Iain PERCY adds Star success to the gold medal he won in the single-handed Finn dinghy in Sydney eight years ago, whilst Andrew SIMPSON wins gold in his first appearance at the Games. Brazilians Robert SCHEIDT and Bruno PRADA (BRA) won the silver medal with the Swedish crew of Fredrik LOOF and Anders EKSTROM, who held the overall lead going into the Medal Race, taking bronze.  

“This win is far more sweet than the gold in the Finn,” said PERCY. “Six months ago, we knew we could do. It’s just that there was so much work involved and there are so many talents in the class. We always knew we were contenders, but only contenders. Every morning we wake up thinking about sailing and nothing else.”

The Star Medal Race was perfectly poised with just two points separating the leading Swedish and British crews and SCHEIDT and PRADA third overall, 14 points back and ready to pounce on any mistakes. With these six crews sharing three gold, one silver and one bronze medal between them, it was a genuine battle of the heavyweights.

A southeasterly on 12 knots and big seas set the scene for a thrilling race. PERCY and SIMPSON just had to beat LOOF and EKSTROM and immediately put the pressure on their rivals. After a bout of pre-start manoeuvring, the Brits had the Swedes pinned outside the Committee boat and gained an advantage off the start, but LOOF and EKSTROM fought back strongly up the right of the first beat, rounding the top mark just ahead of the Brits. Meanwhile SCHEIDT and PRADA had got off to a flier at the pin end and pulled out an early lead. Sweden and Britain never strayed far from one another during the battle downwind, with LOOF and EKSTROM initially appearing to hold the advantage. However, PERCY and SIMPSON caught a good puff to surge ahead and rounded mark two in second with the Swedes and France’s ROHART and RAMBEAU just a few seconds further back.

On the second upwind Britain held the advantage over Sweden but these two teams appeared isolated on the left of the course, whilst the rest of the fleet made gains on the right. Could SCHEIDT and PRADA sneak in? If they won and PERCY and SIMPSON finished seventh and LOOF and EKSTROM eighth, gold would go to Brazil.

Halfway through, the race appeared wide open. “Everything was changing. Boat places were switched rapidly and we went from left to right. We just had to keep our eyes on the main guys and just fight, fight and fight,” PERCY said.

At this stage World Champions Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Dominik ZYCKI (POL) came into the frame, making big gains on the right of the course along with Flavio MARAZZI and Enrico DE MARIA (SUI) . They led into the final run with SCHEIDT and PRADA now down in fifth, PERCY and SIMPSON in seventh whilst the Swedes had dropped to last. The Brazilians and Brits again showed their speed downwind and both made up places on the run, whilst the Swedes continued to struggle at the back. At the front KUSZNIEREWICZ and ZYCKI took the bullet followed by the Swiss, SCHEIDT and PRADA pulled back two places to come in third, with Marc PICKEL and Ingo BORKOWSKI (GER) fourth and then the new Olympic Champions PERCY and SIMPSON in fifth.

“At first tears burst into my eyes. I was just so shocked. After so many years of hardship, to achieve this, here with your best friend is the best feeling in the world,” SIMPSON said.

LOOF and EKSTROM battled with ROHART and RAMBEAU down the final run but the French just held off their challenge, finishing one second ahead of the Swedes to give the silver medal to Brazil. 

Overall Results - click here 

At one stage in today’s Medal Race Anna TUNNICLIFFE had fallen back to ninth but she battled back, reading a big shift on the second upwind leg and eventually crossing the finishing line in second place to secure the gold medal. Aged just 25, the world #1 skipper can now add Olympic gold to her list of achievements.

After sailing back along the breakwater at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center to cheers of delight from the US supporters, TUNNICLIFFE was elated as she returned to the boatpark. “This is phenomenal. It is absolutely unbelievable. This is my first Olympics and first medal. I’ve been wanting this for many years. It’s a dream come true,” she said.

Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE (LTU) won the Medal Race to take silver. For the first half of the race she had been in a gold medal winning position, but despite coming so close to Olympic victory she was still delighted with her success, not least becoming the first Lithuanian to ever to win a medal in sailing at the Olympic Games, “I’m very proud of myself. I’m also very happy to get the first Olympic sailing medal for my country. I have to say Anna is the strongest. I’m very satisfied with my result. I want to thank my coach. He’s been with me for 12 years. Without him I would not be here today,” VOLUNGEVUCIUTE said.

The bronze medal went to Lijia XU of China, the first medal for the host nation in this year’s Olympic Sailing Competition. XU, the 2006 World Champion, came third in today’s Medal Race to secure herself a place on the Olympic podium. 

Today’s Medal Race was a race of two halves. Poland’s Katarzyna SZOTYNSKA and World Champion Sarah STEYAERT of France established a lead on the fleet up the first beat, with VOLUNGEVUCIUTE playing the middle of the course and rounding in third. The Lithuanian had to put three boats between her and TUNNICLIFFE to win gold and today’s light and shifty winds, conditions in which she excels, were perfect for her. XU rounded third after keeping a close eye on her bronze medal rival Sarah BLANCK (AUS), but TUNNICLIFFE was way back in eighth after crossing the line early and having to go back to recross. “I had a really bad start. It was very hard to focus when my competitors were gaining points on me,” explained the American.

Things went from bad to worse on the downwind leg as TUNNICLIFFE dropped another place to ninth, but on the second upwind the race was turned on its head with a big wind shift. On the right of the course SZOTYNSKA and STEYAERT were left stranded whilst VOLUNGEVUCIUTE moved into the lead. BLANCK, XU and crucially TUNNICLIFFE all read the shift as well with the American making the most of her good judgement with a great upwind leg which brought her from ninth to third at the finally mark. “I saw a big puff at the left side of the course and I said to myself, ‘I already have a medal, so why don’t I give it a try?’ I went to the left and moved to the front of the fleet.”

With the wind dropping off slightly on the final run the fleet compressed, but VOLUNGEVUCIUTE held on to win the race and secure her silver medal. TUNNICLIFFE followed her across the line in second to win gold with XU in third securing bronze.

Overall Results - click here

Brazilian pair Robert SCHEIDT and Bruno PRADA are 14 points behind the regatta leaders on 47 points after placing third in three races on Wednesday. France's Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU are on 51 points.

The 10 qualifiers for the Medal Race are chasing Fredrik LOOF and Anders EKSTROM (SWE) who sailed to second, first and seventh place finishes in Wednesday's racing. Iain PERCY and Andrew SIMPSON (GBR) posted a first, a second and a sixth.

Wednesday's weather was the best of the Opening Series. The fleet started in a brisk easterly of 8-11 knots.

