Sail-World.com : Mckinnon-Tucker: Race Day 5

It seems everyone figured out the last cryptic email!

On Friday, Maureen and Nick led two races from start to finish in the light air. They were "in the zone", so far ahead of the other boats it was almost ridiculous. I was scribbling and calculating frantically on the spectator boat, when I realized that Nick and Maureen could clinch the gold medal that day. I didn't have a score sheet with me, and was working from memory, trying to remember what the CAN and AUS scores were, to re-figure the results with the third race of the day bringing a second discard to the scoring (after 9 races, the sailors could throw-out their two worst scores). As the Race Committee moved the starting line, I reached the conclusion that the USA SKUD team only had to place 3rd or better, and the gold medal was theirs -AUS and CAN would be mathematically unable to reach their low point score! Then the R/C posted AP over A flags -all racing postponed for the day & rescheduled. I went back to my scribbling...

I realized that there would not be enough time on Saturday for 3 races, due to the final day starting time limit. I pumped my fists in the air and shouted, "THEY DID IT!" I swept Dana off her feet, spun her around, told her that her mother just won the gold medal and began to cry. The Aussie and Canadian families offered their congratulations -their teams would have a battle royale on Saturday, as when the 2nd throwout came into play they would be tied. Whoever won the last day would win the silver, the other the bronze.

Maureen and Nick first heard the news when Brian Todd, the Canadian coach, drove by in his RIB and congratulated them. It wouldn't be official for a few hours until the R/C posted that there would in fact only be two races on Saturday, but everyone knew. It was absolute bedlam in the boat park, with photographers, reporters and TV crews. Not so mention the entire US Team and seemingly every sailor, official and volunteer hugging, crying and taking pictures. Maureen & Nick, Mary Kate & I and many others were in tears -they had achieved their goal, their dream.

They decided that they would sail one race on Saturday, they take a victory lap up and down the seawall, in front of all the spectators. Then ashore for the mandatory drug testing, then clean up and change clothes for the medal ceremony.

Short of the birth of my children, the medal ceremony was the most intensely emotional event I have ever experienced.

The 2.4mR class was first, where Canada's Paul Tingley took the gold, France's Damien Seguin the silver, and USA's John Ruf the bronze. Going into the last day, there were 6 countries in medal contention. John sailed the regatta of his life to secure the bronze for the USA -I don't think many people, if any, counted him as a medal contender. John has been phenomenal all week long, happy, confident and loose. We're SO happy for him and I don't think he's stopped grinning yet. Dana & I spent a lot of time watching the races with John's family, and we had a great time with them. We're happy for all of them!

Then it was time for the SKUD class. Thank goodness my camera has image stabilization, because I could not hold it still -my hands were shaking... Watching Maureen & Nick receive their medal from Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was a sight I will never forget. The emotion of watching the American flag slowly ascend the pole, as the Star Spangled Banner played, thinking of Nick's perseverance to survive to the Games... of Trent's challenges these past months... of Maureen's dedication to them both... Words fail me.

They say that pictures say 1000 words, so please click here to watch the slideshow.

As it turned out, Dan & Rachel from Australia were blazing fast and took the silver. A nice birthday present for Rachel, a bit of silver and jade! China put their bookends on the regatta, winning the last race to match their only other win in the first race.

We had a quick dinner in the athlete's dining room, then off to the local closing ceremony, then a party for all the teams, officials and supporters. A long and emotional day! I have video from Saturday, which I'll let you all know about as soon as I can.

USA! USA! USA!