The British Sailing Team's Micky Beckett scored a crucial victory in the countdown to Paris 2024, winning the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma for the third consecutive year.
Beckett, 29, dominated the men's dinghy class at the traditional Olympic classes season opener, wrapping up the win in the 193-boat fleet with a day to spare.
Beckett's gold let the way in a three-medal haul for the Brits, with John Gimson and Anna Burnet winning bronze in the Nacra 17 and young gun Matilda Nicholls also taking bronze, her first medal at senior level, in the ILCA 6.
Beckett would have gone into the 10-boat double points medal race safe in the knowledge that no-one could topple him from the top spot, such was his lead.
The Welshman refused to rest on his laurels, finishing second in the medal race to win by an enormous 44 points.
Beckett's Australian arch-rival Matt Wearn, the reigning Olympic and world champion, finished fifth. "I've been trying all week not to think about the fact that if I won this event it would be three in a row, but now it's real and it's pretty cool," said Beckett, who booked his Paris spot with Team GB in October last year.
"I came here with more confidence having won twice previously but also more pressure.
"All the top guys will be following their own plans to build up to this summer, but I have to say that beating them is a nice confidence boost.
"This win means that something's working, but it doesn't mean that the job is done or that anything is guaranteed.
"ILCAs are simple boats, and all you have are your skills and your decision-making. That's worked for me this last week but it doesn't guarantee it will work in a few months' time. There's plenty more work to be done."
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