2012 Summer Olympic US Team Captain, Zach Railey

Photo Credit: Mick Anderson/SailingPIX.dk

2012 Summer Olympic US Team Captain, Zach Railey

Photo Credit: Mick Anderson/SailingPIX.dk

The 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist and 2012 Summer Olympic US Team Captain, Zach Railey is expected to be in the Territory this week to compete in the 26th Annual Pro Am Regatta at Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda form October 27 to November 3.

Other Olympians competing in the event are Anna Tunnicliffe, the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and #1 ranked Woman Laser Radial Sailor and Andrew Campbell, Olympian in the Laser Class in Beijing, 2008.

Competing with the star-studded lineup will be Ed Baird, three-time Match Racing World Champion; Dave Ullman, a US Team Racing Champion and a former coach of the US Olympic Sailing Team; and the Virgin Islands' resident, Peter Holmberg who achieved a #1 ranking on the World Match Race Circuit.

Last year, Anna Tunnicliffe was guest speaker at the Royal BVI Yacht Club (RBIYC) where she enlightened youth sailors and adults on the commitment, training and finance that it takes in order to prepare for the Olympics. This year, the club will feature Zach Railey as the special guest speaker on Friday, 26th October. This is expected to follow an afternoon master class session by Railey for youth sailors from the club's Youth Sailing Development Programme.

Commodore Chris Haycraft of the RBVIYC said that he is very pleased that the Pro Am Regatta sailors are always willing to give of their time and expertise not only to their sailing colleagues in the BVI, but more importantly to the youngsters.

"A single 3 hour session with an Olympian mentor may bring a lifetime of inspiration and encouragement for a future BVI sailing Olympian," he said.

Youth sailors including those who are not yet part of the RBVIYC programme are urged to contact the Director of Youth Sailing at youthsailing@royalbviyc.org if they would like to meet Railey.