Simon Hiscocks

DOUBLE Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks will be among the experts helping to demystify the art of Sailing at an event on Portland.

Members of the public are being invited to register for free tickets to Cutting Edge 2012: Behind Sailing, which is taking place at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Osprey Quay on Thursday, May 24 from 7pm to 8.30pm.

The event will see top sport scientist Professor Steve Haake explore the research that lies behind Team GB’s world-class sailing performance with Portland’s two-time Olympic medallist Simon Hiscocks, Professor Glen McHale, who develops high-tech surfaces to reduce drag in boats and Dr Judith Wolf an expert in coastal modelling of tides, currents and waves and the brains behind Team GB’s gold medal at the Seoul Olympics.

Last week, Hiscocks returned to competitive sailing to race at the Princess Sofia Trophy Regatta and achieved a race win midweek.

To book a place in the audience at Cutting Edge 2012: Behind sailing visit rigb.org/cuttingedge2012 Follow on Twitter and Facebook #cuttingedge2012

Megan Pascoe

PORTLAND’S Megan Pascoe has vowed to ‘turn things around’ at her next big sailing regatta in Hyeres, France.

The 25-year-old finished sixth at the world cup event in Palma on Friday, while her Skandia Team GBR teammate Helena Lucas, 36, took silver.

With their 2.4mR Paralympic class still awaiting Team GB selection, Pascoe is aiming for a podium finish at the French Olympic Sailing Week, which takes place from April 20 to 27.

She said: “Sixth overall.

“Friday saw breeze of 15 knots and big, big waves.

“I had an eighth and a fourth which left me sixth overall.

“Not too much to work on for Hyeres and I’m positive that I can turn things around.

“I’m looking forward to coming home for a week, getting back out on my bike and hopefully doing some sailing if I can find someone to sail with.”

Follow Pascoe online at pascoegb.co.uk

Revving up

OFFICIAL Games vehicle registration numbers will be revving up London 2012.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has become a licensee of London 2012.

The DVLA is one of the last licensees to be appointed before the Games and will be offering themed, personalised registration number plates.

GO11 DEN, GB12 ROW and RUN 100M are just a few of the 1,750 registrations on sale at the auction.

Members of the public will be able to purchase London 2012 registrations from the DVLA website dvlaregistrations.direct.gov.uk and at a three day auction at City Hall in London from June 7 to 9.

It is estimated that the London 2012 merchandise programme will generate over £1billion of sales, contributing more than £80million to the staging of the Games.

Arts and crafts

FREE art and craft workshops to create decorations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and Olympic Torch Relay celebrations are coming to Weymouth this week.

The Let’s Make It! sessions, sponsored by Synergy Housing and run by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, will be held between 10am and 12.30pm and 1.30pm and 4pm, at Littlemoor Church Hall, Weymouth on Wednesday, April 11 and the Community Fire Station, Radipole Lane, Weymouth on Thursday.

An event at the RSPB Centre Radipole Nature Reserve on Saturday, April 21 will include a nature walk and forage for natural materials. All are welcome. To book a place, email letsmakeitproject@hotmail.co.uk or call 01305 838497 and leave a message.