The new Chairman of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA), the 2012 sailing event venue, has now officially taken the helm of the globally recognised yachting venue. Edward Leask was announced as Chairman, today November 24th, following a lifetime’s involvement with the marine sporting world; representing GBR on the water and launching yachting into the sports marketing industry. Edward will be joined by Jeremy Pope OBE as Vice Chairman at WPNSA. Jeremy is very active in the South West as the past Deputy Chairman of the South West of England Regional Development Agency.
Both Edward and Jeremy have been involved with development of the Academy since its inception during 2000 through to present day as the official 2012 sailing event venue.
Edward Leask, Chairman of WPNSA, commented, ‘I am very proud to take the helm of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy as Chairman following on from the inspirational Bill Ludlow. I am looking forward with Jeremy Pope to continuing Bill’s commitment to a sustainable legacy programme through which everyone has the opportunity to try water sports. This is an exciting time for British yachting following the medal success in Qingdao and I feel the new facilities at the Academy will help future GBR podium finishes in 2012 and beyond. We have a strong team at WPNSA including new Directors; sailing legend Ben Ainslie, Rod Carr OBE and John Derbyshire. We are confident the venue will live up to expectations as a world class facility for local dinghy regattas through to racing yacht events with continued support from our sponsors Scottish and Southern Energy and Charles Russell LLP’.
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITOR
About the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy:
The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) is a world class sailing venue. WPNSA effectively promotes the sport of sailing to all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, whilst supporting and working closely with the local community. WPNSA hosts a number of high profile regattas throughout the year and boasts fantastic conference and event facilities. www.wpnsa.org.uk
The Academy, together with its lead sponsor Scottish and Southern Energy won the 2008 Environmental Concern in Sport Award at the prestigious Sport Industry Awards.
The Environmental Concern in Sport Award, Scottish and Southern Energy – Powering the National Sailing Academy.
At the start of 2007, Scottish and Southern Energy went into partnership with the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy with a view to monitoring the performance of their emerging technologies and using the venue as a test bed for environmental best practice. The association also had the goal of helping the Academy achieve a target set by LOCOG that 20% of electricity generated be done so by renewable energy by the end of 2011. As well as providing a full environmental impact assessment and an active recycling programme, the sponsorship also donated funds for the Academy’s youth development and reduced-rate community sailing schemes. As a result of the strategy, the Academy’s level of renewable electricity increased by 37% in 2007, while SSE has immeasurably improved the performance of its emerging technologies from an environmental standpoint – a discernible legacy of environmental concern in action that the judges emphasised was a vital objective of such a campaign.
For further press information contact:
Cailah Leask, Fast Track Sailing Katie Doerr, Fast Track Sailing
Cailah.leask@fasttracksailing.com Katie.doerr@fasttracksailing.com
T: +44 (0) 207 593 5268 T: +44 (0) 207 593 5288
M: +44 (0) 778 529 4321 M: +44 (0) 779 273 9096
