Support

DJ Rob da Bank showed his support for Britain’s most successful Olympic sailor at the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.

The Radio 1 star sported the Ben and Rita socks, in port and starboard colours in Cowes, ahead of racing with The Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust.

He said: “There’s only one man on the planet who could get me wearing these socks and that’s Ben Ainslie.

“Weirdly, I’ve been wearing odd socks since the age of 16 so they suit me perfectly.

“I hope he’s going to win another gold at the next Olympic Games.”

If Ainslie wins a fourth gold next month he would become the world’s most successful Olympic sailor.

Every boat Ainslie has ever owned has been called Rita.

To do their bit to support Ainslie’s massive challenge, the British Finn Association and JP Morgan are asking people to tweet messages of support to @ainslieben followed by #benandrita Follow @benainslie1977 on Facebook.

In concert

THIS Sunday, the four groups of Coastal Voices choir singers will gather together for the first time for a performance ahead of the big Weymouth event.

The concert, which is taking place at Poole Lighthouse from 5pm, will include all four commissions by Marc Yeats, John K Miles, John Surman and Sonia Slany’s Nick Cave arrangements.

Tickets cost £8 and are available now by calling the Lighthouse Box office on 0844 406 8666 or book online at lighthousepoole.co.uk/3166/ Book-online/1517 The mass choir will perform on the Weymouth Beach Live Site from 2pm to 8pm on Friday, July 27, in the lead up to the London 2012 opening ceremony.

Volunteer

VOLUNTEERS are needed to assist with a spectacular three-day outdoor performance from July 26 to 28.

The Battle for the Winds finale aims to transform Weymouth and Portland into a stage for processions, aerial displays, pyrotechnics, circus and physical theatre to mark the opening celebrations of the Games.

Stewards are needed to help with performances on July 26 and stewards to help with the procession of Wind Gathering Vessels on July 28.

Volunteer props and wardrobe assistants, runners, crowd management stewards, brazier stewards and front-of-house helpers are required for the evening show at the Live Site on July 28, with dress rehearsals taking place on July 25 and 26 – a few spaces remain for Fire Torch Wader volunteers.

Visit battleforthewinds.com/participate/