ON THE WATER
Ben warms up for Olympics
in Round the Island race!
Triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie
Kerr 40 to an SB3 – but nothing is going
will be heading a host of high profile names
to match sailing the 50 mile course on this
taking part in this year’s J.P. Morgan Asset
beautiful classic and I would like to thank her
Management Round the Island Yacht Race.
owner Mr. Zbynek Zak and J.P. Morgan Asset
It will be Ben's final public racing
appearance prior to his bid for a fourth gold
medal in his Finn at this year’s Olympics.
But the event it is sure to be a totally
Hannah Mills, one of the country’s most
outstanding young sailors and top medal
hopefuls this summer, will take time out of
different experience for one of Britain’s most
her busy training schedule to start this year’s
famous sailors. Ben (right) will be on board
race. She will be competing alongside fellow
the Big Class yacht Eleonora (below), a
Team Volvo sailors Olympic gold medallist,
schooner with some impressive vital statistics
Paul Goodison and her 470 sailing partner
which has entered this year’s spectacle,
Saskia Clark on one of the Volvo Car UK Farr
which takes place on Saturday, June 30.
45 entries. The 2012 Race is her second
Eleonora is a mighty 162ft in length,
attempt to race around the Island after last
with the deck length 136ft, and is an exact
year’s tough weather conditions forced her
replica of the schooner Westward which was
team’s Laser SB3 to retire at the Needles.
launched on March 31, 1910 at the Herreshoff
“It’s a privilege to be starting the 2012
Manufacturing Co. in Bristol, Rhode Island,
Round the Island Race; such an exciting
USA. She was arguably one of the most
event with a great atmosphere and I’m really
famous and best known racing schooners in
looking forward to taking part again. The
the world.
aim this year is to not only make it past the
Eleonora was built at the Van der Graaf
Needles but to also be the first Team Volvo
shipyard in Holland and was launched in
boat back to Cowes!” said Hannah Mills, the
National title a year earlier. Since teaming
March 2000. Since then, she has successfully
23 year-old from Cardiff.
up with Saskia Clark in the 470 dinghy a
participated in a number of classic sailing
Hannah’s sailing career began at the age
year ago the team have enjoyed a number
regattas and hosted on board a number
of eight in the Optimist dinghy and she is
of successes including a silver medal at the
of high profile guests during her charter
still the only British sailor to have won the
2011 Pre Olympic Test Event at Weymouth
activities. She was last seen in the Solent
Optimist Girls' World Championships, after
and Portland.
in July, 2010 when she competed in the
becoming the first ever girl to win the British
inaugural Westward Cup and she will be
returning to compete in the 2012 event just
prior to the Round the Island Race.
During the Round the Island Race, Ben
will co-helm with Eleonora’s owner, with
the assistance of Eleonora’s captain Mike
McMillan. Ben, who was originally entered on
a Beneteau First 40, is delighted to have this
amazing opportunity.
He said: "When I was asked to sail on-board
Eleonora it was an offer that was too good
to turn down. This will be my seventh Round
the Island Race and I’ve competed in
everything from an Open 60, Extreme 40,
78
Management for making this happen.”
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