Triple Olympic gold medal winner Ben Ainslie was among the sailing hopes for London 2012 present for the launch of the application, which is available to download now on iPhones and iPads.

The application includes a number of features, such as the "Walk the Course" with Olympic champion Paul Goodison, as well as showing the user the points of sail, mark rounding and right of way rules.

The "My Class" feature includes details of the sailors' respective boats, and the "Sailing Toolbox" includes advice from sailors, as well as exclusive beginner and advanced coaching videos from some of the Team Volvo stars.

RS:X windsurfing world champion Nick Dempsey, another Olympic hope next year, as well as the 470 team of Saskia Clark and Hannah Mills and match race team Annie Lush, Kate Macgregor and Lucy Macgregor are all involved in the application.

Facts on the sailors as well as sporting timelines are available on the app, and a feature allows you to follow the progress they have made from child prodigy to Olympic stars.

Speaking at the launch, Ainslie said: "Being a home Olympics, we really want everyone to get behind us and follow the British sailing team.

"Sailing is a difficult sport to understand; it's not like cycling or swimming where you can see the competitors racing in front of you.

"We have nine Olympic and three Paralympic classes to follow - that's a lot of competitors and a lot of boats to know about.

"The Volvo Sailing App is an essential tool to educate and help spectators gain an understanding into what to expect in Weymouth and Portland next year."

Volvo head of public affairs Duncan Forrester added: "Volvo Car UK is proud to launch the Volvo Sailing App, which enables people to follow our sailing athletes, Team Volvo, in their 2012 campaigns.

"It is not only a manual for active sailors, but an essential user guide for novices and anyone keen to get a basic understanding of this fantastic sport."

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