Boards at the Olympics: Day Six
It is not often that we see pure sporting dominance, the Olympics being the catalyst for many incredible performances and pushing athletes to their optimum levels. Today we saw Ben Ainsle win yet another gold medal, but shortly before Dorian van Rijsselberghe of Holland secured his first gold in style, with another two races still to take place.
Dorian built up such a lead on previous days, leaving the others to focus on silver even mid way through the competition. But it was with the most dominant race of the whole games, pulling out a lead of over three minutes over the next sailor, that Dorian officially took gold. It surely shows the dominance of the young Dutchman that he did not need to complete the final race today, and just needs to enter to medal race to win.
At only 23 years of age, although this may well be the last time windsurfing is in the Olympics it does not look like it will be the end for this Olympian. Kiters, watch out!
Dorian van Rijsselberghe. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth
Some words from the man himself, gold medalist Dorian van Rijsselberghe:
Dorian and Aaron
“Yeah, I had a really good first race. Couldn’t have been any better, I got a big gain on the front, I was ahead of some of the other top guys, unfortunately they didn’t do as well as they should have done. So I got the points that I needed and that was it!
Second race, I pulled out. I felt I was in the way for the other guys, if I were in their shoes I would be telling me to bugger off!
Yes, I’ve cefinitely won! Even in the medal race I could cruise, but I’m not going to. I’m just going to try and have a good race. There should be a nice breeze, so why not.
It was always the dream to win an Olympic gold medal, and now the dream has come true.
This is pretty special, so another Olympic campaign would be nice. If it’s in kiting then so be it.”
Tomorrow Boards will bring you a run down of the men’s and women’s racing going into the medal race, along with a full interview with Nick Dempsey and coach of Dorian, Aaron McIntosh.
Also tomorrow RS:X will be discussed on the RYA TV Channel, with myself (Amy Carter) and Penny Clark. Tune in tomorrow morning for further info!
Today’s other coverage:
Not sure exactly, but Dorian definitely has gold. He cannot be beaten now.
Only the top ten (overall) compete in the medal race.
If Dorian came in 19th in the medal race would that be 38 pts which would total with his 13 (after the 10 races) to make 51pts? Nick currently has 35pts, so would need to finish 7th to take 14pts and end with 49pts?
So, does that mean if Nick comes in 12 places ahead of Dorian it could be Gold?
Dorian only sails 1, 2 or 3 place……
Only 10 windsurfers are on the medalrace.
Dorian is the best…… And Nick can have the rest
There are only 10 in the medal race so maximum point Dorian could get is 20
There are only 10 competitors In the medal race. so max points is 20
Spoke with Nick, Dorian and Dorian’s coach Aaron McIntosh, interviews will be up this evening and then tomorrow.
Thanks Amy. Holding breath for Medal race!
Thanks Amy.
So in medal race, if you win = 2 points? 2nd=4 points? etc..
Thanks Amy for covering what the BBC didn’t want to.
Poland wins medal race = 53 pts
Nick finishes 8th = 51 pts => bronze (at least)
Yeah, brilliant Nick!
And thanks Amy
So Nick has had a good day in very difficult conditions. The german guys has had a mare of a day in comparison – or maybe he’s just not good enough in light winds.
I see the women’s 470 race has just been abandoned due to lack of wind, or because of a major shift in the wind.
Well done Nick …. And thank you Amy ……..
Harry, you may be right. But when you see how places changed for the Finn fleet and in the Stars today, those medal races add so much uncertainty.
In the Finn race the french guy came from nowhere to get bronze (by winning today)
he#ll have to try hard to come out of the medals now, and a strong favourite for silver. Absolutely no mention at all on bbc sailing coverage either
That gives Nick an 11 point lead for silver, ahead of the medal race
Doing the math…if Nick finishes 8th or better in the medal race I think he is guaranteed at least a bronze?
Germany got 13th in the end.
