Robert Scheidt talks through his Laser gear choices

Michael Blackburn won the Laser World Championships in his mid-30s. He also coached Tom Slingsby and Tom Burton to gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016 respectively, as well as winning an Olympic bronze of his own. The Australian, who sailed his Laser more than a hundred miles across the treacherous Bass Strait, knows a thing or two about fitness for sailing...

A quick look at some of the basic sail settings to help you balance up the rudder so that boat tracks more easily - and more quickly - through the water...

Nick Thompson is Great Britain’s top Laser sailor and he’ll be representing his country at the Olympics in Rio 2016. "Winning the Worlds was monkey-off-the-back moment, really, because it is something I’ve been chasing so hard for a long time...."

In our penultimate #2012inspired blog, West Mersea’s Saskia Clark looks back on her Games experiences, having won 470 class silver with Hannah Mills after just an 18-month campaign together. Clark and Mills took time out of the sport after London, but have returned to the 470 this month ahead of the 470 World Championships in La Rochelle next month

Defending champions, Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, sounded a warning signal to the rest of the Star fleet as they stealthily moved into pole position on day two of the Olympic Regatta at Weymouth and Portland.

Halfway through the opening Star race, the Germans had a beautiful lead with defending Olympic champions Iain Percy and Bart Simpson looking comfortably in the top three as they sailed up the second beat.....

Sixteen Stars will take to the Weymouth and Portland waters on 29 July to start their campaign for London 2012 Olympic glory. 

Robert Scheidt and Bruno Prada (BRA) and defending Olympic Champions Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson (GBR) head into the competition as the favourites, but with experience spread across the fleet, upsets can happen....