Interesting day for sailing today

[CBM]

Don't know if anyone else follows this, but in a nutshell today is the final race in the Finn (heavyweight singlehanded dinghy) class and Ben Ainslie is two points behind the Dane, Hohn-Christensen. Ainslie can secure victory (and his fifth gold medal) by covering Hogh-Christensen provided that doesn't let the Dutch guy win...

We should get a gold in the Star class (two man keelboat) today.

There is a good explanation of the tactical situation here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19126930

[Terpe]

I feel it's going to be really really tough for him. He'll need to keep a watchful on so many things.
Hope he'll be in beligerent mood and put the Dane outside his comfort zone.
Need that wind to come down a tad. Honestly the Dane has been so fast in the wind.

Fingers crossed.

[CBM]

Exactly - he can't sit on Hogh-Cristensen without first getting in front of him - and the shorter course should help...

Just looked at the forecast and it looks like a sea breeze -

10.00 S 9 mph

1300 S 11 mph

1600 SSE 9 mph


http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/...cast_wind.html

[CBM]

was 19 mph but eased.

Gold for Ainslie

(OK, Ainslie - you're nicked - misuse of distress signals!)

[Terpe]

Now that was very very close.
He did most everything right, but being brutally honest the Dutchman made a huge error in getting so tied up with NZL at the last just when he thought the smell of gold was in his nostrils.
Real touch and go stuff.
But a big well done to Ben Ainslie who wins the 15th gold medal for Team GB
He's got a habit of coming out best when he's miffed.

[CBM]

Yes, agree entirely.

(er, thank you New Zealand.. )

In many ways, disregarding the expertise of the competitors, that was a very typical dinghy race, such as many of us enjoy - the tactical issues were the ones that crop up all the time. It woukld be nice to think that it may encourage others into the sport.

[Terpe]

I'm very lucky, just 5 min from a large local reseviour with fishing, cycling, walking and the local sailing club.

Can't give priority to sailing any more, but plenty of other things to do.

[Dedworth]

Britannia Rules The Waves