Today is significant for two reasons. Firstly it is Ian Walker’s 40th birthday – hard to believe, as it seems only yesterday we first encountered him and John Merricks dawdling around in their 470 in the fountains in Trafalgar Square as part of a Mars publicity stunt. It is also the last day of Rod Carr’s tenure as Chief Executive of the Royal Yachting Association. Rod was one of the principle architects of the success of the British Olympic sailing team over the past three Games and he will be missed. His successor is Sarah Treseder. Email tributes can be sent here.