Australia sailing well in Qingdao

by Rob Kothe Sail-World.com on 16 Aug 2008 Australian sailors are well placed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics regatta. In the men's and women's 470 regattas, Australian sailing crews Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson and Nathan Wilmot and Malcom Page are tracking towards Gold Medals with four races to go. Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin lead the 49er class.

Sailboarder Jessica Crisp won her race today to consolidate her hold on the silver medal place.The 470 Mens and Womens teams are leading their classes, as are the 49er sailors.

Australian women has qualified for tomorrow's medal race in the Yngling keelboat event. Skipper Krystal Weir and teammates Karyn Gojnich and Angela Farrell finished eighth in the last race of the qualifying series this afternoon and remain eighth overall on the leaderboard.

Competition started today in the Tornado and Star classes, the last two fleets in the Beijing Games regatta to begin contesting their best-of-10 opening races. World number one ranked Darren Bundock and Glen Ashby finished fifth in the Tornado fleet after becoming almost becalmed on the first leg. Their recovery bodes well for their series.

Star sailors Iain Murray and Andrew Palfrey finished eleventh in their first race. Dual Laser World Champion Tom Slingsby's horror regatta continues with his third mid fleet result today.

Veteran Australian Finn sailor Anthony Nossiter's 2008 Olympic campaign is over after he failed to qualify for tomorrow's medal race. Nossiter finished 20th in race eight and 16th overall on the regatta ladder.