After the disappointment of a race disqualification on Thursday (January 27) lost them their overall lead, Robertson, Stodel and Thomas came out fighting and picked their way through the final three races into the gold medal position with 5,2,3 on the board.

They took gold by six points over the French team helmed by Bruno Jourdren, with bronze going to the Dutch World Championship-winning crew helmed by Udo Hessels.

"It's very pleasing, considering we had a stressful night last night with a DSQ added to the board," said Stodel.

"We went into today wearing red bibs, in bronze position, so we had a lot on but we sailed really well today.

"This is certainly a good start to the season.

"Everything we've been working on over the winter - all the 'mental toughness' stuff we've been working on has been paying off.

"Our confidence has come back, we're working really well together and sailing well as a team."



Rickham and Birrell, the world champions, also had to pull back through the fleet to secure their bronze, after starting the day in fourth overall.

A second and two third places from their three races was enough to see them claim the third podium spot after a testing week.

"I can't be disappointed with the fact that we've actually got a medal," said Rickham.

"I'm disappointed because they're both competitors that we've been jousting with for the last year or two and Dan, who won, we'd just beaten in Melbourne so we were hoping to keep that ball rolling.

"But we can't be too disappointed – it's a medal, and some people don't have them!"

In the third Paralympic class, the 2.4mR, Megan Pascoe and Helena Lucas, ended their regattas in fifth and seventh place respectively.