Helensburgh-born sailor Charlotte Dobson has vowed to become a silent assassin as she bids to claim the sole radial boat at the London Olympics in three years time.

The 23-year-old will pour everything into making the British team for 2012 from now on after finishing her degree at Edinburgh University and moving down to Team GB sailing headquarters in Weymouth.

Only one British female will compete in the radial class on home shores – with Dobson’s main rivals coming in the shape of double Olympian Christina Bassadone and Andrea Brewster.

Dobson was the highest ranked Brit at the World Championships in Japan despite finishing a disappointing 18th and believes that will be the rule rather than the exception in the coming years.

“We all know that only one of us can go the Olympics, but you have to be confident that you can beat the other girls when it matters,” said Dobson.

“I’ve had a reasonable season but not without its disappointments. I have been in the top ten in most of the regattas all year so to finish where I did at the Worlds wasn’t ideal.

“But I just finished my degree this summer and I have only just got back into my sailing – so it is a great season to build on.

“With our class there is little development in equipment, so it is purely about who is able to best execute under race conditions.”

Dobson brought the curtain down on her 2009 season at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth – the venue for the London 2012 Olympics.

The Scottish sailor was the top Brit again finishing seventh on the Dorset shores and believes being able to train day, in day out on the Olympic waters will be an invaluable experience.

“I am just starting to settle into my new house – it’s amazing down in Weymouth, the facilities are fantastic and it’s great to train at the Olympic venue,” added Dobson.

“It’s going to give us such an advantage going into the Olympics – the conditions here can be so variable, but three years practice will hopefully give us a really good feel for the venue.

“We work as a squad and that helps all of us progress – it is a proven formula to work within your own country, as you push each other and you learn a lot from everybody within the unit or team.”

--
Courtesy of Sportsbeat