PORTLAND’S Luke Patience sailed the ‘regatta of his life’ to claim an exuberant silver medal with Stuart Bithell in the 470 class at their first Olympic Games a year ago today.

Since London, the friends have parted ways with Bithell moving into the 49er class, and Patience having now teamed up with two-time Olympic silver medallist Joe Glanfield in their quest for Rio gold.

Reflecting on the past year, Patience said: “It brings back goosebumps when I think about the whole Olympic experience, and ultimately I’m a sucker for the Olympics. It’s brought me goosebumps all my life when I was never even there.

“I also feel like I’ve grown up a lot since the Games – I feel like I went into the Olympics a certain guy and came out a completely different guy just after one week.

"It’s changed me for the better, and certainly for the better in my sport. “I have mixed emotions thinking back. For the most part and the largest part, I’m so proud.

“Stuart and I just killed the Olympic regatta really – a personal best, a career best even, and that’s all you can ask of yourself, but yet it still wasn’t quite enough – and that’s the bit that stings.

“It’s something that drives me every day, knowing that we didn’t win and that’s why we all do it. I think probably the biggest strength of Joe and I as a team is that combined experience together.

“The colours of the three medals we’ve collectively got means we’re dangerous and I’m really excited by that.

“Joe’s come out of retirement because he feels he’s got unfinished business and I do too, even though I’m more at the start of my career.

“It’s been a great year for us so far. To stand on the podium in every regatta bar one, I don’t think we could have expected that and now it’s about keeping that momentum going.

He went on to add: “My personal Games moment came at the Opening Ceremony in London when I was stood in the line with Stuart, Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark when Team GB was announced.

" With that 80,000 people in the stands started banging their feet and chanting and I remember looking at Stuart and Hannah and seeing their faces and the expressions they had knowing that I would’ve looked exactly the same.

"The three of us all grew up together and I think all our years racing with each other and against each other came to that moment.

“We were then released into the stadium and I think whatever I go on to do, that will be the most vivid, impactful moment of my entire sporting life.”

Patience and Glanfield are currently in action at the 470 World Champion-ships in La Rochelle in France, which finishes today.