Racing resumes in Qingdao on this 'more wind day'

by Australian Sailing Team Media on 15 Aug 2008 Sailing resumes in Qingdao today after racing was postponed due to inclement weather and lack of wind yesterday. With oscillating winds of 7-9 knots forecast for today, there should be some real action on the water. As the wind blows through the mountains at the rear of Qingdao, it swirls as it moves over the water. Combined with the moving tide, it will make for a challenging day of competition.

Competition will begin at 12noon Qingdao time (2pm Sydney time) to allow three races to be run in Laser Radial, Laser, Yngling, Finn and 49er. All other classes have two races scheduled today.

Weather
The weather forecast for Qingdao today is:
Temperature: 28 degrees
Humidity: 87%
Wind: 7-9 knots NE
Other: Cloudy, chance of rain (and plenty of dragonflies, which the locals
refer to as rainbirds!)

Competition for the final two classes begins today – the Tornados and Stars
Australia's Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby are ranked number one in the world in Tornado - the pair have 11 world titles between them and Bundock won Silver at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. In the past eight months alone, they have won the 2008 Australian Tornado Championship, 2008 Sail Melbourne, 2008 Sail Auckland, 2008 Tornado World Championships and the 2008 SOF Hyeres Regatta.

Sailing legend Iain Murray and team mate Andrew Palfrey will make their Olympic debuts in the Star. The pair came 8th at the 2008 Star World Championships, 11th at the 2007 Olympic Test Event, won Bronze at the 2007 Star Western Hemisphere Championships, were 4th at the 2007 Bacardi Cup and 9th at the 2007 Star World Championships. They are currently ranked 10th in the world.

Moving day for 49ers
Having enjoyed an extra day's rest on Thursday, today is moving day for the skiffs and the Australians will be looking to hold their position on top of the leader board. Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin lead by just one point ahead of Denmark. There are still six races to go until the top ten go through for the medal race.

The challenge for the Australians, who are also the current World Champions, is to hold their position in the top three and put as many points as possible between themselves and their rivals. Having already dropped their worst score after a disqualification in race one, Outteridge and Austin have little leeway for error.

470'S - plugging along' with medals in mind
The Men's and Women's 470s had a scheduled rest day yesterday. They have only four races to go until the top ten go through to the medal race scheduled for 18th August.

Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page, who lead by seven points, will be conscious of the rest of the fleet chasing them. However, they will need to continue a safe and steady approach to minimise mistakes and keep their number one spot - 'plugging along' as the unflappable Malcolm Page said on Wednesday.

Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson are equal first with The Netherlands. The girls have shown excellent boat speed in this regatta, but speed must be balanced with care in order to get ahead.

Extra races add pressure for RS:X, Yngling, Finn, Laser and Laser Radial
Today is the crunchtime for the Yngling and Finn classes. If the conditions allow all three races scheduled for today to be completed, today's results will decide the top ten crews for the medal races which will be held tomorrow, Saturday 16 August.

In the Yngling, Australia is currently placed sixth overall on 41 points, while Anthony Nossiter is 17th overall in the Finn class.

Third placed Jessica Crisp is back on the Women's RS:X course today, where the chase will be on to close the gap on China's nine point lead.

Australia's Sarah Blanck is currently equal third with Lithuania in the Laser Radial. If she can edge ahead to consolidate her position it would make for a good day's effort on the water.

Tom Slingsby is 21st overall in the Laser class and could benefit from the better winds forecast for today.


Australian Sailing Team Insights:
Iain Murray and Andrew Palfrey's Star boat is named 'Belicymo', after Iain's daughters, B(eautiful) ELI(za), (lu)CY, (i)MO(gen).

The Women's 470 boat is named Tiger. Their first boat was 'Hidden Dragon', and the second was 'Crouching Tiger'. Both the girls and coach Victor Kovalenko were all born in year of the Tiger which is considered good luck in China.

Show the team your support by writing on their 'Good Luck Wishes' pages, links below:

RS:X - Jessica Crisp http://rsx.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=91082

Radial - Sarah Blanck http://radial.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=97088

Laser - Tom Slingsby http://laser.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=96063

Finn - Anthony Nossiter http://finn.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=98083

470 Men - Nathan Wilmot & Malcolm Pagehttp://470-men.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=13080

470 Women - Elise Rechichi & Tessa Parkinson http://470-women.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=13065

49er - Nathan Outteridge & Ben Austinhttp://49er.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=94081

Tornado - Darren Bundock & Glenn Ashbyhttp://tornado.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=90064

Star - Iain Murray & Andrew Palfreyhttp://star.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=94069

Yngling - Krystal Weir, Karyn Gojnich & Angela Farrellhttp://yngling.australiansailingteam.com/messageboard/default.asp?mb=90089


Current AUS Team Results:
49er – 1st
470 Men – 1st
470 women – 2nd
RS:X Women – 3rd
Radial – 4th
Yngling – 6th
Finn – 16th
Laser – 21st

www.australiansailingteam.com.au