Leask leaves Robertson's Yngling team

Health reasons cited as top team searches for replacement

Inga, Shirely's 'middlewoman' in the Yngling

It is with regret that the RYA announces the resignation of Inga Leask from Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson's Team Volvo for Life Yngling campaign due to health reasons. Leask has spent the last eighteen months as part of the very successful three women Olympic Keelboat Team alongside fellow crewmember Sarah Ayton.

Having spent a very intensive and productive winter testing and training in Spain with Yngling World Champion, Monica Azon, the hard work paid off with the team winning the first two major Olympic regattas of the season in Barcelona and Palma earlier this month.

The team have all been working together, along with coach Ian Walker, over a period of time towards a solution. They have identified some strong candidates to join the team, and with Inga's help, hope to train the new member of the Yngling team swiftly in order to resume competing on the international stage at Spa later this month.

Leask commented, "Leaving the boat has been the hardest decision of my life but for the sake of the team I know it's the right thing to do. My plans are now to support the team in any way I can and to continue my involvement with the sport through my work with Fast Track's Sailing Division."

Robertson is sad to lose Inga from the team, but is confident the new crewmember will be able to fit into the team structure and enable them to continue their regatta winning form, "Inga has been a key part of our current success, and together we have learned how to sail the boat to a World class level."

"After a very productive winters training and with the benefit of Inga's input into the campaign our goals remain unchanged. The World Championships and Olympic Trials in Cadiz this September remains our main focus for the year and is well within our reach."

RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park stated, "Following recent successes it is disappointing to be losing Inga from the team, however with their growing knowledge of the Yngling and extensive Olympic experience I am sure that Shirley and Sarah, working with Inga, will be able to find a suitable candidate that will be enable them to continue their successful Olympic campaign and achieve their goals."