J.P. Morgan Asset Managment FinN Festival 2012. Falmouth

All of the pupils at Kennal Vale School in Ponsanooth near Falmouth were excited to receive a visit from Ben Ainslie, Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor.
Ben is in Falmouth competing in the Finn Nationals and Finn Gold Cup which starts on Sunday 12 May. The children have been learning about the J P Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival, the international sailing event taking place in Falmouth until 18th May, ahead of the 2012 Olympics where he will be representing Great Britain.

Ben inspired his audience with his passion for sailing and told of how he learnt to sail at Restronguet Sailing Club as a child. He has sailed competitively in the Olympics in the Laser dinghy and Finn Dinghy. The children told Ben what they had learnt about him and his sailing history. They were fascinated by Ben’s answers to their questions which included: Ben names all his boats RITA and he has had about 25 boats to date, the fact that he would be facing around 12 countries with really great sailors , who would be tough to beat at the London 2012 Olympics and his amazing experience of his first Olympic Games in Atlanta at the age of 19 in 1996 and winning his first ever Olympic medal.

“The visit to our school gave everyone the fantastic opportunity to meet Ben and to hear first hand about where he learned to sail and about his Olympic journey. By complete coincidence, pupils in year six had chosen Ben as their Olympian to study as part of the their Olympic topic this term, because of his local connections” commented Mrs Force, Head Teacher at Kennal Vale School.

“We are extremely fortunate at the school to have the support of all parents, especially Robin Taylor, who donated a sail which was signed by Ben, which will be used as a shelter in the outdoor play area.”

The children showed their support for Ben by singing a rousing version of ‘he’s got the whole world in his hands.

Further information about Ben’s Olympic history can be seen at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in the ‘Sail for Gold Exhibition’ running until 24 June. The exhibition shows how Great Britain secured its place as the world’s most successful Olympic and Paralympic sailing nation, linking our heritage with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sailing regattas taking place on the waters of Weymouth and Portland. The museum is also hosting an interactive display, featuring the Finn dinghy ‘Rita’ that Ben will sail in the 2012 Olympics. People can show their support for Ben by tweeting #benandrita