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Team GB makes a promising start in Mallorca regatta
Ainslie not back on top just yet
It's been a positive start for Team GB's Olympic hopefuls at the regatta in Palma de Mallorca.
Ben Ainslie finished in eighth and second to lie fourth overall at the end of the first day of the Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia - Mapfre. Although not back to the form that led him to victory at last year's event in Palma, it is a promising start for the three times Olympic gold medallist, after a difficult few months. January and February were blighted by an injury sustained whilst recovering from surgery on a long standing back problem. There was also the Royal Yachting Association tribunal regarding his disqualification during the World Championships in Perth in December 2011. Since then Ainslie has been training hard for the London Olympics.
'The last four weeks have seen some great gains in the reduced level of pain and my ability to train hard both on and off the water and it is a huge relief,' reflected the triple Olympic gold medallist.
'I still have some way to go but if I can continue training at this intensity then I am confident that I will be fitter and stronger than I have been for a long time.'
Ainslie is the best well known of the Brit sailors currently competing in Majorca but all of Britain’s selected 2012 Olympic crews will be in action this week. The results have been quite a surprise after the first day on the water, with some of the training partners finishing ahead of the selected Olympic team.
Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark, who are racing in the Women's 470 class, finished in 20th position at the end of the day while the up and coming duo of Sophie Weguelin and Sophie Ainsworth made the most of Palma's light winds finishing third and second in their two races.
Nick Thompson is ahead of Olympic Champion Paul Goodison after the first day of racing in the men's Laser fleet but only just, with the team-mates sitting first and third respectively. Meanwhile Helena Lucas, who is still locked in a domestic selection battle with Megan Pascoe in the 2.4mR Paralympic class, finished first and second to lead the fleet with her London 2012 rival back in sixth place.
There are still three days of racing left and it will be interesting to see what the strong British team can achieve. With London 2012 only 114 days this will be an important regatta for anyone looking to take home a medal from this year's Olympic Games.
See Ben and the other Olympic team training in Palma de Mallorca below.