SIMPSON said he was surprised by the conditions. "We were expecting 6 knots, but we got 12 to 13 knots. There were a lot of tactical things involved today. The sea breeze was clocking to the right. The downwind was very fast."

The boats at the top of the leaderboard sailed conservatively, while those in the back of the rfleet looked for something special to put them in medal contention. The Swedish, British and Brazilian crews were never far apart from one another, but with consistent performances earlier in the series, it’s the Swedes and the Brits who hold the upper hand going into the Medal Race.

LOOF and PERCY are old rivals from their days in the Finn single-hander dinghy, with PERCY a gold medallist in the Finn in Sydney, when LOOF won bronze. LOOF says that teaming up with EKSTROM has brought a new dynamic to his sailing, “EKSTROM and I have been training together for the last two years now. I’m a bit on the quiet side and he’s definitely on the aggressive side,” he said.

Asked about tomorrow’s Medal Race the British and Swedish team appear to be taking different approaches. “We have to win the race. It’s for the gold and that’s the plan,” was SIMPSON’s response. LOOF sounded a different note, “Tomorrow’s race cannot be a straight match. I have to play a little bit more cautiously.”

Both teams will know they disregard the Brazilian challenge at their peril. SCHEIDT is a winner of two Olympic gold and one silver medal and a formidable opponent in the Medal Race.

Sweden, Great Britain, Brazil, France, Switzerland, Poland, Portugal, Germany, New Zealand and Italy will start Thursday's Medal Race.

Eight teams have a chance of a medal as just 18 points separate third through to eighth places.

RAMBEAU said the Medal Race could change everything. “It's still wide open for everyone and we are prepared for that." 

John DANE (USA), at 58 the oldest sailor at the 2008 Olympic Games, finished the Opening Series in 11th place. In the final race of his Olympic career DANE finished fourth.

Overall Results - click here 

After the final three races of the Laser Radial Opening Series on Monday, Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA) regains the overall lead recovering strong from a 15th place finish at the start of the day. TUNNICLIFFE shrugged off that race 7 result and topped up with a pair of second places in races 8 and 9 to finish as one of only three sailors in the running for the gold medal. With 21 points separating her from fourth place, she has already guaranteed herself a spot on the podium. "It's a huge relief,” TUNNICLIFFE said of having a medal secured already. “I'm kind of relaxed but at the same time kind of nervous. I need to stay focused today and celebrate tomorrow. Tonight I'm going to sit down with my coach and talk strategy."

Like TUNNICLIFFE, Sunday’s overall leader  Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE (LTU) struggled in the first race today but came back strongly with sixth and fourth places finishes to end her series. "I feel confident being among the top sailors. I feel strong. I don't feel pressured at all but today I didn't feel so good, because I made too many mistakes," VOLUNGEVICIUTE said.

World #2 Lijia XU of China came out strongly, scoring a bullet in race 7. She finished the day with an 11th and a sixth to be third overall going in to the Medal Race. Only XU and VOLUNGEVICIUTE can challenge TUNNICLIFFE for gold, but with places counting for double points in the Medal Race nothing can be taken for granted.

"I’m very lucky to be able to jump up to third place today," XU said. "I am prepared to fight for a medal."

World #3 Sarah BLANCK (AUS) moved up to fourth place overall after her first win of the series in race 8. She finished eighth and fifth in the other two races but is 21 points adrift of TUNNLICIFFE and out of contention for the gold medal, although both silver and bronze are still a possibility.

Monday’s stronger winds meant disaster for Jo ALEH (NZL), who slid from third overall to seventh. ALEH is now out of medal contention after scoring a pair of 14s and a 20. The bigger breezes did not suit the light New Zealand sailor but she remains inside the top ten and will at least sail in the Medal Race.

Racing started on time in 7-15 knot shifty breezes with a big westerly swell running.

Overall Results - click here

Fredrik LOOF and Anders EKSTROM (SWE) posted 6, 1, 8 scores in Monday's shifty conditions with a current that confused some sailors. In the day’s other two races Hamish PEPPER and Carl WILLIAMS (NZL) won race 5 and Iain PERCY and Andrew SIMPSON (GBR) won race 7.

PERCY and SIMPSON’s performance today moves them up into second place, although SIMPSON said it was a difficult day for the pair. "The fleet was very close. The first race was quite bad, but we got better in the second race. Perhaps we had a bit more luck," he said.

Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU (FRA), bronze medallists in Athens, are third overall.

The day's biggest comeback was made by world #1 ranked Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Dominik ZYCKI (POL). They recovered from 13th around the first mark in race 7 to third at the finish.

Double Olympic gold medallist Robert SCHEIDT and his crew Bruno PRADA (BRA) continue to have an up and down regatta with 9, 10, 2 scores in today’s three races. The Brazilians lie eighth overall although PRADA is refusing to write off their chances, "There are only nine points separating third through ninth. It's anybody's regatta."

Overall Results - click here 

Race 4 of the Star Opening Series was delayed for several hours on Sunday by poor weather conditions before eventually being held in heavy seas that damaged several vessels. 

Flavio MARAZZI and Enrico DE MARIA (SUI) were first to the weather mark. Robert SCHEIDT and Bruno PRADA (BRA), the 2007 Star World Champions and known for their breakaway speed in heavy air, and Fredrik LOOF and Anders EKSTROM (SWE), also past Star World Champions, were breathing down their necks.

SCHEIDT and PRADA stole the lead with 2008 Star World Champions Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Dominik ZYCKI less than two seconds behind them. LOOF and EKSTROM sailed in third, followed by Athens bronze medallists, Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU (FRA).

After four races, only seven points separate first from eighth. Afonso DOMINGOS and Bernardo SANTOS (POR), winners of the 2008 Bacardi Cup, are in ninth position with an OCS in their scoreline that is likely to be discarded following Monday‘s scheduled three races starting at 11:00.

Conditions were near the upper limit of the wind and sea ranges for the Stars, as the carnage that took place on the last leg of the race suggests. The Australians and Croatians lost their masts near the spreaders but managed to surf downwind with their mangled messes and finish the race.

Said ZYCKI as he searched for a replacement whisker pole: "It was a long day for only one race. There is very little difference between being first and sixth because so few points separate the fleet." 

Overall Results - click here 

The 25 year old Lithuanian finished fourth in Sunday's race, after winning two races in light conditions over the past two days, giving her a six-point lead over her nearest rival.

Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE found Sunday's racing difficult. "I couldn't see a thing; the visibility was terrible. Sunday’s fourth place was a little bit of a confidence booster for me."

VOLUNGEVICIUTE said she lost weight for light conditions in Qingdao, so felt weak in the stronger winds and swells. In a competition that changes daily, Jo ALEH (NZL) moved from first overall into third after finishing 14th, and world #1 Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA) moved from third to second overall after finishing third on Sunday. The American remains remarkably consistent and still holds a low exclude score which could prove crucial

ALEH said because of the heavy wind the fleet was spread over the course. "The heavy rain made it hard to see and it influenced my results," she said.

