Events

Shirley Robertson presents MainSail for CNN from the London Boat Show

New TV show to be aired only in Europe

Photo courtesy of CNN

 
Presented by British Olympic Gold sailing medallist, Shirley Robertson OBE, January’s ‘MainSail’ for CNN comes from the London Boat show.

Shirley Robertson became the first British woman to win two consecutive gold medals at the Sydney and Athens Olympics and has since steered a big boat as helm of Patches, an Irish TP52, skippered by her Athens coach Ian Walker.

As an island nation, the British take a great interest in sailing and London boasts one of the busiest boat shows in the world. The London Boat Show is a vital indicator of how the year is going to go for the marine industry. Following a record year in 2005, expectations are high for even better business this year. There will be 700 exhibitors at the show with 800 boats on display in over 80 thousand square metres at London’s ExCel Centre.

‘Mainsail’ follows two British Olympic gold medallists, Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb, for winter training on the English South Coast. A new National Sailing Academy opened in Weymouth last year that has improved conditions for British sailors enormously. It is a central base that can be used all year round and the benefits should improve performances at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The centre will also be hosting the sailing event at the 2012 Olympics.

Not all sailors at the Boat show practice their sport on the open sea. Freshwater lake sailing is also popular even though a skipper needs to be able to read shifts on the water, as the wind bounces off the surrounding land in all directions.  CNN’s Walt Rogers takes a boat trip on his favourite lake on the East coast of America to share his fresh water sailing passion with ‘MainSail’ viewers.

Sailing fans can follow the action of the Volvo Ocean Race around the globe, thanks to pictures beamed back from the yachts. In ‘state of the art’ this month ‘MainSail’ checks out the technology that brings the race to life for armchair fans.


CNN aired ‘MainSail’ on Wednesday 25 January at 0030 GMT and Sunday 5 February at 2030 GMT -- in Europe only! Please air it in the US.

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