Eyes on the prize at 470 Euros and Laser Worlds
by Imogen Stanley 26 Jun 2015 08:25 BST
26 June 2015
Luke Patience and Elliot Willis at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia IBEROSTAR © Tomas Moya / Sofia
European Champions Luke Patience-Elliot Willis will head to Aarhus, Denmark this weekend to defend their title at the 470 Open European Championships (27 June-4 July).
Olympic silver medallist Luke Patience and partner Elliot Willis won last year's event after only five months sailing together. One year on Patience looks back fondly on their partnership, "I've had a great year with Elliot, it's an absolute pleasure every time we go on the water and I'm looking forward to see what we can make of this week."
"It's our first time back as defending champions which is special and unique in a way. I think it will be on my mind from last year although it's not really a realistic goal. All we can do is be the hardest boat to beat on the water and hopefully we will then be challenging for gold's at the end of the week," concluded Patience.
The event is also open to athletes from across the globe, who will be competing for the Open Trophy. These include the defending Open Trophy champions Australians Mat Belcher-Will Ryan and ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland American gold medallists Stuart Mcnay-David Hughes.
Sophie Weguelin-Eilidh McIntyre will lead the British women entry in Aarhus after a fifth place finish at the ISAF Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland and gold at the Delta Lloyd Regatta, Medemblik last month.
Also on the start line in the 470 Women's fleet are British Sailing Team Podium Potential sailors Jess Lavery-Megan Brickwood and Amy Seabright-Anna Carpenter who have had a successful 2015 season so far, winning silver at the Delta Lloyd Regatta.
On the other side of the Atlantic, an eight strong British contingent will start racing on 2 July at the 2015 Laser Standard Men's World Championships in Kingston, Canada (29 June – 8 July).
Multiple world championship medallist Nick Thompson has his eyes on the top podium spot. Thompson won bronze at the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championship in Santander, and this year he wants to right those wrongs, "To win the Worlds it would mean a lot. It's another case where I have come so close many times and not quite done. At the moment it is all about the Worlds and then - if selected - Rio."
The Laser Podium Potential squad have been training in Weymouth and Portland, Michael Beckett, Lorenzo Chiavarini, Martin Evans, Elliot Hanson, Alex Mills-Barton, Jack Wetherell and Henry Wetherell will race in the 159-strong Laser fleet.
Attending the Laser Worlds for the first time is the youngest member of the squad, Henry Wetherell, and he is aiming high: "My goal for the week is to finish in the top 40, I was down in Weymouth last week doing some really tough training with the rest of the guys and I'm feeling good about the boat.
"I haven't been to the venue before so I am really looking forward to seeing what it is like!"
Racing starts for the 470 Open European Championships on 29 June with two races scheduled each day until the Medal Races on 4 July. Regatta results will be available at 2015europeans.470.org/en/default/races/race
The Laser Standard Men's World Championship first day of racing is 2 July with two races scheduled each day. Regatta results will be available at kingstonlaserworlds2015.com
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