For Team GB’s sailors competing out in Qingdao, this marks the culmination of their months and years of effort and determination – the boats are prepped and polished and the 18 sailors across the 11 events are ready to race.
The Finn (heavyweight dinghy) and Yngling (women’s keelboat) classes are the first to get underway when the Olympic regatta kicks off on Saturday 9 August, with arguably Britain’s strongest sailing gold medal prospects featuring on this opening day.
The trio of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson will also be in action on day one of the Olympic regatta and head into the 15-boat Yngling event as the double World, European and Pre-Olympic Test Event Champions. They’re raring to get their regatta underway.
“I can’t wait,” said Ayton. “It is going to be a tricky event but we really suit the conditions there so we’re all looking forward to getting on the water and getting started.
Webb, who along with Ayton and Shirley Robertson, won gold in the Yngling in Athens, is adamant that the trio’s strong teamwork is, and will be, the key to their Olympic success this time round.
“I don’t think we could be better as a team to be honest, we complement each other in everything we do and we’re so completely supportive of each other.
“We’re all completely different but I think that’s what makes a really successful team. We’ve all got the common goal [of Olympic gold] but we go about achieving it in very different ways which means we’re bringing out the best in each other.”
For Olympic first-timer Wilson, 22, it’s all about staying grounded and treating the Games just like any other event.
“I’ve never been involved in an Olympics before but we’ve been to China three or four times now and it’s less of a culture shock.
“The event will obviously be an amazing experience and that’s what keeps us going every day, and every day we have trained as if we are sailing in the Olympics so hopefully it won’t be too much of a difference. It’s really exciting!”
Racing will get underway at 1300 local time on Saturday 9 August.
Be sure to follow the racing online at www.rya.org.uk/beijing2008, where you will get updates from the dinghy park and the results as they come in, as well as the news from the Team GB camp.
You can also leave messages of support for the team and your comments on the racing and Team GB’s prospects.
