Qingdao - Defending Gold

August 24, 2006 0 comments

The defending gold medallists in the Tornado and Finn made their mark at the Qingdao International Regatta today, as Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT) and Ben Ainslie (GBR) claimed victory in outstanding style, and marked themselves out a

The defending gold medallists in the Tornado and Finn made their mark at the Qingdao International Regatta today, as Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT) and Ben Ainslie (GBR) claimed victory in outstanding
style, and marked themselves out as the sailors to beat.

Day three got underway in fluctuating conditions, proving a challenge for the Race Committee in their goal to set fair race courses. The focus was over in the heavyweight dinghy event who commenced their race series today, with the defending Olympic gold medallist, Ben AINSLIE (GBR) exchanging his America’s Cup steed for the Finn.

After a postponement for the Women’s RS:X and 49er on Course Area A, and the Laser and Laser Radial fleets on Course Area B, both Laser fleets were sent out onto the race course just before 1330 hours. However, the wind
could not settle over in Course Area A, and no racing was held for the 49ers and Women’s RS:X.

The 49ers will resume racing tomorrow, when racing is also scheduled for both the men’s and women’s windsurfer events. No racing was scheduled today for the Yngling, Women’s 470 and Men’s RS:X, all of whom enjoyed a well earned rest.
—
ISAF,http://sailing.org

He may have had a year out from the Olympic sailing scene, but double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie still showed his magic touch at the Qingdao International Regatta today (Wednesday), with a race win and a second from his opening two races marking his comeback in the Finn class.

The 2008 Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao was once again dogged by light 3-5 knot winds and fog on the third day of racing, but all eyes were on the 29-year-old – who has not raced the heavyweight dinghy since the 2005
Finn Gold Cup last September – to see how he would fare against his old rivals and new pretenders on the Finn racing scene after time out for the America’s Cup.

It didn’t take Ainslie long to find his feet, punching out a first in his opening race at this first Olympic Test Event, beating Greece’s world silver medallist, Emilios Papathanasiou, into second with new World Champion Jonas Hoegh-Christensen of Denmark down in 16th.

Ainslie continued his tussle with old rival Papathanasiou in the second race, with the Greek coming out on top to end the day at the top of the leaderboard on equal points with the Skandia Team GBR sailor.

The local Chinese media in Qingdao are quite taken with the Athens gold medallist, with one reporter describing the Brit’s performance, having had so little time in the Finn, as a “miracle”.

“I’d probably agree with him!” remarked Ainslie.
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Lindsay Bell,