China’s Lijia XU scored a second place in Sunday's race to ensure she held on to fourth overall. The top four are all closely bunched, with just nine points covering them.

XU, the world #2, said the wind was good for the competition. "I would have done better if the rain was a little less. I'm going to rest now and prepare [for Monday]. I'm happy my ranking has improved."

Reigning World Champion Sarah STEYAERT won Sunday's race, moving her to fifth overall.

Overall Results - click here

The pair were matched on the day by Athens 2004 bronze medallists Xavier ROHART and Pascal RAMBEAU (FRA), who finished first and fifth. 

John DANE and Austin SPERRY had the biggest comeback for the day in race 2 - won by Marc PICKEL and Ingo BORKOWSKI  (GER) - when they went from ninth to third on the first run and picked up one more boat on the next windward leg.

Afonso DOMINGOS and Bernardo SANTOS (POR) are second overall and Hamish PEPPER and Carl WILLIAMS (NZL) third after three races.

Fredrik LOOF and Anders EKSTROM (SWE) were swept off the leaderboard after a fourth and 15th to be seventh overall. DANE is the oldest member of the US Olympic team and the oldest sailor competing in Qingdao.

After trying to make the USA Olympic Sailing team for the past 40 years, DANE is sure this is his first and final Olympic Sailing Competition.

"You could lose 100 yards in three minutes," he said of the racing. "On the last beat of the second race it looked like we were 1, 2 with the Germans, but Hamish [PEPPER] and PERCY [Iain PERCY (GBR)] got a shift and beat us to the mark. It is never over out there and that‘s a good thing."

Sunday‘s forecast is for 17 to 19 knots of wind, conditions not yet seen during the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Overall Results - click here 

Jo ALEH's scorecard is impressive - a fourth and a trio of second places remaining after dropping her worst score, a 22nd place.

ALEH is a well known specialist in light wind conditions, a reputation she lived up in Saturday’s race as she gain places on the final run as the wind dropped from 9 to 5 knots.

"I stayed in front almost the entire race. The tide was very strong on the last downwind and if it was not for the huge shift that came from the left, I would not have finished well," ALEH revealed.

Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE (LTU) won Friday's race 4 and did so again in race 5, taking her to second place, three points behind ALEH.

"I benefited on the second downwind leg again, like I did yesterday [Friday]," VOLUNGEVICIUTE said. "The others tacked a lot, I stayed patient again, which is why I might be in second place."

Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA), who is now third overall and 10 points off the lead, did not seem too rattled with her lead loss. "I sailed conservatively because I didn't want to take any risks. I will follow my plan and we will see what happens. We're only half way through," she said.

Although the world #1 skipper has dropped to third place overall her strategy appears to be working and she still looks to be a strong position with no score worse than sixth so far. These means the American can afford one bad race, a luxury that amongst the leaders is only share by VOLUNGEVICIUTE.

Lijia XU's (CHN) fifth place puts her in fourth overall, just four points behind TUNNICLIFFE. After a slow start, XU, World Champion in 2006 and runner up this year, is quietly making her way to the top of the leaderboard.

Overall Results - click here

Following a long delay at the start, the forecast wind eventually began to fill in later in the afternoon. Fredrik LOOF and Anders EKSTROM (SWE) limped around the weather mark in 8 knots of breeze just ahead of world ranked #1 crew Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ and Dominik ZYCKI (POL). 

Afonso DOMINGOS and Bernardo SANTOS (POR), KUSZNIEREWICZ and ZYCKI's training partners, followed the Poles. Great Britain's Iain PERCY and Andrew SIMPSON and Germany's Marc PICKEL and Ingo BORKOWSKI were not far behind.

While LOOF and EKSTROM held their lead, the next six boats traded positions on the run. DOMINGOS and SANTOS gained a narrow lead at the top of the next leg. LOOF and EKSTROM and PICKEL and BORKOWSKI sailed down the middle of the run as everyone’s mainsails flapped in the lumpy seas.

The Swedish team scored an opening win, with LOOF explaining the key to their success today: “It was not about boat speed. It was about selecting a route. If you go the wrong way, it doesn’t matter how fast you go,” he said.

Behind the leading group a lot of the pre-regatta favourites posted high scores after getting caught on the wrong side of a big wind shift up the first beat. Australia, Austria, Brazil and Italy all lodged protests against the Race Committee under rule 62.1 (a) but all were denied (you can see full details in our Protests & Communications section here).

Overall Results - click here 

Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE, known for her speed in light winds, won a closely fought race 4 in the Laser Radial fleet today started in 7 knots of breeze increasing to 15 midway through the race, the windiest conditions of the regatta to date. The Lithuanian world #9 has so far pulled out 3, 13, 8, 1 scores and has sat near the top of the standings the whole time. She moves into second place following her win and is just five points behind the American world #1 sailor, Anna TUNNICLIFFE, who was nevertheless happy with her fifth place.

"I did perfectly downwind, especially the second leg, and I made the right decisions," VOLUNGEVICIUTE said.

TUNNICLIFFE, to her credit, has not finished outside sixth - the only competitor with that claim. "Today I made a huge come back. The wind was very shifty, and I got Yellow Flagged for rocking on the first downwind leg. On the second downwind, the left side was wide open. I had nothing to lose at that moment, so I went that way and made it all the way back to the top of the fleet,” revealed the American. 

Others who had a good day included Croatian outsider Mateja PETRONIJEVIC (CRO) and Jo ALEH (NZL) enjoying the change in conditions. Although PETRONIJEVIC dropped from second she still did well to finish fourth, while ALEH repeated her performance of race 3, taking second place and moving into fourth overall.

One of the medal favourites, Sarah BLANCK (AUS), did not have one of her better days and it cost her dearly. Her 19th finish drops her from fourth overall down to eighth. Yesterday's race winner Penny CLARK (GBR) took a tumble too, finishing 22nd. It was good news though for local girl, Lijia XU, whose sixth place in race 4 lifts her into seventh place overall.

"The current and tide were very good to me - otherwise I would be out of the top 10," XU said.

Race organisers were keen to hold three races in the Laser Radial to catch up on Thursday‘s schedule after racing was abandoned, but in the end only one race was sailed as competitors waited, originally for breezes to settle, but then also for a storm to pass over. 

Overall Results - click here

If all goes according to plan, on 16 August the 15th set of Olympic Finn medals since 1952 will be decided on the waters off Qingdao, China. The Finn class has the distinction of being chosen for the Olympic Sailing Competition more times consecutively than any other class. First sailed in 1952 in Helsinki when Paul ELVSTRÖM (DEN) won the second of his four gold medals, 2008 marks the class's 15th appearance on the Olympic stage.

