RYA Scotland are set to celebrate the Rio 2016 Games by hosting two days of sailing activity as part of the RYA Sail for Gold Roadshow. Some 200 pupils from local schools will try sailing on the River Clyde at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow on Wednesday August 17 and Thursday August 18. They will also join Scotland as they cheer on Olympics medal hopefuls Luke Patience and Charlotte Dobson.
Luke, of Helensburgh, was a 2012 Silver Medallist. He is sailing with Chris Grube in Rio and hopes to compete in the 470 class Medal Race on August 17. Glasgow-born Charlotte and her crew Sophie Ainsworth hope to sail in the 49erFX class Medal race on August 18. Both classes complete a series of races in which they are required to finish in the top 10 to qualify for the medal race. The points in the medal race are doubled raising the stakes considerably for the final result.
Scottish members of the British Sailing Team who aren’t in Rio will be sailing alongside the pupils in Glasgow and offering analysis and commentary during the races. They include Eilidh MacIntyre, daughter of Scots Olympic Gold Medallist Mike MacIntyre; Anna Burnett from Helensburgh; Rory Hunter from Arran; Fynn Sterritt from Kingussie; and Flora Stewart, originally from Edinburgh.
Luke Patience and Chris Grube racing.
Luke is delighted that so many youngsters will have the chance to try his sport in Glasgow at the Sail for Gold event this month. He said: “The support I have received over the years and everyone behind what it is we do in the sport of sailing is phenomenal.
“I never could have imagined that a wee lad from the west coast of Scotland could be competing for his country and winning medals, and hopefully winning medals again.
“I hope to see many more people getting into the sport of sailing.”
Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth training.
James Allan, CEO of RYA Scotland, believes the two Sail for Gold days are a great opportunity for everyone to come together and share the excitement of watching the medal races for Luke and Charlotte.
He said: “The Scottish boating community has always loved following the sailing activity at past Olympics and with two Scottish athletes on the British Sailing Team in Rio, RYA Scotland wanted to do something a bit special to show our support.
“We also want to inspire the next generation and show how accessible sailing really is and getting 200 young people out sailing on the Clyde where there is such a deep connection to our maritime heritage is a great way to do this.
“All the partners have put so much into these two days. It’s a real community spirit and is really exciting.”
The Sail for Gold Roadshow brings together the sportscotland National Centre Cumbrae; The Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club; Clyde Muirsheil Regional Park; and the Clyde Cruising Club Dinghy Section, all of whom are supplying boats and volunteers to support the sailors in Rio.
See RYA Scotland for more info.
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