Sarah Ayton & Saskia Clark put on an impressive show
Sarah Ayton and Saskia Clark are putting on an impressive show in their first World Championship together – and Ayton’s first in the 470 class.
In spite of picking up a black flag penalty in the middle of the three races, the pair had an otherwise solid day with their disqualification sandwiched by two fourth places to see them into fourth place overall. With 16 points separating them from the bronze medal position, a podium spot is still a mathematical possibility for the Skandia Team GBR pair, but it would require a sub-par performance from Italy’s Giulia Conti and Giovanna Micol who’ve got the better of them in most of the week’s races.
“We’d have enjoyed it more [today] if we weren’t black flagged!” Ayton explained.
“But it was wicked sailing. It was a bit a case of survival of the fittest and it was just nice to be racing in that breeze really, having not done much.”
“I think it’s fair to say we’re ahead of where we thought we be at this stage,” Clark added. “Our goal for this week really was just to try and make the medal race and gain that experience. But we’re super pleased we are where we are and we’ll just go and have a bit more fun tomorrow.”
“It’s been really good coming from our win in Kiel, not just having the confidence from winning there, but more the experience we gained from racing at the front of the fleet. It’s proved really valuable here so we’re pleased we’ve been able to carry that on.
“The added bonus has been that there have been a lot of windy races which we haven’t had yet so it’s been good to build up that bank of experience.”
Penny Clark and Katrina Hughes will also feature for Skandia Team GBR in the women’s medal race, in spite of a testing day. They picked up 19,9,14 from their three races and made the cut in seventh place, with a strong medal race on Sunday offering them the chance to finish their regatta in fifth place overall.
The warning signal for the 470 men’s medal race on Sunday (18 July) is scheduled for 1355 (local time, with the women’s race to follow at 1455.
For full results and further information, visit www.skandiateamgbr.com