At A Glance

Event: Heavyweight Dinghy
Equipment: Finn
Racing Dates: 9-16 August
Medal Race: 16 August

Find out more about the event and the equipment here 

Key Results

2004 Olympic medallists - full details here 
1. Ben AINSLIE (GBR)
2. Rafa TRUJILLO (ESP)
3. Mateusz KUSZNIEREWICZ (POL)

2008 World Championship - full details here 
1. Ben AINSLIE (GBR)
2. Dan SLATER (NZL)
3. Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN (DEN)

2007 Olympic Test Event - full results here 
1. Ben AINSLIE (GBR)
2. Pieter-Jan POSTMA (NED)
3. Peer MOBERG (NOR)

ISAF World Sailing Rankings top three - full Rankings here 

1. Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN (DEN)
2. Ed WRIGHT (GBR)
3. Rafa TRUJILLO (ESP)

Click here for a full list of all previous Finn medallists 

Qualification

For most Finn sailors competing in China, the campaign trail started at the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Cascais, Portugal in July last year. In Cascais the first 19 countries qualified for a place in Qingdao. Many of those assembled in Cascais had recently finished sailing in the 32nd America's Cup, just across the border in Valencia and had been training hard on their days off to prepare for what turned into a challenging week of racing. 

Rafa TRUJILLO (ESP), silver medallist in 2004 in Athens went on to win his first major championship, after a thrilling Medal Race. The depth of the fleet was underlined by the fact that the other 18 places for China all came from with the top 26 overall, making it very difficult to qualify at the first try.

One man who was absent from Cascais was the 2004 Olympic Champion Ben AINSLIE (GBR). Ainslie didn't reappear on the Finn scene until the Olympic Test Event in Qingdao a few months later after he was able to put in enough training to be confident with his performance. He needn't have worried as he won the event, although perhaps not as decisively as he had the year before, when he won with an almost unbroken string of first places. But Ainslie was back and the other sailors were set the challenge of raising their game if they were to stand half a chance.

Six months after Cascais, on the other side of the world at Black Rock YC on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne, Australia, the final six places were decided, while China, as host got a guaranteed place to make up the 26 starters. In the run up to the 2008 Finn Gold Cup, Ainslie took the Sydney International Regatta, the Australian Nationals and Sail Melbourne before going on to win an unprecedented fifth Finn Gold Cup as well as his berth for China.

Following Melbourne, two countries whose sailors had technically qualified for a place failed to confirm their participation in China. First Germany turned down their place and this was offered to India. In the past two year, this fledging Finn nation has produced two Finn sailors, both challenging for an Olympic berth. Trials were organised in India with a two boat race off between Nachhatar JOHAL and Nitin MONGIA. Each day they won one race apiece. On the final day, Johal took the race win and with it the ticket to Qingdao. Johal was the first of two sailors who received assistance from the International Finn Association's FIDeS development programme as part of his campaign for China.

The other sailor in Qingdao whose place wasn't confirmed was Florian RAUDASCHL (AUT). He had to wait until his ninth place at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik to assure himself a place. However after finishing 18th in Kiel, his national Olympic Committee reversed the decision. Only as late as 23 July did the final place out of the 26 get allocated. It finally went to Johnny BILBAO (VEN) on the basis of his performance at the Finn Gold Cup in Melbourne. Bilbao also received help from FIDeS in attending the Olympic qualifier in Melbourne.

Back in Europe, Ainslie took Palma, Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN (DEN) took Hyeres, Trujillo took the Delta Lloyd Regatta while Ed WRIGHT (GBR) took Kiel Week. Ainslie returned for the European Championship, which he won after a thrilling Medal Race to reverse an eight point gap between himself and Guillaume FLORENT (FRA). If ever there was an indication of Ainslie's complete competence in the Finn, this was it, overcoming what seemed like an impossible task.

About the Finn

The Finn came into being as the result of a 1949 design competition to produce a singlehanded dinghy for Scandinavian and Olympic competition. It was then first used at the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952. The Finn used to be one of the few classes that had supplied gear at the Olympics. Up until 1976 the Olympic organisers supplied all the gear, but from 1972 onwards sailors were allowed to bring their own rigs, and since 2000 their own hulls as well. While hulls are largely standard production models these days, the key to developing speed in the Finn has always been for careful selection of masts and sails as sailors tailor their rigs to their own weight and individual sailing styles.

Rumours coming out of Qingdao so far indicate that a few sailors are testing new gear for the Olympic competition, though whether any of it will actually be used in anger remains to be seen. Also with many sailors having reduced weight for Qingdao, they have also had to modify the response of their rigs to match - and this is much harder to do in practise than in theory. However the weight loss is more often an attempt to be more physical around the boat than for any advantage by being lighter in the boat.

Conditions

While many pundits are predicting light, shifty and current focussed racing in Qingdao, the sailors know anything can happen and most are prepared for whatever the conditions happen to be and expect at least one or more days of significant breeze. The wind has been over 20 knots on more than one occasion in the past month, so the sailors should get a good mix of conditions.

Of all the 26 sailors heading for Qingdao, only 12 have already tasted the Olympic arena, while 16 have won races at major championships, 18 have placed top ten in major regattas, and 11 have picked up a medal in the past four years either at the Finn Gold Cup, European Championship or Qingdao regattas. In addition, all except three of the top 20 in the ISAF World Sailing Rankings will be in Qingdao. It could well prove to be one of the toughest Olympic Finn competitions of all time.

While the clear, clear favourite is the five times and current World Champion, four times and current European Champion, three times Olympic medalist and current Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie, the rest of the fleet is sure to have something to say on the matter. And while the conditions in Qingdao could best be described as tricky, a fourth medal for Ainslie is by no means a foregone conclusion, but perhaps it could be argued that he has the best chance of medaling than any other sailor across all of the other classes heading for China.

The Sailors

Australia - Anthony NOSSITER

Age: 34
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 9
Previous Olympic Games: 2000 (Finn - 13th), 2004 (Finn - 6th)
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 10th, 2003 Finn Gold Cup - 8th
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 12th, Delta Lloyd - 8th; Hyeres - 7th; Sail Melbourne - 9th

'Nocka' has been sailing the Finn since 1998 with various forays into the Volvo Ocean Race and the America's Cup, during which time he kept up with his Finn sailing. Although has had many top ten places over the years and world and ISAF Grade 1 regattas, never really made it as far as the podium. Big strong sailor who loves windy and wavy conditions, but capable of winning races in anything.

