Southampton graduate Fynn Sterritt and sailing partner James Peters claimed gold in this year’s World Cup Series final.
Fynn Sterritt (left) with James Peters (right). Image credit: Tomas Moya/Sailing Energy/World Sailing
Competing in the 49er two-handed class of sailing craft, Sterritt and Peters proved their podium potential by pipping Polish pair Lukasz Przybytek and Pawel Kolodzinski. For the British duo, who missed out on qualification for Rio 2016 last summer, it was their second title of 2017 having won gold in the Trofeo Princess Sofia in Palma, Mallorca just a few weeks ago – their maiden international victory.
Flynn Sterritt said:
All week we put ourselves in the mix, made some smart decisions, didn’t do anything too extreme and it paid off, especially coming off the shore it was really shifty and gusty but we like those conditions.
Fynn Sterritt with James Peters. Image credit: Jesus Renedo/Sailing Energy/World Sailing
Sterritt, who completed his MEng in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2011, was joined by fellow Southampton alumnus Ben Saxton, who is now ranked number one in the ISAF World Rankings, in bringing home medals from Santander.
Saxton, who also graduated in 2011 but with a BSc in Business Studies, also made the podium in Santander teaming with Katie Dobson to take the bronze in the Nacra 17 catamaran. Earlier this year, Saxton and his sailing partner from Rio 2016, Nicola Groves, claimed the Nacra 17 title at the prestigious Miami World Cup event.
Ben Saxton said:
We had a really good medal race [in Santander], we won the race, had a really nice start and sailed really well and that’s got us the third place so we’re really happy. I’m just happy to win a medal because coming out and performing when you need to is what it’s all about.
