Top names in Weymouth

The RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series is set to continue this weekend

The competition to be the best Olympic Classes sailors in the country is hotting up as the second of the 2007 RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series events takes place at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy this weekend 6-7 October.

The Series, designed to provide opportunities for aspiring Olympians and all Olympic Classes sailors throughout the UK to race against world class performers at world class venues, kicked off at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta at WPNSA last month.

And with the third and final Series event set to take place at the same location in two weeks’ time, competitors will be gunning to either hold on to their first round positions or challenge the early leaders to claim the overall Series lead.

RYA Olympic Development squad 49er duo John Pink and Simon Wheeler turned in one of the performances of Skandia Sail for Gold beating newly-crowned World champions and Beijing nominees Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes into second to head the Series.

Meanwhile the race for 470 Series glory is really on as Sail for Gold victors and provisional Beijing nominees Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield look to fend off stiff competition from Nic Asher and Elliott Willis.

With 2008 Olympic nomination for the Finn class still under discussion, Ed Wright will use the Series as a warm-up to his trials showdown with Ben Ainslie as he continues to try to stake his claim for the Beijing hotseat.

Amongst those sailors also looking to consolidate their Sail For Gold winning exploits will be provisional Beijing nominees Nick Dempsey (RS:X men), Bryony Shaw (RS:X women), Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark (470 women) and Leigh McMillan and Will Howden (Tornado).

But they are not likely to have everything their own way as many of Skandia Team GBR’s most promising young sailors bid to make a name for themselves on the World Class stage.

Development Squad pair Andy Walsh and Ed Barney pushed seasoned campaigners Rob Wilson and Mark Bulkeley all the way for second before settling for bronze behind McMillan and Howden at Sail For Gold while in the Finn Giles Scott’s third at Sail for Gold also gives him a good Series springboard.

Youth World 29er silver medallists Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth will continue their bid to master the 470 having stepped up to the Olympic class double-hander dinghy for the first time at Sail for Gold.

And Development Squad team-mates Luke Patience and Chris Grube (men’s 470), Mark Andrews (Finn), Hannah Mills and Katrina Hughes (470 women) and Richard Hamilton and Elliot Carney (RS:X men) will all be looking to build on their impressive Sail for Gold showing for the rest of the Series.

“The National Ranking Series has established itself as the season’s finale, where Olympic medallists are pitted against weekend warriors and newcomers alike,” said Barrie Edgington, RYA Olympic Development Squad Manager.

“It is especially pleasing to see the number of young sailors moving from youth to Olympic Classes sailing and already showing great potential and proving good competition for Britain’s best.”

The overall 2007 National Ranking Series winners will be decided at the final Series event at WPNSA on 20 – 21 October.