Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-08-10 01:37:25

QINGDAO, August 9) — The opening day’s Sailing competitions are over, but more Finn (Heavyweight Dinghy) and Yngling (Women’s Keelboat) action is in store for tomorrow, Sunday, August 10, in Qingdao. The 49er (Skiff) will also start on day two, with defending Olympic champions and World No. 1 Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez of Spain aiming for another gold medal.

Rafal Szukiel of Poland leads in the overall standings in the Finn. He finished second and third in the two opening series races and ended the day with five points. Szukiel is trailed by Zach Railey of the United States, who finished second and fifth for seven points.

The 31-year-old British sailor Ben Ainslie, who holds two Olympic gold medals and a silver, fought back from 10th place in the first race to win the second race and surge to a third-place tie with Christopher Cook of Canada with 11 points apiece.

The British team of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, which has dominated the Yngling for the last few years, had a strong start and leads in the standings. Ayton and Webb came to Qingdao as defending Olympic champions, winning gold in 2004 Athens with skipper Shirley Robertson. The Canadian crew and Dutch team finished second and third with nine and ten points, respectively.

In the 49er, Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez of Spain, the 2006 world champions, and won gold in their first Olympic Games at Athens 2004. They finished second at the 2007 Qingdao Test Event, showing that they are able to adapt to the local conditions. The pair also won the last two European Championships and the Grade 1 Hyeres in 2008. Experience in both the Olympics and race class will prove beneficial in their quest for another gold medal.

Australians Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin, ranked No. 6 in the world, won the 2008 World Championships in January and are competing at their first Olympic Games. The two had previously won their national championship and the Grade 1 Sydney International Regatta.

World No. 8 Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes of Great Britain won the world championships, the Qingdao Test Event and the Princess Sofia Trophy in 2007. This year, Morrison and Rhodes topped the prestigious Delta Lloyd Regatta in the 49er. They finished second at the 2008 World Championships after a race-by-race battle with Outteridge and Austin. This is their first Olympic Games.