British Sailing Team
Passing the baton As the British Sailing Team's preparations gather momentum for Paris 2024, Georgie Corlett-Pitt hears from team boss MARK ROBINSON on the fresh faces and new classes shaping this Olympiad
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reat Britain’s stellar performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games saw them top the tables for the fifth time in six Games with three golds, a silver and a bronze – a hugely impressive achievement considering the challenges brought by the pandemic. But with several key members of the British Sailing Team now hanging up their buoyancy aids (see right), and the biggest equipment shakeup for decades, how are things shaping up for the next Olympic cycle ahead of Paris 2024? According to the RYA’s Olympic Performance Manager, Mark Robinson - who was recently awarded an MBE for leading the team’s success in Tokyo – the British Sailing Team’s build-up is already well underway, thanks in part to
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APRIL 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting
the pandemic. He explains: “When the postponement for the 2020 Olympic Games came, we were in the fortunate position of having already selected our team for those Games. Also, given the introduction of new classes for 2024, we knew it was important to get started early, so we split into a Tokyo Games team and a ‘Project 24’ team, which has allowed us to focus the right resources in the right place in line with our short and long term goals. “The last few months have been about bringing the team back together instead of working as two separate streams.” It’s an approach that Mark hopes will give the team the edge at the next Games, now just two and a half years away, as well as beyond that at Los Angeles in 2028. And even as some of the sailors step down from the team, they
ABOVE LEFT
Mark Robinson MBE is the RYA Olympic Performance Manager
ABOVE RIGHT
The Tokyo team leaves a legacy of inspiration
BELOW
49erFX crew Saskia Tidey, one of several Olympians going again for Paris 2024
not only leave behind them an important legacy of inspiration, but will continue to act as mentors to those taking their place. Of course, not everyone is moving on. Sailors from the Tokyo team who are continuing campaigns include gold medal winners Dylan Fletcher (49er helm) and Eilidh McIntyre (women’s 470 crew), silver