Brazil - Eduardo COUTO

Age: 24
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 80
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2008 Europeans - 54th, 2008 Delta Lloyd - 14th

Only moved from the Laser to the Finn for the Brazilian trials earlier this year. He has already made an impression in a few races this year and as one of the lighter sailors in Qingdao may perform well in the lighter conditions. Finished a lowly 54th at the Europeans this year but improving fast. Couto has only competed in four ranking events, hence his low ranking position of 80th.

Canada - Chris COOK

Age: 24
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 8
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2005 Finn Gold Cup 3rd, 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 7th
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 6th, Europeans - 6th, Palma 9th, Hyeres - 8th

Cook is a very physical flamboyant sailor who can perform equally well in light and windy conditions. He has been on good form so far this year and has been as high as second in the Finn rankings back in October 2006. Sailing at his best Cook could easily secure a medal in Qingdao.

China - Peng ZHANG

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 57
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2008 Finn Gold Cup - 34th, 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 42nd

Zhang is one of a number of emerging Chinese Finn sailors who have put in a lot of time over the past few years. However they have struggled to produce any form internationally.

Croatia - Ivan KLJAKOVIC GASPIC

Age: 24
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 4
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2007 Europeans - 2nd; 2007 Finn Gold Cup 8th, 2007 Olympic test event - 4th
2008 Form: Europeans - 2nd, Finn Gold Cup - 10th, Delta Lloyd - 5th, Hyeres - 6th, Palma - 2nd.

Kjlakovic Gaspic is a focused and hard working sailor who has performed well in the lighter conditions in the past two years. On the lighter end of the weight scale, he could easily be a medal contender in Qingdao. Famously capsized on the final leg while leading the Medal Race at the 2007 Olympic Test Event, which probably cost him the gold medal.

Cyprus - Haris PAPADOPOULOS

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 54
Previous Olympic Games: 2004 (Laser - 28)
Best Results: 2008 Finn Gold Cup 29th, 2008 Finn Europeans - 31st

Only moved into the Finn last year from the Laser with a steep learning curve ahead of him. First event was last year's Olympic Test Regatta. Has placed well in a few races but not yet in any regatta.

Czech Republic - Michael MAIER

Age: 44
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 17
Previous Olympic Games: 1996 (Finn - 14th), 2000 (Finn - 19th), 2004 (Finn -15th)
Best Results: 1998 Europeans - 2nd, 2000 Finn Gold Cup - 5th, 2005 Hyeres - 2nd
2008
Form: Finn Gold Cup - 30th, Europeans - 25th, Hyeres - 16th, Palma - 25th, Delta Lloyd - 13th

Veteran of more Olympic campaigns than he can probably remember, Maier is back for a fourth attempt at an Olympic medal. His results peaked about 2000, and since then he has struggled to get into the top ten. However he is one of the most experienced sailors heading to China.

Denmark - Jonas HOEGH-CHRISTENSEN

Age: 26
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 1
Previous Olympic Games: 2004 (Finn - 9th)
Best Results: 2006 Finn Gold Cup - 1st, 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 4th
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 3rd, Europeans - 5th, Hyeres - 1st, Palma - 7th

Ranked as the world's best Finn sailor since June 2006, Hoegh-Christensen has only managed to win one major title in that time, the 2006 Finn Gold Cup, though he has regularly in the top 5 at most major events and so far this year has performed much better than previous years. A definite contender for a medal, he finished fifth at the Olympic test event last year.

Finland - Tapio NIRKKO

Age: 23
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 16
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 12th
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 11th, Kiel Week - 10th, Europeans - 12th

A clever and strong sailor, Nirkko has struggled with consistency since he entered the class in 2001, but has produced a string of great race results at different regattas. If he could put it all together in the same series, he would be a contender for a medal.

France - Guillaume FLORENT

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 23
Previous Olympic Games: 1996 (Laser - 15th), 2004 (Finn - 8th)
Best Results: 2006 Europeans -2nd, 2004 Europeans - 3rd, 2006 Finn Gold Cup - 6th, 2003 Finn Gold Cup - 5th
2008 Form: Europeans - 3rd, Finn Gold Cup - 21st

Returned to the Finn this year after 18 months off and though placed a lowly 21st at the Finn Gold Cup, was serious contender at the Europeans, leading until the final Medal Race where he was up against Ben Ainslie for the title, and came off second best. Also famously protested Ainslie out of the first race in the 2004 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Great Britain - Ben AINSLIE

Age: 31
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 28
Previous Olympic Games: 1996 (Laser - silver), 2000 (Laser - gold), 2004 (Finn -
gold)
Best Results: World Champion 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008. European Champion 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup -1st, Europeans - 1st, Sail Melbourne - 1st, Palma - 1st

Although he took time out for an America's Cup stint with Emirates Team New Zealand, Ainslie seems to have lost none of his form, having won the Pre-Olympics, the Finn Gold Cup, the Europeans and a host of other events since stepping back into the boat last year. Without doubt he is the absolute favourite for a medal, most likely gold coloured. Any other colour would look out of place.

Greece - Emilios PAPATHANASIOU

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 15
Previous Olympic Games: 1996 (Finn -27th), 2000 (Finn - 12th), 2004 (Finn 5th)
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup 5th, 2001 Europeans 1st, 2000-02 Finn Gold Cup - 3rd, 2005, 2006 Finn Gold Cup - 2nd
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 8th, Palma - 16th, Hyeres - 38th

Had a rough season with injuries, and missed the Europeans but sure to be one of the favourites for a medal in Qingdao if he is on form. Fast and consistent across a range of wind strengths, Papathanasiou is one of the most experienced sailors in the fleet and is back for his fourth attempt at an Olympic medal.

Ireland - Timothy GOODBODY

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 18
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 25th, 2008 Europeans - 21st.
2008 Form: Delta Lloyd - 11th, Finn Gold Cup - 20th, Europeans - 21st, Palma - 17th

Only started in the Finn in 2005, and while producing a few promising individual race results has only made it into the top ten at an ISAF Grade 1 regatta on one occasion.

India - Nachhatar JOHAL

Age: 29
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 53
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2008 Finn Gold Cup - 57, 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 61st

One of two Indian Finn sailors that have emerged in the past two years, Johal won a very tight trial against Nitin Mongia, with the two boat series going down to the final race. Moved across from the Laser, for which he was too heavy in January 2007 and was initially helped into the class by the International Finn Association's development programme, FIDeS. He does have a lack of competition exposure though.

Italy - Giorgio POGGI

Age: 27
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 18
Previous Olympic Games: None
2008 Form: Europeans - 16th, Kiel Week - 12th, Finn Gold Cup - 19th

Has yet to place top 10 in any major event, but is improving all the time.
Made the switch from the Laser in 2005 and had made steady progress.

