Clark: We are still learning

Eurosport - Tue, 22 Sep 15:29:00 2009

Saskia Clark insists she is still finding her feet with new 470 partner Pippa Wilson despite a bronze medal display at the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta.

SAILING Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark of Britain (front) and Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson of Australia competing in the 470 women's class round a mark during the third race of the sailing competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games - 0

The 30-year-old split with previous partner Christina Bassadone after a below-par sixth-place finish at the Beijing Olympics last year.

Wilson part of the gold-medal winning Yngling squad last year agreed to partner Clark two months ago and they finished an encouraging seventh at the World Championships in Denmark.

Clark and Wilson then finished off their season with a determined showing in Weymouth the venue for the 2012 Olympic races but Clark is adamant there is still work to do.

"We just had the World Championships two weeks ago and haven't had much time to tidy up all the bits and pieces that came out of that," said Clark.

"We are continuing to learn how each other work and communication is the biggest thing.

"There have been some pretty windy conditions this week and Pippa and I are a pretty new partnership and we have never been out in that much wind before.

"But we got round the course in one piece, capsized a few times but learnt a lot about how we work together.

"Even though we may not be the fastest, we need to make the right decisions out on the course."

Clark had had a largely disappointing year on the water prior to last month's World Championships highlighted by finishing 13th in the European Championships in Austria in June.

But Clark, who now bases herself in Dorset, insists her Olympic venue preview will stand her and Wilson in good stead when it comes round to the real thing in less than three years' time.

"It's been great to be racing at the Olympic venue, and in our class the top ten boats in the world are here," she added.

"It's going to be a great venue for the Olympics because every single day could be different.

"Whereas in Beijing we knew to expect light winds, this is going to be tricky to prepare for and it will be a much better test of who the best sailors are."

More than the Games / Eurosport

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