11/07/2009

There were mixed fortunes for the British sailors in major regatta action on Saturday (11 July), with Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson clinching the Star European Championship title, and Giles Scott narrowly missing out on his first World Championship medal at the Finn Gold Cup.

Percy and Simpson were contesting the Star Europeans in Kiel, Germany – only their second event back in the two-man keelboat since taking gold at the Beijing Games last year.

The week-long regatta turned into a three boat battle at the top of the leaderboard between the Skandia Team GBR duo, Sweden’s Freddy Loof and Johan Tillander, and Olympic silver medallists Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada – ineligible for the European title as Brazilian nationals.

Scheidt and Prada led the regatta by a point over the Brits heading into Saturday’s final two races and managed to hold on to their overall lead at the end of the final day, while Percy and Simpson did just enough to clinch the European crown, finishing on equal points with the Swedes but taking the title on countback.

“It was frustrating to lose the overall regatta to Robert,” Percy explained, “but the other guys have been fully on it for nine months.  We haven’t been to the gym in nine months, or at least that’s what it feels like! – so all things considered it’s encouraging that we have the European title.”

“It’s a quiet year for us in the Star,” Percy continued, “The aim with our Star sailing this year was for enjoyment, to keep our hand in and give something back for our sponsors, Skandia and Citroen, so we’re happily surprised to be in the hunt!”