Olympic Sailing - Day 9 - Video Observations

By Doug

For those who were unable to watch this video, there were 2 very tactical Laser races. The women were in a virtual 4-way tie for the gold and XU Lijia (CHN) made a great move that helped her win. With the men, Tom Slingsby (AUS) was well ahead of Pavlos Kontides (CYP) going into the final race and made sure Pavlos was never in close to the front of the fleet.

Laser Radial Gold Medal Race: Pin favored, clean start:

Like Ben Ainslie yesterday, CHN did not have the best start and ducked a few boats to go right close to shore, and then came back in first place:

 CHN led on the run:

 But was flagged and dropped back to third:

 Near the bottom of the run, CHN catches up and then luffs suddenly:

And takes the lead - great move!

CHN leading tacks and again chooses to go right. Gutsy move:

Things looked pretty even on the second beat:

But again the right paid:

And with the lead XU Lijia goes on to win the gold medal:

So from what I saw in the video, CHN picked the correct side on both beats, got aggressive at just the right moment, and had good speed. Well done!

Laser Gold Medal Race: CYP had to beat AUS by 7 boats in the 10-boat fleet to win gold, so Tom Slingsby's job was to hold CYP back. AUS stayed close to CYP before the start well back from the line:

AUS went below:

The start was clean:

CYP took sterns to go right, AUS followed:

When they converged, they were even. AUS lee-bowed CYP:

Going right again, AUS got a slight inside lift. This was to me a key moment in the race:

AUS now clear ahead and the fun begins:

Lots more tacking:

Approaching the first mark, CYP foots to get clear air, so AUS also foots to cover:

AUS and CYP were well back at the first mark:

Not sure what CYP was doing, the commentator said this was to get separation from AUS:

CYP and AUS way off to the side on the run:

At the bottom of the run, AUS still leads:

CYP tacks to goes right, AUS keeps the tight cover:

AUS has managed to keep CYP in last place:

CYP footing to get clear air, AUS following:

View of AUS from above:

AUS still covering:

CYP well back on the final run:

The bronze medal may have been determined here - CRO was flagged and does its 360:

Pavlos Kontides of Cyprus wins silver, its first Olympic medal. Well done!

Tom Slingsby wins gold. Well done!!

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