Netherlands - Pieter-Jan POSTMA

Age: 26
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 6
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: Pre-Olympics 2007 - 2nd, 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 2nd
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup 4th, Delta Llotd - 4th, Hyeres - 4th

Moved into the Finn from the Laser in 2005 and one of the best heavy weather sailors in the class, despite being lighter than most. Made big gains during the 2007 season and can be very focussed on his game. PJ is a definite favourite for a medal.

New Zealand - Dan SLATER

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 8
Previous Olympic Games: 2000 (49er - 8th)
Best Results: 2005 Europeans - 2nd, 2007 Finn Gold Cup 16th, 2007 Breitling Regatta - 1st, 2006 Kiel Week - 1st.
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 2nd, Delta Lloyd - 6th, Hyeres - 8th

Only started in the Finn in 2005 where he showed great potential finishing second at his first major championship. Since then has put together a string of decent results, including wins in Holland and Kiel. Produced his best results at this year's Finn Gold Cup, although he became a victim of Ben Ainslie in the Medal Race, after having led for most of the series.

Norway - Peer MOBERG

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 13
Previous Olympic Games: 1996 (Laser - bronze), 2000 (Laser - 10th), 2004 (Laser -
21st)
Best Results: 2007 Olympic Test Event - 3rd,, 2007 Rolex Miami OCR - 1st
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 9th, Palma - 8th, Hyeres - 13th

Fourth Olympic Sailing Competition for Moberg, after three times in the Laser. Has shown moments of brilliance since he entered the Finn class in 2005, but has generally struggled with consistency. However he is used to the Olympic arena and could well be a fighting for another medal.

Poland - Rafal SZUKIEL

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 12
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2007 Europeans - 8th, 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 234th
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 16th, Delta Lloyd - 7th, Hyeres - 18th, Palma - 12th

Won a close trials against his brother Waclaw. These two have dominated Polish Finn sailing since Mateusz Kusznierewicz moved into the Star class after the 2004 Olympic Gamess. Szukiel has produced some good race results in the past year, but has struggled to make top ten in more than a handful of regattas.

Russia - Eduard SKORNYAKOV

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 21
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2007 Europeans - 1st, 2008 Kiel Week - 9th, 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 31st
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 25th, Europeans - 22nd, Palma - 33rd, Hyeres - 14th

Formerly a Laser and a 49er sailor, Skornyakov made the Finn world sit up and take notice after breezing to victory at the 2007 Europeans on Lake Balaton. However since then he has struggled to produce any more results and had to wait until the second Olympic qualifier in Melbourne to qualify Russia for a place in Qingdao.

Slovenia - Gasper VINCEC

Age: 27
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 5
Previous Olympic Games: 2004 (Finn - 20th)
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup 3rd, 2007 Olympic Test event - 6th, 2007 Kiel Week - 1st.
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 15th, Europeans - 4th, Delta Lloyd - 2nd, Hyeres - 3rd

A recipient of the IOC's Olympic Solidarity Scholarship, Vincec has improved year on year since the last Olympics and is now a regular sight on the podium. One of the top five contenders for a medal in Qingdao, he seems to perform equally well in the light and the heavy.

Spain - Rafa TRUJILLO

Age: 32
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 3
Previous Olympic Games: 2000 (Star - 8th), 2004 (Finn - silver)
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup -1st, 2006 Finn Gold Cup - 5th, 2003 Finn Gold Cup - 2nd
2008 Form: Delta Lloyd - 1st, Kiel Week - 2nd, Sail Melbourne - 3rd, Finn Gold Cup - 13th, Europeans - 10th

A definite favourite for a medal, Rafa has been at the front of the fleet for many years. He lost a lot of weight at the start of the season in preparation for Qingdao and spent a lot of time trying to get his rig adjusted to match. Some bad results, for him, earlier this year have been superseded by podium finishes at the final two regattas. Usually prefers breezy conditions, but has adapted well in the past year.

Sweden - Daniel BIRGMARK

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 7
Previous Olympic Games: 2004 (Finn - 14th)
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup 8th, 2006 Finn Gold C up 4th, 2007 Europeans - 7th
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 17th, Europeans - 7th, Palma - 5th, Hyeres - 5th

Switched to the Finn in time to sail at Athens in 2004 after failing to qualify for the Laser in Athens. Birgmark is regularly in the top 10, but has only made the podium on one occasion in an ISAFGrade 1 event. Apart from the Gold Cup in Melbourne he has produced a string of top seven places this year, and could be in the hunt for a medal if things go his way.

Turkey - Ali Kemal TUFEKCI

Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 58
Previous Olympic Games: 2000 (Laser - 28th)
Best Results: 2008 Finn Gold Cup - 39th, 2008 Finn Europeans - 18th, 2008 Palma - 23rd

First sailed the Finn in the mid-1990s before switching to the Laser and now back in the Finn again since early 2008. Won a close trials against long time Finn sailor Akif Muslubas.

USA - Zach RAILEY

Age: 24
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 11
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2007 Europeans - 5th,
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 28th, Europeans - 9th, Palma - 3rd, Kiel Week - 5th, Hyeres - 9th.

Struggled with consistency last year, but this year, has produced a string of top 10 finishes, apart from a disappointing 28th at the Finn Gold Cup in Melbourne. Could well be peaking at the right moment in Qingdao. One of the youngest in the Finn fleet and also one of the few sailors going to China who had to win a one-off home country based closed trials event.

Venezuela - Johnny BILBAO

Age: 34
Current ISAF World Sailing Ranking: 69
Previous Olympic Games: None
Best Results: 2007 Finn Gold Cup - 50th
2008 Form: Finn Gold Cup - 53rd, Palma - 37th, Hyeres - 39th, Delta Lloyd - 18th

Only confirmed in late July for a place in China after Austria turned down its place, Bilbao entered the Finn scene in mid-2007 after getting too big for the Laser. He also received assistance from the IFA's FIDeS development programme to qualify for the Olympic Games and is the first Venezuelan Finn sailor ever to appear the Games.

Wednesday belonged to a very happy Penny CLARK (GBR), who went one better than her second place in race 1 yesterday to claim honours in today's race 3 of the Laser Radial event to be fifth overall.

"My win was completely based on my boat speed and because I found the wind. The conditions here are very tricky because you may see the pressure, but by the time you get there, it‘s gone," she said.

Although she did not win race 3, the only race sailed Wednesday on the Laser Radial course, Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA) managed to hold onto her series lead with a sixth.

The American, the world #1, even increased her lead by two points to seven courtesy of mixed results by the rest of the 28-boat fleet.

"I got a rough start. It was not until the second leg that I moved ahead of the fleet by finding the right position and catching the right gust," said TUNNICLIFFE.

