British sailor gets assistance to defend his title at Laser Worlds

by RYA on 11 May 2016 Nick Thompson has admitted to having a little help from his friends as he sets about defending his Laser World Championship title in Vallarta, Mexico, this week (12-18 May).

Fellow British Sailing Team athlete Alison Young won the women’s Laser Radial world title for the first time at the same venue last month, and Rio-bound Thompson says he’s been ‘picking her brains’ in the build up to his own regatta.

“I’ve had a little discussion with Ali. I was so, so over the moon for her,” said the 30-year-old, who won his maiden world title in Kingston, Canada, last year after four previous Worlds podium finishes.

“She’s a fantastic sailor, works harder than anybody else I know and thoroughly deserves to have won that Worlds. I’m so pleased that she managed to do it, and do it in style winning the last race.”

Having been among the first selected athletes for the 2016 Games last September, Thompson’s main aim this year has been on preparing for Rio and the specific conditions and challenges the Olympic venue will bring.

Nonetheless he sees the seven-day World Championship as a good opportunity to check in with the rest of the highly-competitive Laser fleet and some of his key Rio rivals.

“Really the programme for me this year has been about what’s the right thing to do in the build up to Rio. If I’m honest, the build to the Worlds would have been a bit more time in Mexico if we didn’t have the Olympic Games.

“I’m raring to go and I think everything’s in shape for the Worlds, but certainly the focus more is about Rio.”

Of the 114 sailors set to race from 44 nations, Australia’s Tom Burton, Brazilian hero Robert Scheidt, Germany’s Philipp Buhl and Croatian Tonci Stipanovic are likely to be among the contenders for the World Championship crown.

Alongside Thompson, Lorenza Chiavarini, Elliot Hanson, Michael Beckett and the Wetherell brothers Jack and Henry will also be in action for the British Sailing Team.

Competition will commence on Thursday 12 May with two races planned per day, weather permitting, through until Wednesday 18 May.

Meanwhile, this week’s Finn Gold Cup in Gaeta continues to be upset by weather delays.

Just four races have been possible after four days of competition at the World Championship regatta – half of the intended schedule – with defending champion Giles Scott currently in seventh place.