Windsurfers relish time to shine in Palma
by British Sailing Team 8 Apr 2019 12:50 BST
9-13 April 2019
Emma Wilson - Princess Sofia Trophy © Lloyd Images
The British Sailing Team's windsurfers will look to emulate their dinghy racer team mates' success in Palma, Mallorca, this week when they go into battle in the RS:X European Championships.
The team came away with a bumper haul of eight medals from the Princess Sofia Trophy last week and while there was RS:X racing at the regatta most Brits chose not to compete and to save themselves for the Euros, which start tomorrow.
Much like for the dinghy classes at the Princess Sofia Trophy, the RS:X Europeans marks the start of the 2019 season a crucial year in the run-up to Tokyo 2020.
Five British Sailing Team athletes will contest the women's class including Beijing 2008 bronze medallist Bryony Shaw, the current top-ranked European sailor, 2018 European bronze medallist Emma Wilson (pictured below) and two-time youth world champion Saskia Sills.
2018 youth world champion Islay Watson will also be among the line-up in her first major regatta since joining the British Sailing Team, as will her sister Erin, the 2018 UK youth national champion.
"I'm really looking forward to get out racing with the top women in Europe," said Wilson, from Christchurch, Dorset. "The level of fleet is going to be really high and big so it should be some fun close racing. I'm looking forward to having some fun and giving it my best."
In the men's fleet the British Sailing Team will field five sailors including Kieran Holmes-Martin, who finished in fourth at the 2018 Sailing World Championships, and Tom Squires, who has previously tasted victory at the Palma venue when he took gold at the 2016 Princess Sofia Trophy.
Teen talent Andy Brown, who scooped under 21 bronze at the regatta in 2018, will look to capitalise on his success at the Princess Sofia Trophy where he won his first senior international race.
For Holmes-Martin the event marks a welcome return to action after spending several months sidelined with injury.
"After being riddled with injury for the best part of 2019, I have managed to get a good few weeks of training before the competition," said Holmes-Martin, 24, from Cheadle, Staffordshire. "I'm feeling healthy and strong, ready and excited for the 2019 season to begin."
The immediate goal for the British Sailing Team windsurfers over the coming months is to win selection for the one spot in each class at the Tokyo 2020 test event, taking place in Enoshima from August 15-22.
Racing in Palma starts tomorrow and culminates with medal racing for the top ten sailors in each fleet on Saturday 13 April.
Follow the British Sailing Team's social media channels for updates from the event.
British Sailing Team entries:
Women:
Men:
For results and images visit the
2019 RS:X Europeans website here.