­battling cancer and the new hub has been funded by the People’s Poscode Lottery. Youngsters spend four days sailing in cruising yachts, accompanied by volunteers and medical staff. Ellen, who makes a point of joining all the sailing trips, said: “Our charity is less about the children actually sailing and more about them using their time with us to step out of their illness. “We see what they are capable of doing and we encourage them to just join in and have fun.” Lara Govier, of the People’s Postcode ­Lottery, said: “The Trust has been working with young people from across the UK and it has been their dream to bring that ­experience closer to home for the Scottish youngsters living with or diagnosed with ­cancer or leukaemia. “This couldn’t be possible without the support of ­players and it really is thanks to them that the Trust can achieve this fantastic ­milestone.” Jodie Waters, of Dumfries, was just 16 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour and the ordeal of life-saving surgery hit her confidence. She said: “I had become afraid of doing normal things I had done before. “One of my nurses asked me if I wanted to go with the trust and although I said yes, as the date drew nearer I did start to panic. But it was the best thing for me. “I was surrounded by people who really understood what I had been through and we all just had an amazing time.”

Ilkley's Hector lands sailing award

Ilkley’s Hector Simpson has been named the RYA Yorkshire and Humber Young Sailor of the Year 2012. A talented Laser sailor, Hector attends Bradford Grammar School and is a keen member of Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club. “We are really thrilled to hear that Hector has won this fabulous award,” said club member Keith Escritt. “He is a great competitor and sportsman and I would like to congratulate Hector on behalf of the club.” Hector competed in the 2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Championship at Pwllheli, Wales where he was crowned Laser Standard Youth National Champion, a title that he will defend in Largs, Scotland in April. “I am very proud and I feel honoured to have won the RYA Yorkshire and Humber Young Sailor Award,” said Hector. “I owe my success to lots of people who have helped and coached me over the past few years. “I began sailing about ten years ago and when I was 11 I applied for the RYA Volvo Zone Squad. After that, under the guidance of coaches Martin Boatman and Dave Hivey, I really caught the racing bug.” “I am studying for A’levels in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics so juggling time between sailing and studying is hard, especially as a lot of training and competitions take place down on the south coast.” He added: “I’m training with the RYA Volvo Laser Standard National Youth Squad over the winter,” said Hector. “My competition schedule for 2013 depends on how well this training goes but I’m hoping to be part of the GBR squad for some international competitions next summer.”

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Myself messing about on the water !

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Sailors set off for ultimate prize

Three British sailors from Hampshire set sail on Saturday aiming to win the ultimate yachting prize - the Vendee Globe solo non-stop around-the-world race. Mike Golding, 52, from Southampton, Alex Thomson, 38, from Gosport, Hampshire and Sam Davies, 38, - the only woman entrant - from Hayling Island, Hampshire, shared emotional scenes with their families at the pontoon before getting aboard their 60ft boats for the next three months. The 25,000-mile circumnavigation started from Les Sables d'Olonne in France and is dubbed the Marathon Of The Seas. Heavy rain showers and slight winds were the conditions at the start but it did not stop an estimated 250,000 people lining the port and seafront to wave the skippers off as sailing in France is a big draw. The British fans were also on show in the crowd with Union Jacks waved as the sailors made their way out to the start line. The French have so far dominated the race, winning all six previous competitions with Michel Desjoyeaux the 2008/09 winner. There are 20 sailors from six different countries setting sail, with the French the biggest group on twelve, followed by Britain. First prize is 160,000 euro (£120,000) but it is not all about the money. The Vendee is the ultimate test of human endurance with on average only half the boats ever making it back to Les Sables. Two sailors have lost their lives since the race started in 1989 and several others have been lucky to survive. And the tough nature of the contest was immediately shown after one French skipper, Bertrand De Broc, was forced to return to port for repairs after a collision with a spectator boat before the start left a hole in his hull. The British challenge this year is headed by Thomson, who is sailing in Hugo Boss. He has a reputation for speed but has not yet finished a Vendee after two previous attempts, so he has a point to prove. Cambridge graduate Davies is now based in Brittany, is French-sponsored and will be sailing in Saveol. The final Briton is veteran Golding, who is starting his fourth Vendee in his boat Gamesa.

Just back from a fantastic weekend at Galloway Activity Centre !!

Sailing charity seeks new hands in West Cumbria

A charity may be lost if more people do not come forward to be part of its committee. GOING ASHORE: Founder and chairman of Sailability Ged Doran, right, with treasurer and secretary Rodney Mostin Sailability Cumbria started 12 years ago to give disabled people the chance to experience sailing on the open water. The charity’s chairman and founder, Ged Doran, and its secretary and treasurer, Rodney Mostyn, are stepping down because of other commitments and if no one can replace them it may have to close. A skipper with the charity, Eric Mounsey, of Poole Road, Salterbeck, is also stepping down after 10 years. Mr Doran, 63, of Woodville Way, High Harrington, said: “We urge people to come forward. “No one knows more than us the responsibility and commitment needed but if people don’t get involved it dies a death.” The scheme began in 2000 when Mr Doran met a group from the Isle of Man who were involved in Sailing for the Disabled. He started raising funds to launch a similar scheme in West Cumbria. With the help of friends and volunteers he raised enough money to buy a 38ft yacht in 2004. Mr Doran, operations manager at PPM and a part-time harbour master for Allerdale council, said: “I went round a lot of disabled groups which wanted to take part. “I had to go through seven different insurance companies just to get insured and the conditions and limitations they put on it were unbelievable. “If it hadn’t been for Maryport marina I would have had to give the money and the boat back, but all the people there have been fantastic.” The charity has now been opened up to accept youth groups and older people’s groups. Mr Mostyn, 75, of Kirkbride, who joined in 2004, said: “The best memories are when you see disabled people arrive with fear and trepidation, but when we come back to shore they are full of smiles.” The charity is seeking six or seven new committee members. Anyone interested can contact Mr Mostyn at rodney.mostyn@btinternet. com or go along to the charity’s annual meeting at Workington Cricket Club on Tuesday from 7.30pm.

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