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RYA Volvo Dinghy Show 2009 - A great success

RYA @ Sun Mar 08 16:53:00 +0000 2009

Visitors, exhibitors and organisers alike have all expressed how delighted they’ve been with the weekend, with talks, demonstrations and aisle ways being packed to the rafters throughout.

Lesley Milne, from new 2009 title sponsor Volvo Car UK said “This is our first year as title sponsor of the show and we are really pleased with how well it has been attended. The audience is great for us; our new Volvo XC60 is great for sailors and has had so much attention during the show.”

It wasn’t just the sponsors who were delighted with the show; Brenda Hoult, a sailor at Weston Sailing Club who visited the show said: “I’m no rock star but it’s the approachability, enthusiasm and personal service you get from the exhibitors, experts and even the star sailors that really make the show what it is.”

Around the show the mood was much the same for the 250 plus exhibitors. Greg O’Brien from Purple Marine commented: “The show has been very good, we’re really happy, there’s definitely no credit crunch here.” For Neil Pryde it was a similar sentiment. “We’ve used the show as an effective springboard to launch our new range and the feedback and enthusiasm we’ve had from the visitors has been very exciting and positive. If interest at the show is any indication, we will have a very prosperous year”, commented Chris Lewis.

Over on the Laser stand Chris Huffen said: “We’ve had lots of interest on the stand from visitors wanting to speak to the experts who sail the boats, but also those who want to see the boats and also buy the boats. It’s been a really good.”

Being the only show in the world dedicated to dinghy sailing it really is a must for all dinghy sailors and enthusiasts. The show offers visitors not only the opportunity to check out the latest kit, boats and learn from the dinghy sailing experts, but they also have the chance to mingle and get up close and personal with some of the sports elite sailors including the likes of Olympic gold medal winners Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson, Paul Goodison, Sarah Ayton and Pippa Wilson.

Steve Gray, RYA marketing manager said of the show: “We have seen an increase of over 10% on last year’s visitor’s numbers and we are delighted. The show has really been a huge success and we hope to make the show even bigger and better next year.”

To see all the news and pictures from this year’s held at Alexandra Palace, London, visit the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show website www.dinghyshow.org.uk

Hope to see you there next year!

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Local sailor heads off to sail in the sun

RYA @ Sun Mar 08 16:48:00 +0000 2009

Receiving his prize from Rob Britton at Sunsail Tony said: “We always make a point of coming to the dinghy show; it’s a great show with a great atmosphere. And now we have won a holiday to boot!”

Tony was delighted to win the holiday and said that he would be taking his wife, also a keen Solo sailor, and friends who were at the show with them.

The RYA Volvo Dinghy, in association with Yachts and Yachting and Suzuki is the only show in the world dedicated to dinghy sailors

To find out how to get involved in sailing go to www.rya.org.uk. To find out more details of Sunsail’s sailing holidays go to www.sunsail.co.uk

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Olympic sailing stars share top tips with budding young sailors

RYA @ Sat Mar 07 16:50:00 +0000 2009

The 15 girls who are all about to embark on their first sailing experience next weekend at Docklands Sailing Centre and who will be spending time down in Weymouth in the summer testing out the water of the 2012 venue, quizzed the boys on everything from tips on preparing to sail, the challenges they face on the water to what inspired them to sail and did they eat McDonalds!

Iain and Andrew wowed the girls by producing their Olympic gold medals won at the 2008 Beijing Games, giving the girls a rare opportunity to see and feel for themselves just what Olympic gold looks like. “I can’t believe I’m holding a gold medal, it’s so heavy”, commented one of the youngsters.

Twins Rohima and Alma Begum, aged 11 from Tower Hamlets said: “It’s been really fun today, the boats at the show are so cool. Meeting Iain and Andrew has been great, a once in a lifetime experience. The gold medal was so heavy, today has made us even more excited about our sailing next week, we can’t wait.”

So after a barge of questions, autographs and photos the boys headed back in to the show and the girls went away with even more excitement about getting out on the water.

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