History girls Dobson and Ainsworth ready for Rio Olympics medal charge

by RYA on 8 Aug 2016 Games debutants Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth are ready to cap their history-making exploits as the first Brits to compete in the new 49erFX Olympic class with a medal as their Rio campaign gets underway on Friday (12 August).

Scot Dobson and Ainsworth, from Ashford, Kent, teamed up in 2013 and finished in the top five at the 2015 Worlds and Rio 2014 Test Event. They also won gold ahead of 2013 World Champions, Alexandra Maloney and Molly Meech (NZL), at the Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland in June, the last major event before the Games.

The 49erFX was introduced as the women’s skiff class for Rio 2016 to ensure the inclusion of more females in the Olympic sailing events, while Dobson and Ainsworth, who both live in Weymouth, are two of nine Team GB sailors (60% of the team) making their first appearance at an Olympic Games in Brazil.

Dobson, 30, had campaigned for two previous Games in the one-person Laser Radial class, while 27-year-old Ainsworth is a former European Champion in the 470. Now they can’t wait to turn their potential into silverware on Guanabara Bay.

Dobson said: “I’m really, really lucky I’m sailing with Soph. My strengths are her weaknesses and vice versa. In the Radial I didn’t believe I could win a gold medal whereas I do believe we can in Rio. For Soph this whole campaign has been about bringing back gold and she’s helped me believe that is what we’re going to do.

“The formbook will be practically impossible to tell for the 49erFX fleet. The learning curve is so steep for the whole world that different parts are clicking for different people at different points. I think anyone in the top 10 has a very good chance of being able to medal in Rio so we’ve all to play for.”

Ainsworth continued: “I think we’re ready to win a medal as a team; we’ve got all the skills to do it. If we can execute those skills and don’t come home with a medal but have done everything we can, I can be proud. If we come home with a medal I will be incredibly proud and all that hard work and determination will be so worth it.

“Charlotte and I have never been to a Games so we haven’t experienced the pressure the Olympics is going to bring. But we’re hoping we can embrace it and use the Olympic experience and buzz to push us through that pressure. We’re not going to ignore it but we’re there to do a job and hopefully we can perform on the day.”

The 49erFX is one of the most adrenaline-fuelled classes in the Rio, and with conditions expected to suit good all-rounders, with fluky winds in the bay, big swell on the ocean courses and tricky tides, Dobson and Ainsworth are expecting some spectacular racing.

Dobson revealed: “After missing out on selection in the Radial for London I was ready to stop. Someone took me out in the 49er literally just to cheer me up. When I got into the boat I felt 15 again, it was so much fun, like a bucking bronco, and it was amazing sailing with another person. The boat saved my love of sailing.”

Ainsworth added: “Rio is such a challenging venue, you have to stay switched on. ‘Never say die’ is our motto and that’s going to be so appropriate. Things can happen outside of your control in sailing so you try to make sure you control everything you possibly can. It will be who can perform on the day that wins the medals.”

The 49erFX class is scheduled to contest a 13 race series, with three races per day on 12, 13, 15 and 16 August before the final one off medal race on Thursday 18 August.