New to second place overall is Mateja PETRONIJEVIC (CRO) after a fifth in race 3, while Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE (LTU) picks up from fourth place to third after an eighth place finish today.

PETRONIJEVIC, the first female sailor to represent Croatia at the Games, was thrilled with her performance: "Today was definitely a surprise for me. Getting second place feels so good. I had a great start and good luck today. The American is hard to beat because she is so self confident."

Sarah BLANCK (AUS) moved up from fifth to fourth, but was not overly happy. "It was another day like yesterday - I‘m disappointed. The pressure was up and down, up and down, out there. Places kept changing. It wasn't an easy day," BLANCK said.

Only one race was completed due to shifting and patchy breezes.

Overall Results - click here

Fourth and fifth place for Anna TUNNICLIFFE (USA) in Tuesday's opening races were enough to give her the lead in the series.

The American skipper, who won the Test Event her in Qingdao last year and is renowned for her consistent performances in the otherwise unpredictable Laser Radial fleet, said she took inspiration from the performance of her US team mates in the Aquatics Center in Qingdao, “I was quite nervous in the morning, but watching the USA swimming team getting the gold medal motivated me far more than anything. Within ten minutes, I was out on the sea with no pressure at all."

Competitors were held ashore for one hour as race officials waited for the breeze to stabilise and it wasn't until after 14:00 before racing started. Once on the water, the Race Committee delayed the Radial as they twice moved the pin end start boat to accommodate the wind direction and make for a fair start line in the bending light breeze.

"It was tough sailing, tricky in both races, and whilst my speed was good at times, it wasn‘t at others," said TUNNICLIFFE, who had the opportunity to finish third, but saw Gintare VOLUNGEVICIUTE (LTE), fourth overall, sail through her on the last leg to the finish.

Despite not winning a race, TUNNICLIFFE's consistency has ensured her a two-point lead over Belgium's Evi VAN ACKER who comfortably won race 1 from Penny CLARK (GBR) and then finished tenth in race 3.

Like VAN ACKER, CLARK could not match her opening performance in the day’s second race. "I got a really good start and took the right path to the windward mark. I sail fairly consistently in this sort of breeze, so I expected to do well. I‘m disappointed in my second race [she finished 22nd] because it was a wasted opportunity," she said. 

Reigning World Champion Sarah STEYAERT (FRA) is third overall and just one point away from VAN ACKER after scoring a win in race 2.

The world # 2 and China's hope, Lijia XU, had a mixed day, finishing 24th in race 1, but lifting to third in race 2, for 14th overall. She will have to work hard to make her way to the top of the standings. World #3 Sarah BLANCK (AUS) went a little better finishing sixth and 11th for fifth overall. "It was not an ideal day, but we’ve got lots of regatta left. I had a good start, but it didn't pay off," she said.

Competition in the 10-race Opening Series, to be followed by the decisive Medal Race, continues on Wednesday, from 13:00. 

Overall Results - click here

The International Olympic Committee announced the list of the flagbearers for the 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) shortly before the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Beijing at 20:08 on 8 August 2008.

The six sailors who will lead their national teams into the ‘Bird’s Nest’ are:

Belgium - Sebastien GODEFROID
Uruguay - Alejandro FOGLIA
Brazil - Robert SCHEIDT
Indonesia - Gusti Made Oka SULAKSANA
Ireland - Ciara PEELO
Austria - Hans Peter STEINACHER

On the honour of being selected as flagbearer, PEELO commented, “The Olympic Games themselves are an inspiration. Honour will help to motivate me to do the best for my country at the Games.”

The new ISAF Olympic Games microsite will provide an online home for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition and get closer than ever to the action over 8-24 August as 400 sailors compete across 11 events. Visitors to www.sailing.org/olympics will find comprehensive coverage of the Olympic sailing events including live mark-by-mark roundings and results from every race, daily galleries featuring the best photography from the Games, full details on every competing sailor, nations and event, a complete database of Olympic sailing results and all the latest news and features direct from Qingdao.

In the build up to the start of the Beijing Olympic Games on 8 August and the first races of the Olympic Sailing Competition on 9 August, www.sailing.org/olympics includes details of all 400 sailors and 62 nations competing and will be updated daily with comprehensive previews for each of the 11 Olympic sailing events. Fans can also discover more on the ‘behind the scenes’ stories that make the Olympic Games such a unique sporting event, whilst those new to the sport can read ISAF’s simple guide to sailing. For the media, there is quick and easy access to all the essential details in the no-frills media centre.

Jerome Pels, ISAF Secretary General and one of two Technical Delegates for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition, said, “The Olympic Games is a unique event in the sporting calendar and a great opportunity for ISAF and the sailing world in general to showcase the sport. Working with our internet provides Sotic to combine information available from BOCOG’s data feed, our news service and world class photography from Getty Images along with all the information already available on the ISAF website, we’ll be presenting sailing to the world in the most attractive and accessible way possible. Most of all we hope the ISAF Olympic Games microsite captures and celebrates the unique spirit of Olympic Games and its status as the ultimate sporting event.”

The ISAF Olympic Games microsite features individual ‘home pages’ for each of the 11 Olympic sailing events and every one of the 62 competing nations so fans can follow the key action at the Games no matter what perspective. The event and nation pages will feature live information from the data feed provided by the Organising Committee of the Beijing Olympic Games (BOCOG) once the sailing competition gets underway including all the overall standings, as well as individual race details, including mark by mark roundings and weather information. All details on protests and on the water rulings will also be available to view online along with complete details of the team of International Technical Officials who will ensure fair play on the water.

Leo Mindel, Sotic’s Technical Director said, “SOTIC are delighted to have worked with ISAF in producing this microsite for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition. We have worked in close liaison with ISAF’s Media and Marketing team to ensure that the online needs of competitors at the games and the wider sailing community have been matched up with the best technology available. All the action from Qingdao; including live race data, news, features, and pictures, will be available as it happens to sailing enthusiasts throughout the world, www.sailing.org/olympics will be the ‘must have’ web address for everyone who wishes to follow the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.”

During the Games, daily photo galleries will be provided by the world class photographers at Getty Images, who will be appointed as Official Photographers to ISAF for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. News will come in directly off the five race courses and the ISAF news team will also be reporting from Qingdao, bringing to life some of the inside stories at the Games. The Olympic Games microsite also provides a wealth of background information, including a full history of Olympic sailing including compete results and medal table for every Olympic Sailing Competition ever held. Fans can also find out more about the qualification events, details on the sailors competing on Olympic Solidarity Scholarship programmes, whilst for coaches and competitors there is a comprehensive guide to the Anti-Doping procedures at the Games.

Discover more on every aspect of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Sailing Competition at www.sailing.org/olympics.

