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Maiden returns to the UK

25 Apr 2017

Tracey Edwards MBE and the crew of Maiden

Maiden, the iconic boat that sailed into the record books in 1990, has returned to the UK 27 years after making history at the Whitbread Round the World Race with her all-female crew.

Skipper Tracy Edwards’ MBE defied critics who believed it wasn’t possible for an all-female crew to take part in the race – Maiden won two legs of the race and came second overall – the best result for a British boat since 1977.

Maiden’s restoration will take place in Southampton after which it is planned she will sail around the world again spreading the message that girls have potential and the right to an education.

The campaign – The Maiden Factor – is supported by HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan whose father King Hussein I supported the original project.

“I, as a young girl, fondly remember his ‘hands-on’ involvement with the original project which made sporting history and surprisingly feel how the issues of female equality and values he championed all those years ago seem even more relevant today,” she said.

“As his daughter, I feel honored and humbled to be involved with the resurrection of the Maiden project as it embarks on its new chapter of maritime history.

“We can all use this a platform to highlight the need of equal access to education for girls in all corners of the globe, referencing something that he always believed in: ‘anything is possible’.”

Ms Edwards added: “It’s shocking to me that over 61 million girls around the world are still denied one of the most basic rights; access to education. The struggle to get Maiden to the start line represents the barriers faced by so many, whilst also proving to the world that girls can overcome them and achieve great things.

“The crew of Maiden faced many obstacles and prejudices. Very few people believed an all-female crew could complete the race.”

via Boating Business | Maiden returns to the UK.

A new addition to the North Sail inventory for the Volvo Ocean 65 racing machines

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Rick Tomlinson / Volvo Ocean Race

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Amory Ross/North Sails

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Amory Ross/North Sails

Their sails have powered eight our of nine Volvo Ocean Race winners since 1989 – here are 9 things you should know about the bespoke sails designed and manufactured by North Sails for the Volvo Ocean Race

Their sails have powered eight out of nine Volvo Ocean Race winners since 1989-90, with Steinlager 2.

Here’s everything you need to know about North Sails’ sails.

1 ) They’re not paneled, they’re composites

Instead of assembling cloth panels into a particular sail shape, the Volvo Ocean Race sails are composites. This means that 3Di material ‘tapes’ are laid in a specific arrangement, offering stable structure to the sail where it is needed most. The outcome? An unmatched weight to stiffness ratio and advanced durability. This is a patented process at North Sails, so you won’t be able to get 3Di composites from anywhere else in the world.

2) North Sails aren’t just above deck…

Sail design today encompases a lot more than it used to. When a new boat is commission, designers will often bring North Sails into the early stages of planning to collaborate on producing a well-balanced boat. This is exactly what happened in the case of the Volvo Ocean 65, when Farr Yacht Design worked closely with both North Sails and Southern Spars to create a cohesive package where the hull, appendages, spars and sails were all designed with the next in mind. And it’s not just about what sail you have, it’s what you do with it. That’s why each Volvo Ocean Race team receives a bespoke Velocity Prediction Program, illustrating the potential performance of their boat according to inputs such as true wind speed and angle, and advises the proper sail to be used in order to optimise racing performance in each condition.

3) Each sail is part of an eight-piece puzzle

Each Volvo Ocean Race team receives a full sail inventory, which assembles like a jigsaw puzzle to create a package. While the sails across the fleet are all identical, the difference lies in how they’re used – with slight variations of angle, trim and tuning. Each team will push their boat, rig and sails slightly differently, inching out every last bit of performance.

4) It’s all about the data

If there’s one thing that Volvo Ocean Race sailors are good at, it’s making the boat go fast. There aren’t many people who have raced relentlessly through the toughest oceans on the planet, and so the Volvo Ocean Race provides invaluable real-life test bench in order to continue the evolution of North Sails’ products. For the 2017-18 edition, the teams will have one more sail in their inventory, expanding the range from seven to eight sails.

“The teams were forever changing configurations in 10-15 knots upwind and tight reaching. When using the masthead zero the teams were pushing the boat too hard. Changing to the J1 made them under powered. So one of the changes we made for 2017 was to add a J0, which fits between the MHO and J1 and covers that range.” – Gautier Sergent, North Sails designer.

