The new British crew of Penny and Saskia Clark got off to a flying start at the first European leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Spain on Sunday (5 April).

The pair, competing in their first international regatta since joining forces after the Beijing Games, top the leaderboard in the 470 women’s event at the end of the first day of the Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma, with Skandia Team GBR enjoying a solid first day’s racing.

Penny Clark, who competed in the single-handed Laser Radial boat at the Beijing Games, has since jumped ship to the 470 two-person event, and her new partnership with Olympic 470 crew Saskia Clark saw them pick up a second and a fourth from their opening two races of the regatta.

“It was a good first day,” Saskia explained.  “We were pretty pleased with our upwind speed so will be looking to improve on other bits around the race track as the week goes on.”

Development squad sailor Andrew Mills sees himself in second place on the Finn leaderboard at the close of play on Sunday, closely followed by British stablemate Ed Wright in third.

Mills picked up an eighth in the first race, but then led the fleet across the line in a second race which saw the four Skandia Team GBR boats all finish inside the top ten.

“A couple of great results for me today,” said Mills. “I was looking to get top tens in each race just to try and get a bit of consistency at the start of the season and I got a first as well, so it was a great day.

“We’ve trained a lot out here during the winter, getting to know the water and how the wind’s going to work so that’s probably helped,” said Mills of the benefits of his winter training.  “I’m using some new kit as well, some new shaped sails which seem to work nicely.”

The 49er crew of John Pink and Rick Peacock also got a strong start to the regatta, and with results of 3,1,2 from their three races today they’ve signalled their intent for a second straight World Cup podium spot to add to their silver medal from the Miami leg in January.  Miami gold medallist Nick Thompson is also lying in second place in the Laser class.

Beijing bronze medallist Bryony Shaw is poised in fourth place in the RS:X women’s fleet, with Athens bronze medallist Nick Dempsey in tenth in the men’s fleet in what’s the first regatta back for both windsurfers after a break following the Olympics.

Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe are in fourth and fifth places respectively in the 2.4mR Paralympic class, while Charlotte Dobson is currently the top British Laser Radial sailor, in 11th overall after two races.  The new 470 men’s pairing of Nick Rogers and Pom Green will look for more consistency on Monday, having picked up a sixth and a 25th from their two races today.

Racing at the Princess Sofia Trophy continues on Monday 6 April, with the medal races scheduled for Friday 10 April.

49er

1. Pietro Sibello-Gianfranco Sibello, ITA (3pts)
2. John Pink-Rick Peacock, GBR (6pts)
3. Federico Alonso-Arturo Alonso, ESP (15pts)

Selected GBR
4. Andrew Walsh-Simon Marks (16pts)
6. Paul Campbell-James-Mark Asquith (17pts)
12. Dave Evans-Simon Hiscocks (23pts)

Finn

1. Tapio Nirkko, FIN (7pts)
2. Andrew Mills, GBR (9pts)
3. Ed Wright, GBR (11pts)

Other GBR

9. Giles Scott (18pts)
11. Mark Andrews (26pts)

470 Women

1. Penny Clark-Saskia Clark, GBR (6pts)
2. Sylvia Vogl-Carolina Flatscher, AUT (8pts)
3. Henriette Koch-Lene Sommer, DEN (13pts)

Other GBR

9. Hannah Mills-Katrina Hughes (19pts)
14. Sophie Weguelin-Sophie Ainsworth (27pts)

470 Men

1. Steven Lefevre-Steven Krol, NED (3pts)
2. Jan Jasper Wagner-Lennart Scheufler, GER (5pts)
3. Pierre Leboucher-Vincent Garos (6pts)

Selected GBR

19. Jonny Moss-Ben Muskett (21pts)
28. Nick Rogers-Pom Green (31pts)
29. Ben Saxton-David Kohler (32pts)

RS:X Men

1. Shahar Zubari, ISR (2pts)
2. Fabian Heidegger, ITA (3pts)
3. Chan King Yin, HKG (6pts)

GBR

10. Nick Dempsey (11pts)
41. Richard Hamilton (41pts)
43. Elliot Carney (42pts)

RS:X Women

1. Marina Alabau, ESP (2pts)
2. Eugenie Ricard, FRA (5pts)
3. Blanca Manchon, ESP (11pts)

Selected GBR

4. Bryony Shaw (11pts)
16. Beth Williamson (31pts)
18. Izzy Hamilton (33pts)

2.4mR

1. Andre Rademaker, NED (2pts)
2. Thierry Schmitter, NED (5pts)
3. Barend Kol, NED (6pts)

GBR

4. Helena Lucas (8pts)
5. Megan Pascoe (6pts)

Laser

1. Tonci Stipanonvic, CRO (4pts)
2. Nick Thompson, GBR (7pts)
3.  Jesus Rogel Sanchez, ESP (8pts)

Laser Radial

1. Paige Railey, USA (5pts)
2. Laura Maes, BEL (7pts)
3. Francesca Ciapcich, ITA (11pts)

Selected GBR

11, Charlotte Dobson (27pts)

Lindsey Bell

See Princess Sofia Trophy images:

Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 April 2009 )