OLYMPIANS Sarah Dempsey and Saskia Clark have been battling ‘massive waves’ and strong winds at the Delta Lloyd 470 World Championships in Holland.

Racing in the last qualification races was put on hold yesterday when the North Sea off the Hague turned more Southern Ocean.

Famous Dutch photographer Thom Touw snapped the above image of double Olympic Yngling medallist turned 470 helm Dempsey and crew Clark in yesterday morning’s giant slop.

“It was pretty big, with massive waves and 20-25 knots in the gusts,” confirmed Dempsey one of Skandia Team GBR’s famous ‘three blondes in a boat’.

“It was probably my second day sailing in those conditions – we are still really learning how to sail the boat, but it was really, really good fun. You have to come together as a team when it is like that, because if you are not doing the same thing you are dead – literally!”

Dempsey said it was right to postpone yesterday’s event and added: “I don’t think it would have been fair racing, it would have been survival.

“Especially with the tide turning – it was only going to get worse.”

Dempsey and Clark are lying in 11th place after four qualification races and Dempsey says she is happy with their progress.

“We seem to have good average speed all round and that will only get better and better through the conditions.

“So we’re enjoying it – particularly the races when we are at the front.”

The regatta is expected to finish on Sunday. To find out more visit 470worlds2010.com