Put a sock in it

DORSET Echo staff are backing Britain’s Ben Ainslie in his quest for an historic fourth gold medal at his fifth consecutive Olympics.

A team of journalists, advertising and reception staff donned limited edition Ben and Rita socks to show their support for the sailing star.

Ainslie has a lot resting on his shoulders going into the home Games.

A fourth gold would make him the world’s most successful Olympic sailor .

Every boat Ainslie has ever owned has been called Rita, so to support Ainslie’s challenge, the British Finn Association and JP Morgan Asset Management are asking people to tweet messages of support to @ainslieben followed by #benandrita Exclusive Port and Starboard socks have been created and 100 pairs are being given away at facebook.com/ BenAinslie1977

Get signed up

WEYMOUTH-based windsurfer Izzy Hamilton is urging people to sign the petition to save the sport as an Olympic sport.

The 19-year-old, who competed at last week’s Skandia Sail for Gold regatta, said: “They’ve replaced windsurfing for the Rio Olympics with kiteboarding so theoretically this could have been my last competition.

“It’s sad to think like that but there is hope – the decision could be overturned at the ISAF meeting in November.

“As it stands we’re all learning to kitesurf, it’s good fun but quite scary – if you get it wrong windsurfing you fall in the water, with kite-surfing you shoot in the air.”

She urged people to sign the online petition at change.org/ petitions/isaf-keep-windsurfing-as-olympic-discipline that has so far attracted more than 26,000 signatures.

Grab goodies

FREE goodies are up for grabs every week as part of the Maritime Mix’s prize giveaway.

This week the Cultural Olympiad by the Sea team are giving away Lone Twin’s The Boat Project book plus lots of Boat Project goodies.

This unique boat, which is made up of thousands of pieces of wood that tell a story, is now on its maiden voyage around the South of England.

To enter, just tell the Maritime Mix team what The Boat Project was named.

Visit facebook.com/maritimemix2012