Copa Brasil de Vela - Brits claim eight medals

by RYA on 15 Jan 2014 The British Sailing Team’s Finn stars completed Rio de Janeiro’s Copa Brasil de Vela in style on Saturday, taking a clean sweep of the podium spots.

Giles Scott, Andrew Mills and Mark Andrews claimed gold, silver and bronze respectively in the heavyweight dinghy class at the five day regatta held at the 2016 sailing venue, where British Sailing Team crews scooped a total of eight medals across the five classes they contested.

Scott was joined on the top step of the podium by 49er European Champions Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign, who took regatta victory with a day to spare, while Laser star Nick Thompson and 49erFX duo Frances Peters and Nicola Groves added silver medals to the tally.

Bronze went to Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth in the 49erFX, and Podium Potential Laser Radial sailor Hannah Snellgrove.

British Sailing Team Manager Stephen Park spoke of a productive visit to the Games venue: 'The Team has had a fantastic time in Rio de Janeiro this month, culminating yesterday in the medal races for the Copa Brasil de Vela – effectively the Brazilian National Championships for the Olympic Classes.

'The racing through the week has been of high quality and in varying conditions. The light winds for the medal races made the job difficult for the race officers, and with some sailors caught unawares by out-of-the-norm course configurations, difficult for the sailors too.

'From a GBR perspective our sailors performed well, winning in two of the five classes we entered, and eight of our 11 entries taking home medals. Of course the racing was not the main objective this week, it was about sailor familiarisation with Rio, and we have certainly made a good start in this regard. All the sailors have had a great time, and are disappointed to be flying out of Rio tonight, as our focus moves next to the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami in a couple of weeks’ time.' Click here for full RYA Website