Q- How do you spell ‘riveting’? A- Q.I.N.G.D.A.O.

by Guy Nowell, Sail-World Asia on 16 Aug 2008 Boy, was that a long, hot, dull day in the office, or what? The Press Pack assembled at 1200 hrs and leapt enthusiastically onto boats, and shot out onto the racecourse to watch the Finn Medal Race… and did nothing. There were two ‘false starts’ when the AP went up just before the starting signal.

The race eventually got under way in two-tenths of next to nothing breeze, only to be abandoned after slightly more than half of the fleet had completed half the course. Ben Ainslie (GBR) sailed a tactical race, needing only to not come last and not allow Zach Railey (USA) to win, in order to secure his own gold medal.

That doesn’t necessarily make for white-knuckle tv viewing, so it there was plenty of time to wave to friends around the race course. Or see how many had gone to sleep.

Off for a drink now with Skinner and the Fish…