Olympic taster at Lyme regatta (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Olympic taster at Lyme regatta

8:47am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in Sport

LYME Regis Sailing Club got a taste for the Olympics as they saw Ben Ainslie claim a historic fourth gold medal and former member Jim Turner thwart Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson’s hopes of retaining their crown.

Lyme-born Turner, a former youth section member and brother of boat builder Chris Turner, was representing New Zealand in the Star class alongside Hamish Pepper and they combined to finish second in the medal race, ensuring Percy and Sherborne’s Simpson were pipped to gold by Sweden’s Fredrik Loof and Max Salminen.

That race was followed by Ainslie becoming the greatest Olympic sailor of all time with overall victory in the Finn class.

The exciting action came on the same weekend that Lyme held their annual sailing regatta, attracting 34 entries from a host of south west-based clubs.

Race officer Dave Guthrie set courses as near shore as possible to aid spectator participation.

Youth members took part and visitors included those preparing for the Merlin National Championships, which are to be hosted by the club from August 26.

Winner of the Championship of the Day was Jon Turner, crewed by Alan Parslow in his Merlin Rocket.

Prizes were presented by the mayor, coun Sally Holman and a donation of £150 was presented by commodore David Beer to the regatta and carnival committee represented by coun Chris Clipson and Dave Edwards.