Olympic medallist windsurfers Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw believe next year's sailing World Championship venue will provide perfect preparation for the 2016 Olympic regatta.
Reigning world champion Dempsey, a silver medallist at London 2012 and Shaw, who won bronze at the Beijing Games, are testing the waters off Santander at this week's preparation event.
They both lie third in their respective RS:X fleets in the Spanish city - but more importantly they believe the venue closely mimics the conditions they might expect to find at the next Olympics.
“It’s a great venue for Rio," said Dempsey.
"If you stuck a really windy World Championship in there next year, it’s not really that relevant to Rio, whereas I think doing well here next year will be a similar person to who’s going to do well in Rio.
"It’s definitely worth doing everything you can to try and win that World Championships and that’s going to be the focus from now on.
“The wind patterns are different to home, it’s very unpredictable out there.
“We’re generally going to get light winds next year which is going to make it difficult again – the current is a factor and we have a huge swell.
“We’re definitely going to have to factor some time here during the summer next year. It’s not going to be a straightforward World Championship.”
Shaw – a silver medallist at the 2012 Worlds - also likes the challenges posed, with regards to fine honing her preparations for the next Olympics.
“It is very similar to Rio,” she said.
"Having been out there this summer, you really do need to get a handle on the current out there.
“It’s quite trick and also the swells – you can get some big rolling swells coming through even through the harbour entrance - so it’s a good place to practice."
© Sportsbeat 2013