Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark admitted their relief after scooping 470 bronze at sailing's World Championships in Santander.
The Olympic silver medallists were in the podium places coming into the decisive double points medal race and insisted they had no complaints with the result after a season disjointed by injuries.
"This was all we could have hoped for today really,” said Mills.
“It was too far for silver and gold to be in with a shout so we did just did the best job we could and came home with the bronze.
“This is the ISAF World Championships, it is only once every four years - it is a big deal in the build up to any of the Olympic Games so to come here and perform we are really happy. It's not quite the colour we wanted but we have a lot to work on."
Clark also insists the result will give the double act the perfect springboard to the Rio Olympics - their next big regatta and target.
"It was a big deal this morning there was lots of noise when we came to the boat park. We don't get much chance to practice in that - it is only the Olympics really we have all that kind of excitement," she added.
“On the water it was really tricky with land all around us that is similar to a lot of our race courses in Rio, so we feel we have made a real step forward sailing in that kind of breeze this week."
Elsewhere, Luke Patience and Elliot Willis also featured in medal race action, finishing second in the 470 men’s medal race to consolidate their overall fourth place.
© Sportsbeat 2014