Sail-World.com : London Olympics 2012: Sailing News

News Home

Text Only News

Powerboat-World

MarineBusiness World

Video Gallery

Animated Knots

Cruising

2013 America's Cup

Sail-World.com : London Olympics 2012: Sailing News - Day 13 ANZAC Benefit

London Olympics 2012: Sailing News - Day 13 ANZAC Benefit

'Malcolm Page does a back flip off the Australian Mens 470 celebrating their Gold Medal win - the Silver Medalist (GBR) are yet to finish' Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

After yesterday's cancellation of racing due to insufficient breeze, today was a double-final in the Mens and Womens Two Handed Event, sailed in the 470 class.

Despite being close or tied on the points, going into today's racing, it proved to be an Anzac benefit, with both Australian and New Zealand crews winning the Gold Medals. The British - once the powerhouse of Olympic sailing - finished second in both.

That last comment is probably the feature of this regatta - being the rise of Australia, who will leave the regatta as the most successful nation - winning three Gold medals, despite of entering only eight of the ten events.

470 Women’s New Zealand, Aleh and Powrie - Gold Medal winners in the Womens 470 - Carlo Borlenghi/FIV - copyright

There is a distinct possibility of the Australians winning another Gold medal tomorrow, Saturday, in the last event of the regatta, the Womens Match Racing or Elliott 6's as they call them here in Weymouth Media Centre.

Regardless of the outcome tomorrow of the Elliotts, Australia will come away with a record of three Gold medals and a Silver or Four Golds. That is a hell of a strike rate on just eight events (62.5% for the train-spotters).

Yachting has easily become Australia’s most successful Olympic sport and should reap a substantial funding boost as a result.

Olivia Powrie is all smiles as she, and Jo Aleh cross the finish line to win the Gold Medal in the Womens 470 class - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

New Zealand too, has come away from this regatta with their tails up, with a win in the Womens Two Hander (470) today, to sit alongside their Silver Medal in the Mens Skiff (49er) two days ago.

That is seven medals for the Antipodes out of the 30 on offer (23.3% for the train-spotters).

While the nightie ripping looks set to start in the US camp - and other countries which feel they have underperformed - remember that both the Down Under Darlings from this regatta came away from the 2004 Athens Olympics empty handed. That was despite the Australians having three current world champions in their team.

Silver Medalists Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell (GBR) salute the crowd after the Mens 470 Medal Race - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

The point being that the soul-searching (a much more productive exercise than having a witch-hunt), does often reveal the short comings in a country’s approach – which can be rectified within two Olympic cycles.

Today was historic on both sides of the Tasman.

Victor Kovalenko checks out his 470 Mens crew just before the start of the Medal Race, which won his sixth Olympic Gold Medal - Weymouth, England - - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

While much was made of Ben Ainslie’s four Gold medal wins earlier in the week, but today's achievement of coach Victor Kovalenko (Australia) in winning six Olympic Gold medals passed relatively un-noticed. Kovalenko’s specialty is the 470 class and he has coached sailors to wins for his native Ukraine and adopted Australia.

This Olympic regatta has been the first since 1992 when the New Zealanders have won an Olympic sailing medal in classes other than windsurfers.

Today was the first time that New Zealand has won a Gold medal in a two handed monohull since 1964, and is only the third Gold medal that the Kiwis have won in crewed monohull dinghies.

Mathew Belcher and Malcom Page celebrating their Gold Medal win in the Mens 470 - with coach Victor Kovalenko - his sixth Olympic Gold as a coach - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Tomorrow the 2012 Sailing Olympics conclude with the Finals of the Elliott 6’s off the Nothe Stadium course.

If the promised weather eventuates, there will be action aplenty, we’ll be reporting again tomorrow night.

Saskia Clarke and Hannah Mills (GBR) celebrate their Silver medal win with hand-held flares on the Nothe Stadium course - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

Tears of joy from Lisa Westerhof (NED) on winning the Bronze Medal in the Womens 470 class - Richard Gladwell Click Here to view large photo

by Richard Gladwell, Olympic Editor

Tweet

Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=100875

11:59 PM Fri 10 Aug 2012GMT

Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.

Click for further information on

Related News Stories:

12 Aug 2012	London Olympics 2012 - Elliott 6M Medal Race images by Carlo Borlenghi
12 Aug 2012	London Olympics 2012 - Aussie match racers claim silver
12 Aug 2012	London Olympics: All Done but for the Partying
12 Aug 2012	London Olympic 2012 Sailing Competition Day 14 - Final results
12 Aug 2012	London Olympics 2012 - Spain wins Gold in the Women’s Match Racing
11 Aug 2012	London Olympics 2012 - Medal day for the 470s
11 Aug 2012	London Olympics: Images of Weymouth - Australians backflip for Gold
11 Aug 2012	London Olympics: Images from the NZ Womens 470 return
11 Aug 2012	London Olympics 2012 - Intense role for Peter Shrubb
11 Aug 2012	London Olympics: Images from Weymouth - The Womens 470 Medal Ceremony