By Will Castle

Fynn Sterritt says spirits are sky-high after Team GB’s sailing stars revived their Paris 2024 campaign to fire themselves into medal contention.

Sterritt and 49er partner James Peters initially endured a difficult start to Paris 2024, falling victim to the temperamental conditions as they finished the opening day in 14th.

But after bouncing back with three top six finishes on day two, the pair produced their first victory of the Olympic Games in Tuesday’s final race to propel themselves into fourth.

With the wind beneath their sails, Inverness’ Sterritt is confident that they can continue in fine stead as the duo set their sights on a debut Olympic medal.

“Winning the last race always makes you feel quite good,” he said. “Good mood in the camp.

“I feel like we’re gaining a bit of momentum going into the regatta and the points are all really tight so just looking forward to tomorrow. 

“The first day was tough, more because we felt we sailed well and didn’t get the results which was disappointing.

“But we’ve kept plugging away, doing what we’ve been doing and the rewards have come, so I'm looking forward to the next couple of days.”

The GB pair have had to dig deep to find their form after the disappointment of opening day, coming out fighting to rejuvenate their medal chances.

Now placed in a very promising position ahead of the final two days of men’s skiff action, Tunbridge Wells sailor Peters is in similarly high spirits.

“The momentum is with us and we feel like we’re on the up,” he said. “We’re feeling as good as we’ve ever been and we’re just looking forward to the final two days and then the medal race.

“That last race win is a boost. We’ve been sailing well in all the races. We have slipped a bit here and there and we could have won it or ended up fifth or whatever. 

“In that one it all came together and we capitalised on it, so it makes you feel good but more important than the win is the way we’re sailing. We’re putting together a really nice regatta now.”

Marseille’s waters have lived up to their reputation of being notoriously unpredictable in the Games thus far, and as the pair prepares to enter the medal run-in, Peters insists they will be ready to tackle any and all conditions.

Peters added: “In the races we’ve had everything from flat calm to 18 knots, so you’ve got to be prepared for anything here and we will be.”

Follow the British Sailing Team at Paris 2024 on Instagram at @britishsailing and on www.britishsailingteam.com.