Asher and Willis looking for a place in history

BRITISH sailors Nic Asher and Elliot Willis are eyeing a place in history this week.

ON COURSE: Nic Asher and Elliot Willis are seeking their third career 470 world title in Holland this week (onEdition)

The duo, who sail in the 470 class, are seeking to become only the third male crew to win a hat-trick of World Championship titles

Asher, 25, and 27-year-old crew Willis became the first British crew in 18 years to win a 470 world title when they won gold 2006 - a title they regained in 2008.

Buoyed by their recent win at the Dutch leg of ISAF Sailing World Cup series at Medemblik at the end of May, the pair are now hoping for more success on Dutch waters.

But Asher is remaining level-headed about the prospect of an historic third world title.

"If we keep sailing how we've been sailing, and keep plugging away, I'm sure we'll be up there at the end of the event," said Asher.

"It's still a really tough fleet - there are probably ten boats who could easily get a medal or win, so we've got to keep sailing well, keep on doing the things we've been doing and hopefully we'll get a medal.

"Gold is definitely in the back of our minds, but it's pretty tough so we've just got to keep concentrating on sailing well and keep on plugging away. Then, hopefully we can get that third world title."

Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell, who emerged as surprise silver medallists at the 2009 World Championship only days after teaming up, will also feature in the men's fleet, while double Olympic silver medallist Nick Rogers and Pom Green are notable absentees after announcing they are ending their Olympic campaign.

In the women's fleet, two-time Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton and new crew Saskia Clark head to The Hague for their first World Championship together, fresh from World Cup victory in Kiel last month.