Results tagged “sailing”

THE Royal Victoria Docks Watersports Centre is waiting to find out if its future is set to disappear up the river.

The centre, close to Excel, is in desperate need of renovation but Newham Council, which operates it, appear to be favouring a plan to merge it with the London Regatta Centre, based in neighbouring Royal Albert Dock.

IT WAS plain sailing for one of Britain's best yachtswomen when she took part in a boating challenge on the Thames this week.

Dame Ellen MacArthur, best known for her solo global circumnavigations, took the helm of an iShares Extreme 40 catamaran on a course somewhat shorter than the 27,354 nautical miles she sailed alone in 2005.

The boat, one of the fastest on the water, set sail from Greenwich Yacht Club on Monday morning as four crews attempted to set the quickest sailing time on a course from the club to The O2 and back again.

“THIS IS London’s Olympic Borough and it would be a disgrace if there is no sailing facility here, it’s one of our most successful sports.”

These are the passionate words of Peter Chilvers – a man on a mission to save the Royal Victoria Dock Sailing Centre, which he thinks should form a vital part of the 2012 Olympic legacy.

Newham’s only full-time sailing facility, close to the ExCeL Centre, has provided the opportunity for thousands of children to enjoy watersports over the past 20 years, but its future is in doubt.