Percy and Simpson miss out on third world title by just two points

Posted: Saturday 12th May 2012 | 11:13

IAIN Percy and Andrew Simpson insist everything is on course for the defence of their Olympic sailing Star title - despite settling for silver at the World Championship in Hyeres.

ON COURSE: Andrew Simpson and Iain Percy head to the Skandia Sail for Gold regatta after finishing second at the World Championships in France

The British duo missed out on their second world title together as they finished just two points behind perennial Brazilian rivals Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada, despite leading going into the decisive medal race.

“It’s frustrating that we weren’t able to finish it off, but this is just a battle, not the war,” said Percy. “It provides great motivation for the weeks ahead."

Meanwhile, Olympic champion Paul Goodison concluded his Laser World Championships in Boltenhagen ranked 20th overall after being on the receiving end of three yellow flag penalties from the jury for adjudged illegal kinetics of the boat.

“It’s been a pretty frustrating regatta for me in terms of the yellow flags early on, which I have to say I’ve been a bit surprised at,” said Goodison.

"I don’t feel that I’ve been doing anything differently in my sailing to justify them, but obviously the jury at these World Championships has seen that differently.

“In spite of those issues there were some positives to come out of the week, so I will have to take what lessons I can from this event forward into Skandia Sail for Gold and the Olympics.”