Saxton and Groves win gold in Weymouth

Sixth in the Medal Race was enough for Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves (GBR) to win gold in the Nacra 17. The pair held the lead heading into the final day and even though their main rivals to gold, Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner of Germany, finished well ahead of them, the three consecutive race wins they picked up leading up to the Medal Race proved decisive.

Kohlhoff and Werner won’t leave Weymouth and Portland too disheartened as their silver medal hands them the German Nacra 17 spot for Rio 2016.

Sailing World Cup Hyères gold medallists Fernando Echavarri and Tara Pacheco (ESP) won the Medal Race but this was not enough to make it onto the podium. Billy Besson and Marie Riou (FRA) came through directly behind them, snapping up bronze.

Just 54 days remain until the start of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games so it’s full on from hereon in until the summer showcase. As for the Sailing World Cup, the series will resume in Qingdao, China before the centrepiece final in Melbourne, Australia in December.

photo © Pedro Martinez / Sailing Energy / World Sailing
Text by Daniel Smith – World Sailing