Boards at the Olympics: Day Two
Day two was an exceptional day for Nick Dempsey too, posting a solid fifth position in the first race Nick followed this up with a nail biting finish that took him past KOKALANIS Byron and into the lead on the line.
Racing on the Nothe course today, many of you have seen the amazing coverage on the BBC of the racing, if not it will be available on BBC iplayer. The highlight of the day for many was the second race where Nick came off the start line in a much better position, putting him in a good position at the first upwind mark which he capitalised well on eventually winning in style.
Boards caught up with Nick at the end of the racing to get his views on the racing so far:
Nick Dempsey. Image courtesy Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR.
“The second race was of course really good, it was quite nice to actually race rather than be scrapping it out in the middle of the fleet! I was pretty sure that if I did get a good start then I would be racing at the front of the fleet. In the last race today I got a good start, a reasonable first beat and then it was quite good fun racing it out with Byron.
We were neck and neck, he was doing a good job making it really difficult for me to pass, I knew I had a bit of pace on him and that I just had to get close. My last overtaking opportunity was really at the last gybe downwind and he pretty much got it spot on, not giving me many opportunities to pass him. But it’s the Olympic games, so you can’t really give an inch at all!
The Nothe course is very, very tricky, very hard and it’s easy to come unstuck there, which is what I was always concerned about. But today the racing was fair which is my main worry.
Today was fantastic and the crowd were so amazing, but I am looking forward to coming back into the harbour tomorrow, back to where I’m comfortable, we’ve got the next six races in the harbour so I’m very happy about that.
I’m pretty confident I’m sailing well and I’m fast, I just need to get off the start line well!
I don’t tend to look at the forecast before racing Barry (Edington) will and relay any relevant information to me, but I won’t look myself.”
Nick and the other RS:X men will be racing again tomorrow after 14:00 on the Portland Harbour course.
Head to the next page for an interview with men’s leader Dorian van Rijsselberghe.
Am I the only one to comment on NDs tactics at the end? He bore away, drew the Greek downwind to cover, then pumped upwind… Byron tried to cover him again, lost speed in his unplanned turns and a nose up chop moment and ND slipped through below him. Brilliant racing… stick that up your kiting shorts and smoke it!
Marina absolutely showing her dominance again today, extending her lead against the others after two brilliant results.
Bryony finishes in 9th
Marina wins!
very close between these two with a little gap before the pair chasing in third and fourth
gybing arournd the slalom marks with the israel rider on her tail
she is through the gate in the lead
Marina with a good lead coming down to the leeward mark
and finally I can see the live race tracker again!
now ESP, ISR, GER, FIN, POL
ESP, ISR, FIN, GER, UKR with Bryony in 9th
Slightly off topic, but whilst I struggle to get RS:X results Bradley Wiggins takes gold!
Bryony looks just in the top 10 at the moment.
heading for the gate, ESP still in the lead, ISR, FIN, GER, UKR
BEL over the line early. She has now realised and has left the course area
around the mark, ISR, ESP, FIN, BEL
currently ITA, FRA, ESP, CAN, BEL
Yes, on the results site they were logging 19knots for the start.
Dunno how accurate that is for that course or just an average for the bay.
Having trouble with my race viewer at the moment, hopefully will be back asap!
top mark, RUS, BEL, CAN, GRE, GBR
RS:X – ESP leading the way again, GRE, GBR, BEL
looks like maybe a little stronger on the course than I first thought, tricky to estimate from here! sources saying app rod 16-20knots
Race underway!
Thanks Amy. Shifty winds make racing very tactical but also subject to some luck. Let’s see who still gets consistent results here.
our information still saying RS:X race yet to start. Not sure the reasons for the delay as not on the race course today, will be tomorrow though I hope!
Go Bryony!
What’s the windstrength on the course?
Billy from here (on land at the sailing venue!) I would estimate the wind is between 10 and 14 knots on the course. Very tricky and gusty today, and no where near as windy as expected
still not into the start sequence on the women’s course.
Women’s race due to start in one minute. Just waiting for information to go live!
Bryony now in fourth position overall after race three. Race four starting soon.
awesome footage on the iplayer and great to catch up on all the commentary, very exciting .. well done to Nick and keep charging Bryony
final racer just coming to the downwind mark, so I would estimate 15 minutes until the next start for the women.
Next women’s RS:X race due to start approximately 10minutes after the last racer finishes.
Duke of Edinburgh just walked past, think he’s been enjoying the action out on the water! Wonder if he’s been watching the windsurfing?!?!
