What's in store for Day 12 Matthew Sheahan reports
For those who arrived halfway through the event, talk of the morning has been the surprise at seeing islands offshore and mountains inland. The heavy humid conditions that have shrouded the city and the horizon for the last few days were proceeded by monsoon rains so fierce you might as well have been trying to view the Olympics from behind Niagra Falls.
But today is different, clear skies a decent breeze and sparkling conditions, the best we’ve seen yet on the penultimate day of the sailing Olympics.
Here’s this morning’s weather forecast from GBR meteorologist Libby Greenhalgh:
High pressure to the NE extends south over the area is maintaining a moderate N veering E airflow.
With clear skies and temperatures expected to reach 28-30 Celsius, conditions will be dominated by thermal effects.
Expecting the N airflow to be short lived and a gentle ESE 04-05 KT to develop for the start of racing, by medal racing time this should have increased to 06-07 KT and be relatively stable.
The tide is now at it maximum rise and fall and therefore we will see some of the strongest tides yet.
For the start of the Tornados and Stars (earlier than usual) at 1100 expect the tide to be ebbing (going east) and reaching its maximum around 1200. The turn of the tide is expect around 1400 and will turn quickly to the flood. With maximum tidal speeds expected to reach 1.75 KT
RACING
RSX Boards – Medal race day. Can the Brits pull off two medals? They’ve certainly worked hard to keep themselves in the leading packs in their respective fleets in what has become something of an endurance event. Nick Dempsey has maintained an impressive consistency in his results with only two results in double figures, one of which he can discard. Frenchman Julien Bontemps is just one point ahead and is France’s only chance of a medal.
Bryony Shaw’s performance has been equally impressive , her only serious mistake cost her an OCS but this has been discarded in the overall points score leaving her worst result 11th. For her gold is a tougher call as she trails the leader, China’s Jian Yin, by eight points, but no one this ruling this out.
Elsewhere the early action on the Star course where three races are planned saw Britain’s Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson take the lead at the halfway stage in the first race.
In the Tornados, Brit sailors Leigh and McMillan struggled in the first race of the day in a fleet that is proving to be extremely competitive. They started their day 29 points off the lead. Making sure they get into the medal race will be their first objective, a medal target will come later. At the front of this fleet a needlematch is developing between Spain’s Echavarri and Paz and Australia’s Bundock and Asby who share points.
RACING SCHEDULE – Wednesday 20 August (times are local)
Course A – 1300 hrs RS:X Men medal race
Course A – 1300 hrs RS:X Women medal race
Course D – 1100hrs Star (3 races)
Course E – 1100hrs Tornado (3 races)
PODCASTS
UK board sailor Bryony Shaw looks forward to the medal race – Can she do it?
Ben Ainslie describes how he feels after winning his third gold medal
Light and…..brilliant. Nick Rogers tells Matthew Sheahan about his tricky day in the 470 class
UK Laser sailor Paul Goodison talks to Matthew Sheahan after his opening day at the 2008 Olympics
British 470 sailors Nic Rogers and Joe Glanfield describe their first day on the race track 11-8-08
Ben Ainslie after the second day of racing plus comments on penalties – 10 Aug
** USEFUL LINKS **
Official Olympic Sailing Schedule plus mark roundings