Olympics Australian Sailing Team Update Day 9

'2008 Olympic Regatta - Day 9 - Yngling Medal race' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

The Australian 49er crew of Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin sailed a heroic, rollercoaster final race in driving rain, blustering winds and heavy seas this afternoon, only to watch their medal chance blown away with the gusts which also capsized them twice just before the finish line. The young team from the NSW Central Coast can be proud of their never-give-up attitude which sees them complete their first Olympic campaign in fifth overall.

It was a race of attrition in winds which gusted up to 23 knots and waves of up to 1.5 metres high. The Aussies' hopes swelled even before the starter's gun fired as the leading Danish boat broke its mast. The Danish rushed back to shore to borrow the Croatian team's boat and joined the race after it had started.

Then, in the final leg of the race, the Australians' other closest rivals, the Italians, capsized, putting the Aussies in the Gold medal position.

However, the washing machine sea state and whistling winds decided their fate and they themselves were thrown into the water. As boats around the course suffered the same problems, it was a matter of who could get upright and moving forward most quickly. As Outteridge and Austin's boat Spotless tipped again to throw them both into the drink, five boats crossed the line ahead of them and their medal chances were swept away

However, at the time of print there is a protest being held with two issues being addressed - firstly, the legality of the Danish crew's use of the unquarantined Croatian boat for the race and, secondly, the decision of the race committee to hold the race in the prevailing conditions.

A medal ceremony has been postpoined and official result s are pending the outcome of these protests. A full update will be provided once the protest outcomes are advised.

The Australians returned to the boat park battered and bruised.

'We came so close,' said a shattered Austin.

'After the first capsize, we'd damaged so much, the boat was trashed - it looked like we'd just sailed across the Atlantic.'

2008 Olympic Regatta - D49er fleet - Guy Nowell &copy Click Here to view large photo

At a glance
Men's 470- 1st Overall (medal race Monday - lead by 22 pts)
Women's 470 - 1st Overall (medal race Monday - lead by 18pts)
Tornado - 2nd Overall
RS:X - 3rd Overall
49ers- 5th Overall after medal race - competition finished (pending current protest)
Laser Radial- 7th Overall
Yngling- 10th Overall after medal race - competition finished
Star-15th Overall
Laser- 25thOverall

With rain bucketing down all day the Tornado, Star, Laser Radial and Laser classes completed only one race each late in the day, while the RS:X got two races in the can.

Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby won the Tornado's fourth race of the regatta, revelling in the strong winds. They are second overall on 13 points, closely trailing leaders Spain (12 points) while there's a big gap to third placed Greece on 26 points.

The windsurfers had to hang on rather than pump for air today and Jessica Crisp finished with an 8th and 9th to put her third overall on 20 points. China retains the lead with 16 points and Italy is second on 23 points.

Sarah Blanck came 12th in the Laser Radial race and now sits 7th overall on 40 points. Lithuania is first on 17 points, the USA is second (23 points) and New Zealand is third (24 points).

Racing tomorrow - Monday 18 August

The Australian Men's 470 medal race is due to start at 1pm Qingdao time pending weather conditions. Holding a 22 point lead, Australians Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page have already won the Gold medal on paper and, in theory, need only to start the race in order to stand on top of the podium.

The Women's 470 medal race is also scheduled for tomorrow. Australia's Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson are in contention for a medal - the only remaining question is what colour? The only way they could lose the Gold is if they finish the medal race last and The Netherlands cross the line first. However, as today's racing proved - the war isn't over until the final battle is won.

Laser, Laser Radial, Star, Tornado and RS:X races continue

Australian Team Insights
When the students at Glenn Ashby's Victorian Primary School had to paint a mural on the school wall, they were asked to paint what they dreamed of being. Young Glenn painted a Tornado sail boat and under it wrote that he wanted to compete at the Olympic Games. At age 30, his childhood dream is a reality.

www.australiansailingteam.com.au

by AST Media