Our Sporting Life – Sail for Gold at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show

The RYA's Our Sporting Life - Sail for Gold heritage exhibition © RYA

As part of the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show, which takes place this weekend (3 – 4 March) at Alexandra Palace, London, the RYA’s ‘Our Sporting Life – Sail for Gold’ exhibition will be making the next stop on its tour of the UK.

The exhibition will be showcasing a celebration of over 112 years of British Olympic and Paralympic sailing heritage and as one of the major attractions at the Show you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the triumph and glory of our sailing past at this extraordinary exhibition celebrating Britain’s unique Olympic and Paralympic sailing legacy.

Hosted by the RYA, in association with Our Sporting Life, you will discover how Britain cemented its place as the world’s most successful Olympic and Paralympic sailing nation through the captivating anecdotes, photographs and keepsakes of those heroes who made sailing history.

From ‘yachting’s’ debut as an Olympic sport at Paris 1900 to Britain’s record-breaking medal haul at Beijing 2008, the exhibition lets you into the secrets behind the success, including how the boats’ and the sailors themselves have changed dramatically over time.

“The RYA Volvo Dinghy Show marks the second stop on the exhibitions tour of the UK and we hope that everyone really enjoys it. Past Olympic and Paralympic sailors including legend Rodney Pattisson, Keith Musto, Andy Cassell and Alistair Currey having all very kindly shared with us some great items for the exhibition and we are delighted to be able to share these with all the exhibition visitors”, explains Celia Edgington, Sail for Gold co-ordinator.

Triple Olympic gold and silver medallist Ben Ainslie, who caught a sneak peak of the exhibition earlier in the year said: “It is hugely inspiring. As a child growing up you heard about your heroes, but to see all the photos and memorabilia is hugely inspirational. It gives you a lot of pride in our sailing heritage which is important, especially for the younger generation to see what support the sailors now have in particular compared with how it was in the past.”

After its weekend in London the exhibition will then go on to visit:

“We are also delighted to confirm that past Olympians Mike McIntyre, Andy Cassell, Rodney Pattison, Keith Musto and Simon Hiscocks will all be attending the show this weekend, alongside Paul Goodison, Saskia Clark and Hannah Mills, who will all be representing Team GB in the 2012 Games.

“We hope you can join us and that you enjoy the exhibition”, concluded Celia.

To find out more about the exhibition visit www.rya.org.uk/programmes/sailforgold/celebrate/Pages/heritage.aspx

For more information about what’s on at the show and to book your tickets visit www.dinghyshow.org.uk or call the ticket hotline on 0844 811 0409.