BU sets sail at world-class events

16 September 2009

BU students at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy

BU will be down at the 2012 Olympic sailing venue this September participating in two world-class sailing events.

Students and academics from BU’s School of Services Management are participating in this week’s ISAF Sailing World Cup event – Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta.

Run by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) the event is taking place at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, one of the selected venues for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, until Saturday 19 September 2009.

Over 30 students from BU’s Events Management, Leisure Marketing and Sports Management programmes have been selected to work at the live event in a variety of roles from manning the event information stand to acting as media and PR runners.

The RYA has also enlisted BU’s Centre for Event & Sport Research to undertake evaluative research at the event and will use the results to help improve the experience for event attendees next year.

Earlier this month a group of five postgraduate event, tourism and hospitality students braved the wind out on safety boats in the harbour to participate in the RSX World Championships, also supported by the RYA.

Tourism student Christy Hehir, who took part in the event, said: “Volunteering at the RSX World Championships has been a real insight into the world of sailing and has provided great experience of how such a large sporting event is conducted.

“Out on the water, I was texting in the ranking positions of the sailors as they literally flew by and I was even lucky enough to join the committee boat, and help with the start of the race. This experience has been a great way to end my MSc year at BU and despite getting wet, windswept and even soaked, it has been awesome.”

Dr Holly Henderson from BU’s Centre for Event & Sport Research said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to be involved in both world class events. The experience is invaluable. We are also delighted to be conducting the research for Skandia Sail for Gold.”