Sailing back to Weymouth: Bay to host sail trials ahead of Invictus Games
In the wake of its success as a sailing venue at the 2012 Olympics, Weymouth and Portland is to host event trials for this year's Invictus Games – the first time sailing will feature at the games.
Ahead of the Invictus Games in Sydney later this year, 34 trials will be held in Weymouth Bay on Wednesday, March 28. More than 450 hopefuls will be competing for a place at the prestigious games, which involve wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans.
The Invictus Games were inaugurated in 2014 by Prince Harry to recognise the contribution of personnel injured in service; the Sydney games will be the fourth iteration, but the first to feature sailing among the sporting events.
Five sailors will be chosen to compete at the games, which will take place from October 20 -27.
Jayne Kavanagh, chef de mission for the UK Team and a manager at service personnel charity Help for Heroes, said: “We are extremely excited that sailing has been introduced to the Invictus Games for the very first time. It is an inclusive and adaptable sport, which will allow more veterans and service personnel who have suffered life-changing injuries and illnesses to benefit from how empowering sport can be in their recovery. We have seen through previous years the extraordinary power the Invictus Games have to transform lives and I have no doubt that all of our hopefuls will benefit from being part of the 2018 programme.”
Help for Heroes is heavily involved in the Invictus Games, and leads the training and selection of athletes.
The trials will take place between 10.30am and 4pm next Wednesday, with the base at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy at Osprey Quay.
The academy, which was opened in 2000, was the sailing venue for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which saw thousands of spectators visit Dorset to watch the events on the water.