2012 Olympic Games – Sailing Events

Weymouth and Portland, U.K. (August 8, 2012; Day 11) – Closure continued at the 2012 Olympic Sailing Regatta with the Medal Race for the 49er skiff event, while tight scores proved the theme on the Women’s 470 and Match Race courses.

While both the gold and silver were confirmed prior to the 49er Medal Race, Austria’s Nico Delle-Karth and Nikolaus Resch led from start to finish in hopes of gaining the bronze. However, on the second to last run, the Danes Allan Norregaard and Peter Lang took the left side of the course whilst everyone went right and it paid off as they climbed from seventh to third in the race to grab the final podium spot.

On their gold medal, Australian Nathan Outteridge said, “We’ve sailed brilliantly for four years and this week has been our best so far and its great it happened at the Olympics. It was a tough race to get around, it was great for us and awesome to enjoy with the Kiwis.”

49er Results – Top 5 of 20

1. Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen (AUS) – 56pts
2. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke (NZL) – 80pts
3. Allan Norregaard and Peter Lang (DEN) – 114pts
4. Nico Delle-Karth and Nikolaus Resch (AUT) – 124pts
5. Manu Dyen and Stephane Christidis (FRA) – 124pts

On Wednesday, the Women’s 470 completed their final two qualifying races, with the top two teams – Jo Aleh/ Olivia Powrie (NZL) and Hannah Mills/ Saskia Clark (GBR) – tied on points and assured no worse than silver when the Medal Race is held on Friday. The Women’s Match Race finished their Quarter Final round, with many of the favorites getting eliminated.

Advancing are teams from Australia, Finland, Russia and Spain, while the defeated included two time World Champion Claire Leroy (FRA) and World #1 and ISAF World Sailor of the Year Anna Tunnicliffe (USA).

NORTH AMERICA: The 20-boat 49er event concluded with Erik Storck/ Trevor Moore (USA) in 15th, Gordon Cook/ Hunter Lowden (CAN) in 16th, and Jesse Kirkland/ Alexander Kirkland (BER) in 19th.

THURSDAY: The race schedule includes the Men’s 470 Medal Race, while the Women’s Match Race will hold sail-offs to determine the standings of the four teams eliminated in the Quarter Final round. Southeast winds under 8 knots, with the possibility of un-sailable conditions, are forecast.

OUCH: It was confirmed Wednesday that North America would be shut out of the sailing medals. Despite Canada, Mexico and the USA each having legitimate medal contenders, none of their top performing athletes were in contention at the end of their events.

MEDAL TALLY: After the completion on Wednesday of 7 of the 10 sailing events, there are now 14 countries that have thus far stood on the podium.

• View the full medal tally
• ISAF Olympic news
• Results and schedule
• Canada broadcast
• USA broadcast