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IT IS the final countdown for five Weymouth and Portland-based sailors going for gold at the Olympic sailing events in China.

They are raring to get racing following the official opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games today.

The event marks the end of four years of hard training for the competitors, many of whom are based at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA).

Yngling sailor Sarah Ayton, 28, of Wyke Regis is first to start racing tomorrow in the women's keelboat class, along with teammates Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson.

Sarah, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said: "It is going to be a tricky event but we really suit the conditions so we're all looking forward to getting on the water and getting started." She added: "We are going to do everything we can and we will be disappointed without a gold.

"That's our aim and I hope that we can achieve that."

Sarah's parents have flown out to the Olympic sailing venue of Qingdao to support her.

Mum Colleen said: "It's what she's worked for four years for. They've all put a lot of effort into it and the end goal is to come back with a medal."

On Monday windsurfers Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw, both from Wyke Regis, begin competing in the men's and women's RS:X events respectively.

Nick, 27, who won bronze in Athens, will be hoping to match or better his result from four years ago.

Bryony, 25, makes her debut at this year's games in prime position, having won last year's Olympic test event.

She said: "I'm hoping I can go in there as if it's any other regatta but also that I can have a unique experience. There's some tough competition but hopefully I can come back with the gold."

Nick Dempsey said: "It's all going really well out here. The conditions are as expected so far, light winds with a lot of current. Only a few days to go and I'm getting pretty excited. It's going to be very tough but I can't wait."

Weymouth-based Laser sailor Paul Goodison, 30, begins racing in the men's single-handed dinghy event on Tuesday.

Saskia Clark, 28, of Wyke Regis, is scheduled to start racing with teammate Christina Bassadone in the 470 class on Wednesday.

Director of development at the WPNSA, John Tweed, will arrive in Qingdao next Friday in time for the following day's double-point medal races to begin.

During his visit he will spend a day as an official observer for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) under arrangements made by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) and the Beijing Organising Committee.

Mr Tweed said: "I've been there during test events but to experience the city during the games and see all the arrangements for the games will be invaluable."

Mr Tweed will also meet representatives of Dorset Police who are studying the security arrangements for the sailing events, the Royal Yachting Association and the competition manager for 2012, Rob Andrews.

The purpose of the visit is to gain as much information as possible from the event to assist Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the Dorset 2012 Working Group and LOCOG in the preparations for the games in 2012.

9:30am Friday 8th August 2008

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