Olympic cruise helps RNLI appeal

Thursday 26th April 2012

Past Olympians are preparing to set sail on a cruise to raise funds for the Cowes lifeboat station appeal.

Sport stars from the Isle of Wight, who have previously represented Great Britain at the Olympics, will be joining guests on a two-hour cruise to help support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station.

Guests on board the Olympic Cruise along the Solent will meet former sportsmen from the island, including Major Barrington-Ward, who carried the flame at the 1948 London Olympic Games and was a crew member on a dragon keelboat at the Helsinki Games.

Also joining the cruise is Jo Richards, a bronze medalist in the Flying Dutchman dinghy class in the 1984 games and Pete Newlands who competed in the 470 dinghy class in the same year.

Double sailing gold medalist, Shirley Robertson, and gold medalist from the Sydney games Louis Attrill, are also hoping to attend the event on board the Wight Scene catamaran.

Before meeting the past Olympians guests will be welcomed aboard by the Isle of Wight's RNLI coxswain, Dave Kennett MBE.

The cruise leaves Thetis Wharf, Cowes, on July 18 at 4 pm and returns at 6pm. Tickets cost £25, which can be bought from Cowes RNLI shop or Murrays Restaurant in the High Street.

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