STAR CLASS: Ian Walker (29), from Kensington in London and Mark Covell (31) from Emsworth in Hampshire. World Class Performance Elite Sailors.

Ian, 1996 Olympic Silver Medallist in the 470 class and Mark, a former Etchells World Champion, have pooled their talents together in Star class. They finished in an encouraging seventeenth overall in their first regatta together, the renowned Star Bacardi Cup at the beginning of the year and then were a highly creditable eighth overall at the SPA Olympic Classes Regatta in May, sailing their United Airlines sponsored boat.

They will arrive in Sydney straight from the class World Championships in Punta Ala, Italy, where they will be aiming to qualify the country for a slot in the class at the Olympics.

“To be able to train at the venue for the Olympics is always extremely important and to have the chance to race at the same date as next year’s Games will be invaluable” said Ian

SOLING CLASS: Andy Beadsworth (32) from Titchfield in Hampshire , Barry Parkin (35) from Windlesham in Surrey and Richard Sydenham (23) from Hamble in Hampshire. World Class Performance Elite Performers.

1996 Olympian Andy Beadsworth has had his best season yet since the Savannah Games. With Olympic middleman Barry Parkin moving up to the bow and talented young match racer Richard Sydenham taking the middleman slot, Andy has a formidable team supporting him

Having won the Dubai International Match Racing Regatta (ISAF Grade One) in March against some of the worlds top match racing skippers, they finished second at the Hyeres Olympic Class Regatta in April against a world class Soling line up.

The team recently ensured Britain will be represented in the Soling class at the Games next year, by finishing in fourth place at the Soling European Fleet Racing Championships.

“Now we’ve qualified the nation, this is the start of our campaign to win a medal at the Olympics where as before we were under real pressure just to ensure Great Britain will be at the Games. Obviously training and racing in Sydney Harbour is of the utmost importance in that goal” said Andy.

470 MEN CLASS: Nick Rogers (22) from Lymington in Hampshire and Joe Glanfield (20) from Exmouth in Devon. World Class Performance International Sailors.

Nick and Joe are an emerging force in international men’s 470 sailing. They have won the national title two years in succession in convincing fashion and followed up a very creditable seventh place at this years SPA Regatta, an ISAF Grade One event, with a win at the Intervela 470 regatta in Lake Garda.

Both are ISAF Youth World Championship Medallists in the boys doublehanded division. Nick won the Gold Medal in 1995, while Joe won the Silver medal in 1997 (both with different crews).

“It’s the last big event for us before the UK Trials Regatta next year and more importantly one of the last chances before the games when the harbour will hopefully be the same as it will be at the Games. A majority of the people who’ve qualified to go this year will be there in twelve months time so this is our chance to prove ourselves against the rest of the class” said Nick.