University of Southampton sailing trio takes gold for Great Britain
Two students and a recent graduate from the University of Southampton scooped gold at the FISU World University Match Racing Championships 2014, which took place in Italy last weekend.
Ship Science students Annabel Vose and Emily Nagel, along with Southampton graduate Amy Prime, were the first women to represent Great Britain in the international competition, where they saw off competition from seven other teams to finish first. Hannah Peters, of Royal Holloway University, was the fourth member of the team.
“The event was a fantastic experience and I couldn't be happier with the result,” says Emily Nagel, 19, who grew up in Bermuda where she first learnt to sail.
“We really did not expect to win and to be undefeated up until the final was incredible. The semi-finals and finals against Brazil and France were challenging and did test us as a team, but we pulled through. The support from everyone has been overwhelming and greatly appreciated.”
Annabel Vose, also 19, led the team at Lake Ledro, Italy, and has been sailing since the age of seven. She has represented her country in the sport before, winning gold in the 420 World Championships in 2011. She said: “We are all established sailors in our own right and we get on really well as a team of driven, determined girls.”
The team already have a number of events planned for the future, including the second stage of the Womens Match Race Series, as well as the Etchells Invitational. “Long term we hope to continue racing as a team and if all goes well Annabel and I hope to defend our title in Perth in 2016,” says Emily.
Engineering and the Environment