Sydney Olympic Medallist to Launch MDL Dinghy Sponsorship

Sydney Olympic silver medallist, Ian Walker is to launch a brand new MDL sponsored dinghy at the Hamble River Sailing Club on Saturday 4th November.

As part of MDL’s Year of Youth programme, the Hamble based marina operator has purchased a Firefly sailing dinghy for use by young people on the River Hamble. The two man Firefly dinghy was designed by Uffa Fox in 1946 primarily for university team racing and has established itself as one of the best team racing craft afloat.

The MDL boat will be officially handed over to the club by Mark Bowden, MDL Operations Director at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday 4th November at the Hamble River Sailing Club on The Hard at Hamble foreshore. Ian Walker will then name and launch the MDL dinghy and set sail from the club with some of the local children. The young sailors will no doubt pick up a few racing tips from the Olympic sailor, who together with Mark Covell, took the silver medal in the Star class at the recent Sydney Olympics.

Hamble River Sailing Club has a very active youth section, whose aim is to offer sailing to young people, regardless of their background. Throughout the autumn the club is running Saturday afternoon sailing sessions for local youngsters. On a cold damp October afternoon a record 50 young people aged between 6 and 19 turned up to ‘have a go’. Club members lead the sessions, with much support from club members, who take the children out on the water and also provide RIBs and rescue boats.

MDL has strongly supported sailing on the Hamble for several years. Title sponsor of the MDL Hamble Winter Series for four years, the company backs this highly successful 8 race series, which attracts 250 yachts from all around the south coast. This year also saw the introduction of the successful MDL sponsored Hamble Dinghy Weekend at the start of Hamble Week in July.

MDL is one of several organisations who are funding brand new Firefly dinghies. The Eric Twiname Trust is sponsoring the second dinghy and a group comprising local councils and businesses is sponsoring a third. The sailing is proving so popular among the youngsters on the Hamble, that the Club is hoping to raise the funds necessary to purchase a further three Firefly dinghies to enable further training and match racing to take place.