PORTLAND sailing star Giles Scott has won gold at Rio de Janeiro’s Copa Brasil de Vela regatta.

The heavyweight Finn dinghy sailor was joined on the podium by British Sailing team-mates Andrew Mills and Mark Andrews, who claimed silver and bronze respectively.

The five-day Olympic classes regatta was held at the 2016 sailing venue and saw British sailors scoop a total of eight medals across the five classes they contested.

European champions Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign claimed gold in the 49er Skiff class with a day to spare, while Laser star Nick Thompson and 49erFX duo Frances Peters and Nicola Groves added silver medals to the tally.

Bronze went to Weymouth’s Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth in the 49erFX, and Laser Radial sailor Hannah Snellgrove.

British Sailing Team manager Stephen Park said: “From a British perspective, our sailors performed well, winning in two of the five classes we entered, and eight of our 11 entries took home medals.

“Of course, the racing was not the main objective this week, it was about sailor familiarisation with Rio, and we have certainly made a good start in this regard.

“All the sailors have had a great time and are disappointed to be flying out of Rio as our focus moves to the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami in a couple of weeks.”