Hughes embarks on voyage to Olympics (From Echo)

Hughes embarks on voyage to Olympics

1:10pm Tuesday 23rd September 2008 in Search

LEIGH-ON-SEA teenager Katrina Hughes is preparing to take on all-comers in a bid to bag a spot at the London Olympics after going toe-to-toe with the world’s elite at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth last week.

The 18-year-old former Westcliff High School pupil recorded three first place finishes on the way to finishing fifth in the 470 class at the 2012 Olympic sailing venue in Weymouth.

Hughes, who won the 2008 World Junior Championships with Hannah Mills in Poland, joined more than 300 international sailors including gold medallist Paul Goodison and bronze winner Bryony Shaw for the first Olympic class regatta since the Games.

And Hughes, who finished second in the medal race to take gold in July, is determined to replicate that performance en route to 2012.

“We’ve had a really good summer and it’s all geared towards 2012 now — that’s the big aim,” she said.

“It was great to win the World Juniors, it was my best day in sailing so far, but I want to replicate that now in the senior events because that’s how we’ll earn a place at the London Olympics.

“We were perhaps a little conservative this time, but that will change as we grow in confidence.

“The winds were shifty and quite light so we stayed up the middle and in the end the way the wind changed meant we were beaten on both sides by boats who could go quicker.

“But that’s all part of the learning curve and I’m sure we will only get better and better as the qualifying draws nearer.”

Hughes, who began sailing with Corinthian Otters, served notice of her talents in 2002 by finishing fourth in the bronze fleet at the Rutland Sailing Club.

And Skandia Team GBR Olympic manager Stephen Park, who presided over Britain’s most successful Games regatta in 100 years in Beijing, challenged Hughes to continue her progress.

“Katrina had a good week and that was down to hard work, which is something she needs to continue,” said Park.

“The challenge to Katrina is to knock the established people out of the team.

“It is hard for them because there is only one place in each class, but everyone who went to Beijing has to start again now and aim for four years’ time.

“If Katrina can continue her junior form at the senior levels then she’ll be putting a lot of pressure on everyone else for the GB vest.”