Glint of gold at Miami World Cup regatta as Britain Rules the Waves
Last updated 1/30/2012 3:32:49 PM
Paul Goodison - wins gold at Miami World Cup regatta as Britain Rules the Waves
The growing optimism of Great Britain's Olympic sailors continues to grow as The 2012 Games approach. The multi events, which take place in Weymouth and Portland, could well rekindle the glory days when the British truly ruled the waves.
This was emphasised in the Miami World Cup regatta when Britain's men and women brought in a haul of eight medals, including three golds.
Olympic hopefuls Nick Dempsey, Paul Goodison and the women's match racing trio of Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor all struck gold in the States.
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark took silver in the 470, ahead of development squad sailors Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth in third place.
Team GB have already named sailors in eight of 10 Olympic classes for London and the battle is well and truly on for the final places.
Olympic Champion Goodison battled past Brazil's Bruno Fontes in the medal race to claim gold in the Laser class in Miami.
"It's been nice to come and do Miami - it wasn't originally in the plan to come and do this event but after a really good week last week sailing in Key West it made sense to stop by here and work on some of the things I need to before the Games," said Goodison.
"There are only I think three regattas that I'll do left before the Olympics, so it's good to be working on the things that I need to and to be improving on the things that I've set out to do."
The women's match racing team saw off old rivals Australia in their final, Lush saying: "It's a great start to 2012 for us.
"It doesn't feel like we've sailed particularly well this week but we held it together, pulled off some great results along the way and we've learned a huge amount which we'll take forward into our winter training.
"You can see from the results this week just how tight the fleet has become - everyone is pushing hard so there's plenty of hard work still ahead of us."
Dempsey recovered from a disappointing World Championship in Perth last month to dominate the RS:X windsurfer category.
"It's quite nice to win a World Cup isn't it?" he said. "Getting all firsts this week was pretty good so I'm very happy.
"It's definitely all going to plan and it's all on track. It was needed, the result at this event, and I'm really looking forward to the next few months."
Team GB Medals in Miami
Gold (3): Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush & Kate Macgregor (Women's Match Racing); Paul Goodison (Laser); Nick Dempsey (RS:X Men)
Silver (4): Alexandra Rickham & Niki Birrell (SKUD); John Robertson, Hannah Stodel & Steve Thomas (Sonar); Elliot Carney (RS:X Men); Hannah Mills & Saskia Clark (470 Women)
Bronze (1): Sophie Weguelin & Sophie Ainsworth (470 Women)