Britain's Paralympic sailing crews claimed two gold medals to top the medal table at the IFDS Qingdao International Regatta in China.

The regatta is the only test event for the Paralympic classes at the competition venue ahead of the Games in September.

The Sonar crew of John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas won their class.

The Skud pairing of Niki Birrell and Alex Rickham also came out on top.

Helena Lucas, the other member of the GB Paralympic sailing squad, finished fourth in the 2.4mR single-handed class, just ahead of training partner Megan Pascoe.

The Sonar crew's victory is their second high-profile success in recent weeks after they triumphed at the French Olympic sailing week in Hyeres.

The Britons recovered from a disqualification in race three of the nine-race series to take gold by six points over the French team.

Robertson explained: "It's pretty special being here in the Paralympic venue and staying in the Olympic Village. It's a full dress rehearsal for the Games so we're really pleased to have done well, and we've learned a lot by being here.

"We came here wanting a medal, so to have won a gold is just amazing" British sailor Alex Rickham

"The next three months are going to be very interesting. The other teams have been asking some searching questions of us. I think we've just been sailing consistently well as a team."

Birrell and Rickham, who only joined forced in the class for the first time in Miami in January, had earlier won bronze in St Petersburg, USA in January at the US Disabled-Open Midwinters.

"It's absolutely amazing - this is just the third regatta we've done, and all the lessons we've learned have paid off," said Rickham

"It's been a difficult week with the conditions we've had, but we've dealt with it well, which is a sign of how much we've improved.

"We came here wanting a medal, so to have won a gold is just amazing, but even so it is just a step towards those medals in September and the main thing is how much we've learned by being here."