Olympic yachtswoman Shirley Robertson arrived at her wedding on the Isle of Wight just the way you’d expect a champion sailor to - by boat. But this time she wasn’t in the single-handed Europe dinghy in which she so memorably won a gold medal at the Sydney Olympics last year, but a dinky classic speedboat lent to her for the occasion by the Classic Boat Museum in Newport.

Accompanied by her father Iain and her bridesmaid Joanne Grindley, Shirley drew up alongside the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on a perfect June day, her pearly veil flying in the breeze. The yachts and motorboats peppering this busy stretch of the Solent tooted their congratulations. You only had to look at the smile on Shirley’s face to know that this was going to be a great day - a great day to cap a great year, which has seen a gold medal and a marriage.

Shirley looked stunning as she stepped ashore in a dress by Caroline Castigliano, made of guipure lace, with her veil held in place by a crystal and pearl tiara.

Before the ceremony, Shirley’s groom Jamie Boag, 31, a stockbroker and successful amateur sailor, looked just as happy and relaxed as his bride-to-be, chatting and joking with friends at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club where preparations for the reception were underway.

For the full story and photos of Olympic yachtswoman Shirley Robertson’s nautical wedding ceremony, see this week’s HELLO! Magazine, on sale now.