British Yngling trio Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson snatched the first gold medal at the Olympic sailing regatta in Qingdao, Shandong Province on Sunday.

Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb, and Pippa Wilson of Great Britain celebrate after victory of the Yngling medal race at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games sailing event at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, an-Olympic co-host city in eastern China’s Shandong Province, Aug. 17, 2008. The British team won the gold medal of the event. [Xinhua]

The defending Yngling champion led the keelboat class from the beginning of the medal race to round the windward mark first, a second ahead of the rest fleet, despite heavy rain on the sea.

Although they were overtaken by Germany at the third mark, they kept their composure and first crossed the finishing line, seven seconds ahead of Germany and a minute in front of the Dutch.

The British Yngling women ended up on top of the podium with 24 points overall, pocketing the first gold medal in Qingdao.

The British team (R) competes during the Yngling medal race at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games sailing event at Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, an-Olympic co-host city in eastern China’s Shandong Province, Aug. 17, 2008. The British team won the gold medal of the event. [Song Zhenping/Xinhua]