Olympics

Olympics - RS:X Exciting final medal round

The stage is set for an almighty battle for the men’s windsurfing medals at the 2008 Olympic Games with kiwi Tom Ashley right in the mix. Just one point separates the top three in the men’s RS:X class - France’s Julian Bontemps, Great Britain’s Nick Dempsey and New Zealand’s Tom Ashley going into their medal race set to be sailed tomorrow off Qingdao.

Olympics - RS:X Ashley holds on to 1st but Barbara slips to 7th

The RS:X fleets both added two races today, have now completed nine and will be back on the water for race ten tomorrow ahead of their medal races on Wednesday. Tom Ashley continues to lead the Men’s RS:X class though Nick Dempsey of Great Britain has gained some ground on the kiwi after today’s two races. Ashley returned two more consistent races, finishing 6th and then 8th. Race ten was abandoned late in the afternoon due to a dying breeze and has been rescheduled for tomorrow. Ashley leads on 38 points with Dempsey close behind on 41, while Julien Bontemps of France is third with 42 points. Barbara Kendall was 6th in race eight and then 13th in race nine today which sees her slip slightly to 7th overall. One race remains before the top ten medal race participants are decided in the Women’s RS:X class.

Olympics - RS:X racing, whats coming today (Monday) and comments from Tom Ashley

Tom Ashley – Men’s RS:X
Current position: 1st (after seven races)
3 races – Races 8, 9 & 10
Start time: 1100 hours
Course area B

Barbara Kendall – Women’s RS:X
Current position: 5th (after seven races)
3 races – Races 8, 9 & 10
Start time: 1100 hours
Course area B

Olympics - RS:X Tom and Barbara both improve their positions with Tom now placed 1st after 7 races.

Tom Ashley and Barbara Kendall sailing two races each in strong winds and heavy rain with mixed results for NZ sailors, but good results for the RS:X team.

Olympics - RS:X race day 6 - Racing cancelled

The 49er class shared course B with the RS:X fleets today. They sailed first and did 3 races, leaving the RS:X fleets ashore on hold. The boards were called out at 1500hrs, but the breeze didn’t settle and racing was called off. Racing on Sunday is scheduled to start at 12 noon with some breeze predicted so it looks like there may be some real fun!

Olympics - RS:X race day 5 - Only only one race today with Tom and Barbara both in the hunt.

Today all New Zealand’s yachties sailed just one race in Qingdao, China, late in the day after waiting for wind until around 4pm. Our two women impressed - both Barbara Kendall and Jo Aleh returning a 2nd place in their respective races. Hamish Pepper and Carl Williams returned a 4th place in the opening race of the Star class and Tom Ashley made a huge comeback in his race five, after sitting deep in the Men’s RS:X fleet, he climbed through to finish 5th.

Olympics - RS:X No wind day in Qingdao

No sailing took place at the Olympic Sailing venue today - wind was the missing ingredient. A sea fog hung over the race course for the entire day and competitors were kept ashore with the postponement flag flying. Of the kiwi team Dan Slater, Tom Ashley, Barbara Kendall, Jo Aleh and Andrew Murdoch had scheduled racing, today’s cancellations now putting them behind schedule.

Olympics - RS:X Day 3 - Rest day

Tom Ashley is currently the best positioned kiwi sailor. Today is a rest day for Tom and Barbara in the RS:X events which is probably a relief as the winds continue to be light and variable. This tends to act against the kiwis who are more used to heavier conditions.

Olympics - RS:X day 2 - Ashley and Barbara both improve position.

Highlight was a bullet for Tom Ashley in his fourth race of the series placing him provisionally in 3rd overall.

Olympics - RS:X racing starts today

Today, Monday, racing starts for four more New Zealand sailors with the Men’s and Women’s wind surfing and the Men’s 470 set to get underway. Windsurfers Barbara Kendall and Tom Ashley will be on the water for day one of competition in the Men’s and Women’s RS:X events – both fleets are scheduled to sail two races each starting at 1 o’clock on course A off the main break wall at Qingdao. The windsurfers, like the majority of other classes, will sail a ten race series to decide the top ten who progress to the final deciding medal race. The windsurfing medal races will be sailed ten days from now on Wednesday 20th August, with four rest or reserve days built into the programme.