Olympic Sailing Results – 22 August

Olympic Sailing Results – 22 August

Final races have been sailed and medals have been presented in four Olympic sailing classes overnight. The 2004 Olympic campaign has concluded for the Finn, Yngling, Men’s and Women’s 470 fleets. New Zealand’s Yngling crew finished in 7th.

New Zealand’s Final Results:

Yngling – Sharon Ferris, Joanna White & Kylie Jameson – 7th
Finn - Dean Barker – 13th
Women’s 470 – Shelley Hesson & Linda Dickson – 16th
Men’s 470 – Andrew Brown & Jamie Hunt – 26th

New Zealand’s Current Standings:

Women’s Mistral – Barbara Kendall – 6th (after 8 races)
Men’s Mistral – Thomas Ashley – 13th (after 8 races)
Europe – Sarah Macky – 6th (after 10 races)
Laser – Hamish Pepper – 7th (after 10 races)

In the inaugural Olympic regatta for the Yngling keelboat the British team of Shirley Robertson, Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton had confirmed their gold medal before going out on the course last night for the final race. Silver was claimed by Ukraine who overtook Denmark in the rankings with their final performance while New Zealand’s trio finished in 7th place.

Sharon Ferris, Joanna White and Kylie Jameson placed 9th in race 11 of the Yngling regatta which was sailed in light conditions off Athens. This result ensured they maintained their previous standing behind Great Britain, Ukraine, Denmark, Netherlands, France and Germany.

Dean Barker concluded his Olympic regatta also last night eventually finishing in 13th position in a fleet of 25 sailors. Great Britain also took out the Finn gold medal; Ben Ainslie sailing consistently well after making a poor start on day 1. Ainslie finished well ahead of Rafael Trujillo of Spain in second and Poland’s Mateusz Kusznierewicz getting the bronze.

In the Women’s 470 Shelley Hesson and Linda Dickson, sailing in their first Olympic regatta placed 16th. They came 13th in last nights race which saw them slip back one position. The Gold medal went to the home town team of Sofia Bekatorou and Emilia Tsoulfa; the Greek pair sailing so well that the locals were able to celebrate this win before the final race was sailed.

“The calibre of these girls from Greece is very impressive,” comments New Zealand’s Team Manager Don Cowie, “they are extremely good.”

It was a clean sweep for the European nations in the Women’s 470 when Spain came through from 4th position before racing to take out the silver medal overnight. The bronze medal went to Sweden.

New Zealand’s pair in the Men’s division of the 470, also first time Olympians, finished towards the back of the fleet in 26th place. USA claimed their first sailing medal in these Olympics so far dominated by the British and the European nations. Paul Forrester and Kevin Burnham who between them have some impressive credentials won gold overnight.

Britain claimed another medal, this time silver in the Men’s 470 sailing, while Japan came through in last night’s final race to overtake the Swedish pair and take the bronze.

Wind delays affected the Mistral fleets again last night though racing got underway late in the Athen’s afternoon in breeze that ranged between 7 and 10 knots. Both the Men’s and Women’s fleet have now got 8 races on the board and have a reserve day before racing resumes on Monday night.

Barbara Kendall picked up three places and now sits in 6th overall. Last night she recorded a 5th and then a 3rd with some strong contenders above her on the leader board. Currently Yin Jian of China is one point ahead of 2000 gold medallist and current World Champion Alessandra Sensini of Italy.

Thomas Ashley is in 13th spot after last nights racing in the Men’s Mistral event. The 21 year-old kiwi finished in 15th and 18th overnight which sees him slip back one place in the overall standings. The top spot is being closely contested by Israel’s Gal Fridman and Ricardo Santos of Brazil.

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