News - 2014

14:13 Tuesday 6 Aug 2013 Sue Pelling/CWLOlympic gold medallist Helena Lucas prepares for road to Rio

Rick Tomlinson/CWL

Among the many Olympic medallists here at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week is paralympian Helena Lucas.

Lucas, who was born with no thumbs and limited extension in her arms, won a Gold Medal at the London 2012 Paralympics in the 2.4mR class. This week she is sailing an SB20 with her coach Ian Barker – Olympic Silver Medallist in Sydney 2000 in the 49er class, and Vicky Rawlinson – former 420 youth world champion and Olympic 470 trialist.

After an extremely successful 2012, Lucas has taken a few months away from the Olympic arena to enjoy sailing a variety of different classes with different crews.

Chatting about her presence at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and her ‘road to Rio’ for the 2016 Olympic Games, Lucas said: “I knew I would enjoy being here at Cowes Week. I am gradually getting back into it again after the Games and I’m using the opportunity I have to sail other boats and sail with other people in an effort to expand my knowledge before the Olympic sailing really takes hold again.”

Lucas said that having her coach in the boat is actually far more valuable than she imagined. “Although he coaches me, we rarely get a chance to sail for long periods together, so this is a great opportunity. We are learning how each other ‘work’ and I am learning such a lot from his input.”

Lucas and her team on Volvo are currently in third place overall in the SB20 class after three days of racing. All racing today however, has been abandoned due to lack of wind so Team Volvo will be back on the water tomorrow in an effort to improve their overall standing.