Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark win ISAF World Cup gold in Kiel
by Andrew Jasper 23 Jun 2010 20:30 BST
19-23 June 2010
Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark win Gold in the Women's 470 class at Kieler Woche © Segelsport / Kieler Woche
Team Sarah Ayton have taken a giant leap in their preparations for London 2012 with their first major win since forming the partnership at the start of this year.
After leading the ISAF World Cup Series Regatta in Kiel (Germany) from the outset, double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton and experienced 470 sailor Saskia Clark picked up the gold after four days of intense racing.
Double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton made the decision to team up with Saskia Clark for an Olympic 2012 campaign in the 470 after the Yngling class was dropped from the Olympic schedule.
The girls had to show real patience this week, with light winds disrupting all but the first day of competition, no 470 class races had been possible in the past two days, but they kept their focus to seal victory earlier this afternoon.
The final round of the ISAF World Cup Series, the Skandia Sail for Gold event, will be held at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy from the 9th to the 14th of August. Sarah and Saskia move into this final stage full of confidence and it will be a great test for the sailors ahead of the Olympics coming to the South Coast of Britain in 2012.
Fellow British sailor Helena Lucas also had a great week in Germany, picking up a silver medal in the closely fought 2.4mr class.