Goodison eager to race on Weymouth return

The 33-year-old was pushed all the way by British rival Nick Thompson on the Olympic waters in Weymouth with the added carrot of the sole Laser spot at Augusts’ Olympic test event available.

Despite trailing for most of the week-long regatta, Olympic champion Goodison timed his run to perfection, ending up third while Thompson slipped to fifth.

But with a return to the Dorset coast imminent, Goodison is not about to pop the champagne corks any time soon.

“Finishing as top Brit is the first half of a job done,” said Goodison – an Olympic, world and European champion and current world No 1. “Nick’s done a fantastic job, came out of the blocks firing and looked really strong and it took me a little bit of a while to get in to my stride and catch up and go past.”

Australian Tom Slingsby, who finished well down in 23rd as Goodison won Olympic gold in 2008, claimed his third straight Sail for Gold title, clearly comfortable on the 2012 waters.

With Sail for Gold acting as the penultimate ISAF World Cup leg Slingsby’s win extended his lead at the top with Goodison and Thompson in second and third respectively. But Goodison hopes to make the most of home advantage when it really matters, not looking to let go of the Olympic title he claimed in Beijing in a hurry.

“The more time we spend in Weymouth, the more excited everybody gets,” he added. “Sail for Gold almost felt like it could well be the Olympics.

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