SAILING NEWS
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into the downwind marks is proving perhaps the most
crucial tactical decision of the race.
With race six completed the Finns have now com-
pleted the minimum number of races to constitute an
opening series. This means that none of the reserve
days will be used and that the medal race will proceed
BeijingDIARY
as scheduled on Saturday 16th August.
The organisers must be breathing a collective sigh
of relief today as the pessimistic wind pundits and
ROBERT DEAVES watches events unfold in the Finn class at Qingdao for Sailing News
doom merchants have so far been proved wrong.
Although the first practice races on Thursday were lost
through lack of wind, the first three days of racing
mistakes so I will stay the course and keep working for rated even further. Even though the 470s and 49ers
have proceeded according to schedule. Michele
top eight finishes.” were able to start their races almost on time on the
Marchesini (ITA), who is coach to 2004 silver medalist
In 12th place, Giorgio Poggi (ITA) is performing bet- inshore courses, further out on Course area E, the rac-
Rafael Trujillo (ESP) – who is currently lying in tenth
ter than expected, perhaps because there is very little ing was postponed for nearly two and a half hours
place after having scored two 20th places today - said,
pressure on him. “What I see is that the sailors like before finally being able to get underway. Ivan
“In June when we were here the sky was much greyer.
Jonas, Emilios, PJ, Ivan, Rafa, Dan had a lot of pres- Kljakovic Gaspic (CRO) dominated the race, but Ben
Now it is blue, probably because of the factories being
sure at the beginning of the competition because they Ainslie (GBR) placed second to extend his lead at the
turned off. I think this has played a big part in helping
were aiming for a medal. Then there are sailors like top.
the winds to develop.”
me who just want to have good races. In the first day Hoping for a break in the tough conditions at some
Dan Slater (NZL) placed better again today posting
of I was first and second to the first mark and then I point, the sailors today had to cope with even lighter
a 9 and 7. He said, “With four races left to sail before
finished seventh and 17th. There was too much pres- winds, increased humidity and pretty low visibility.
a medal race everyone has a discard now and will be
sure in seeing all those sailors behind me. But after Race seven finally got underway at 15.20 in just 5-6
counting all their finishing positions from now on. I’m
that I calmed down and everything went much better.” knots of wind from a new direction of 140°, gradually
looking forward [to Wednesday] as I still have nothing
shifting round to 160°.
to lose and everything to gain and going by today we
After an individual recall at the start, Nacchatar
saw some big scores again from the racing. Really you
Johal (IND) thought he was over and went back.
only have to look at the results to see that the racing is
O
NE sailor who hasn’t performed to his world
number one ranking is Jonas Høgh-
Christensen (DEN) down in 11th. He said, Unfortunately it was for the 2004 silver medalist Rafael
really random and not really how you would like to
“Nothing has worked for me. I’ve been unlucky, and Trujillo (ESP), who did not go back and was scored
have a regatta that you have spent four years building
sailed bad. But I will continue to try to do my best. I OCS.
up for, but it is what it is and I will keep fighting my
need four top five results to even get close to a medal Having only once placed inside the top 10 so far in
way back.” Slater currently lies in 13th place, just 4
again. Sailing wise I’m not really enjoying myself, but this regatta, the 2007 European Champion, Eduard
points away from the medal race zone.
the rest is great and the mood is good between the Skornyakov (RUS) made the best of the first upwind to
So, going into the first lay day Ainslie leads on 17
sailors in our class.” lead round the top mark followed by Ivan Kljakovic
points, with Railey close behind on 18. In third is
Pieter-Jan Postma (NED), currently lying in 16th is Gaspic (CRO) and Emilios Papathanasiou (GRE).
Florent on 26 points with Cook in fourth on 33. The
very philosophic about his poor performance so far, Skornyakov's lead was short lived as Kljakovic
event is effectively only half way over but both Ainslie
“Very tricky conditions here. For me there's no system Gaspic took the lead at the bottom of the downwind
and Railey have created a useful gap on the rest of
I can understand. That's why you've seen no results with regatta leader Ben Ainslie (GBR) again making a
the fleet, though in the conditions in Qingdao, no one
from me yet. The competition has been really good, big jump downwind to improve from seventh at the top
is taking anything for granted.
with close racing. A lot of the races you finish so close, mark to second at the gate.
that you can win and lose five places in a eyewink. However Kljakovic Gaspic now had the bit between
DAY
Today it's a day off, time to refuel and tomorrow it's his teeth. He rounded clear of other boats and was the
four
another hot and battling racing day. It will be extremely only one to get clear air. He extended his lead to just
Sailors talk about the racing
exciting in the front. We’ll see where the wind blows.” under a minute on the second upwind and then to just
Balazs Hajdu (HUN), who competed in the 2000 and over two minutes by the finish to take the race win.
