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British sailing team put through their paces at Plas Menai
Skandia Team GBR, the British Sailing Team whose sailors are off to China to represent Team GB at the Olympics in August, has been attending a teambuilding camp at Plas Menai National Watersports Centre near Caernarfon over the last two days (28-29 April 2008).
Nearly 40 members of the team including the sailing squad, coaches and support staff attended the camp. The team, which is one of the most successful in British and World sport, boasts many Olympic medallists and current World and European champions. Wales’ Sydney silver medallist Ian Barker and world champion and Athens gold medallist Sarah Ayton were amongst those training at Plas Menai.
In addition to conference sessions on preparations for China, the centre set up and ran an extraordinary sailing regatta on the Menai Strait. With so many of the world’s top sailors pitted against each other, it was the most competitive event ever held on the Menai Strait and possibly ever in Britain, in one competition.
The brisk conditions saw Paul Goodison, European Champion and world number 2 in the Laser class, win from Star class sailor Andrew Simpson in second, and Yngling world champion crew Pippa Wilson in 3rd – crewed by RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park. Sydney Gold Medallist Iain Percy, representing Team GB, in the Star class in China, was plagued by gear failure when his mast snapped during the first race, but made a good recovery.
The squad were then tested on Plas Menai’s ropes course and, as part of a team challenge, the whole team jumped off the centre’s ‘leap of faith’ - a psychological test. Wearing climbing harnesses and supported by ropes, all team members leapt from the top of a 10-metre pole.
The team dinner included a prize-giving for the sailing regatta and Pen Hadow, the Arctic Explorer who walked unaided to the North Pole, inspired the team with a powerful motivational talk.
The final element of the teambuilding saw the Team ascend the Afon Ddu mountain gorge, which included climbing waterfalls, swimming across big pools of water and working as a team to get each other to the top of the gorge - guided and supported by Plas Menai’s instructional team.
Following a team photograph on the centre’s waterfront the team departed to make their final preparations for China. RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park: "The strong team spirit which the British sailing team possesses has helped give us that extra edge at recent Olympic Games, and it will be equally important as we head towards a tough Games in China this summer.
"The centre has offered us an amazing variety of exciting activities" Stevie Morrison – 49er class World Champion.
"Skandia Team GBR has had a fantastic couple of days at Plas Menai – it’s been really important in developing synergy within the team, which we’re hoping will be a small but key differential when it comes to winning medals for Team GB in Qingdao in August.
"We’ve been impressed by the dedication and commitment shown by Alan Williams and his staff at Plas Menai, which is a fantastic facility and one we look forward to returning to in the future." Manager of the National Watersports Centre, Alan Williams, also wished the team well in its Olympic campaign: "This has been a great showcase for Plas Menai, our staff worked hard to provide the team with an inspirational couple of days and we wish the team every success in China’.
For further information, please contact Alan Williams at Plas Menai on 01248 670964.
Plas Menai is the National Watersports Centre for
Photographs credit: Richard Langdon / Skandia team GBR
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