Great result for Bryony, coming back very well on the second up wind leg
Bryony just edged into fourth in a very close race
Finland just ahead, but Bryony is right on her, any mistake from Finland and Bryony will take third
Bryony battling with Finland for third, very close between these two going into the final stretch
marina going through the slalom section with confidence looking good for the win
marina almost at the downwind gate, still with a relatively comfortable lead over the second placed german
all racers so far choosing to gybe off fairly soon and hit the right hand side of the course (looking out from the start line) winds looking a little lighter now
Bryony rounds in third, with the finnish rider on her tail
german rider around and on her way downwind
marina around, looks like the german racer will be in second. Bryony may have to double tack to make the mark also
marina missed the lay line and having to double tack to make the mark, which brings the chasing riders a lot closer to her
Bryony tacking onto the lay line, she could be up into second or third position
Marina now just over 100m from the windward mark
bryony is a positive position, looking like she may have a gained a few places on this upwind, but tricky to see until places are established around the windward mark
then back onto her starboard course to carry her up to the windward mark
Marina tacked onto port to cover the fleet
most sailors going to the left of the course as you look out from the startline
bryony exceptionally close to finland and ukraine riders, definitely pushing them on this upwind and her speed is looking good. She should be able to gain a place or two here.
bryony still in 8th as she approaches the bottom gate
france just through the bottom gate followed by germany still
Marina around the leeward mark in first with an ever bigger lead of the next sailor
bryony round the windward mark in 8th position
bryony on the lay line to the first mark now
france around the mark, swiftly followed by germany in third
She has a long lead over the next riders
Marina around the windward mark
looks like Marina is in the lead, less than 100m to the first mark for her
ND interview on BBC now…
Race started at 14.30. Just getting full race info through, will have updates very, very shortly!
some live text commentary here:
http://live.2012.sailing.org/Event/ISAF_Olympic_Sailing_Blog
Hi Guys, just back from interviews and finding out the latest on the women’s RS:X
Doesn’t look like they will be showing the womens RSX on BBC
Schedule says the Women’s RS:X race 3 now starts at 14.30hrs.
Nick is now third overall.
(Loud cheers)
Brilliant result! Off to catch an interview with Nick. Will hopefully be back in time to report on the women’s RS:X due to start just after 14:00.
WOOP WOOP!
Dempsey won it! What a great finish for the TV!!
Nick Dempsey takes the win!
Dorian takes third
looks like greek rider just defended his position, but absolute photo finish!
exceptionally close finish between nick and greek rider
last down wind leg of this race
Greek sailor around the upwind mark, with Nick just after him. Dorian around just a couple of seconds later and now chasing Nick down. Will be a close finish for the top three
Nick now in a great position just upwind of the greek rider. If he can maintain his speed he will reel him in
very close between germany and poland for fourth and fifth. just two second separating the two
Nick looks like he has great speed on the upwind leg. Catching the Greek sailor in front of him
Nick looking good on the down wind leg. Great board speed downwind, drawing away from Dorian in third
Nick still in second, behind the greek sailor who now has a good lead.
Nick dempsey up to second place, overtaking Dorian, looks like his risk didn’t pay off by taking the opposite side of the course
Dorian taking a risk, heading to the opposite side of the course than Nick and Greece
Nick now in fifth place, just behind NZ chasing them on the down wind leg
Looking close at the top of the fleet. Greece still in the lead with Dorian just behind around the upwind mark
nick dempsey up to third, overtaking Poland and NZ on the down wind leg!
greece still in the lead at the end of the first down wind, but looks like dorian is closing
Dempsey currently in fifth position
conditions looking a lot flatter and lighter on the Nothe course that yesterday.
Dorian in second, followed by Poland, New Zealand and Nick Dempsey
Greek sailor around upwind mark
Nick looking good up the first beat. Sailors starting to pump a little more as the wind is dropping a little
Spainish sailor over early on the start. Should go round the end but don’t think they have as yet.
Winds a little bit lighter than yesterday. Just planing conditions, hopefully set to increase later in the day.
Or keep up to date with our comments and following of the course right here on Boards.
Watch live on the BBC here http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video/p00w2yhm
next race for the RS:X due to start at 13:00
Dorian wins again in the first race, with incredible board speed in these winds. Egyptian racer about to finish, then minimum 10 minute wait until the start of the next race.
Hi All, back in the media centre now. Watching the RS:X men racing LIVE as I hope most of you are too! Will be bringing you commentary for the second race.
Simon Bornhoft commentating currently
Hi Amy, your on water commentary yesterday was almost more exciting than watching a video stream, worked really well.