Britain’s elite Marlow-rigged sailors scooped the European gold and silver medals in both the 49er and Nacra 17 classes over the weekend in a flurry of success on home waters of Weymouth and Portland.

Ben Saxton and Nicola Boniface were crowned Nacra 17 European champions, while Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell picked up the title in the 49er class.

Saxton and Boniface sealed victory with a thrilling win in the double-points finale at the Volvo 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championship held at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

“We’re really excited to have won and so happy to have closed the week on a high,” said Boniface, 25, from Polegate in East Sussex.

Saxton, the 2017 Nacra 17 world champion, added: “We went into that final race wanting to come back as European champions and we did it. It feels great. We sailed really well this week and have been consistent in all conditions. We turned it on when it really counted.”

Fletcher, 31, from Thames Ditton, Surrey, who represented Team GB at the 2016 Rio Olympics, said:

“We’re very happy with how we sailed, especially given our preparation for the event. We came here straight from competing in Sail GP in San Francisco and we were really warmed up for this regatta.”

Bithell, 32, from Rochdale, who won a silver medal in the 470 at London 2012 with Luke Patience, added:

“It was a bit deflating that we couldn’t fight with the Kiwi lads in the medal race but at the end of the day we’re the European champions and we’re stoked about that.”

Silver medals fell to British Nacra 17 pair John Gimson and Anna Burnet and 49er crew James Peters and Fynn Sterritt (all rigged by Marlow) as Britain exerted its dominance on the international Olympic circuit.

Not only was the regatta one of the largest in the 2019 calendar, it was also one of the most significant with numerous nations counting it towards selection for Tokyo 2020.

Congratulations to all!