Olympic Sailing - Day 8 - Video Observations

By Doug

 There were 2 really close races that were determined at the very end.

Star Gold Medal Race: Defending double gold medalist Ian Percy (GBR) was 8 points ahead of double gold medalist Robert Scheidt (BRA) and 12 points ahead of SWE. On the final run, SWE was leading and GBR was in 5th, ahead of BRA:

With SWE winning , GBR had to finish 6th (because of the double points in metal races):

But in an incredibly close finish, there was more pressure for the boats closest to the camera and GBR (furthest away) was passed by 3 boats. SWE wins gold!

Finn Gold Medal Race: Three time gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) and Jonas Hogh-christensen (DEN) were in a virtual tie. Before the start GBR hunted DEN who defended by circling around the committee boat. The start was clean with DEN safely to leeward of GBR:

GBR had to tack away and when they met again GBR had the advantage:

GRR was ahead at the first mark:

On the run, unlimited pumping was permitted (something many Laser sailors are not used to watching) and GBR pumped into 3rd. On the next beat, GBR covered DEN:

Both sailed close to shore:

On the run, DEN chose to not cover GBR:

But GBR covered DEN on the next beat:

And then GBR tacked away permitting DEN to have its own breeze:

When they converged, GBR was still in front:

On the final run, DEN cannot catch GBR, but if NED is able to pass NZL to move get onto second, then NED would win a 3-way tiebreaker for the gold!!

At first, NED chose to not go after NZL:

Then things heated up:

At the bottom of the run, the commentators said that NED made a mistake, but it was difficult to tell from the video. NED slipped to 5th:

So Ben Ainslie wins the tiebreaker with DEN and his 4th gold medal. Well done!

Update: Apparently NED's boom hit NZL's weather deck and had to do a 720 penalty turn. With an inside overlap and short reach to the finish, NED had a good chance to finish 2nd and win the gold on the three-way tiebreaker. And sailing history would be different. Amazing racing!

Olympic Sailing - Day 7 - Video Observations

By Doug

Here's how you win a gold medal in the Olympics (from Laser race 9).

Step 1: under a black flag, stay hidden in the fleet at the start:

Step 2: Immediately punch out, and don't worry about the people doing high-risk starts (TRI):

Step 3: grab the early lead, protect your lane knowing that everything is really close:

Step 4: don't bang a corner and don't worry about anyone else who did (ESP leads at the top mark):

Step 5: use your downwind speed:

Step 6: with the lead, pick the the favored gate:

Step 7: work the shifts but stay close to the leading group:

Step 8: round ahead and enjoy your lead:

Tom Slingsby sailed a brilliant race and is positioned to win Gold tomorrow. Too bad there was no more video coverage today.

Olympic Sailing - Day 6 - Front Row Seat

Courtesy of Brett Beyer

Olympic Sailing - Day 6 - Video Observations

By Doug

It's always interesting to see how much support a sailor gets. At the Open Worlds in Cancun, a Polish sailor apparently arrived without the proper equipment and was helped by the other competitors. At the other end of the scale is CRO at the Olympics in the Finns. He has his own personal trainer. And chef. And psychologist.

Laser race 7: most of the fleet pulled the trigger early and was over early. No sag. General recall:

Under a black flag, only CHI was over early for the second start:

On-board camera of defending Olympic champion Paul Goodison:

Series leader CYP with similar form:

Approaching the first mark... but watch out!

What a mess... GBR, AUS, and CYP all had to do 360's:

Coverage was spotty, here are the sailors in the teens at the next windward mark:

ARG with a big lead:

Final bottom mark, FRA after a fantastic run, but is rolled by ARG on the final reach:

Lasers race 8: big gap in the coverage, top mark with SIN leading and AUS right behind:

 SIN chooses to goes low through the pack, AUS takes the lead by sailing high:

Right behind... is that someone kicking the mark away?

The rest of the fleet:

Top of second beat:

Final run, AUS carving with SIN close behind. Isn't is amazing how important the first windward leg is! SIN is in 23rd place overall, yet had the speed to stay with Tom Slingsby to finish 2nd:

Olympic Sailing - Day 5 - Video Observations

By Doug

Finns start of race 7, Ben Ainslie (GBR) trailing in the series, needing to aggressive:

It worked, while series leader DEN not taking any chances:

GBR leading up the first leg, DEN slipping for now:

DEN gaining downwind on the reach:

It was a real screamer:

GRB protecting its lead:

On the run, GBR risking everything, while series leader DEN tipped:

GBR won, DEN moved up to finish 8th:

Finns start of race 8, this time DEN getting aggressive:

DEN in a breeze:

GBR trailing DEN on the final run, needs to pass to gain 2 points:

GBR passes and finishes behind ESP and NED:

Olympic Sailing - Day 4 - Front Row Seat

Courtesy of Brett Beyer