Poland 9th
This couldn’t be better from Nick’s point of view.
off to get interviews! be back soon!
Brilliant!
Nick second!
Second is very good, if Toni Wilhelm stay down in 15th. The german will have two 15ths from today – nightmare for him. His worst day by far.
portugal right on nicks tail coming up to the line!
nick second.
israel in the lead
Bill if it stays this way Nick will have 13 points on Germany
israel still leading, nick closing a little
I’m wondering where Julien Bontemps will end up in this race too.
What is crucial now is the number of places between nick and the german sailor
nick, portuagal and israel all looking very, very close downwind
Germany dropping back even more! This may be his discard.
poland 9, germany 15
nick took him on the last down wind, his speed seems best downwind
portugal 3rd, france 4th
Let’s see if he can get it back on the run. Which sailor is lighter?
i think this is the last lap, so just down to the finish
israel leading, nick in second,
Nick second. Even if it finishes that way he’s done well
nick and him coming up on port lay line.
looks like israel is just ahead…
israeil, really pinching to make the mark!
nick looks like he’s tacked below the lay line, but israel looks good for it
I meant last beat.
This is the last eat, right? Then it’s just two downwind legs to the finish.
The marker points are logging even less wind now.
nick still looking in strong position, now tacked onto port
israel and nick just crossed, neck and neck
With Germany still in 12th he’s not moved through the fleet at all. If it finishes this way then Nick has an 11 point lead over him. Wow.
nick headed right up the beat, portugal covering him, both now tacked off onto starboard
greek in 9th
poland in 20th!
Duncan, all the medal races will get televised.
germany in 12th!
This is just what Nick needs, a good result to give him a cushion, going into the medal race. Early days though, in these fickle conditions. Is it still two laps and a finish leg? Or will they shorten?
If he takes this then TV might look in for the medal races.
germany looking in 9th
portugal, israel then argentina
Nick in lead
Nick comes through in the lead!
All Dorian had to do was start and then head in for a DNF. I don’t know how Olympic sailing rules work, but I’m surprised he even started
Dorian DNF, he’s in and already looking to the medal race
Double edged sword…it’s been great to follow/watch all of this full-planing sailing but you do wonder if Nick would be challenging for gold if there had been more light wind races.
no planing down wind, so sailors heading straight down the middle of the course with big scooping pumps
nick absolutley storming it down wind! should be in the lead, or at least second by the downwind mark!
dorian started, but now no sign, tempted to say he’s gone straight in!!!
it seems he actually has a DNF…
Poland back in 20th at the first mark
nick brilliant speed down wind! looks like he is taking a few places
Where’s Dorian?
germany in 12th
sorry, not spain Nick is in fourth!
Nick 4th
portugal, israel, then spain
argentina around in the lead!
Good job Amy. Keep those updates coming!
+1
poland not looking too high up in the fleet at the moment
TV coverage has switched to the women’s 470 class.
germany just behind Nick
nick now tacked onto port lay line, dorian below him
NZL and ukraine gone all the way to the right
nick now right next to dorian heading far left
nick, poland and germany all looking top third of the fleet and very close to each other at the moment
How is Nick in relation to the German?
dorian heading out far left
bit more wind still out to the left, some of the sailors far left just about planing now
yeah that’s approx what we have on the course
Forecast is for 8-10mph for the rest of the afternoon
am sure they will shorten this course, nobody planing up wind even with a lot of pumping!
Nick off the line in the middle of the fleet, dorian also mid but a little higher upwind already
Thought that sounded optimistic. And I meant to type SSE
another light wind start, sailors slowly drifting down the line, one minute to go
no way it’s 11knots!!! 6-7 if we’re lucky!
The wind has backed further to SE and they’re logging 11 knots at the start. Or so it says here.
princess Anne watching the windsurfing again!
four minutes to the start
yes wind would certainly be very tricky for kites at the moment!
ALOT of pumping off the line, general recall!