5) With every change or upgrade, there’s a domino effect

The introduction of a J0 to the sail inventory has led to some other key changes in the range. For example, the Fractional Code Zero, or FR0, which was previously used in a very small upwind range between the J1 and masthead zero, is now a dedicated downwind sail. The FRO for the 2017-18 edition is made of 3Di FORCE, a new downwind application of North Sails 3Di composite sailmaking. This means that the sail is more stable with a 3Di structure throughout an increased range of conditions, which is great news for both sailors and designers. The added bonus of 3Di is that the sails are more easily repeated, as moulded sails offer more streamlined manufacturing and assembly than paneled ones. Each type of sail can be made in sequence: the mold is set once and the sails are consolidated one by one, which is key in a One Design class.

“The process of producing the raw sail shape is now fully automated and several quality control steps are taken along the way to ensure consistency. In the past, manually joining panels to produce a sail meant no two sails were ever identical. North Sails 3Di has solved this problem and is the only option for a One Design race at this level” – Nathan Quirk – Head of Sail Loft Division, The Boatyard

via A new addition to the North Sail inventory for the Volvo Ocean 65 racing machines| Volvo Ocean Race.

6) Surf’s Up

What would be the point of three times more Southern Ocean racing we’re going to enjoy in 2017-18 if we didn’t have the sails to make the most of it? Well, not to worry – the new sail inventory is perfectly-suited for a decidedly downwind course. That downwind FRO? It’s full shape and straight exit are designed to harness the wind and send the sailors surfing down 20ft swell. We’re jealous already.

7) It’s all in the planning

Although there’s no easy predictions when it comes to the Volvo Ocean Race, any round the world sailor worth his sea salt will tell you that there are plenty of miles to be gained by studying data – and sail designers are no different. North Sails have already done extensive routing with two inventories, to ensure they’re using the right balance – and with the introduction of the J0 and the changing of the FRO, there should be a lot less sail changes required.

8) Fortune Telling

There is no crystal ball when it comes to predicting a race around the planet, but sail designers can study the race route and draw decision making data from historical weather patterns.

“With the addition of one more sail, the crew are often quick to point out that it’s one more sail to handle, one more sail to stack. But after looking at the inventory as a whole and assessing the available configurations, we found that the amount of sail changes actually reduces significantly with the addition of the J0” – Gautier Sergent, North Sails designer

9) Risk Reduction

There’s not much tougher test for a sail than the Volvo Ocean Race, and that’s why there’s a dedicated Boatyard team featuring a host of expert riggers, builders and sailmakers travelling to every Host City and working around the clock to keep the boats in good shape. They check between 60-80 sails every stopover, so reliability is key – and with 90% of all damage to sails happening during maneouvres and sail changes, subtle changes to the finishing of the sails to improve handling has been a game changer. To cut the time and energy used onboard, the luff length on the code sails has been reduced to allow for easier sail “peels” or changes, and, additionally, a relatively simple fitting – called an ‘integrator’ – has been added to the A3 (the biggest sail on board). This enables top-down furling which is preferred over bottom-up for larger running sails due to a faster, neater result and less chance of damage.

via A new addition to the North Sail inventory for the Volvo Ocean 65 racing machines| Volvo Ocean Race.

Chinese sailors return for Dongfeng Race Team

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Yann Riou / Dongfeng Race Team

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Martin Keruzoré/Volvo Ocean race

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Eloi Stichelbaut / Volvo Ocean Race

Dongfeng Race Team have confirmed four more crew members for their 2017-18 campaign, including the returning Chinese trio of Black, Wolf and Horace

Dongfeng Race Team have confirmed four more crew members for their 2017-18 campaign, including the returning Chinese trio of Black, Wolf and Horace.

The Chinese sailors are Jiru Yang, aged 26, who uses the English name Wolf; Liu Xue, 24, known as Black, and Chen Jinhao, 25, Horace.

They are joined by Australian/British sailor Jack Bouttell in a four-strong squad of Under-30s in Charles Caudrelier’s Chinese-backed team.

Under race rules, all teams must have at least two Under-30s onboard on all 11 legs of the 46,000-nautical mile race, which starts from Alicante on October 22.

Speaking at Shanghai Auto 2017, Wolf said he was delighted to be named once again as part of Caudrelier’s final squad.

“It’s such an honour to sail again with this team,” he said. “On the boat during the hard moments, I sometimes said to myself that I would never do it again, but there are good memories too, that’s why I have come back again.

