May I take this opportunity of welcoming you to the 2003 sailing season. Firstly I must wish our GBR Olympic Development Squad members every success in the forthcoming international regattas. Here's hoping we can qualify for Athens and then give a good account of ourselves in 2004.

For some of you who may be embarking upon your first year of sailing the Europe, may I say 'congratulations' on choosing the best and most technically demanding of the small single-handed dinghies (including the Laser!). With (hopefully) a comprehensive programme of Traveller's Trophy meetings please don't be put off joining us at one or more of these events. They are usually great fun not least because you'll probably find there's as many 'boys' there as 'girls'.

2003 sees the ISAF Olympic Classes World Championships at Cadiz, in Southern Spain in September. Although the qualifying arrangements appear to be somewhat different this year, I am really hoping that we will take up all our allocated places particularly in the men's fleet.

Many of you will have seen our Class web-site for which we must thank Roger Silk and our contributors. Please use this as a forum for discussion, reporting or just recording your interest in the class. All we ask is that all contributions go through our Secretary Liz Bonar whose email address you'll find elsewhere in the Yearbook or on the website itself. Photographs are also needed. We also require articles for the newsletters. This year we are planning on four editions, so we need more copy!.

We are also hoping to develop a network of class contacts at each sailing club where Europe's are sailed in the hope that local enquiries can be dealt with locally and developed.
In conclusion can I wish you a very successful season and may you thoroughly enjoy your sailing, at whatever level you compete.

Best Wishes

Steve Gill