Spring series starting

The RYA's Olympic Classes Spring Series is due to begin this weekend

The 2007 RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series gets underway this weekend, 17-18 February, at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

The Spring Series, comprising three early season weekends, was launched in 2006 as part of the RYA’s overhaul of UK Olympic Classes events, and provides a focus for new talents either on the World Class programme or aspiring to be, regular Olympic class racers, as well as top Skandia Team GBR performers when available.

This opening weekend at WPNSA will be followed by events at Rutland Sailing Club from 17-18 March and Warsash Sailing Club from 12-13 May. Racing will be held in the Finn, 470, Tornado, 49er, 2.4mR, and RS:X 9.5 men and 8.5 Open classes.

“We are looking forward to getting the 2007 Spring Series underway with some top level racing at WPNSA this weekend,” said Olympic Development Squad Manager Barrie Edgington.

“It will be good to see how our younger talents fare on the race course following the winter training period.”

Winners of the inaugural RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series in 2006 were Ed Wright (Finn), Bryony Shaw (RS:X 8.5), Leo McCallin (RS:X 9.5), David Edwards and Guy Tipton (470), Hugh Styles and Tom Peel (Tornado), and Dave Evans and Rick Peacock (49er).

The Spring Series events and autumn National Ranking events are used as part of classes international championship places qualification and RYA grants for key Olympic regattas.