Don't know your SKUD from your 49er? Don't worry, here's our guide to Dorset's Team GB sailors at Rio 2016

Meet the sailors who live and train in Dorset as they hit water in South America in searchof medals.

ALISON YOUNG – LASER RADIAL

Class: Laser Radial (single-handed dinghy)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): 29

Olympic record: 5th at London 2012

What else? Reigning Laser Radial World Champion

Ali goes to Rio as the reigning Laser Radial World Champion after seizing her first senior international Championship title in Mexico in April and making history en route as the first British woman to win Worlds gold in a solo Olympic dinghy event.

Worcestershire-raised, and with a First Class Honours degree in Civil Engineering from Southampton University to her credit, Rio is Ali’s second Olympics after her impressive fifth-placed debut at London 2012.

Following a then career-best 2011 season, Ali was one of the final sailors to be selected for TeamGB for London. But she delivered in emphatic style and headed in to the final medal race of the Games still in contention for a podium finish.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Ali in the four years since, however, as she was sidelined from competition for 10 months following illness in late 2013. Yet, fiercely focussed and supremely fit, her battle back to full health was rewarded with a hard fought silver medal at the first Rio Olympic Test Event in 2014.

A string of World Cup medals have continued to follow in addition to a 2013 Europeans bronze ensuring Ali is definitely one to watch in Rio.

BEN SAXTON AND NICOLA GROVES – NACRA 17

Class: Nacra 17 (mixed multihull)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): Saxton (26), Groves (27)

Olympic record: Debut

What else? Won the final Sailing World Cup in Weymouth and Portland before Rio Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves makes their Olympic debut in Rio they become the first Brits to represent Team GB in the new Nacra 17 catamaran Olympic class.

Ben began his sailing career at Grafham Water and made waves as a young sailor, including claiming the prestigious Optimist Nationals title in 2004 and twice being selected for the British Optimist Worlds team in 2004 and 2005.

At Youth level Ben moved from single to double-handers trying both the 420 and 29er, including a memorable 2008 when he and David de Boltz took 420 Junior Europeans silver and finished second U19s at the 420 Worlds 2008 in Greece.

Later that year Ben progressed into the Olympic 470 class, winning 470 Europeans silver with Richard Mason in 2012. The Southampton University Business Studies graduate switched to the Nacra 17 as soon as it was unveiled for Rio and after teaming up with Nicola in September 2014, the pair became European Champions in 2015. Ben also has a 2013 Nacra 17 Worlds silver medal with Hannah Diamond.

London-born Nicola has taken a slightly different route to the top of the sailing tree as, after graduating from Exeter University in 2010 with a BSc in Human Biosciences, she worked as a Senior Account Executive in an advertising agency before eventually making the transition into full-time sailing in 2012.

Having first learned to sail at Island Barn Reservoir, near West Molesey on the Greater London fringe, Nicola competed internationally in the Topper and 29er at Youth level and while studying and working she raced a number of different boats, including on the RS800, RS200 and SB20 circuits Being one of a handful of experienced female skiff crews in the UK at the time the 49erFX was confirmed as a new class for Rio, Nicola joined the British Sailing Team and won European bronze with Frances Peters and Sail for Gold gold with Charlotte Dobson in 2013.

BRYONY SHAW – RS:X

Class: RS:X (Women’s windsurfer)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): 33

Olympic record: Bronze medal at Beijing 2008

What else? 2015 European Champion

Bryony Shaw is the only British woman to have ever won an Olympic windsurfing medal – an emotional bronze on her Games debut at Beijing 2008.

Her quest to add to that success at London 2012 was hampered by illness in the months building up to the Games, but she still finished a hugely impressive seventh in tough circumstances.

Now 33, Rio will be Bryony’s third Olympics, and she heads to Brazil a three-time RS:X Worlds silver medallist, with two of those coming in the last 12 months, in Oman in October 2015 and Israel in 2016, and the other at the start of this four-year Olympic cycle in 2013. She also has the full set of European silverware, winning her first continental title in 2015, with silvers in 2006 and 2013 and 2009 bronze. Bryony is a passionate advocate of woman’s sport in promoting body confidence and positive body image, and has recently featured in a national campaign celebrating athletic female body shapes. As a young sailor Bryony deferred her architecture studies at Cardiff to concentrate full-time on Olympic campaigning and, after missing out on selection for Athens 2004, has gone on to firmly establish herself amongst the World’s elite.

