Olympic season begins in Barcelona

Lynsey Thomas looks back on an eventful - and expensive - regatta for some of the British squad

Barcelona VII Olympic Sailing Week, the first major event of the Olympic calendar took place last week with Team GBR represented in the Europe, Finn and 49er. There was plenty of competition present in all classes, ensuring the team were kept on well on their toes. The advantage of the punishment training in Portland over the previous few weeks definitely stood them in good stead for the breezy and sunny conditions of Barcelona.
The fantastic conditions boded well for a great event and there was plenty of buzzing around in the dinghy park while everyone waited for the thermal breeze to kick in at 1pm. Conditions were between 16 -18 knots with very big waves and courses were set close to the shore. The Europe girls and Finn sailor Ian Clingan came in off the water on Friday very tired and sunburnt after six hours sailing and only one race. They were all very frustrated and left wondering if they were going to be given enough racing in the next two days to be given a fair chance.

After having won two races on the first day, 49er crew Paul Brotherton and Simon Hiscocks had a day of being stuck in fourth gear. The pair have recently been training in the UK with Santiago Lopez and Javier de la Plaza the 49er World Champions and were currently lying behind them and fellow Spanish team Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez. The two Spanish boats were using the old North sails whilst Brotherton and Hiscocks had opted to use the new sails contracted to Pryde. Although disappointed, having won consistently the day before, the pair were not too concerned and made several alterations to their rig settings for the next day. Brothers Mark and Sam Richmond were enjoying the racing, and although only just getting started with the 49er felt they were making good progress.

The race officer obviously heard the prayers of the Europe girls and everyone launched on Saturday for three races. The conditions were again perfect with the breeze very strong in the morning and the wind shifting 180 degrees for the last race. Disaster struck on the way in for the young 49er sailors Mark and Sam Richmond, a fitting on a wing broke causing the wing to fall off and a big capsize. If this wasn't bad enough the boys and the boat were then swept by the waves onto the causeway and spent the next 20 minutes or so being crushed up against the rocks. Fortunately no one was hurt other than a few cuts and bruises but the boat limped home more than a little worse for wear with pretty much every fitting and sail broken and damaged.

Disaster struck again on the final day of racing for the current leaders Martinez and Fernandez. After a win in the first race the pair were struck on the starboard side by a Tornado flying along at 20 knots with the chute up. The Tornado had not seen the 49er, and Iker had not heard the Tornado, in the last seconds before impact Iker's crew Xabier shouted and they both managed to leap clear. The Tornado ploughed into the 49er leaving two great holes and a boat beyond repair; the Tornado predictably came out completely unscathed.

Martinez was given average points for the last two races and had done just enough in the previous day's racing to hold onto first place. Santiago and Xabier and Paul and Simon finished in second place on equal points but Santi had one more first than Paul and Simon and so was given second overall.

The Europe girls had a successful regatta with Debbie Winstanley finishing in third place, Sarah Ayton in fourth, Bryony Percy fifth, Kirsty Bonner seventh and Bonnie Holt tenth. Ian Clingan also came in third in the Finn class.

The Barcelona sailors have now moved on to join the rest of the team to compete in Palma.