Womens Match Racing at London 2012 - Day 7: All to play for
by RYA 7 Aug 2012 12:50 PDT
7 August 2012
Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor's bid to reach the semi-finals of the Olympic Women's Match Racing competition stands delicately poised with the Brits tied one all with Russia after their opening two quarter-final encounters at Weymouth and Portland (Tuesday 7 August).
In the knock-out phase of the Women's Match Racing two boats go head-to-head in a best of five scenario. The winners, the first boat to three wins, go through to the semi-finals while the defeated boat goes through to the 5th-8th place sail off.
Macgregor's team and the Russian trio of Ekaterina Skudina, Elena Syuzeva and Elena Oblova enjoyed one win apiece from the first of their two matches today with three more scheduled tomorrow if required (2.35pm, 3.35pm and 4.35pm).
The Poole girls admit they are pleased to be going into tomorrow with everything to play for.
Lucy said: "It was really tight racing but we loved it and we are extremely pleased to come out with a race win and it being one-one at the end of the day.
"In our first race we had a bit of a drama, firstly with me getting the penalty pre-start, which was a bit unnecessary. We then got the spinnaker sheet stuck under the front of the boat, which meant Kate had to sort that out on the second beat. That was a shame as they had a penalty and there was a good chance for us to extend but we came back strong in the second race which is the main thing."
Annie said: "It feels like we did our first week experience of an Olympic regatta and now this week is a whole new regatta now. Today went well and we were sailing well and it feels a bit odd that we only did two races at the end of it. I really wanted to go out there again and have her again! I was a bit frustrated after the first race as we lost it on something stupid but we are ready to go out tomorrow and do it again."
Match racers are in action on more days than any other class and are not only one of the first classes to start but the last class to finish with the match racing final bringing the curtain down on the 2012 Olympic Regatta on Saturday 11 August.
The Olympic Sailing Regatta runs from Sunday 29 July – Saturday 11 August.
www.rya.org.uk/london2012