London 2012 Olympics: Patience a virtue as GB duo’s title bid put on hold

On the hottest day yet at the 2012 Olympic regatta in Weymouth, as the mercury rose around the boat park and the absence of wind meant their showdown for gold against the Australian duo Mathew Belcher and Malcolm Page was left on hold all day, the Team GB duo stayed in the shade and went for a nap.

“We sat in the shade and had a snooze on our bunk beds in the container here in the boat park,” said Patience. “You do not know what the Aussies are feeling but Stuart and I are relaxed. This is our home, this affects us less than anyone else.”

The British pair are guaranteed a silver medal but have a tough ask to take gold, needing to finish two places above the world champions Belcher and Page. But in December in Perth, Australia, Patience and Bithell not only won the medal race ahead of the Aussies but at one point during the showdown also had the world title in their grasp. Belcher and Page made a poor start and only when they pulled back through the fleet did they secure their second title.

On Wednesday the British pair did their homework with Team GB’s coaching staff, again taking advice from multiple medallists like Ben Ainslie and Iain Percy. But yesterday was a day to be ready to race at any time, but not stressing through the day. Patience added: “ It is a difficult sport sailing with 11 races, so it is 11 hours of racing – a marathon for us mentally really – and so the thing is to be able to switch off and on, so that when you switch on you are not mentally fatigued in any way and it is a lot more effective.”

The medal race is rescheduled for 1pm today and holds no fears for the pair. “There are certain etiquettes at the start of the regatta, you are not aggressive, you don’t slam on anyone,” said Patience. “But in the medal races, it is gloves off. We are here to ‘rip your heads off’. And then to shake hands on shore because we are all friends.”