Would it be too light for kites? If so what would they do – cancel the race???
nick reversed back, a third of the way down the line now
all waiting at the starboard end, nick furtherst down the line
I almost hope they don’t film this or broadcast it live. Those Beijing pumping races made for depressing viewing.
very light wind start, all sailors on the line already jostling for position
still looking light, this is going to be a full on pumping race!!
five minutes to the start
ben aisle coming up through the harbour past us now, surrounded by boats!
still looking windy enough on the course, non planing but 10 minutes to the start of the race
At the moment they are showing Ben Ainslie being congratulated by Princess Anne.
or maybe, maybe the might even head over live soon???!??!
Is there a wind minimum for the next race to be held – or will they bin it or postpone? Better postpone than recreate Beijing conditions LOL.
they are filming on the course so hopefully some action will be shown later
nick and toni on 33. nine points ahead of Poland in fourth
Nice to see live coverage on the BBC, NOT!
i know! at least we can look forward to two fantastic races on the BBC on tuesday!
overall results updated on links above
Fingers crossed for Nick
yep one more race for the men
a lot of guys getting DNFs because they have been timed out
Is there another race for the men today?
Yes, in about 10 minutes from now.
wind has really dropper bow, the last finishers struggling to come through at all. looking about 4knots on the course!
Congratulations To Dorian. Started on a Bic techno!!!
Now silver for Nick.
All the great windsurfers come through Techno don’t they Guy!
Nice to see it live….. 2012
Dorian actually won gold! He just has to finish the next two races.
Concrats Dorian!
Germany and UK on 33 points but Nick silver on countback
byron finished in fourth so will have closed the gap on the top three
they’ll update the overall results after everyone finishes this race, but both poland and germany behind him so i would have thought so!
germany coming through in 15th
Is Nick still in silver position?
He still is. Both Nick and Toni have 33 points.
poland 13th
Dorian already won the gold. Can finish last in both 10th and medalrace.
Nick in 9th
looks like nick has finished 9th
The Greek sailor, Kokalanis did well to get up to 4th today
YES, Dorian has GOLD!
Note: he only has to finish the medal race!
Respect to Ainslie. What a week that was.
Ben wins
Ben van der steen?
nick chasing france along the slalom finish
Nck down in 9th
Ainslies wins gold!
nick looking approx 10th
sorry, internet’s gone down! dorian won by massive margin, spain second
Stephan in 1984, Dorian in 2012; great to be dutch and windsurfing all these years
The best thing… Stephan won gold when RS-X was introduced in 1984. Dorian might win gold on the last RS-X event
Can anyone do the maths? Has Dorian now got gold?
His worst result is a third, so he can discard the next race if he needs to.
So if he was last in the medal race, what points would he have?
depends on the next race
Dorian needs a 19 point lead before the medal race. Currently he has a 22 point lead so he can lose 3 points in the next race.
Nick has lost places, in 8th
Ow the terror. He’s playing with the rest of the field. He’s can be drinking champaign on the beach and the rest still has to finish!
Based on the current ranking Dorian has a 22 point lead… Wow!
going for gold
greece fourth
dorian coming down slalom finish. italy in third
spain in second, dorian haas a lead of 2 mins 30 second!!!
Alvast een patatje eten
Hehe
nobody else around the upwind mark, and dorian almost at the bottom gate!
sweet
dorian arund upwind mark with a massive lead
looking very light up many parts of the course, lots of hole and lots dropping off the plane
Great for Nick!
True
And for Dorian!
Dorian is sailing his own race
germany 17th and poland 19th! brilliant news for nick!
The Finn race is painful to watch but Ainslie still in Gold position.
nick sneaks ahead of canada as they both now head upwind
ukraine and canada coming through now lots of pumping downwind, left had side of the course still has more breeze
spain around in second, hungary coming through into third
nick was around top mark in sixth
Where are Germany and Poland?
they are a little late
dorian through the down wind gate with an even bigger lead
Nick round in fifth but the gaps have opened up
dorian in the lead, one minute ahead
Dorian has a huge lead at the top mark
Ivan pastor second
upwind looking very tricky, sorry tracker still down so can’t see at the moment who is going which way!
