Former Ballard School pupil and double Olympic bronze medallist Emma Wilson led the way for the British Sailing Team, dominating the iQFOiL windsurfing class at the prestigious Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma de Mallorca
Christchurch’s Emma Wilson led the way for the British Sailing Team, dominating the iQFOiL windsurfing class at the prestigious Olympic sailing season opener Princess Sofia Trophy in Palma de Mallorca.
The former Ballard School pupil and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Wilson won the top award at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia – for the most dominant sailor across all fleets – after finishing a colossal 88 points ahead of second-placed Chinese sailor Zheng Yan.
Wilson said: “It’s crazy – I wasn’t expecting it at all. There are names on this trophy, like Ben Ainslie, people I’ve looked up to since I was a kid. To have my name on there now is pretty cool.”
Wilson won the regatta’s top prize after she won 14 out of 21 races in the foiling windsurfer fleet.
“I’m so happy,” added 25-year-old Wilson. “I don’t know, when you win something, it’s super cool. I haven’t actually won that much in my career; I’m so happy to have such an amazing week.
“Every day is about getting the final medal race, and I’m so happy to have put together a good race.
“I want to say thanks to everyone who keeps supporting me through everything, and my family, who made it all possible, my coaches – everyone who has helped me to take it this far. Let’s keep it going!”
Wilson and Micky Beckett were at the forefront of a massive nine-medal haul – the best in the event’s history – at the LA 2028 cycle curtain raiser.
Team GB athlete Beckett won the ILCA 7 men’s dinghy fleet for an unprecedented fourth time in a row, doing so with a day to spare.
Golds followed for Tokyo 2020 silver medallists John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the Nacra 17, Freya Black and Saskia Tidey in the 49erFX and Martin Wrigley and Bettine Harris in the 470.
Lily Young took silver in the women’s Formula Kite fleet with Paris 2024 gold medallist Ellie Aldridge taking bronze.
Elliot Hanson, who competed at Tokyo 2020, marked his return to Olympic class racing following some time away from the circuit with a silver medal in the ILCA 7, while Daisy Collingridge bagged her first medal at senior level with a bronze in the ILCA 6.
The colossal medal haul put Great Britain firmly at the top of the medal table, with Australia’s two golds putting them in second ahead of China with one gold, one silver and one bronze.
Mark Robinson, RYA Performance Director, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the team’s performances this week.
“To finish the regatta with nine medals, including five golds, is a real statement of intent as we look towards LA 2028.
“It’s no secret that we didn’t reach our full potential in Marseille last summer, but if this week is anything to go by, the future is bright for the British Sailing Team.”
Wilson and the British Sailing Team will now turn their attention to the Semaine Olymique Francaise in Hyeres, France, the second round of the newly formed Sailing Grand Slam, later this month.
