Television sports personality Kirsty Gallacher and former GB Olympic athletes Colin Jackson and Jonathan Edwards will compete in The Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes event at this year’s Skandia Cowes Week.

Sailors from 30 different classes who competed in last year’s regatta will take part in The Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes at Skandia Cowes Week regatta on Friday 1 August. Kirsty, Colin and Jonathan will each crew one of the identical 20ft Laser SB3s racing in the Solent. All crews involved in the race must be skippered by a class winner from Skandia Cowes Week 2007 who will compete on a level playing field to find the best sailor at Skandia Cowes Week.

Kirsty, Colin and Jonathan have recently been in training and competed against each other at an intensive sailing day at Datchet Water. On this occasion Kirsty finished in first place with Jonathan finishing second and Colin third.

Kirsty Gallacher commented: “I am really excited to be taking part in the Volkswagen Touareg King of Cowes. Coming from a sporting background, I love the buzz of competition. I’ve heard some good things about last year’s event and know that Gabby Logan took part and enjoyed some success finishing in 5th place (in the Team Touareg crew). It will be a real challenge and I think it is fantastic this race has been established to create a level playing field and find the champion of champions at Cowes Week.”

Former 110 metre hurdle world-record holder Colin Jackson added: “I haven’t done too much sailing so [race] will be new territory for me but the competitive drive never goes away. I’ll be aiming to do as good a job as possible for my crew so will be working hard in training. I’ll also have an extra incentive to do well as I’m up against my former Great Britain Olympic teammate Jonathan Edwards. It will be good to get a friendly rivalry going between us…especially in Olympic year.”