“One of the most important things for me is that we are trying to encourage more Chinese people to sail…so I hope we can bring more attention to the sport by racing again with the team.”

Horace said his goal would be to concentrate on racing. “This time I will be more focused on what I can do on the boat and, having done the last Volvo, I know what I can do,” he said.

Black, who is currently sailing in the Sinan Cup Regatta in China, said: “Last time I knew nothing, I did not speak English, I didn’t know what it was like offshore and I did not know the Volvo Ocean Race. Now I have a better mental approach because Charles asked me to come back and I don’t want to let him down.”

Bowman Jack Bouttell, 26, also has experience with Dongfeng in 2014-15, having sailed on leg three. He has completed two Solitaire du Figaro campaigns.

“The Volvo Ocean Race is something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time,” Bouttell said. “It’s the top of the sailing world in the crewed side of things and it’s been one of my big goals for years.”

Dongfeng Race Team skipper Charles Caudrelier says the three Chinese sailors have come a long way since their debut.

“Wolf, Black and Horace have one Volvo Ocean Race behind them and all of them sailed on at least two or three legs of the last race, so we are in quite a different position,” the Frenchman said. “Last time we were selecting them in China and teaching them how to use a winch, this time we are only speaking about performance.

“As for Jack, he is a very good single-handed sailor and did a fantastic job for us on leg three in the last race. He is a strong guy and will be our bowman but also one of the best drivers in our crew.”

Dongfeng Race Team’s other announced crew members are French solo sailing star Jérémie Beyou, the New Zealand Volvo Ocean Race experts Daryl Wislang and Stu Bannatyne and the female sailors Marie Riou of France and Caroljin Brouwer of the Netherlands.

Jack Bouttell

Nationality: Australian/British

Date of birth: 18 January 1991

Sailing highlights:

2013: 1st Rookie, La Solitaire du Figaro

2015: 1st place, Leg 3 into Sanya onboard Dongfeng

2016: 1st place and new race record, Transat Quebec-St Malo, Spindrift 2 (maxi trimaran)

Chen Jinhao (Horace)

Nationality: Chinese

Date of birth: February 15, 1992

Sailing highlights:

2011: Crew member onboard 77ft yacht, Jelik

2013: Part of China Team in Extreme Sailing Series, Qingdao

2014-15: 3rd place, Volvo Ocean Race with Dongfeng Race Team

Liu Xue (Black)

Nationality: Chinese

Date of birth: March 12, 1993

Sailing highlights:

2013: Member of China Team in the America’s Cup World Series

2014-15: 3rd place, Dongfeng Race Team in the Volvo Ocean Race

2015: Skipper, China Sailing Tour team in China Cup International Regatta

Yang Jiru (Wolf)

Nationality: Chinese

Date of birth: July 14, 1990

Sailing highlights:

2013: 9th place, America’s Cup World Series, Naples

2015: 3rd place with Dongfeng Race Team in the Volvo Ocean Race

2016: 3rd place, Sydney Hobart Race with Dongfeng Race Team

via Chinese sailors return for Dongfeng Race Team| Volvo Ocean Race.

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MAIB report published into Clipper race deaths

18 Apr 2017

Sarah Young who died during the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its final report into two fatal accidents in the 2015-16 edition of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The first fatality – that of Andrew Ashman – occurred during an uncontrolled gybe when the preventer failed. The second was that of Sarah Young who was washed overboard from the yacht.

Mr Ashman stepped over the main sheet traveller and was hit by the mainsheet on the boom sustaining a high impact neck injury that is believed to have killed him instantly.

Ms Young was on deck at night during a storm with wind speeds over 40 knots, gusting over 60 knots, following the reduction of sail area to respond to the adverse conditions, when a wave broke over the deck causing her to lose her footing ending up next to the guardrail. A second wave washed her overboard as she was not connected to the boat by her safety tether.

She was located via her AIS beacon and recovered but could not be resuscitated by the crew.

The report finds that effective supervision would have provided opportunities to prevent both accidents and makes several recommendations including that Clipper Ventures plc should review and modify its onboard manning policy and shore-based management prodedures.

Other recommendations highlighted include Clipper Ventures should complete its review of the risks associated with MOB and recovery and its development of appropriate control measures to reduce risks to as low as reasonably practicable.

