Skandia Sail for Gold – Olympic duo battle tough conditions

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat

They might head into London 2012 as reigning Star champions but Andrew Simpson and Iain Percy admit they have still have work to do after a Jekyll and Hyde start to their Skandia Sail for Gold assault.

The British duo are getting an early taste of what to expect at the Olympics in two months time as they look to claim the Sail for Gold crown at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for the first time since 2009.

But the duo, who were forced to settle for silver at last month’s World Championships behind Brazilians Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada, have had to endure a mixed bag so far on the south coast.

Simpson and Percy sit fourth after the second day, results of first and third being sandwiched between finishes of seventh and 12^th.

There is still time to close the gap on the leaders however, Ireland’s Peter O’Leary and David Burrows 11 points ahead, and Simpson insists they will continue to close the gap right up until the Games themselves.

“Day two was a tricky day,” Simpson said. “We were struggling a bit for speed but it’s good racing.

“It’s tricky conditions and a lot of people did well and badly in races. We kept struggling but catching up which is good but struggling for speed against some of the guys so we have got a bit of work to do to find out what is going wrong.

“We had a first and a third so we are catching up now. There is a long way to go in this series and we aren’t far off I don’t think and won’t be far behind so we have just got to work hard and see how it goes.

“This regatta is a good check in of where you are. You need to be close to where you need to be for the Games as it’s not long now.

“You can’t be far behind or miles away, you need to work on where you are and what you have got to do next.”

Investment specialist Skandia is the principal sponsor of the British sailing team. For more information go towww.skandiateamgbr.com.

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