The latest news from Saskia Clark's and helm Christina Bassadone's challenge for the 470 class at the 2008 Olympics
RYA Press Release
3 April 2008
Clark confirmed for Beijing Games
West Mersea-born sailor Saskia Clark is celebrating today after being officially selected by the British Olympic Association to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Clark will be on the plane to China for the Olympic Regatta in Qingdao this summer after the BOA officially ratified her nomination for the women’s 470 two-person dinghy class put forward by Royal Yachting Association selectors.
The 28-year-old, who now lives in Weymouth, will be making her Games debut at Beijing sailing with helm Christina Bassadone, who took her own Olympic bow and finished seventh with Katherine Hopson at Athens 2004.
Bassadone and Clark have just returned from the top class Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma where the pair took a hard-fought bronze having struggled to find their feet in the early part of the regatta.
But with a 2007 World Championship bronze to their credit, they know they have the credentials to make an impact on the infamously light wind waters of Qingdao.
Clark said: “I am massively excited, we packed up our first two boxes last week and it’s a silly thing, but it indicated it’s all getting very close now.
“Everyone says the Olympics are a very different regatta and you don’t appreciate it until you’ve done one but Christina competed at Athens and there are many other members of the team who have competed at past Games so I’ve been able to get an invaluable insight into what it’s likely to be like.
“From the outset Qingdao was a bit of a controversial choice of venue because of its reputation for the light winds but we have all just been getting on with it. At the Test Event last year, they managed to get a reasonable series of races in so it might not be as disastrous as some people have been forecasting but you never know and have to be ready for anything.”
Stephen Park, RYA Olympic Manager and sailing’s Team Leader for the Beijing Games said: “We’re pleased that the RYA’s nominated sailors have been accepted as part of Team GB for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and are delighted to have today finalised our team for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.”
Chris Atkins, Chairman of the RYA Selection Committee added: “The sailors who have been officially named today are all proven performers on the world stage and their inclusion as part of Team GB will put us in the best possible shape to achieve our target of three medals in Qingdao.”
Nine sailors officially had their nominations ratified in January while the remaining nine sailors confirmed today also comprise Nick Dempsey (RS:X men), Bryony Shaw (RS:X women), Penny Clark (Radial), Nick Rogers-Joe Glanfield (470 Men) and Leigh McMillan-Will Howden (Tornado).
Team GB could ultimately comprise 300 athletes competing across 22 sports at the Games in August.
BOA Chief Executive and 2008 Chef de Mission Simon Clegg said: “I am delighted to announce the rest of the sailors, which includes a strong mix of experienced and new talent, who will be joining the team at the Olympics in August.
“Sailing is the first sport for which we have completed selection and we wish all the sailors the best of luck as they prepare to go to Qingdao to compete for Team GB at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.”
The Olympic regatta will take place in Qingdao from Saturday 9 to Thursday 21 August.
Sailors selected for Team GB:
Laser Radial (women’s one person dinghy)
Penny Clark
RS:X Men (men’s windsurfer)
Nick Dempsey
RS:X Women (women’s windsurfer)
Bryony Shaw
470 Men (men’s two person dinghy)
Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield
470 Women (women’s two person dinghy)
Christina Bassadone and Saskia Clark
Tornado (multihull)
Leigh McMillan and Will Howden
Previously selected:
Finn class (heavyweight dinghy)
Ben Ainslie
Yngling class (women’s keelboat)
Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson
49er class (skiff)
Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes
Laser class (men’s one person dinghy)
Paul Goodison
Star class (men’s keelboat)
Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson
ENDS
Girls clinch Third place in Princess Sofia Olympic Classes Regatta
Saskia Clark and helm Christina Bassadone finished 2nd in a blinder of a
medal race which clinched them 3rd overall in the first of this season’s
European Olympic Classes Regattas.
All of the 470 crews heading for the Beijing Olympics were competing in the
Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma, Mallorca. Saskia and Christina went into
the last day’s racing in 5th place with everything to play for. The testing
conditions – 25 knots of wind and lumpy seas – called for exceptional boat
handling and the girls showed their talent as they sailed past their key
opposition and into second place and onto the podium.
WMYC and DSC were well represented at the Palace that night to cheer Saskia
as she collected her prize from the King and Queen of Spain along with eight
other members of Team GBR.
For a full race report go to: http://www.trofeoprincesasofia.org/
SASKIA IS TOAST OF THE COUNTY
WMYC member Saskia Clark is Essex Sports Personality of the Year.
She scooped the top award at a glittering ceremony hosted by SportEssex in Chelmsford just weeks after being named a member of the British Olympic Sailing Team.
Speaking from a training camp in Palma, Majorca, Saskia thanked everyone in Mersea and Essex for supporting her and team mate Christina Bassadone in their bid for an Olympic medal.
One of only 18 sailors who will compete for Great Britain in Beijing 2008, Saskia sails in the women’s double handed 470 dinghy. She and Christina have spent the last three years ranked among the best in the world and have medaled at the last two world championships.
“It is great to know we have so much support on Mersea and in Essex and it makes us proud of what we have achieved,” she said afterwards. “Next year is a big year for us; we have the skills and the right support to do well. We now have to pull it all together and make sure we can perform when it matters.”
The pair will spend the early part of this winter fitness training in the Balearics before getting back on the water in mid-December for a regatta in northern Spain. They then fly to Melbourne, Australia for the 2008 world championships, the first of, next season’s round of Olympic Class regattas.
Saskia has also been short listed for the regional BBC East Sports Awards which take place at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford on Monday 12th November.
You can see Saskia’s video acceptance at: http://www.sportessex.com/sports_awards.php
Hear her live interview on BBC Essex at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2007/11/09/essex_sports_awards_feature.shtml
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