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Sailors sets their sights on Games medals

Bermuda Sailing Association (BSA) president Tim Patton has backed the local contingent competing at the 2011NatWest Island Games to produce the goods when they travel to the Isle of Wight in June.Brett Wright, Rockal Evans, Sarah Lane Adderley and Jason Saints make up the team that will compete, with Wright and Evans doing battle in the Laser Standard category, and Adderley and Saints sailing in the Laser Radial fleet.Wright, Evans and Adderley were all part of the 2009 gold medal team in Aland, although none of them managed to pick up individual medals.Bermuda also won silver in 2007.While there wasn’t as strict a standard for the selection process as for the bigger regattas directed by the BSA’s standards committee Patton said he’s pleased with the team that has been assembled.“There is a criteria but not to the extent that it goes before our standards committee,” said Patton. “We don’t let people go to the Pan-Am Games and CAC Games or the Olympics unless they have met not only the Olympic standard but also our own high standards.“We don’t want the sport of sailing to be embarrassed by sending people who aren’t at the right level.“With the Island Games, because it isn’t one of the traditionally big events and I say that not taking anything away from the Games and because it doesn’t come under the umbrella of the BOA, we stand back a lot more from it.“If we thought that we were sending someone to go out there and have fun then, of course, we wouldn’t send them but we are confident that the people selected have the right stuff to do well.”The Games will see the Radial division open to both genders the category is usually reserved for women only with both individual and team medals again up for grabs.The team medal placing will by determined by adding up all the individual scores for each country.Patton refused to put any expectations on the team, noting that those who are going didn’t need any incentive to perform well.Representing your country will surely bring out the best in any athlete, said Patton.“We don’t have any real expectations for them but I’m sure that they will have high expectations on what they want to achieve.“Knowing those who are going, I would expect them to be looking to be in the hunt and that they will be disappointed if they weren’t in the hunt for medals.“It’s not to send them out to have fun, they are actually going out there to compete and hopefully win the competition.“Sailing is both individual and a team effort in the Games.”The sailing events for the Games will take place off Sandown Bay, a five-mile wide, gently shelving sandy bay on the southeast coast and is the main resort beach on the Isle of Wight.Yaverland Sailing & Boat Club will be the hosts for the sailing competition.