The pair finished 14th overall in the 470 class at the Sail for Gold regatta in Weymouth at the weekend.

Sarah announced she was entering the category with Clark in April - a switch from yngling, the class in which she won her Olympic gold medals.

Ayton told BBC Essex: "Saskia has a lot of experience in the boat, which is great for me being new in the class."

The 30-year-old won her first gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004 and was part of the crew dubbed 'three blondes in a boat' with Shirley Robertson and Sarah Webb.

She went on to win another gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, again in the yngling class.

Clark also competed at Beijing, finishing sixth in the 470 class with Christina Bassadone.

In their first interview with the BBC since the pair got on the water together, Clark, 31, was confident of success with her new team-mate.

Read the full story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/sailing/8917629.stm