23 August 2009

Nic Asher and Elliot Willis, the Be Number 1 sailors and 2012 Olympic hopefuls, will aim to become only the third pairing to claim a third world title at the 470 World Championships, which begin in Denmark today.

Asher and Willis were victorious in 2006 and 2008, and they will take on teams that include British rivals Nick Rogers - twice an Olympic silver medallist - and Pom Green.

Australia's Olympic champion Malcolm Page is also competing, with Mathew Belcher, and will be gunning for his fourth world title.

Asher, 24, is quietly optimistic about the prospects for himself and 26-year-old Willis, who, as a pair, failed to gain selection for the Beijing Olympics.

"We're in fairly good shape and we've had a pretty good year so far," Asher said.

"We had a slightly late start. But after a bit of a rest, we've been building up slowly towards the World Championships.

“For us to win for a third time would be a big achievement. It does put slightly more pressure on us, which I can definitely feel as I'm more nervous about this event than any other. But I think it is good practice for the Olympics, where the pressure will be even greater."

Be Number 1 also has representation in the women’s event, in which Pippa Wilson, who memorably won Olympic Yngling gold with Sarah Ayton and Sarah Webb last year, teams up with Saskia Clark.