CHARLOTTE DOBSON AND SOPHIE AINSWORTH – 49erFX

Class: 49erFX (Women’s skiff)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): Dobson (30), Ainsworth (27)

Olympic record: Olympic debut

What else? Sailing World Cup Weymouth and Portland gold medallists

After claiming a top five finish in the one-person Laser Radial class at the 2007 Beijing Olympic Test Event, Scot Charlotte Dobson probably didn’t think her full Olympic debut would actually come in double-hander boat eight years later.

But that is exactly what has happened as she and partner Sophie Ainsworth become Britain’s first ever representatives in the new 49erFX women’s skiff event in Rio.

Fast-forward four years and the pair will become Britain’s first ever representatives in the new 49erFX women’s skiff event in Rio.

Having won 2004 ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships bronze in Poland, two Youth European titles and senior European silver in Estonia in 2010 in the Radial, Charlotte enjoyed a fruitful 12 years sailing solo.

A prodigious junior talent, Kent-raised Sophie learnt to sail in an Optimist before moving into the 420 then excelling in the 29er Youth class. With partner Sophie Weguelin, the Sophies claimed both the Ladies and U19 titles at the 2007 29er World Championships in Argentina, before bringing home silver from the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Canada.

After stepping up to the 470 Olympic class, combining campaigning with studying Sports and Exercise Science at Exeter University, the pair became 470 European Champions in 2012.

But after the 49erFX was introduced as a new Olympic class for Rio after London 2012, Charlotte paired up with Sophie in 2013 and over the next two years the duo registered the form to get them both their first Games nod. This has included fifth and seventh place finishes at the 2014 and 2015 Rio Test Events and top 10 placings at the three World Championships from 2014-2016.

DYLAN FLETCHER AND ALAIN SIGN – 49er

Class: 49er – (double-handed Skiff)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): Fletcher (28), Sign (30)

Olympic record: Debut

What else? 2016 Worlds bronze medallist

Market Harborough-raised Dylan, and South Coast-raised Alain Sign, were one of the final picks for Rio after a nail-biting 49er selection battle.

Born in London, Dylan moved to the Midlands when he was 11 and spent his formative years honing his racing skills on Pitsford Water in Northampton. He progressed through the Hobie 405 class, winning multiple events and national titles, before moving into the 29er Youth boat at 15 and gaining RYA National Youth Squad selection. It didn’t take long to make his mark, when with Rob Partridge, the pair finished second overall, and first Youth boat, at the 2006 29er Worlds in Weymouth.

Alain started sailing aged 10 near his home in Lee on Solent and after his young talent was spotted in the one-person Topper class he was invited to join the RYA’s transitional squad before moving into the full National Junior Squad system and winning a host of national events.

He stepped up to the 29er Youth class at 16, tasting great success, culminating in 2004 when he and then partner, Tristan Jaques, won an impressive hat-trick of World, Eurocup Series and RYA Youth National titles, their Worlds success coming on the waters of Lake Silvaplana, Switzerland.

A move up to the 49er and a new partnership with Alain followed and their 10 years together have yielded 2016 49er Worlds bronze in Florida, their first Worlds podium, to go with two European Championship titles in 2011 and 2013, plus bronze from the first Rio Test Event in 2014 too.

Dylan’s girlfriend, 49erFX sailor, Charlotte Dobson, also makes her Olympic debut this summer.

GILES SCOTT - FINN

Class: Finn (single-handed heavyweight dinghy)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): 28

Olympic record: Debut

What else? Four time Finn World Champion (2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016)

Giles Scott started his Olympic classes career in the Laser, but towering at 6ft 5ins the heavyweight Finn was always likely to prove his happiest hunting ground.

Only Sir Ben Ainslie (six) has won more Finn Gold Cup titles – the class World Championships - than Scott, whose latest victory, coming with a day to spare, in Italy in May was his fourth by the age of just 28.

Huntingdon-born Giles won Laser gold at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in Korea in 2005 but within two years, and before his 20th birthday, he was in the Finn. He became Junior World Champion in 2008 and, his young talent already fully in evidence, trained alongside Ben Ainslie in the build up to Beijing 2008 before pushing Ainslie all the way for London 2012 selection.

Since then he has won 16 of the 18 Finn events that he has competed in, taking silver in the other two, and claimed gold at both Rio Test Events in 2014 and 2015. Giles is part of Ainslie’s team aiming to win the America’s Cup in 2017 too.

A Brit has won Olympic Finn gold at every Games since Iain Percy triumphed at Sydney 2000.

