Yachts & Yachting — March 2018

BACK TO THE

Olympic 470 medallistLuke PatiencetellsLOUAY HABIBhow

keelboats have kickstarted his campaign for Tokyo 2020

FUTURE

O

ver the past 18 months,

Luke Patience has been

racing in all manner of

events in sportsboats

and keelboats: from the

J/70 and Fast40+ to the M32 circuits,

he was also class winner in the 2017

RORC Caribbean 600, and third at the

J/80 Worlds. Along the way, he has been

rediscovering his passion for sailing,

and learning new ideas, in his quest to

wingoldforGreatBritaininthe470

at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.

Hisjourneyisnotwithoutgood

reason. Just months before the 2016

Rio Games, Luke Patience’s 470 partner,

ElliotWillis,wasdiagnosedwithbowl

cancer.Luketeamedupwithhisclose

friend Chris Grube, and came fifth in the

470 in Rio. In light of the circumstances,

Luke is proud of their achievement, but

it has left unfinished business, as he

explains:“TheRiocyclewasn’teverhow

Iimaginedit,ElliottgotillandIhad

three different crews, and three different

coaches. No one wins a gold medal

LUKE PATIENCE INTERVIEW

PAUL WYETH

24 Yachts & Yachting March 2018 yachtsandyachting.co.uk