Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson passed on gold medal winning tips to winners of a competition to spend a day keelboat sailing with members of Skandia Team GBR at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA).
The Star class duo, along with several of the Skandia Team GBR Development Squad, joined the six winners, plus their guests, for the day of sailing and racing on board the RYA’s fleet of J80 boats.
The competition winners all won the chance to sail with Britain’s sailing stars of today and tomorrow after entering an open-to-all Skandia Team GBR Supporters’ Club draw throughout the year.
With an expert hand on board each boat, and under the watchful eye of Development Squad coach Steve Lovegrove, the winners enjoyed a morning of getting to grips with the J80s before enjoying competitive action after lunch in a short match racing series.
Seventeen-year-old Joanna Holden from Portsmouth, who was sailing with Percy, admitted it was a bit surreal to be onboard with an Olympic champion.
The Havant College student said: “It makes you realise the difference between a good sailor and an excellent sailor, he is in a totally different league to anything I’ve seen before and it was brilliant experience. He talked us through everything, which was really good and helpful, and kept telling us how important communication was in a boat.
“I watched Iain and Andrew’s medal race in China and then to be sat with Iain in a boat a few weeks later was really surreal.”
Meanwhile, London-based Daniel Klein, whose business provides IT for media companies, had Simpson to learn from.
Daniel said: “I normally sail cruisers and this is a very different kind of boat to anything I’ve ever sailed before but Andrew is very chilled and very early on told us that the J80s were pretty tough boats and not to worry. He was constantly passing on tips and it has been a fantastic day. I saw the competition and entered online and I’m so glad I did because it’s been amazing.”
Skandia Team GBR’s Development Squad 49er sailors Dylan Fletcher, Chris Rashley and Matt Gotrel and 470 duo Sophie Ainsworth and Sophie Weguelin were also on hand to pass on their expertise.
This was the first winners’ event held in conjunction with the Skandia Team GBR Supporters’ Club. Organisers said they had been delighted with the response over the course of the year.
For more details of the Skandia Team GBR Supporters’ Club visit www.skandiateamgbr.com