F
ollowing medical tests, it
has been confirmed that the
British Sailing Team’s 470 Olympic
campaigner Elliot Willis has been
diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Willis, 32, campaigns alongside
2012 silver medallist Luke Patience.
The world number two-ranked pair
were among the first athletes in any
sport to be selected to Team GB for
the Rio 2016 Games in September.
An appropriate course of treatment
is currently being determined for
the Sevenoaks sailor – a two-time
World Champion in the double-
handed Olympic 470 class – with
Willis inevitably set to take some
time out of the boat.
Willis said: ‘It’s still my dream to
win Olympic gold, but right now my
focus needs to be on getting better.T
he 2016 London Boat Show
marks the end of an era for
PBO as we prepare to say bon
voyage to our fully-restored
project boat after four years.
Help us give our beloved
Snapdragon 23 Hantu Biru a good
send-off by visiting her on the
boardwalk (stand A220/Q) where
you can still enter the competition
to win her. The London Boat Show,
which runs from 8-17 January at
ExCeL, London Docklands, will
mark the last chance for members
of the public to look over the PBO
Project Boat before the competition
ends and Hantu Biru finds a new
home with the prize draw winner.
Another boat restored to her
former glory and exhibited at the
show (stand G150) will be the
50-year-old McGruer classic 8m
cruiser-racer Altricia, following an
overhaul by the master shipwrights
of Mylor Yacht Harbour’s Marine
Team. Princess Yachts will also beAll aboard Hantu Biru at the London Boat Show
Cancer treatment for
Rio 2016-selected sailor
I will take the advice and
recommendations of the medical
professionals as they establish the
right course of treatment for me.’
Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
Olympic manager Stephen Park
said: ‘This is obviously bitterly
disappointing news for Elliot, as it
clearly could impact on his ability to
compete at his first Olympic
Games. We will offer him every
support we can in this regard.’
He added: ‘Elliot and Luke have
made great progress in their
campaign towards Rio: we are
conscious of the need to keep that
momentum going as far as possible.
While we need to work with Luke to
find another crew for him to sail with
for the time being, we hope Elliot
can still be involved.’Ocean Images/British Sailing Team
PBO Project Boat Hantu Biru will
appear at the London Boat ShowElliot Willis and Luke Patience in actionL
and Rover BAR, the British
America’s Cup challenge
team led by four-times Olympic
gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie,
has unveiled its latest test
catamaran – T2.
The 45ft-long boat is the next
stage in the Portsmouth-based
team’s pursuit of technological
excellence that will culminate in
the design and build of the final
race boat to challenge for the 35th
America’s Cup in 2017. T2 uses
ideas from both the aerospace
and automotive industries to
create what the team describe as
‘the marine equivalent of a fighter
jet.’ The multihull will fly on foils
the size of a wakeboard while
lifting the weight of a fully-
occupied London taxi.
Ben Ainslie, team principal and
skipper, four times Olympic gold
medallist and America’s Cup
challenger, said: ’Power is nothing
without control, and there hasBen Ainslie’s new boat T
been no compromise in the
pursuit of both.’
While training on the Solent on
December 11, 2015, T2 capsized
off Ryde, Isle of Wight. The boat
was righted quickly and no team
members were injured. Damage
was sustained to a section of the
wing, and the boat is expected to
be out of action until the New Year.
The wind range was between
15-19 knots and the boat was
sailing at a slow speed when an
issue with the wing inversion
initiated the capsize to windward.
No other vessels were involved.exhibiting their Project 31@
boat – a refurbished version of the
company’s original boat design.
Made in Chelsea reality TV
personality and model Lucy Watson
will join British Marine Boat Shows
at 11am on Friday 8 January 2016
to officially open the 62nd annual
London Boat Show. Britain’s greatest
Olympic sailor and America’s Cup
challenger Sir Ben Ainslie isexpected to make a midweek
appearance. Thousands of boats
and brands from more than 300
British and international companies
will be showcased at the event,
including Suzuki GB, Four Winns,
Arthur Beale and Lewmar.
New attractions will include a
Mediterranean Bay with waterfront
cafés and a specially-built pool
hosting live demonstrations, plus a’60s Revival showcasing boating
highlights from the era including an
Amphicar, a Fairey Huntsman 28, a
Riva Junior, a Mirror Dinghy and a
Jaguar E-Type. There will also be
the London Boat Show Theatre,
where Sky Sports sailing
commentator Alec Wilkinson will
welcome Ian Walker, Dee Caffari,
Pete Cumming, Steve White and
Dan Hardy among other sporting
figures. Feature boats displayed
on the ExCeL London dockside,
alongside exhibitor’s boats, will
include Massey Shaw, MY Kent,
MT Touchstone and Melissa.
The Time Inc stand C162 will offer
great PBO subscription deals.
Advance tickets start from £15,
with two children under the age of
15 going free with each adult.
Additional concessions are also
available. Use the EX12 code to get
a discount before midnight on 7
January 2016.
http://www.londonboatshow.com‘A fighter jet on water’T2 capsizes in the SolentHarry KH/Land Rover BARHarry KH/Land Rover BARNews