No time for worrying insists Simpson as Olympics loom ever larger

Posted: Thursday 28th June 2012 | 12:48

ANDREW Simpson might have seen the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta title slip through his fingers at the death this month but he isn't about to panic, insisting he is well on track for London 2012 glory.

NO PANIC: Andrew Simpson insists he and Iain Percy are at ease with their preparation for this summer's Olympics

The 35-year-old headed to the Olympic venue of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy alongside Star partner Iain Percy looking to deal an early blow to their rivals with Sail for Gold the last regatta before the Games.

And it looked like they would do just that as they lead the fleet by one point heading into the all-important medal race.

However, a collision with Brazilian world champions Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada meant they finished the event with bronze, allowing Ireland's Peter O'Leary and David Burrows to take the gold.

But, despite slipping down the leaderboard on the final day, Simpson believes he and Percy are that much closer to retaining their Olympic crown after testing the Weymouth waters.

"Despite missing out on the gold medal nothing happened to knock the belief that we can win gold at the Olympics," he said.

"On the contrary, things are coming together. We had good speed, which has been our issue for while, so that's what matters, we'll keep working on it.

"You always enter a competition to try to win so of course we did try and win. But the notebook was out every night and we were trying to make improvements and it's all irrelevant, it's what happens in a month.

"So learning was a big part of the regatta but I won't say we didn't go out there trying to win, and we didn't, so we are obviously disappointed but it's fine, there's something somewhat more important this year to start worrying about now."

With O'Leary and Burrows winning the gold, they head into London 2012 full of confidence that they can pull it out of the bag at the Olympic venue.

But with Scheidt and Prada, who finished Sail for Gold second, having claimed victory in Weymouth at the Olympic test event last year, Simpson is readying himself for a battle later this summer.

"The Irish did a great job, they were going fast, going the right way and they got it right," he added. "In the fleet, any one of the top ten can probably win a race or win an event at times, if they get it right, so that's the nature of it.

"We know what to expect and we will be ready for whoever brings it this summer."

Investment specialist Skandia is the principal sponsor of the British sailing team. For more information go to www.skandiateamgbr.com.