Saskia Clark

From the beginning she made it clear that she loved dinghy racing, having sailed her first race in the 1987 Royal Harwich Junior Week in the Optimist class. Her first taste of competition put her in good stead for the future as she progressed through the ranks, sailing in several different classes. After winning the Laser Radial Youth Europeans in 1996, she made the step into double handed sailing and into her current class, the women’s 470. Alongside training and competing as a member of the RYA Olympic Development Squad, she also studied Sport Science at University College Chichester. Watching the sailing event at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens from home focussed Saskia’s attention on Beijing 2008 and bringing home a medal.

Following the 2004 Olympics, she joined forces with Christina Bassadone, who had represented Great Britain in Athens. The girls immediately gelled as a team and in their first major event together at the 2005 Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma, they won a bronze medal. Having tasted successes, there was little that could stop Clark and Bassadone from dominating the women’s 470 class. They have finished on the podium at many of the major world class regattas around the world, with their most recent major success at the 2007 ISAF World Championships in Cascais, where they won bronze.

Facts and Figures:

Class: 470

World Ranking: 11^th (as of 5^th March 2008)

DOB: 23^rd August 1979

Born: Colchester, Essex

Currently living: Weymouth / West Mersea, Essex

Started sailing: Aged 8

Duration in current class: Since 2000

Greatest strengths in sailing: Analysing performance and keeping it in perspective

Greatest weakness in sailing: Technical knowledge

Biggest goal: To win a Gold Medal in 2008

Who has been the most influential person in your sailing career: My Dad

Other interests away from sailing: Attempting to windsurf, skiing/snowboarding and catching up with everybody