I’m surprised they are fully planing…it looks very light on the Nothe course for the Finn medal race
definitely looking like more wind to the left of the course, the ones to the right struggling to plane a little, but those on the left looking fully powered up
Watching Ben…. Reading about Nick
all away left upwind
Nick took 3 places on the downwind leg.
nick in fifth around that bottom mark, goo lead around poland and germany who are both way back
So Nick up to 5th !
Ben Ainslie has just moved into gold medal position for the first time this week
spain, then ukraine, hungary, then canada, then nick just behind pumping down to through the gate
Yes, Poland down in 18th
dorian through and heading up wind, the rest still to come down
Gooooo Dorian take those 4 points from Nick and Toni!!!!!!!!
dorian pulling out massive lead!
Not looking good for gold
but germany and poland having a shocker
ukraine third
norway second
Dorian was round first
dorian leading
sorry guys! tracker down! trying to see who’s in the led but pretty tricky, they’re coming down, not too far from first downwind mark
Nick in 8th
leaders approaching the upwind mark
leaders marking their way quickly up the beat, hard to see positions at the moment
due to the boundaries all having to tack now, which ever side they went and heading back across to the middle of the course
Not here I’m afraid, I’m in US
NBC is covering the Olympics, not even mentioned windsurfing.
most planing comfortably upwind
dutch tv just mentioned they were filming, but were unable to do live broadcast. they’ll probably broadcast later on dutch tv channel
they’re both heading to the right hand side of the course
they are filming, not live but hopefully will be showed later!!!
clean start. Nick and Dorian both off on port
Shame on IOC for not setting up a camera feed for RS:X. Dorian FTW!
Go Nick!
one minute to the start
DORminator go go go!
Booo to tall people with long levers
despite dorian being heavier he has long levers and still seems to be one of the earliest planing
course back to LS3
wind filled in a little, a8-10knots now, more comfortable planing
five minutes to the men’s start
Why isn’t it being filmed?
Hopefully the light conditions should suit Nick, but also at least 10 other sailors!!
Shame it won’t be filmed. Fingers crossed for Nick
Nick is 10kg lighter than Dorian so these conditions should suit Nick better?
incredibly tricky in these up and down, conditions. Guys just about planing across the wind and downwind, but they will be tracking upwind with daggerboards down too if the wind stays like this.
spain in third, poland fourth, bryony fifth
finland wins! then germany
shortened course, straight to the finish! bryony looks in fourth
germany, poland then spain around the bottom gate
coming into the bottom gate, france got good speed. girls dropping off the plane a fair bit and lots of taking over and then falling back
most heading left, then coming across the main park of the course. just about planing downwind with a lot of pumping!
israel in 11th
then greece, spain and poland
then france, bryony in third
finland around in first!!!
guys all out now warming up and getting ready for their race
still light winds on the course, daggerboards pretty much all down now upwind
majority of sailors, heading up the the left of the course
then spain, italy and israel
finland, then germany,
france through in the lead bryony second!
Bryony looking in the lead coming down wind! she’s about to gybe losing speed, finland and germany closing behind her
leaders coming down the right hand side, one or two gybes away from the bottom gate now.
