London 2012 Olympics: Luke Patience off to perfect start

Scot Luke Patience and crew Stuart Bithell made a dream 
start to their first ever Olympic regatta.

In the kind of blustery conditions which are their proven forte, the young duo finished a good second in front of a big, supportive crowd on the showcase Nothe course and then – further out to sea in bigger winds and waves – blew the opposition away with a totally dominant race victory.

The Team GB pair lead the 470 class after the first day while the reigning world champions 
Australia’s Matt Belcher and 
Malcolm Page had a nightmare start and lie fifth.

Patience said: “We put our hearts and souls into it. That’s what we do every day. That’s our job. It was windy, it was wet and it was fast. We love that.

“We have to keep it in perspective. It is day one. We would be mad to think anything other than, ‘That’ll do boy, that’ll do boy’. The next stage is just stay the same. It is not about the Aussies, it is not about anyone else. It is about me and Stu doing our best every day, every race.”