Wilson still has Yngling on the mind

By Jo Carter, Sportsbeat 

OLYMPIC champion Pippa Wilson admits she still has a Yngling frame of mind - but knows that must change fast if she is to stand any chance of going to London 2012.

 
BETWEEN TWO STOOLS: Pippa Wilson remains in a quandary as to where she should go next (onEdition)

The 23-year-old was one of the infamous ‘Three Blondes in a Boat ‘at the Olympics last summer that claimed Yngling gold on the waters in Qingdao.

However a lot has changed in the past year with Yngling dropped from the Olympic programme and Wilson and team-mates Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb forced to part company.

Wilson began the year alongside Ayton in the 470 class but that soon ended after she and current world windsurfing champion Nick Dempsey had their first child - Thomas - in June.

What should have been a homecoming year for Wilson was fast turning into a disaster however she again landed on her feet and linked up with Saskia Clark in the 470 class.

Wilson and Clark's fledgling partnership was put to the test at the World Championships in Denmark in August where they showed their future Olympic promise finishing seventh.

The duo were back on the water again for the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta last month claiming bronze but Wilson admitted she is still finding life tough after switching events in a bid to get to 2012.

"It's hard making a change when you have had so much success in one boat and then suddenly you are in a boat that you are having to learn all about," said Wilson.

"After Beijing I had a fair bit of time off because nothing can really compare you for what happens after an Olympic Games.

"You spend your whole time thinking about the regatta itself and building entirely towards that - that you don't have any plan for afterwards.

"It's frustrating at the minute because we are very much still learning the event and learning all about the boat so it is quite hard.

"We feel like we are starting to get to grips with it but when you are so used to doing the same thing over and over again in own it is hard to change.

"Saskia and I are enjoying the challenge at the minute and we are confident that we can improve quickly and be challenging for medals.

"We know we can't just have success straight away and we have to be aware of that. But both Saskia and I have got our eyes on the gold medal in London and we would both love to do it."

Clark - a 470 specialist for the past nine years - too has been through the mill with partners this year after calling time on her link up with Christina Bassadone after the Olympics.

The pair finished sixth in Beijing but decided to go their separate ways with Clark continuing in the 470 and Bassadone going alone in the radial.

The 30-year-old initially joined forces with namesake Penny finishing 13th at the European Championships in Austria but again parted company prior to finding Wilson.

Competition for the sole Olympic boat on home waters in three years time couldn't be fiercer with Wilson and Clark having to contend with Penny and new partner Katrina Hughes and Hannah Mills and Rosie Chapman.

Olympic champion Ayton is also torn between the 470 and match racing and despite finishing as the top Brits in Denmark - Clark admitted not all is what it looks like on paper.

"We haven't had much time to tidy up all the bits and pieces that came out of the World Championships but we are continuing to learn how each other works and communication is the biggest thing," said Clark.

"Pippa and I feel a bit like youngsters because we are so new to each other and even though we may not be the fastest, we need to make the right decisions out on the course.

"Weymouth is going to be a great venue for the Olympics because every single day could be different. In Beijing we knew to expect light winds so this is going to be tricky to prepare for and it will be a much better test of the who the best sailors are.

"During the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta it was pretty windy and Pippa and I haven't been out in the wind that much before.

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