Cardiff sailor, Hannah Mills and Katrina Hughes got their 2009 season off to a winning start with victory at the year’s opening RYA Olympic Classes Spring Series event last weekend. (Taken from RYA)

Mills and Hughes, who ended last season having claimed the 470 Junior World title and the RYA National Ranking Series crown, enjoyed a Spring Series ding-dong battle with the new pairing of Beijing 2008 Olympians Penny Clark and Saskia Clark at Weymouth and Portland National Academy.

For Penny Clark, who sailed in the Laser Radial class at last year’s Olympics, and Saskia Clark, who crewed for Christina Bassadone in China, the Spring Series opener acted as their first competitive outing following their announcement last month they would be campaigning together for London 2012.

But despite pleasingly finishing in the top two in each of their six races, Team Clark had to settle for second spot overall as Mills/Hughes narrowly edged victory with three races wins to Team Clark’s two.

Compulsory for all Skandia Team GBR Development and Transition squad members, racing was contested across six classes with the event giving experienced Olympic Classes sailors the chance to enjoy some early season high-quality competitive racing plus also handing younger sailors the opportunity to race in their new Olympic class while competing with Olympic and World medallists.