Falmouth celebrates Olympic sailing coup

Falmouth has been chosen to stage a top pre-Olympic sailing event in what is being seen as a major coup for the town, The West Briton reveals exclusively today.

The town will host to up to 200 international competitors at the Finn Festival, including the Gold Cup, a 2012 Olympic qualifier.

Sailors qualifying through the Gold Cup, to be held in May 2012, will go on to compete in the Olympic sailing regatta at Weymouth later in the year.

Among those competing will be Ben Ainslie, who learned to sail in the waters around Falmouth. The three-times Olympic gold medallist will be hoping to bring home his fifth Olympic medal.

Nick Barwell, commodore of the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, said: "This is really good news for the people of Falmouth. It will put us very much on the map. The high standard of the bid document had a big influence in the decision. I also congratulate all those who worked tirelessly on every detail."