Royal Cornwall Yacht Club
Est. 1871 Patron: HRH Charles, Duke of Cornwall
MEDIA RELEASE
12 May 2012
Falmouth Watersports Centre – International Regatta Centre for World Class Sailing Event
Falmouth Watersports Centre welcomed over 90 international Finn sailors and their support teams
from all corners of the globe, competing in the J P Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival in
Falmouth. The Centre is the Regatta Centre and base for the Finn competitors for both the Finn
Nationals and the Finn Gold Cup.
GB sailor Giles Scott took gold medal honours with Ben Ainslie - GB’s Olympic Finn competitor in the
2012 Games taking silver, while the bronze medal was awarded to French sailor Jonathan Lobert in
the Finn Open British National Championships which finished on Monday.
“Falmouth Watersports Centre was a hive of activity over the weekend, with competitors declaring
the Finn Nationals in Falmouth to be a World class event with excellent facilities at the Regatta
Centre and the team managing the launching and recovery of the boats the best they have
experienced anywhere in the world” commented Malcolm Bell, Head of VisitCornwall, the
tourism service of Cornwall Development Company “Competitors were delighted with the race
organisation and the welcome they received, they are now looking forward to competing in the Finn
Gold Cup, the Olympic qualifying event.”
The Finn Nationals saw a record numbers of entries in the 56 year history of the event. Many sailors
used the championships as a training event for the Finn Gold Cup, the world championship for the
class, which starts on Sunday 13 May with an even larger international fleet competing in Falmouth
Bay.
The Falmouth Watersports Centre was built and opened in 1993 to provide a focal point for
watersports groups in the Port of Falmouth, with direct access to the public slipway at Grove Place,
Falmouth. The Centre provides a base for the Falmouth Watersports Association and its 10 member
clubs and organisations, currently with approximately 400 members, covering a wide range of
activities from sailing, gig rowing, sliding seat rowing, canoeing and diving to support groups
including the Sea Scouts, RNAS Culdrose and Falmouth Marine School. Facilities at the Centre are
also available to visitors and non members.
Midas Construction agreed to help Falmouth Watersports Centre by upgrading existing changing,
toilet and shower facilities. Midas was supported by building services provider, EIC South West, who
provided and installed new WCs, wash hand basins and showers along with new extract fans to
create a modern and practical legacy building. Other contributors were Nicobond who donated tiles
to Spot-on-Ceramics, who fitted them free of charge. The company, part of Midas group, is one of
the UK’s largest independent construction and property services providers has very strong links with
Cornwall and have been involved in some of the county’s landmark buildings and projects over many
years.
Midas Executive Director Mike O’Neill said: “We were delighted to support Falmouth Watersports
Centre and to prepare these new facilities in time for the Finn Festival providing a legacy for future
users of the Centre. Midas is no stranger to the location as it was only last year we completed Rick
Stein’s Fish & Chip Shop on Events Square, adjacent to the Watersports Centre.”
“Falmouth Watersports Centre is extremely grateful to both Midas Construction and EIC Ltd for their
generous support in refurbishing the showers and changing facilities at the Centre. Competitors
from around the world have been among the first to make use of the full facilities at the Centre
which is the competitors base and the Regatta Centre for the Finn Festival” Commented Jackie
George, Chair Person of Falmouth Watersports Centre, “The generosity of Midas Construction and
EIC Ltd will also ensure that there is a legacy after the Finn Festival that can be enjoyed by the many
members of the clubs who use the FWC as their base and will benefit future events in Falmouth.”
Over 150 volunteers are assisting the event organisers to run the J P Morgan Asset Management
Finn Festival in Falmouth.
‘”he Finn Festival has been three years in the planning and execution and without a massive amount
of support from all our sponsors and partners it would not have happened. We also are deeply
indebted to our magnificent team of volunteers who have given up their time to make this event
happen. Over 150 individuals from the RCYC, POFSA, Falmouth Marine College and many other
organisations have formed an amazing team” said Robin Taylor, Race Director, “We have members
of the race team who have come from all over the world to ensure that the competition is of the
highest standard and we thank them for their involvement. On behalf of the organising committee
and competitors I would like to pass on our sincere thanks for the help from everyone involved in
the event.”
For full details about the J P Morgan Asset Management Finn Festival in Falmouth see
www.falmouthfinnfestival.com, including the Official Programme for the Festival.
ENDS
Notes for editors
Images: Media invited to photocall on Saturday 12 May at Falmouth Watersports Centre at
10.00am
The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club was formed in 1871 and has HRH Prince Charles, Duke of Cornwall as
patron. Prince Charles with, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, visited the Club last year.
The Organising Authority for the sailing is RCYC Events Ltd.
The Fal estuary offers safe sheltered waters while Falmouth Bay offers good stable winds with less
tide than most other sailing waters making it a world class sailing venue.
VisitCornwall is a service of the Cornwall Development Company, a local authority company
controlled by Cornwall Council. VisitCornwall undertakes the destination marketing function for
Cornwall and promotes the areas distinctive qualities to the domestic market and key international
markets through targeted marketing campaigns.
Contact details:
Royal Cornwall Yacht Club
Karen Hastings, Executive Secretary
Tel 01326 211555 e-mail [email protected]
VisitCornwall
Sian Robbins, Press & PR for the event
Festivals & Events Assistant
VisitCornwall
Tel: [01872] 322873 e-mail [email protected]
www.visitcornwall.com
About J.P. Morgan Asset Management
J.P. Morgan Asset Management is part of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. and is a global asset management
leader providing world-class investment solutions to clients. With US$1.3 trillion in assets under
management (the Asset Management client funds of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. as at March 31st
2011) and offices in 41 locations around the world, J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global
coverage with a strong local market presence, and leadership positions in most asset classes.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management is a trading name of J.P. Morgan Asset Management Marketing
Limited which has issued this material in the United Kingdom and which is authorised and regulated
by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England No. 288553. Registered office: 125
London Wall, London EC2Y 5AJ.
About Midas Construction
Midas construction, part of Midas group, is one of the UK’s largest independent construction and
property services providers with very strong links with Cornwall. Operating from offices in Indian
Queens, Midas Construction has been involved in some of the county’s landmark buildings and
projects over many years.
Most recently, Midas Construction completed Heartlands, the exciting new visitor centre and World
Heritage site at Pool, near Camborne, Phase 11 of the £29 million Penwith College Project and the
new Bodmin Police Station. Other recent projects include the new tea room and shop at the Duchy
of Cornwall Nurseries near Lostwithiel, Gyllyngdune Gardens in Falmouth and a wide range of
affordable housing projects.