BRITAIN’S new generation of Olympic sailors can be as successful as ever at Rio 2016 - that is the opinion of RYA Olympic manager, Stephen Park.

Fifteen sailors across 10 Olympic Classes begin their bid to try to help Team GB claim more sailing medals than any other nation for the fifth successive Games, when the 2016 Olympic Regatta gets underway in Guanabara Bay today.

Sixty per cent of the team (nine sailors) will make their Olympic debuts in Rio, including four sailors in the new Nacra 17 (Mixed Multihull) and 49erFX (Women’s Skiff) classes.

But with six previous Olympic medals in the 2016 ranks and a third of the team currently World Championship medallists, including three world champions, Park has no fears the changing of the guard will impact on Britain’s medal-winning potential.

He said: “I’m absolutely optimistic we have a great team of talent, as strong a team as we have ever had going to the Games.

“We have 15 athletes in 10 events, who all on their day can win races at the Olympics, and if they win more races than the others, they will win the gold medal.

“The potential is there, but it is about who is going to deliver on that day.

“If we can come away with three to five medals we would have to consider that is a pretty excellent take from any Olympics from 10 opportunities."

Among Britain’s Games first-timers are four-time and current Finn Gold Cup winner, Giles Scott, reigning back-to-back Laser World Champion, Nick Thompson, and 2016 49er Worlds bronze medallists, Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign. Alison Young, fifth on her London 2012 Games debut, lines up as 2016 Laser Radial World Champion, and Beijing 2008 bronze medallist, Bryony Shaw, claimed RS:X silver at the 2016 Worlds.

Meanwhile, Weymouth’s Nick Dempsey bids to add gold to his Olympic bronze (Athens 2004) and silver (London 2012) medals, while London 2012 470 silver medallists, Saskia Clark, Hannah Mills and Luke Patience all have unfinished business at the top of the podium.