Sailing stars to finally tie the knot (From Thisisdorset)

Sailing stars to finally tie the knot

8:04am Tuesday 26th February 2008 in News By Laura Kitching

GOLDEN couple Sarah Ayton and Nick Dempsey will be tying the knot after seven years of engagement.

The Olympic sailing stars who live in Wyke Regis, Weymouth, will marry at Holy Trinity Church in Fleet followed by a reception at Moonfleet Manor hotel on October 9.

World champion Yngling sailor Sarah, 27, said: "We love it there and it was important for us to be close to the sea. It's just us really, it's a really nice hotel and church.

"Nick proposed to me on my birthday on April 9, 2001 and we've been so busy since then with our Olympic campaigns we decided we had to set a date this year or it wouldn't happen for another four years."

Sarah, who won gold sailing with Shirley Robertson in the 2004 Athens Olympics and windsurfer Nick, who won bronze at the same event, first met in 1998 while competing in the ISAF Youth World Championships in South Africa, both aged 18.

It was the first time the Surrey-based Sarah had met Nick, who lived in Peterborough at the time, but as she says: "That was it, really."

The couple bought their first place together in Weymouth in 2003.

Sarah said: "It's unusual to have met so young and stayed together, but the whole situation has been weird.

"Both Olympic sailing, both winning Olympic medals and having a career - we're both lucky and very privileged .

"The fact we're both away for long periods of time is kind of good, I think. I don't know what's going to happen when we stop and see each other every day!"

She added: "It's great because we learn so much in our sport about how to connect, compromise and talk about any issues as they come up and these are problems people face in everyday life. Each of us is the other's biggest fan and we want each other to succeed. When things aren't going well it's nice to have someone else to talk to who understands.

"For me it's been a major support. When I have a tough time I talk to Nick, he puts things in perspective and then off I go again and I'm fine."

Sarah recently clinched victory at the Yngling World Championship in Miami with her crew Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson and has an action-packed six months of training and events ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.

Nick is also upping his campaign ahead of the August games and has the added challenge of choosing a honeymoon destination for his bride.