Wilson wins Princess Sofia Trophy as Brits dominate in Palma
by British Sailing Team 7 Apr 19:16 NZST
28 March - 5 April 2025
iQFOiL gold for Emma Wilson at the 54th Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS © Sailing Energy / Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca
Sailors Emma Wilson and Micky Beckett spearheaded a massive nine-medal haul - the best in the event's history - at the LA 2028 cycle curtain raiser.
Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Wilson won the top award at the Trofeo Princesa Sofia, the prestigious Olympic sailing season opener in Palma de Mallorca, in recognition of her sheer dominance in the iQFOiL windsurfing class.
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.
It's thought the results are the best ever by any nation in the 54-year history of the regatta.
To top off the celebrations Wilson was awarded the Princess Sofia Trophy, the regatta's top prize, after she won 14 out of 21 races in the foiling windsurfer fleet.
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."
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."
The British Sailing Team will now turn its attention to the Semaine Olymique Francaise in Hyeres, France, the second round of the newly formed Sailing Grand Slam, later this month.
Medallists:
Emma Wilson, 25, Christchurch, Dorset: gold, iQFOiL
Saskia Tidey, 31, Portland, Dorset: gold, 49erFX
Freya Black, 23, Goudhurst, Kent: gold, 49erFX
Martin Wrigley, 28, Hereford: gold, 470
Bettine Harris, 22, Axbridge, Somerset: gold, 470
Micky Beckett, 30, Solva, Pembrokeshire: gold, ILCA 7
John Gimson, 42, Congleton, Cheshire: gold, Nacra 17
Anna Burnet, 32, Shandon, Scotland: gold, Nacra 17
Lily Young, 26, Weymouth, Dorset: silver, Formula Kite
Elliot Hanson, 31, Macclesfield, Cheshire: silver, ILCA 7
Ellie Aldridge, 28, Poole, Dorset: bronze, Formula Kite
Daisy Collingridge, 25, London: bronze, ILCA 6