2012 celebrations on the Isle of Wight

Aspirant Olympians hoist London 2012 spinnaker by Needles

The countdown to the next Olympic Games was celebrated on the Isle of Wight today as a yacht flying a spinnaker bearing a giant London 2012 logo was sailed past the Needles by a group of aspiring young Olympians.

With Team GB’s sailing success fresh in their minds, the young crew expertly hoisted the spinnaker to create an impressive display in front of the Island’s most famous natural landmark.

The crew were sailing aboard a yacht called Paddiywack, a 32ft Seaquest owned by the Island Youth Watersports Activity Centre (IYWAC), a youth sailing organisation based in Cowes and supported by the Isle of Wight Council.

Among the crew of five young people was 13 year old Bradley McLaughlin, a dinghy sailor from Newport who is part of the Isle of Wight Council’s Talented and Gifted Sports Programme. Having recently returned from North Wales competing in the Volvo Musto Optimist Nationals, he was really excited to be part of such a historic day. Bradley said: “Sailing past the Needles today was amazing. I couldn’t believe I was part of such a historic moment; it’s something I will never forget.

“I started dinghy sailing when I was 8 but only began racing a couple of years ago. I’m hoping to be part of the Isle of Wight sailing team at the next International Island Games which are being held here in 2011. I guess my ultimate dream is to represent my country at the next Olympics - but I’ve got a lot of work to do before then.”

The young crew members are all active sailors on the Isle of Wight. Bradley, Emma Gillett and Emma Baker (aged 13 and 15) represented the Island at the International Youth Island Games in Guadeloupe earlier this year sailing Optimists. John Hathaway and Josh Robbins, both 14, are regular sailors at IYWAC, both having competed in Skandia Cowes Week this year.

The crew were led by skipper Mike Acton, who manages IYWAC, and first mates Kevin Richardson and Sara France who are chief instructors at the centre.

Following the photoshoot at the Needles, the crew sailed to Cowes where they were greeted by young people from the Island’s Talented and Gifted Sports Programme, Cllrs Arthur Taylor and David Pugh, Chairman and Leader of the Isle of Wight Council and gold medal winning rower, Louis Attrill. The 2012 Olympic handover flag was then ceremoniously hoisted while a local samba band played, adding a party atmosphere to Cowes Parade.

Leader of the Isle of Wight Council Cllr David Pugh said: “The success of the British Olympic Team has really captured the public’s imagination and we are delighted to play our part in celebrating the fact that the UK is to host the next Olympics, a wonderful sporting spectacle.

“I am sure the current enthusiasm will be maintained up to 2011 when we host the Island Games, in what will be another international event in which our own sportsmen and women can excel and residents and visitors to the Island can enjoy as spectators.”

Louis Attrill, Olympic gold medal winning rower who hails from the Isle of Wight said: “It was an honour to be invited to take part in the Isle of Wight’s Olympic Flag hoisting ceremony today. Having grown up on the Island, I know it is a great place to take part in a whole range of sports.

"It was also great to meet so many of the young people from the council’s Talented and Gifted Programme, it is a great scheme that provides mentoring and support to the Island’s budding sports stars. With the Island Games and London 2012 now fast approaching there has never been a more important time to capture and nurture the Island’s young sporting talent.”