HMG Paints, which produces a range of high performance marine coatings for topsides and hulls, is supporting a talented young sailor in his quest for Olympic glory, at the 2012 London games.

Thirteen year old David Carpenter, who has progressed rapidly from the Topper dinghy class to Laser Olympic single handers, will carry the HMG Paints logo on his sail, as he competes at Junior, Youth and Open levels around Britain. David, who lives in Greenmount, Bury, and is enthusiastically backed by parents Peter and Mary, was previously a leading light in the international Topper class, where he was a member of the National Junior Squad and trained with RYA Topper National Coach, Dave Cockerill.

This year, young David Carpenter stepped up to the Laser class, the world's most popular Olympic singlehanded boat and the category in which Ben Ainslie won Gold at Sydney, and was selected again for the National Junior Squad. Sailing an entry-level Laser 4.7, he proved an immediate success, winning three out of his first four races and coming second in the other. So much so that he is now being considered as an under-age member of the Youth squad, sailing a Laser Radial, the newly-adopted Olympic ladies single-hander and only one category away from the full-rig boat.

"David Carpenter is very much a prospect," says coach Dave Cockeril "He has already won national championship races, competing against adults, and was at least a year younger than other members of my squad. He was instantly successful in the Laser 4.7 class and there's every prospect that he will eventually compete in the Olympics."

Manchester-based HMG Paints, which is also a sponsor of the Starchaser rocketship initiative and regularly donates paint for charitable and heritage projects, produces a wide range of specialist marine coatings, including protective finishes, yacht varnishes, topside paints and the unique antifouling. These products are available nationally through HMG's independent paint distributors and internationally via its Marine Division, based in Roebuck, South Carolina.

The link between David Carpenter and HMG Paints came through the head of its Marine Division, David McRobbie, whose UK family home is also in Greenmount. One day the teenager was enthusing about his boat and mentioned to McRobbie that he needed a new sail and was hoping for some sponsorship. Unbeknown to the youngster, McRobbie raised the possibility with the HMG board, who agreed to provide sails and other kit for all of his boats and are now following his progress keenly.

David Carpenter has been sailing seriously for just four years and is a student at St Gabriel's R.C. High School, which also encourages his endeavours, as does Bury Metro, which allows him to train regularly at Castle Leisure Centre. His parents, Peter and Mary, 12 year old sister Anna, who has now taken over his Topper boat, and he are all members of Elton Sailing Club in Bury, one of the longest established clubs in the North West.

David was coached initially by member David Woodhead, himself a former national Scorpion champion, and the club has been outstandingly successful of late, contributing four out of nine female members of the 2005 Topper National Junior Squad: Emily Jackson (13), Charlotte Greenhalgh (13), Anna Brooks (15) and Julia Bowden (15).

"People don't appreciate how hard these youngsters work, competing and training every weekend and maintaining a high level of fitness. Their parents are very supportive too and invest a great deal of money in equipment and coaching," says Dave Cockerill, whose company Sailing Solutions also supplies David Carpenter's sails. "Don't forget either that this is one sport where Great Britain really excels, so young sailors like David really are among the world's best in their age group."

Further enquiries to:
HMG Paints
Riverside Works
Collyhurst Road
Manchester
M40 7RU
Telephone 0161 205 7631
email sales@hmgpaint.com