Ian Walker to be guest speaker at Marine Industry Regatta

Volvo Ocean Race winner Ian Walker will be the guest speaker at the 2016 Marine Industry Regatta on 1 June.

Ian Walker
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Walker will be speaking about both his experience winning the Volvo Ocean Race and his most recent triumph, ‘Hell On High Seas’ to raise money for Sport Relief.

The distinguished skipper will also be competing out on the water at the event, giving the other competitors a real run for their money.

The Marine Industry Regatta takes place on Wednesday 1st June 2016, sailing out of Port Solent in Sunsail First 40s

Walker says he is pleased to be taking part.

“With less than two months to go, the excitement is building for the 2016 Marine Industry Regatta which will be raising money for the John Merricks Sailing Trust and the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. I’m looking forward to joining the industry for a day’s sailing and guest speaking,” he says.

Walker is a double Olympic Silver medalist, winning in the 470 class in 1996 with the late John Merricks. Together with Mark Covell, Walker won another Olympic Silver medal in the 2000 Games in the Star class.

Walker’s bid to win the Volvo Ocean Race took eight years. He initially skippered the  Chinese-Irish entry Green Dragon in 2008/9. He skippered Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in 2011/12, when the crew finished fifth out of six. In June 2015, he achieved his goal, and with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing won the Volvo Ocean Race.

Walker was named the 2016 boats.com/Yachting Journalists’ Association Yachtsman of the Year in January.

He also has a host of inshore and offshore successes, including Fastnet Race and Round Britain and Ireland wins.

In March, Walker skippered a Volvo Ocean 65 monohull yacht from Belfast, Northern Ireland to London for a five day Sport Relief challenge dubbed ‘Hell on High Seas’.

Six celebrities joined professional sailors, including ‘One Show’ host Alex Jones and Walkers’ Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crewmate, Phil Harmer for the challenge.

Over 800 nautical miles, the celebrity crew faced gale-force winds, 10-foot waves that nearly capsized the yacht, seasickness and sleep deprivation. They raised over £1m for the Sport Relief charity.

The Marine Industry Regatta takes place on 1 June, sailing out of Port Solent in Sunsail First 40s.