Olympic gold medallist to race in oldest sailing contest

Dylan Fletcher won gold for Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021

An Olympic gold medallist is hoping to use his sailing skills to help his team win an international yacht race.

Dylan Fletcher, who learned to sail at Northampton Sailing Club and won gold in the men's 49er class at the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, is participating in this year's America's Cup for Team INEOS Britannia.

Their 75ft vessel was built and tested in Brackley, Northamptonshire, in partnership with the Mercedes Formula 1 team.

Mr Fletcher said he anticipates "a close race" in the first heat against the American team.

The New Zealand regatta team are the current Americas Cup holders

The America's Cup, first held around the Isle of Wight in 1851, is the world's oldest international sporting event.

This year's competition takes place between the end of August and October, and is held in Barcelona.

Mr Fletcher said he was "a little nervous" but was "looking forward to the race".

The sailor added that his participation fulfils a childhood prediction from his father, who once said: "One day, [Dylan] will hold an America's Cup."

The competition begins on 29 August, with a series of races determining who will challenge the defending champions, New Zealand, for the trophy in October.

Four-time Olympic sailing champion Sir Ben Ainslie leads Team Britannia as skipper and CEO, backed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos Group.