Chasing Dreams: Dylan Fletcher & Stu Bithell
by World Sailing TV 18 Jun 2018 12:07 BST
30 July - 12 August 2018
Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell – World Cup Series Miami © Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy / World Sailing
They were previously rivals on the water - but now Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell have teamed up to launch an Olympic campaign together.
The 49er sailors competed for the same spot last time out in Rio 2016; Fletcher with Alain Sign and Bithell with Chris Grube.
It was Fletcher who was successful, qualifying to represent Great Britain in Brazil and eventually finishing sixth overall.
When Fletcher's crew and Bithell's helm both stopped sailing, the two formed a partnership, making the decision while competing against each other in the Moth in Weymouth.
Fast forward to 2018 and they're preparing to go into battle at the Hempel Sailing World Championships in Aarhus, on the back of some scintillating form.
Team Fletcher & Bithell won gold at the 49er World Championship in Portugal in September, overcoming countrymen James Peters and Fynn Sterritt to take the top step of the podium.
Further success followed with two gold medals in two consecutive rounds of the World Cup Series of 2018.
They beat Peters and Sterritt once more at Round 1 in Gamagori in October, before taking five wins from 13 races to triumph at Round 2 in Miami.
With Tokyo 2020 on the horizon, Fletcher and Bithell are aiming to emulate some of the recent greats of sailing and dominate their fleet in the upcoming Worlds.
They're targeting another gold medal in Aarhus to defend their 49er title and won't be content to settle for anything less.
Find out more about the event at www.aarhus2018.com