Great Britain's sailing chief Mark Robinson declared job done at the World Championships as they became the first nation to secure a spot on the start line of every race at Tokyo 2020. The regatta in Aarhus, Denmark marked the first opportunity for countries to book their places at the Olympic Games in Japan in two years’ time.
Britain’s remarkable record as the most successful sailing nation of all time stands tall; two golds and a silver at Rio 2016 put them top of the medal table for the fourth time in the last five Games.
This year’s Championships saw this continue, with competitors meeting qualification targets in all ten events and bagging two bronze medals in the process.
Robinson said: “In terms of guaranteeing the nation is qualified at Tokyo 2020, it’s job done.”
“The World Championships has been a great success for the British Sailing Team with the nation now qualified in all ten classes – something no other country managed.
“With two years to go until Tokyo, we can now turn our attention to perfecting our skills and processes so that we peak just at the right time.”
The concluding day of competition saw teenage windsurfing starlet Emma Wilson come within a whisker of a first senior medal in the women’s RS:X.
The 19-year-old entered the medal race – counting for double points in overall standings – in fourth and grabbed the lead with a fantastic start.
Wilson, a three-time youth world champion, was eventually kept off the podium by a margin of just three points after a late surge from Yunxiu Lu of China.
She said: “To finish fourth overall when I was winning the medal race hurts a little bit but I need to be happy with coming fourth in the world."
Kieran Holmes-Martin’s fourth-placed finish in the men’s windsurf was illuminated by a stunning victory in the medal race, comfortably earning his country a spot in Tokyo.
Both of Britain’s medals at the event were bronze – Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre securing third in the women’s 470 on Thursday.
The sailing Sophie’s had their day on Saturday,
The Sailing World Cup in Enoshima, Japan is next on the agenda for all other nations still bidding for Olympic qualification spots.