2004 Olympic regattas in the Finn class and is now Ainslie held on to second, just ahead of Daniel
T
ODAY was a lay day for the Finns in Qingdao.
the President of the International Finn Association Birgmark (SWE), who again sailed a very consistent
They have been taking it easy, watching movies
noted, “The infrastructure in the Olympic Marina and race inside the top five. By the end of the race, the
or playing golf – and getting in the right frame of
the Olympic Village is maybe the best of recent wind had decreased to 4 knots.
mind to go back onto the water tomorrow to compete
Olympics. The marina is a short walk away from the 5
against each other and the tough conditions for the
star hotel transferred to the Village for the regatta.
final four qualification races before the medal race on
However Finn sailors are maybe getting bored of the
Saturday.
food in the village as half of the fleet came to enjoy the S
ECOND overall going into race seven was Zach
Railey (USA). Not having the best of races, he
slipped to 12th at one point before recovering to
Many of the original favourites have struggled in
unmatched open buffet dinner at nearby Shangri-La seventh by the finish. Third placed overnight
these conditions, but they remain optimistic and posi-
Hotel, the HQ for IOC delegates and guests in Guillaume Florent (FRA) recovered from 14th at the
tive about their Olympic experience.
Qingdao. It was great to see Finn sailors of different first mark to fourth at the finish, mainly taking places
Anthony Nossiter (AUS) said, “I’ve not had the best
nationalities seated around the same table and joking downwind, to maintain his third place overall, while
regatta for myself so far, but the long downwinds into
with their fellows and on-water opponents.” Jonas Høgh-Christensen (DEN) kept his slim medal
the current keep the fleet very tight. A few pumps can
He continued, “It is quite moving to see how tough it chances alive with a fifth place. Chris Cook (CAN)
make a big difference, but jury is on the spot to catch
is for sailors to handle these extreme light and shifty dropped from fourth to seventh overall after a disap-
those who get too excited. However long upwinds
wind conditions spiced with the strong current. pointing 15th.
instead of the long downwinds are expected for the
However, all sailors have anticipated these conditions After another lengthy wait, race eight was postponed
next part of the regatta with the turn of the current.”
and prepared themselves mentally to be able to mas- until tomorrow. This means that two races will be
“But life here in the village is very comfortable. A few
ter these psychologically difficult situations. It is great sailed tomorrow, with the tenth now rescheduled for
social beverages were had last night by a bunch of
to see smiling faces at dinner although, especially Friday.
Finn lads. It’s been rather gentlemanly yachting; a few
when you know that the owner of that face has just Although the tough conditions continue to plague
incidents have been fairly traded on the water and not
lost his medal hopes. This shows however that sailors the sailors, Eduardo Couto (BRA), who dropped from
taken to the protest room.”
look ahead, try to get rid of the past and concentrate ninth to 10th after placing 14th today, is still pretty
Newcomer Eduardo Couto (BRA) said, “I am very
only on next race, knowing that this is their only way to happy. He commented, "The conditions are very diffi-
happy with my performance. I don’t have so much time
handle the extremes of the 2008 Olympic Regatta.” cult, and the positions change a lot. When you are in
in the class, so if I can be in the medal race on the last
The conditions are also taking their toll on the front it is difficult to cover the fleet, and sometimes
day I will be very satisfied. The conditions here are
sailors. “I have never seen Ben with such tired eyes from behind you can have big gains too, so I think
very tricky, so it is difficult to have a game plan, but I
after a day's racing as today. Restless concentration everybody is having a hard time this week. But I am
will try to sail more conservatively, not take so many
and body control in the light and shifty winds as well really happy with my performance, I think I have good
risks, and try to sail with most of the fleet. I think in the
as choppy waves take all the energy out of the sailors. speed in light winds and have sailed pretty good in
next four races we will see big changes on the
The climate is however much better than in Beijing. some races, so I am enjoying the sailing here in
scores.”
We have experienced clear skies, temperatures in the Qingdao. It is easy to have bad races, so I think you
Currently lying in fourth place, Chris Cook (CAN)
high twenties and low thirties with moderate humidity have to sail very conservatively and not take too many
had this to say, “With the exception of race five I am
in recent days”. risks. Right now, being in the top 10 it is really good
happy with my sailing so far. I have made some mis-
for me. I am just disappointed to have that second yel-
takes but have made up for them with good downwind
low flag in race three, where I was doing very good,
speed. I have a general plan for each race in that I
DAYfive but it is part of the game. I just have to be careful now,
want to stay consistently in the top eight for every
and pray for the light winds for the next few days."
race. That way I don't take too many risks trying to
Ainslie eases a useful lead Anthony Nossiter (AUS) commented on the weed
make something great but I am also there to take
situation, "There is more weed here than any other
advantage of others mistakes and make better results
than seventh or eighth.”
F
OR the first time on the Finn course, there was sailing venue, but none compared to how it was. I've
initially a significant delay in getting the first race cleared the rudder a few times, but the weed seems to
underway because of too little wind, and then a break up at the bow and is too fragile to hitch a ride."
Will he change anything for Wednesday, “Nothing. I
cancellation of the second race as conditions deterio- One of the pre-regatta favourites is gradually
think others will do part of my work for me by making
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