Olympic stars return home in style
by Sacha Oswald, RYA 8 Sep 2004 09:35 BST
10 September 2004
Thousands expected on land and sea to welcome Olympic heroes
- Venue: Southampton International Boat Show
- Date: Friday 10th September 2004
- Time: 10am for a 10.30am show ‘sail by’
The Olympic stars of the seas will return to home waters for the first time on Friday 10 September, when they sail in to open the Southampton International Boat Show on the bow of a 60ft sailing boat. The Open 60 ‘Pindar’ will be escorted from Hamble Point up Southampton Water by a fleet of Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboats, and hundreds of local boats and supporters.
Great Britain were crowned the top sailing nation for the second Olympics running and became the most successful sailing nation of all time after winning more gold medals in Olympic history, than any other nation. Shirley Robertson, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb become the first Olympians to secure Great Britain’s first gold medal and Shirley also became the UK’s most success female sailor in Olympic history. After a disappointing start, Ben Ainslie also triumphed to become the UK’s most successful single-handed sailor in Olympic history.