Confirmation of national places has been received by the International Sailing Federation, along with provisional entry lists detailing the athletes who will compete across the eleven events of the Olympic Sailing Competition. Entries range from multiple medallists looking to expand their entry in Olympic sailing history to new faces aiming to demonstrate their talent on the world's greatest sporting stage. Amongst the 62 nations, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates enter athletes to the sailing events of the Olympic Games for the first time.

In total 400 athletes will compete at the Olympic sailing venue in Qingdao, including four of the gold medal winning teams from Athens, who return to defend their titles. The British Women's Keelboat team also features two of the three crew who won the gold medal in 2004, whilst a further three gold medallists from Athens will compete in different events to those in which they triumphed four years ago. All the competing athletes will face a new challenge in Qingdao with the introduction of the new Medal Race format for all 11 events. Following an initial opening series held over five days of racing, the top ten crews will progress to a final Medal Race where points scores are doubled and the 2008 Olympic Champions will be decided.

The confirmation of a place at the Olympic Games is the culmination of four years dedication to pursuing a sporting dream. Over 2,500 sailors competed at ten qualification regattas across Europe, Oceania and North America to secure their nation a place at the Games, before battling against their national rivals for selection to the team of their National Olympic Committee. Amongst the sailors who have realised the first part of their Olympic dream are 14 athletes who have received support through the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Programme.

Great Britain has topped the sailing medal tally at the past two Games and leading their charge again this year will be triple Olympic medallist Ben AINSLIE. Ainslie won his first Olympic gold medal in the Laser dinghy in 2000, before switching to the larger Finn to win gold again in Athens four years ago. He will start as a hot favourite to defend that title in the Heavyweight Dinghy event in Qingdao. The experienced Austrian team of Roman HAGARA and Hans Peter STEINACHER are also aiming for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the Multihull event, sailed in the Tornado. Spain's Iker MARTINEZ and Xabier FERNANDEZ are another of the champions from Athens and will compete again in the high performance 49er dinghy to defend their title in the Skiff event. Completing the quartet of defending champions is Faustine MERRET of France, although this year the Women's Windsurfer event will be contested on the newly designed RS:X board.

Sarah AYTON and Sarah WEBB of Great Britain also both won gold in 2004 in the Women's Keelboat event along with helm Shirley ROBERTSON. However, the team parted ways after Athens and AYTON took over at the back of the boat to be joined again by WEBB and new team mate Pippa WILSON. Competing in the tactically challenging Yngling keelboat, this crew will be competing against two other gold medal winners from Athens: at the helm of the Norwegian Yngling, Siren SUNDBY, who won gold in the single-handed Europe dinghy in Athens; and  Sofia BEKATOROU helming the Greek Yngling, a gold medallist in the two-person 470 four years ago. The final gold medallist from Athens competing in Qingdao is the great Brazilian sailor Robert SCHEIDT. After winning two gold and one silver medal along with eight World Championship titles in the one person Laser dinghy, SCHEIDT has teamed up with Bruno PRADA and switched to the Men's Keelboat event in the Star boat.

Other famous Olympians on their way to Qingdao are Barbara KENDALL of New Zealand, a triple Olympic medallist in the Women's Windsurfing event and a member of the IOC Athletes' Commission. Competing against her will be her great rival and another three-time Olympic medallist, Alessandra SENSINI of Italy.

At the forefront of the challenge from the host nation will be Athens silver medallists Jian YIN in the Women's Windsurfer event. The young but highly talent Lijia XU also starts amongst the favourites in the Women's One Person Dinghy event sailed in the Laser Radial.

Click here to view the entries for the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition.

Please note the entry list is provisional. The final deadline for National Olympic Committees to summit entry forms is 23 July.

Entries By Event
(Event - Equipment)

Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial (28 entries confirmed, 28 athletes)
Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser (43 entries confirmed, 43 athletes)
Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470 (29 entries confirmed, 58 athletes)
Women's Two Person Dinghy - 470 (19 entries confirmed, 38 athletes)
Men's Keeboat - Star (16 entries confirmed, 32 athletes)
Women's Keelboat - Yngling (15 entries confirmed, 45 athletes)
Multihull - Tornado (15 entries confirmed, 30 athletes)
Skiff - 49er (19 entries confirmed, 38 athletes)
Heavyweight Dinghy - Finn (26 entries confirmed, 26 athletes)
Men's Windsurfer - RS:X (35 entries confirmed, 35 athletes)
Women's Windsurfer - RS:X (27 entries confirmed, 27 athletes)

ISAF Olympic Games microsite - www.sailing.org/olympics

Ireland has secured places in four of the 11 Olympic sailing events (Star, Finn, Men’s 470 and Laser Radial) and the selection of the Star crew completes their provision line up. The Irish Sailing Association (ISA) had already nominated Ciara PEELO (Laser Radial), Timothy GOODBODY (Finn) and Ger OWENS and Phil LAWTON (Men’s 470) to the OCI.

On 1 May the ISA board unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Olympic Steering Group (OSG) to nominate Peter O'LEARY and Stephen MILNE following their exceptional campaign.

The OSG met on 30 April to select a crew for the Star class following the recent successful Star World Championship in Miami, USA at which Ireland secured a nation place at the 2008 Beijing Games. Along with O'LEARY and MILNE, the other crews in contention were Max TREACY and Anthony SHANKS and IRLMO1 and Ben COOKE.

Colm BARRINGTON, Chairman of the OSG, commented, "The three crews in contention for the place demonstrated enormous skill and great determination in their campaigns. While it is very disappointing for the two crews who miss out, the OSG unanimously selected O'LEARY and MILNE. They have demonstrated that they have the best chance of success in the Olympic regatta in 2008".

James O'Callaghan, ISA Performance Director, stated, "Obviously we were delighted with the performances of all three crews throughout the campaign. They all knew the selection process in advance and the competition between them drove them all to strong performances." 

Ireland Olympic Team

Event	Equipment	Sailors
Women's One Person Dinghy	Laser Radial	Ciara PEELO
Men's Windsurfer	Men's RS:X	Not qualified
Women's Windsurfer	Women's RS:X	Not qualified
Men's Two Person Dinghy	Men's 470	Ger OWENS and Phil LAWTON
Women's Two Person Dinghy	Women's 470	Not qualified
Multihull	Tornado	Not qualified
Heavyweight Dinghy	Finn	Timothy GOODBODY
Women's Keelboat	Yngling	Not qualified
Skiff	49er	Not qualified
Men's One Person Dinghy	Laser	Not qualified
Men's Keelboat	Star	Peter O'LEARY and Stephen MILNE

ISAF Olympic Games microsite - www.sailing.org/olympics