Robertson headlines at Skandia RYA Sail for Gold Regatta

Double Olympic Gold Medalist Dame Shirley Robertson, Annie Lush and Lucy Macgregor competing in the Yngling Class, out training today ahead of the competition start © OnEdition

Olympic and Paralympic sailors from more than 20 nations will take to the water this weekend for the inaugural Skandia RYA Sail for Gold Regatta (13-15 October) at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

Over 260 boats have so far entered across the ten Olympic and three Paralympic classes at this three-day event, which sees double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson making her return to competitive Olympic classes sailing for the first time since the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and just 13 weeks after giving birth to twins.

Sailing with her new team of Annie Lush and Lucy Macgregor, 38-year-old Robertson will compete in the 15-boat Yngling fleet which includes her former crew and Skandia Team GBR teammates Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb, sailing with Pippa Wilson. There will inevitably be some focus attention on how the former teammates fare against each other, but it’s not something which Robertson is dwelling on.

“Our priority for this event is just to start working together,” said Robertson. “It’s still early days for us as a team so we’ve just kept everything simple, simple equipment and no changes. If we can get out there and do the basics right then I’ll be quite happy.”

This Skandia RYA Sail for Gold Regatta – which incorporates the European Championships for the new SKUD-18 Paralympic class - marks the first time that an international Olympic classes regatta has returned to the UK since the early 1990s.

“The turnout here has been really impressive,” remarked Robertson, “particularly as it’s in October as it’s traditionally a slack month.

“But people are really keen to see what it’s like here, and from our point of view it’s perfect to have this event at home.”

The 49er class will see strong competition both from home talents including reigning World Champions Chris Draper and Simon Hiscocks, and European titleholders Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes, as well as international contenders such as Spanish Olympic champions Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandez amongst the 44 boats currently entered.

The Laser class boasts the biggest entry, with 52 boats due to compete. World number one and European Champion Paul Goodison headlines the fleet, while European and Pre-Olympics bronze medallist Penny Clark will be hoping to continue her excellent form this season with a result on British waters.

After a stint standing in for Shirley Robertson in the Yngling, Helena Lucas returns to Paralympic class racing this weekend in the 2.4mR. Nominated for ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award for her achievements this year in both the Olympic and Paralympic class sailing, world silver medallist Lucas will count Frenchman Damien Seguin, Thierry Schmitter of the Netherlands and Norway’s Bjornar Erikstad amongst her main rivals.

The host nation will be hopeful of honours in the men’s 470 event, with Athens silver medallists Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield, and newly-crowned World Champions Nic Asher and Elliott Willis both in contention, while Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark head the women’s 470 fleet.

New European Champion and world bronze medallist Ed Wright will be the man to beat in the Finn class, while Skandia Team GBR’s World Champions John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas will be pushing for home glory in the Paralympic Sonar class.

For the Tornado entrants, this event will prove a good warm-up for their end of year World Championships in Argentina this December, while the RS:X windsurfing events will provide a chance for youngsters such as Richard Hamilton, fifth at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship, to compete up against experienced campaigners such as Athens bronze medallist Nick Dempsey.

Racing at the Skandia RYA Sail for Gold Regatta is due to get underway at 1200 on Friday 13 October and will run through until Sunday 15 October.

For more information visit www.ryaevents.org.uk/sailforgold