SAILING NEWS
News 3
rush in China
Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR
enth place but it was enough to hand him the
gold – his second in Qingdao in what is his
first Olympic classes regatta since the 2006
Test Event last August.
“I did a pretty good job of losing it out
there today!” Ainslie remarked. “I had a ter-
rible start but luckily I was able to dig deep
and get back a few places.”
Rogers and Glanfield had to settle for sil-
ver in the men’s 470 class, missing out at the
hands of World Champions Nathan Wilmot
and Malcolm Page, while Leigh McMillan
and Will Howden in the Tornado and Iain
Percy and Andrew Simpson in the Star fin-
ished outside of the podium positions, in fifth
and sixth places respectively.
“I’m delighted and so proud of the team’s
results here in Qingdao, which have sur-
passed all our expectations,” said RYA
Olympic Manager Stephen Park. “The
sailors certainly didn’t have it easy, with
some really tricky conditions and competi-
tion to content with, and they had to dig deep
heads for victory in the Finn class at Qingdao. LEFT: Bryony Shaw celebrates success women’s RS:X windsurfing event
and grind out some strong performances
when it really mattered.”
sized – and finished the medal race in fourth Bryony Shaw was the second Skandia third gold after a dramatic final medal race in Although spirits in the British camp are
place which was enough to hand them the Team GBR to top the podium on Wednesday the Finn class. understandably high, Park warns that they
gold by one point. – a fourth in the medal race was enough for Ainslie went into the final with an 11-point won’t have it all their own way in 2008. “Of
“We had a rough day today – there was a her to clinch gold ahead of former Olympic lead over Croatian Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic, course it would of course be amazing to be in
lot of wind out there,” said Morrison. champion Alessandra Sensini of Italy, and but found himself way down the fleet when a similar situation when we return in 12
“Several teams capsized during the race, but Australia’s world bronze medallist Jessica he re-crossed the start line thinking he had months’ time, but there’s a long way to go
we managed to hold on to take the overall Crisp. I’m just so happy with my perform- jumped the gun. The Croatian at one stage between now and then, and certainly we’ve
lead. We’ve made a fair few mistakes in this ance here,” said an elated Shaw afterwards. managed to get enough places between him seen a number of countries upping their game
competition, so are a little bit surprised that “Before today’s race started I was hoping and the Ainslie to wrest the overall lead away for this event. Now’s not a time for compla-
we came out on top, but it’s really great to there would be wind and I got my wish!” from the Brit, but was overtaken on the final cency, and we need to use every moment
have won back to back golds at major events, Double Olympic gold medallist Ben downwind leg and then capsized 100 metres between now and the Olympics next year to
and hopefully this is a good sign ahead of the Ainslie capped off a lucrative day for from the finish line to end all hopes of a ensure that we’re on top of our game and that
Olympics next year.” Skandia Team GBR, clinching the team’s coup. Ainslie finished the medal race in sev- the team is in the best possible shape.”
RYA National Ranking Series
winners crowned at Weymouth
AS the RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking However, it was Giles Scott who, with a string of
Series drew to a close, both seasoned campaigners consistent performances across the three events,
and young guns clinched victories after the final took the overall Series crown after just a year com-
event of the three-weekend Series at the Weymouth peting in the class. Edward Thorburn took the prize
and Portland National Sailing Academy. for top Finn Master.
Winning by a single point over Paul Campbell- In the Tornado class, former 49er World
James and Mark Asquith, World Champions Stevie Champion Chris Draper did a fine job of standing
Morrison and Ben Rhodes also took the overall in for Leigh McMillan, competing with Will
Series crown in the 49er class, while victory in the Howden for the Saturday’s racing as McMillan was
470 class for Luke Patience and Chris Grube also on usher duty at a friend’s wedding. But the
handed them a second National Ranking Series Beijing-nominated helmsman returned for Sunday
title on the final weekend. and continued where Draper left off with him and
But it was the performance of the recently- Howden taking the weekend win by a point over
crowned Techno 293 Under-17 windsurfing world Andy Walsh and Ed Barney, who themselves took
champion Ali Masters which once again caught the the overall Series crown. Tornado performance
eye. Having only just moved on to the larger RS:X squad sailors Rob Wilson and Mark Bulkeley
8.5 board, the 15-year-old took a clean sweep of missed out on the podium, but had their share of
race wins at WPNSA, which saw him take the the chocolates, finishing second in the overall
overall Series title by one point over more experi- Series standings ahead of John Gimson and Stuart
enced racers in the class. Bithell. Ali Martin and Beth Carden took the week-
Skandia Team GBR’s world bronze medallist end win in the 470 women’s class, but it was world
Nick Dempsey put in a solid performance to top bronze medallists Christina Bassadone and Saskia
the leaderboard in the RS:X 9.5 class, only to then Clark who take the National Ranking Series title
be hit with disqualification from his last two races over Hannah Mills and Katrina Hughes.
for failing to wear a buoyancy aid. The weekend The 2.4mR class missed out on the two previous
win therefore went to Leo McCallin, who also Series events due to a clash with the IFDS World
claimed victory in the overall Series with develop- Disabled Championships in Rochester, USA, but
ment squad sailors Elliot Carney and Richard they were in action for the final event. With racing
Hamilton enjoying their share of the spoils in sec- open to disabled and able-bodied sailors, Skandia
ond and third. Team GBR’s 2.4mR coach Adam May took the
Double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie opportunity to race against his charges Helena
swept to victory in the Finn class, although didn’t Lucas and Megan Pascoe, and clinched victory
quite have it all his own way after initially sailing with four wins from the six races – Lucas finished
WINNING WAYS: Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes at the Skandia Sail
the wrong course in the opening race of the event. second with Pascoe in third. for Gold Regatta 2007 Picture: Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR
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