Olympic Classes - Olympic Test Event - Rio de Janeiro BRA - Day 5 - first medals awarded

•  August.08.2014
•  24 Comments

The expected light winds prevailed yesterday for the first time after 4 windy days, and only a reduced program could be sailed. The Windsurfers sailed their Medal Races.
The Olympic Champion Dorian Van Rijsselberge NED defended his lead and won in the RS:X menclearly with a 10 points' advance over Pierre Le Coq FRA, who reached the podium with a 2nd Medal Race rank. Piotr Myszka POL took Bronze. On the loosing side was Byron Kokkalanis GRE, dropping on rank 4. 
Gold for France in the RS:X women, where Charline Picon FRA demonstrated an unexpected superiority. Winning the Medal Race also, she outclassed the her rivals with a 32 points advantage. Thanks to a 2nd rank in the Medal Race, Lilian de Geus NED earned Silver at equal points with Flavia Tartaglini ITA. 
Today, the Medal Races of the 49ers, 49ersFX, Finns and Nacra 17 are on the program. 
Giles Scott GBR extended his lead in the Finns with the day ranks 1 and 4 on 25 points and is already the premature winner. Jorge Zariff BRA and one point behind Ed Wright GBR have the best chances for Silver and Bronze. Jonathan Lobert FRA (backlog on Bronze 4 points) and Andrew Murdoch NZL (backlog 9 points) still have some chance to jump on the podium. 
No races yesterday for the Nacra 17, where Billy Besson/Marie Riou FRA have a 5 points' lead on Bundock/Nina Curtis AUS (who capsized after a collision with floating garbage, read their report) and Ben Saxton/Hannah Diamond GBR at equal points. Jones7Saunders NZL on 4th are already 12 points behind. 
The 49erFX were also forced to stay ashore yesterday. Martine Grael/Kahena Kunze BRA will go in the Medal Race today with a 5 points' lead on Alexandra Maloney/Molly Meech NZL. Olivia Price/Eliza Solly AUS are 3rd. 
Peter Burling/Blair Tuke NZL took the lead in the 49ers thanks to a win in yesterday's only race in front of d'Ortoli/Delpech FRA at equal points. Outteridge/Jensen AUS follow 3rd. 
The 470s sailed again in front of the Copacabana, but the light wind allowed only for one race in each fleet. Inspite of their worst result so far (rank 9), Matthew Belcher/Will Ryan AUS remained on top of the470 men. Luke Patience/Elliott Willis GBR and the day's winners Sofian Bouvet/Jérémy Mion FRA follow behind. 
Thanks to a race win, Anne Haeger/Briana Provancha USA reduced the gap to Jo Aleh/Polly Powrie NZL in the the 470 women to one point. Hannah Mills/Saskia Clark GBR follow on rank 3.