BRITAIN’S Paralympic sailors face their final key contest ahead of the Rio Games when the Para World Sailing Championships get underway in the Netherlands today.

Three selected boats are intent on a successful final shakedown in Medemblik, while also taking the opportunity to assess any final campaign tweaks ahead of the Rio regatta in September.

The Sonar trio of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas, who train at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, claimed their third World Championship title at the 2015 edition in Melbourne.

And Stodel says this year’s event provides some timely opportunities as they aim for a first Paralympic podium finish in Rio.

“It is such a good event in the run-up, it’s the first event where we’ve got the same number of boats that we’ll have at the Games,” Stodel explained.

“It’s just really good to see where we are, especially having our new coach on board.

“We’ve done two great events together, finishing on the podium both times, so this is really a good test for us in terms of the pressure that the Games will bring, seeing how everything holds together, and what we will still need to work on before the Games in training.”

Robertson, Stodel and Thomas were crowned 2015 World Champions by a single point over the Australian crew in Melbourne last December, and Stodel is expecting an equally close battle this week.

She added: “The Norwegians are sailing really strongly at the moment so they’ll certainly be ones to watch, and the Aussies as always – especially as it’s initially looking quite breezy.

“I think it will be a typical Sonar Worlds with everybody in and among the mix, the top five or six will be pretty close.

It will be some good racing and I’m looking forward to having a good fight.”

Portland’s Megan Pascoe, who won the 2.4mR Open World Championships earlier this year in Tasmania, will also be on the startline in the one-person event.

Young British Sailing Team talents Will Street, John Brooker and Carol Dugdale also in 2.4mR action.