Duo get support

Tom Phipps and Jon Cook have gained backing from the UKSA in their campaign for a medal

Successful Hobie 16 catamaran sailors, Tom Phipps and Jon Cook have joined the stable of young talent mentored and supported by the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA). On Saturday 12th November 2005, the UKSA presented the pair with a brand new Hobie Tiger which will enable them to participate in the Olympic Transitional Squad (OTS) and prepare them to compete in the 2012 Olympics.

The two 16 year olds from Mylor, are lifelong friends, having met at playgroup aged four and starting to sail from the age of five.

Tom and Jon have so far enjoyed tremendous sailing success, and in 2004 won the ISAF Youth Nationals, Hobie Cat 16 Youth Worlds and the ISAF Youth World Championships and were the first British crew in the Hobie Open World Championships. This year the pair have come first in the Hobie National Championship and second in the ISAF World Championships.

UKSA, a charity and non-profit making organisation has an enviable reputation for nurturing young talent, and Tom and Jon will now be able to use the Academy’s excellent sailing and recreational facilities at Cowes, participate in ancillary courses important to their sailing progress and generally enjoy the support and mentoring available from the UK’s top sailing academy, which includes famous single-handed sailor Dame Ellen McArthur and Nick Maloney amongst its graduates.