7.30AM Sunday, August 17th: Racing for the Star is postponed but Laser Radial Class completed Race Six starting in 20kts of breeze. See 10am and 11.30am updates.
Ciara Peelo now lies in 19th position overall in the Laser Radial Class having finished Race Six in 24th position and after one discard. The race started in 20kts of breeze and finished in 15kts. However, the reports of conditions in Fushan Bay to-day show a completely different picture to that of the first seven days. In place of light winds they are reporting an easterly wind of 15kts with heavy rain and large waves. Race Seven for this class is now postponed.
The first Gold Medal of the Olympic Sailing Competition has been won by Britain in the Yngling Class.
10AM UPDATE SUNDAY
Race Four for the Star Class eventually got underway in 20kts of breeze on a windward/leeward course. Peter O’Leary and Stephen Milne finished 10th in Race Four to leave them lying 11th overall. However, the leader is now on 21 points and the O’Leary/Milne team are only 14 points behind, just one point outside the top ten, with fleet positions constantly changing and it would be a foolish person indeed who would, or could, make any predictions at this stage. The Star Class in particular, with its world renowned depth of talent, always goes to the wire. Race Five will introduce a discard. However, this race is postponed and we are all left to bite our nails until the race commences. Interestingly, it was Robert Scheidt of Brazil who took the win in this heavy airs race with Portugal suffering an OCS. Overall, Poland now lead with France second and Sweden third.
The Finn Class Medal Race has now been completed with Ben Ainslie of Britain leading at every mark and taking the coveted medal on 23 points by a margin of 22 points from Zach Railey of the USA.
11.30AM Racing for the Star and the Laser Radial Classes is re-scheduled for to-morrow, Monday August 18th.
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