OLYMPIC SAILING THREAD...!

[maestegmafia]

First topic message reminder :

Sailing over the last decade and a half has reaped e rewards of the fantastic coaching and encouragement that the Royal Yachting Association and their many member clubs and People have worked hard to perfect.

Team GBR has dominated the medal table in sailing for the last three Olympics.

Today two of our best sailors start their campaigns to add to their collection of gold medals.

Ben Ainlslie is racing singlehanded in the Men's Finn Class, a tough and technical boat designed for the larger sailor. Iain Percy and his crew Andrew "Bart" Simpson start in the Star Class, a tecnical two sail, two-man keel boat, that they won gold in in Beijing.

Later today the women's match racing starts with the McGregor sisters and Annie Lush in a three person keel boat. These girls are full of talent though are at their first olympics.

Match racing is a boat vs boat disciplin as opposed to the Fleet racing that the Finn and Star class competitors take part in.

We stand a great chance of a medal haul and likely a number of golds. It all starts today at 12.

[maestegmafia]

Unfortunately the match racing team GBR lost to the Russians in the quarter finals.

[alfie]

Unfortunately the match racing team GBR lost to the Russians in the quarter finals.

Pity . They were two-one up ...

Will the sailing team be dissatisfied with just five medals ? Seems a reasonable return to me from ten events , but I suppose on home waters they might have been hoping to at least equal the Beijing haul.

I guess this sport is a bit harder to control than cycling ...too many variables. Has been fascinating to watch , and looking forward to the 470 medal races.

[maestegmafia]

Are they happy...?

Good question, the camp certainly seem happy, it has been a lot easier for all nations to train in Weymouth than Quindao for the Beijing games so the competition has been much tougher.

Personally I think they have done very well. The 470s have been the biggest surprise. Those teams have been superb.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

The windsurfing lass was a bit p1ssy but then this was the last we will see of her discipline at the olympics.

[maestegmafia]

The windsurfing lass was a bit p1ssy but then this was the last we will see of her discipline at the olympics.

She just lost a chance at the medal. There's some humility in hindsight required there Pete...!

[maestegmafia]

Today is the men's 470 two man trapeze dinghy medal race.

It's a straight fight between GBR and AUS

Should be a cracker

[maestegmafia]

1 AUS PAGE/BELCHER 18

2 GBR PATIENCE /BITHELL 22

[maestegmafia]

The next race is a medal race, (DOUBLE POINTS), so that means GBR need to beat AUS with one boat in between them and AUS to get gold.

[TopHat24/7]

When does it kick-off (and likely to finish) Maesteg?

[alfie]

Are they happy...?

Good question, the camp certainly seem happy, it has been a lot easier for all nations to train in Weymouth than Quindao for the Beijing games so the competition has been much tougher.

Personally I think they have done very well. The 470s have been the biggest surprise. Those teams have been superb.

Yes , I'd agree medals in half the events has been an achievement , as the competition has indeed been hot. Would really like to see at least one of the 470s take the gold medal today or tomorrow.

I am hearing winds are very light this morning ...may be delays to the medal race ?

[andyi]

Unfortunately the match racing team GBR lost to the Russians in the quarter finals.

Pity . They were two-one up ...

Will the sailing team be dissatisfied with just five medals ? Seems a reasonable return to me from ten events , but I suppose on home waters they might have been hoping to at least equal the Beijing haul.

I guess this sport is a bit harder to control than cycling ...too many variables. Has been fascinating to watch , and looking forward to the 470 medal races.

UK sport set them a target of 3-5 medals so they have matched the very best expected of them

[maestegmafia]

Really light but sea breeze building very quickly.

[Pal Joey]

Good... so should start soon.

[maestegmafia]

Hopefully. Can't force these things

[maestegmafia]

Unfortunately a sea most slowed the progress of the sea breeze, cooling the air.

What we received today was too inconsistent to race in.

They will try again tomorrow

[I hate fish]

Unfortunately a sea most slowed the progress of the sea breeze, cooling the air.

What we received today was too inconsistent to race in.

They will try again tomorrow

Our weather was too nice to race, the irony.

[maestegmafia]

Usually a bit of sunshine brings a sea breeze in the afternoon, but sea temp is low...!

See what happens today.

Bad fog all night in the English Channel seems to be clearing.

[maestegmafia]

2 more silver medals to add to GBRs total.

[alfie]

This last event - match racing , Australia v Spain is a cracker ! 2 all with a decider to come...

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

2 more silver medals to add to GBRs total.

After Beijing is this considered a little disappointing from team GB? although weve taken a reasonable haul of medals to what was targeted theres only been the one gold and less in total than 4 years ago
And anyone got any idea what our kitesurfers are like, they are in for the windsurfers next time.

[alfie]

Wish they'd stop changing the boat classes all the time ...that match racing was fun ( Spain just won gold from Australia 3-2 ) in an exciting series , and now the class is dumped straight out again for Rio ...

Lucky for Ben the Finn hasn't been messed about over the last few Olympics.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Haha genius ...Aussie lass managed to fall out her boat and capsize it in the gold medal race.

[Pal Joey]

I'm happy that Spain got their 3rd gold medal at the Games. Australia already had 3 from sailing alone. No need to be greedy.

[maestegmafia]

It was very very tough conditions for match racing. To be fair Spain were excellent and Australia unfortunate.

You have to remember that in sailing the best sailors judge all the variables better than everyone elso, and that's why they win races. Equally sometimes all those variables can conspire against you in one freak moment and cost you a gold medal.

Unfortunate for the Australians, lucky no one was hurt.

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