A recommendation has been made to the RYA, World Sailing and British Marine, which is intended to encourage recreational and professional yachtsmen to consider carefully the type of rope used for specific tasks on board their vessels.

And a recommendation has been made to Marlow Ropes which supplied the ropes, aimed at improving the information provided to users on the loss of strength caused by splices, hitches or knots when using high modulus polyethylene rope.

In addition, the MAIB found danger zones need to be clearly marked on deck, given the uncertainty of successful man overboard search and recovery, particularly in atrocious weather, the need to clip on is paramount and skippers need to be challenged to ensure safe working practices are maintained.

“These two fatalities, resulting from two very different incidents, were the first in our long history and are tragic, especially as they were caused primarily through momentary lapses in applying basic safety training,” said Clipper Race founder and chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. “Manning arrangements and shore-based management have been developed to ensure skippers are adequately supported and these will continue to be regularly reviewed.

“We have developed our current manning levels and qualifications in conjunction with the MCA, operating to MCA standards as a minimum and often well in excess. We frequently implement and develop safety procedures where there is no actual requirement; they are under constant review as a matter of course and we will continue to do so in light of the report’s recommendations.”

The eleventh edition of the Clipper Race will start from the UK in August this year and return in July 2018.

LINKS TO RELATED COMPANIES AND RECENT ARTICLES …

via Boating Business | MAIB report published into Clipper race deaths.

Musto teams up with the British Sailing Team

18 Apr 2017

Musto will again supply the British Sailing Team

Musto will again be the official supplier of apparel, luggage, accessories and footwear to the British Sailing Team.

In addition, the company is to partner with the British Youth Sailing Team, launching the Musto junior riders initiative to support youth athlets.

“It’s extremely exciting to partner with the most successful sailing team in Olympic history and provide them with the most innovative kit solutions from Musto,” said Petra Carran, head of marketing for Musto. “Combining Musto’s industry leading technology with the British Sailing Team’s experience on the water will, we hope, lead to a successful challenge for gold.”

RYA performance director, John Derbyshire OBE, added: “We’re delighted to be teaming up once again with Musto for this four-year cycle towards Tokyo.”

He added: “It’s vital that the British Sailing Team partners with a quality brand which shares its values of collaboration and innovation in order to keep our athletes at the cutting edge of the sport and looking great to boot.”

via Boating Business | Musto teams up with the British Sailing Team.

Meet the man behind the next generation One Design

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Guillaume Verdier is working on plans for the next generation Volvo Ocean Race One Design – and the final decision on monohull vs. multihull is now just weeks away…

Verdier and his team of designers will be working alongside a Volvo Ocean Race Advisory Board, featuring race veterans and team directors.

Hi Guillaume! Tell us a little bit about the team you’re putting together to lead the design of the next generation Volvo Ocean Race boat…

The group will be made up of my usual French team, plus some Kiwis. There’s around 16 of us in total, and we’re very used to working together. The thing that’s pretty unique about the way we work is that we’re rarely on site together. We’re also quite interchangeable in the way we work – we’re a group of specialists, but all of us are more or less capable of doing the full thing.

How important is it to get the input of Volvo Ocean Race sailors in the design process?

It’s super important, and we’re introducing some Volvo Ocean Race veterans into the design team really early on for that reason. You get a unique perspective from the sailors, as they explain to you all of their tricks, how they survive on board, and how they look to exploit the boat to the max. That’s important – after all, if you design a single-handed boat, for example, the way that it’s sailed is completely different to a fully-crewed boat. You have to make a judgement of the machine you design based on the capacity of the sailor to exploit it.

How do you balance the battle between speed and safety? And how much do you take a sailor’s daily life on board into the design process?

It’s important, for sure, and it will probably affect the width of the boat a little bit. We’ll make changes for ergonomic reasons to ensure that the sailors are – well, not comfortable – but at least surviving on board. For instance, the cockpit might be a little bit more protected than in previous generations. That little bit more shelter allows the sailors to maximise the potential of the boat.

We will make extra effort to keep the crews safe, as Volvo Ocean Race sailors have a reputation for pushing really, really hard. They’re relentless. In single-handed sailing, there’s a tendency for the sailors to be a bit more careful about their boats, but in a Volvo Ocean Race team, I think they push it harder than ever, which makes it more prone to breakages. We may have to consider downgrading the performance factor slightly in order to retain a certain level of security, which is a key aspect to bear in mind especially when you’re racing in the Southern Ocean.

