Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre delighted in finally toasting that winning feeling again after retaining their 470 class World Cup title in Marseille.
Mills and McIntyre held an eight-point lead over Silvia Mas Depares and Patricia Cantero Reina of Spain going into the final day’s action.
They dominated the week’s racing, but were unable to put in a final flourish in the double-points medal race as the wind was ruled too light for competition, despite several attempts to get it underway.
That left them confirmed as the victors though, with the win representing their first since the World Cup Series final last year.
And 30-year-old Mills believes it is the perfect way to create momentum heading into this summer’s World Championships.
“Eilidh and I only teamed up a year ago and we won the 2017 World Cup Series final in Santander,” she said.
“We’ve had a couple of silvers this year but this is actually the first event we’ve won since then. It’s great and it’s really where we want to be.
“We’ve got the World Championships this summer followed by the first Olympic test event in Enoshima, and those will really be the events we’re aiming to peak for.”
McIntyre, 24, added: “It’s a great feeling to be back a year on and still be in the yellow winners’ bibs.
“We’ve learned a lot this year and we’re looking forward to the rest of the season. Two years out from the next Olympics we’re in a good position.”
Elliot Hanson secured an impressive bronze in the Laser fleet, despite it being the first outing for the Macclesfield sailor since ankle surgery.
The 24-year-old catapulted himself up the overall rankings with victory in the medal race and admitted there was more to come after his podium triumph in French waters.
“My return from injury has gone better than expected,” Hanson said. “There were a few sceptics after my win in Medemblik, the biggest one being myself, so to come away from the World Cup Series final with a medal is a great feeling and I still feel there’s much more to give.”
Elsewhere, Amy Seabright and Anna Carpenter finished eighth in the 470, while Nick Thompson, Michael Beckett and Lorenzo Chiavarini came in fourth, eighth and tenth overall in the Laser. Georgina Povall claimed ninth in the Laser Radial. Photo: Sailing Energy/World Sailing
Sportsbeat 2018