Stevie Morrison is adamant that behind their winter of struggle can come strength – and success – as he and Ben Rhodes get set for their first regatta since the London 2012 Olympics.
The British duo finished fifth in the 49er at London 2012 last summer and improvement of four places on their finish from their debut Games on the waters of Qingdao in 2008.
Morrison admits that for large parts of the four-year cycle to London 2012 they lost motivation only to rediscover it six months before the Games and carry it on to the present.
That is despite the loss of a long-term sponsor and toe and back injuries to Rhodes which required intensive rehabilitation and a lay-off from sailing during the winter training months.
Morrison knows that will have an impact when they take to the water next week for the first time since London 2012 at the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma.
However he is adamant that come the summer they will be firing on all cylinders again with success at September’s World Championships in Marseille top of their list of priorities this year.
“The last six months or so of our London campaign was really good fun. We really enjoyed the challenge, we loved it and it’s a privilege to represent your country and a privilege to get to go sailing, which is what I love to do,” said Morrison.
“Maybe for a little while that got lost – it became hard work and it became a chore, whereas in that last period I really enjoyed it and although we didn’t get the result in London there were an awful lot of really good things.
“I felt like we were in a place where we were getting better and better and learning stuff, but enjoying it again. For us this year’s about doing well at the World Championships in September. There are a lot of regattas along the way, a lot of stepping stones.
“Realistically we’re going to struggle to put a stamp on this event (the Princess Sofia Trophy), and probably the next regatta in Hyeres.
“But come later in the summer at Sail for Gold in Weymouth, and the European Championships, by then we’ll hopefully be up to a better standard and can look to lay down a bit of a marker.”
© Sportsbeat 2013