HANNAH MILLS AND SASKIA CLARK - 470

Class: 470 (double-handed dinghy)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): Mills (28), Clark (36)

Olympic record: London 2012 silver

What else? 2014 and 2015 test event medallists

At 24 Hannah Mills was the second youngest Team GB sailor on her Olympic debut at London 2012, but four years later she heads to Rio as one of the most experienced and decorated members of the team.

Rio will be Saskia Clark’s third Olympics having made her Games debut in the 470 with Christina Bassadone at Beijing 2008, where the pair finished sixth.

After winning London 2012 silver, they go to Rio amongst the most experienced and decorated members of the Team GB sailing squad.

Their London 2012 silver was a British first too after the women’s 470 was introduced as a standalone Olympic event at Seoul 1988.

Having made history in May 2012 by becoming the first British women ever to win the 470 World title, following a 2011 silver, Hannah and Saskia have added further silver (2015) and bronze (2014) Worlds medals. They have also showed form on the Rio 2016 waters, taking silver at both the 2014 and 2015 Olympic Test Events.

Hannah remains the only Brit to have won the Optimist Girls’ World Championship in 2003, after becoming the first girl to win the British National title a year earlier. She was the 2002 UK Young Sailor of the Year and BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year and is also a former 470 Junior (Under 22) World and European champion.

As a junior Saskia won the Optimist Girls’ National title twice (1993, 1994) and was Laser Radial Youth European Champion in 1996. She also won senior 470 Worlds medals (silver, 2005 and bronze, 2007) with Christina Bassadone.

Turning 37 just after the Games on 23 August, Saskia is the eldest of this year’s sailors too.

NICK DEMPSEY – RS:X

Class: RS:X (Men’s windsurfer)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): 35

Olympic record: 2000, 2004 (bronze), 2008, 2012 (silver)

What else? Most experienced sailor on the team Nick heads to Rio with the goal of becoming the most successful men’s Olympic windsurfer of all time.

Rio 2016 will be Nick’s fifth Games, having made his Olympic debut aged 19 at Sydney 2000, where he finished 16th, in the then Mistral windsurfing class. Four years later in Athens he made history in becoming the first Brit to ever win a windsurfing Olympic medal.

A switch in Olympic kit to the RS:X board was introduced for Beijing 2008. But after the bitter disappointment of taking fourth spot in China, Nick bounced back in style winning silver at London 2012. No man has ever completed the full set of Olympic medals, which is now Nick’s aim for Rio.

A dad to two young boys, Thomas and Oscar, Nick is a double RS:X World Champion, clinching gold at both the 2009 and 2013 Championships, and he also has Worlds silver (2012) and bronze (2007) medals in his extensive collection. The most experienced and oldest member of the Team GB sailors this year, Nick will be competing in Rio on what will be his 36th birthday on 13 August, although that is currently scheduled to be a reserve day for the windsurfers.

NICK THOMPSON - LASER

Class: Laser (single-handed dinghy)

Age (during Olympic Regatta): 30

Olympic record: Debut

What else? Double Laser World Champion (2015, 2016) Nick Thompson heads to Rio as the winner of the last two Laser World Championship crowns.

Although Rio will mark his Olympic debut, the Southampton-born 30-year-old has been firmly established amongst the global elite for almost a decade, only missing out on a tight London 2012 selection battle to 2008 defending champion Paul Goodison. Nick already had four World Championships medals to his name (bronze 2009, 2014 and silver 2010, 2011) when he clinched his first Worlds gold in Kingston, Canada in 2015 before successfully defending his title in Mexico in May this year.

He also has proven form on the 2016 Olympic racetrack in Guanabara Bay with a bronze medal from the first official Rio Test Event in 2014. He may not have competed at a Games himself yet, but Nick has seen first-hand what it takes to be successful at an Olympics having acted as training partner to Goodison in the build up to London 2012. Now he wants to put that experience into practice.

After winning Laser gold at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in 2004, Nick graduated in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Exeter before committing to full-time Olympic campaigning.

ALEXANDRA RICKHAM AND NIKI BIRRELL - SKUD

Class: SKUD (two person keelboat)

Age (during Paralympic Regatta): Rickham (37), Birrell (30)

Paralympic record: London 2012 bronze

Five-time World SKUD champions, Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell, go to Rio with the goal of improving on the bronze medal they won at London 2012.