I’ve got to check safety a bit more due to that. I’ll try to turn that into benefit, probably by making the boat stiffer, and I’ll try to transform the safety aspects into some interesting features. It’s about trying to see a ‘problem’ from another point of view.

via Meet the man behind the next generation One Design| Volvo Ocean Race.

The next generation of boat is part of a series of major announcements on 18 May which will take the Volvo Ocean Race into the next, exciting phase of its history. Do you feel a pressure or responsibility on your shoulders? I feel pressure in that there is always huge risk in designing new boats. It’s a big challenge to design a machine that is extraordinary to sail but safe at the same time. It’s always a fine line, and at the end of the day, we always have pressure when we send someone to sea, racing around the world. But it’s a feeling that I’m used to. In the last Vendée Globe, I had 12 boats and you want to see everyone come back, so yes, in that way, there is pressure, and you feel it. The sailing world is desperate to know whether we’re going to see a monohull or multihull design in the next race. What are you considering right now?For sure, there are benefits to both designs. In Europe we have a lot of experience with offshore multihulls, and they’ve been proven to be durable. But there’s always a risk of capsizing, and the boats are always on the edge of safety, structure and performance, and that’s a big decision to make. But I must say, from a technical and design point of view, a multihull would be extremely interesting. We have the technology, but it’s never really been done yet in the way that we might do it.Do you think that the Volvo Ocean Race has a monohull identity? In a recent fan poll, the popular vote was overwhelmingly for a monohull… I don’t think so. I think actually that it doesn’t make that much difference – one hull, two hulls or three hulls, it doesn’t change the identity of the race. The object of the race is that a group of people race around the planet, fighting hard all the way. There are ups and downs – there are extreme periods and slow periods with no wind, and that’s the same in either a monohull or multihull. Whether the boat is a monohull or multi doesn’t change the identity of the Volvo Ocean Race for me, I think it’s all about the people that race it.How about foils? Are you considering adding these to the next generation boat?It’s a challenge because you’d have to explore the possibility of a foil that is capable of lifting you off the water, and to be able to sail with it over a long distance and many days and nights. It would also require a boat which is much stronger and stiffer. We know it’s doable, we know we have the technology, but it’s never really been done yet. The key with foil assistance in the Volvo Ocean Race is that we know that the sailors in this race would never retract them, whatever happens. Where the single-handed guys might slow down, they won’t – the Volvo Ocean Racers will never retract the foils. They’re much more relentless.But it’s an illusion to think that an offshore boat can foil all the time. If we do make foil assistance, it would need to be able to be safe, and it’s important that the sailors can disengage the foil. You have to make a boat that’s good enough that even if you break the foil, or in case of an impact, lose the foil, you can always get back home safe. When you have the foil on, you have to show that the foil doesn’t harm you when going through bad weather. That’s no different on either monohull or multihull.Persico Marine has been announced as the lead boatbuilder on the next generation of boats – have you worked with them before?Yes, I’ve worked with Persico twice before. Once was with Team New Zealand, and Persico Marine built the sister boat of the AC72, so that’s when I first met them. The second time was a boat that did the Vendée Globe called ‘No Way Back’, which is the sister boat of the eventual winner, ‘Banque Populaire’. That boat is one of the most beautiful constructions I’ve seen. I really appreciate the work that Persico do, and they’ve built some beautiful machines, so I have no doubt about their capabilities.

via Meet the man behind the next generation One Design| Volvo Ocean Race.

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MBO for Discovery Yachts

Sean Langdon has led a MBO of Discovery Yachts

Discovery Yachts MD Sean Langdon has headed a management buyout of the company, following the retirement of founder and chairman John Charnley.

Mr Langdon has been MD since August 2016 and since then has worked closely with Mr Charnley on the succession of the brand.

“I am very proud to be heading up the management team here at Discovery, we have some exciting plans that we will share with all our customers very shortly,” said Mr Langdon. “Now John has passed on the batten, my team and I plan to build on the superb reputation of the Discovery brand in the future.”

And he said plans include expanding the current range with the launch of a new 48ft luxury cruising yacht in early 2018 as well as adding another brand into the mix for the Discovery Group.

The new management team is currently taking ‘prudent and proactive’ restructuring steps to mitigate the results of the past challenging trading conditions faced by many marine businesses including financial restructuring involving new investors and shareholders.

So far this year Discovery Yachts has secured £2.3m in new orders

The company was founded by Mr Charnley and his wife Caroline 18 years ago with the ambition to build a range of luxury cruising yachts for bluewater sailing enthusiasts.

In close collaboration with super yacht designer Ron Holland, the couple developed a range of monohull ocean passage cruising yachts including the Discovery 55, the flagship Discovery 67 and the most recent launch – the Discovery 58.

The most recent launch is the Bluewater 50 catamaran, design by Bill Dixon with two of these new models currently being built.

via Boating Business | MBO for Discovery Yachts.

Walker named as RYA Director of Racing

April 03, 2017

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New RYA challenge for Olympic medallist and Volvo Ocean Race winner

RYA Racing will have an experienced new hand at the helm with the announcement that Ian Walker MBE is to take up the Director of Racing position this autumn.

The double Olympic medallist, America’s Cup sailor and Volvo Ocean Race-winning skipper will take up the baton from John Derbyshire OBE, who is set to retire later this year after 32 years’ involvement with the organisation, including 16 years in the Director of Racing role.

Walker has enjoyed an impressive and multi-faceted career in the sport, winning two Olympic silver medals (470 in 1996; Star in 2000) and coaching Shirley Robertson, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb to Yngling gold at Athens 2004.

Among a host of inshore and offshore racing successes, Walker has been involved with two America’s Cup campaigns (GBR Challenge in 2003; +39 in 2007) and won the 2014/15 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

A trustee of the John Merricks Sailing Trust, set up in memory of his 470 crew, he has also helped provide a supporting hand to numerous young people through the sport of sailing.

As Director of Racing, a position he will take over full time from October, Walker will oversee the RYA’s World Class Programme and talent pathways, as well as the broader remit of racing participation in all its forms in the UK.

“Having achieved more than I could have ever dreamed of in a sailing career spanning over 30 years, I have decided that the time is right to take on a new challenge,” the 47-year-old explained.

“Being the RYA Director of Racing will give me the opportunity to take a leading role in British sailing and to be able to give something back to the sport that has given me so many fantastic life experiences.

“I am very excited at the prospect of helping the British Sailing Team again in their Olympic quest but, just as importantly, at helping young sailors, the clubs and the volunteers that are the lifeblood of our sport.

“I am sure I will miss the thrill of competition but on a personal level I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and to sailing for fun at my club again.”

RYA CEO Sarah Treseder commented: “We’re delighted to be welcoming Ian to the RYA family. A world-renowned sailor and outstanding leader, his breadth and depth of experience of the sport will be of huge benefit to the UK racing community.

“His remit is a wide but exciting one – supporting medal-winning performances on the world stage, including Tokyo 2020, and at the same time inspiring future participants, volunteers, coaches and champions to ensure a thriving UK club racing scene.

“I’ve no doubt Ian will make an exceptional contribution and build on the fantastic work which John has presided over during his many years of valued service to the RYA.”

UK Sport Director of Performance Chelsea Warr added: “Ian was the outstanding candidate for the role and the unanimous choice of the panel. He understands what it takes to win at the highest level and has the mindset, experience, leadership and management skills to build on the incredible success of the sailing programme to date.

“I am very much looking forward to working with Ian in his new role. He will not only inject a wealth of new skills and talents into the sailing World Class Programme but also to the wider high performance system”

“I would also like to pay tribute to John Derbyshire who will retire later this year as the Director of Racing following 32 years’ involvement with high performance sailing at the RYA, and Stephen Park who will step down as Olympic Manager after over 20 years of involvement with the British Sailing Team. Their incredible dedication and expertise has guided the GB Sailing Programme to unprecedented heights, culminating in reaching top of the medal table in Rio and being the leading sailing nation across this and previous cycles.”

Walker concluded: “I’d like to thank the RYA and UK Sport for their confidence in me. John Derbyshire has provided a tough act to follow and I look forward to the benefit of his experience and that of the wider RYA Racing team in the coming months before I take up the reins full time in the autumn.”

via Walker named as RYA Director of Racing | News | News & Events | RYA.