Growing up in Jamaica, Alex rode horses as a child and enjoyed all sports including tennis and swimming. Alex was paralysed as a result of shallow diving accident in 1995 and it was while rehabbing in Miami, she first had the chance to go sailing at the Shake-A-Leg watersports facility and loved it. But it wasn’t until studying for her Masters in Environmental Technology at Imperial College, London 10 years later that she started taking sailing seriously.

Cheshire-raised Niki, who was born with cerebral palsy, enjoyed significant sailing success with his brother Christian as a junior, qualifying for the 2005 420 Youth class Worlds in France when European Junior Mirror champions, before moving into the Olympic 470 class and qualifying for the 2007 Worlds in Portugal in that class too. After switching to Paralympic classes sailing, and a short stint in the 2.4mR one-person boat, Niki and Alex teamed up in November 2007 and they quickly became a dominant force in the class, winning gold at the Beijing Paralympic Test event just six month later. Despite being together less than a year, the pair made their full Paralympic debut at Beijing 2008, finishing fifth.

Between 2009 and 2012, Niki and Alex won every World title and headed into the London Games as one of the favourites for gold. In a tough battle for the medals at Weymouth and Portland, the duo claimed bronze, something Niki later described as having “mixed emotions” about. They won their fifth World title the following year.

Picture: Finnbarr Webster

HELENA LUCAS – 2.4mR

Class: 2.4mR (one person keelboat)

Age (during Paralympic Regatta): 41

Paralympic record: London 2012 Gold Helena Lucas heads to Rio as the defending 2.4mR Paralympic champion.

In claiming London 2012 gold, Helena became the first British Paralympic gold medallist since sailing became a full programme sport at Sydney 2000. The only female in the London 2.4mR fleet, she also became the class’ first female Paralympic medallist and champion.

Helena was born with no thumbs and limited extension in her arms, but a hugely talented sailor from a young age, she is in the unusual position of having done both Olympic and Paralympic campaigns.

Having raced a 470 since 1997, she switched to the 2.4mR Paralympic class in 2003 and claimed her first 2.4mR Worlds medal – silver – in Perth, Australia in 2006. That same year saw Lucas achieve the unique feat of taking the Yngling Olympic Classes keelboat helm for a one-off at the 2006 Olympic Test Event and winning silver, for which she was shortlisted for 2006 ISAF World Sailor of the Year.

Her Paralympic Games debut came at Beijing 2008 where she finished seventh, before her history-making exploits on home waters in 2012. Helena was the first British athlete (Olympic or Paralympic) to be selected for Rio 2016 on her 40th birthday in April.

JOHN ROBERTSON, HANNAH STODEL AND STEPHEN THOMAS -SONAR

Class: Sonar (three person keelboat)

Age (during Paralympic Regatta): Robertson (44), Stodel (31), Thomas (39)

Paralympic record: 2004, 2008, 2012 (4th)

This will be the fourth consecutive Paralympics John Robertson has helmed the British Sonar team, having made his Games debut alongside Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas at Athens 2004.

John started sailing in a Mirror his dad bought at Sunderland YC aged 10, before enjoying a career in the RAF. After becoming disabled as a result of a motorbike accident in 1994, John got back into sailing in a Challenger Trimaran during an outward bound course at Bassenthwaite in the Lake District. In 1997 he started in the Sonar class before teaming up with Hannah and Steve in 2003.

Born without a right forearm, it was little surprise Essex-raised Hannah developed an early passion for sailing, her mum Sue having campaigned for selection for Seoul 1988. In 1998, aged 13, Hannah was awarded the prestigious YJA Young Sailor of the Year Award when, crewing for Melissa Heppell in the Mirror Class, the two were first Ladies at Mirror National Championships and were selected to represent Britain at the 1999 Mirror World Championships in Cape Town.

Welshman Steve, a double below the knee amputee after suffering from meningitis in 1996, has represented Britain at both the summer and winter Paralympics. It was Ice Sledge Hockey he discovered first after his illness, and having taken up sailing in 2003 too, successfully campaigned in both sports. Steve, John and Hannah won Sonar World titles in 2005 and 2006, while Steve competed at the Turin 2006 Winter Paralympics in-between. He also played rugby for Wales at U18 level while his potential for sailing was spotted when he was lifting weights at the gym.

The trio have gone on to win a hat-trick of World Championship titles in 2005, 2006 and 2015 – with John the first skipper in the history of disabled Sonar sailing to helm his crew to successive World crowns - and they only narrowly missed out on making that four by just one point at the 2016 Worlds in the Netherlands in May.