Girls all plan in down wind, so this wil be a quick leg
poland, then france, then australia
aus miss it too! finland first, bryony 2nd!
bryony taken away from the mark too. australia looking good for the lead
france getting headed, she might not make it! bryony just behind france looking approx 2nd, but may get the knock too!
france looks like she is in the lead, on the lay line to the mark
italy and russia not going to make the mark at all, the sailors coming up on port looking in stronger position
italy and russia gone far to the right of the course, now tacking on to the starboard lay line as the approach the boundary
bryony headed far left of the course, only just tacked now onto port
lots of holes in the wind up the course
most of the fleet heading to the left of the course, with some now tacking onto port heading over to the right
i’m following the action thanks Amy
Bryony pulled away from Marina a little, now in clean wind and in a good lane
clean start, bryony mid way of the line, marina just upwind of her, dagger boards down, tracking upwind now
oneminute to the start
results for men’s and women’s links are above in main body to the text
just over 3 minutes to the next start, conditions looking similar, tricky, gusty, shifty and a little lighter 8-12knots
Results after race 9.
http://www.london2012.com/sailing/event/rs-x-women/phase=saw102909/doc=summary.html
Thanks Amy.
yesterday, marina got a slight penalty of 5% added onto her score after going out of the boundary. Making things even closer at the top between for Marina and Lee!
Class. What a well-sailed race.
next race in apprix 15minutes
brazil 2, germany 3, poland 4
excellent!! Thanks Amy.
Yes!!!
Bryony wins!!!!!!
finland 5, spain 6
germany third, poland fourth!
bryony pulling out her lead again the brazilian!
Bryony the brazil bryony leading into the slalom finish!!!
Fingers and legs now crossed.
A couple of good races today and Bryony is mathematically back in with a chance for a medal
bryony heading right down wind, showing good speed
Bryony, finland then brazil in third
bryony leading!
Bryony should be in the lead!
bryony ont hé lay line, finland tacked underneath her
bryony goine to far right of course, now tacked onto starboard heading toward the mark. finalnd gone the opposite way and is now coming up on the port lay line
fleet splitting, some daggerboards down upwind some still managing to plane and heading up without
wind up and down, just about planing coming upwind but dropping down below planing speed downwind
finland 1, bryony 2, brazil 3,, poland 4
all going right upwind, poland and now israel then germany heading to the left instead
finland with a good lead, bryony in second
all heading right down wind
spain 9th
poland 5, israel 6,
10-12knots so comfortable planing conditions at the moment
most planing, due to bryonys angle upwind she must have been daggerboard down to pinch up
ukraine third, brazil fourth
Are they planing upwind off the fin or are they putting the daggerboard down?
finland in first, bryony makes it and is second!
finland in on the port lay line
bryony pinching up to the mark, looks like she might might make it!
ukraine and brazil looking on the starboard lay line, whilst Bryony and finland looking a little under it also on starboard
bryony, finland and poland tacked off onto starboard, whilst those two are still on port
ukraine and brazil head to head
leaders heading to the right of the courser upwind
spain up to 9th
then brazil, israel and poland
sorry, finland, ukraine then bryony
ukaine first, bryony second!!!!
course LS3, three laps with slalom at the end
Poland 8th at the first mark http://www.sailing.org/olympics/london2012/results_centre.php
Cheers Dunc, Finding it quite slow on the official site…
poland 8th around the upwind mark
bryony storming down wind! catching the leaders!
Poland?
all the riders going to the right downwind, others behind heeding left (as you look out from the start boat)
isreal 7th, spain 13th!
Go Bryony!
aus second, brazil third, bryony in fourth
finland around in the lead
aus coming up on port just behind her
finland on course for the lay line, looking in the lead
all looking very close as a lot of sailors having to tack again
all getting pushed way below the lay line, think they had to tack at the boundary before
finland just ahead of bryony, with israel jus underneath them
Bryony now looking in great position, leading the fleet on port who are approaching the starboard lay line
sailors coming in on starboard crossing behind leaders on port
bryony coming up on port, crossing some of the fleet.
finland, russia and israel looiking in strong positions
Bryony furthest to the left, tacking now onto port
fleet split, half going right, half going left
bryony clean start, on starboard but pin end of the course, furthest board down. individual recall, cannada around the end
she comes along the line and tacks back onto starboard
bryony heads to the port end at one minute to go!
Princess Anne on the boat next to us, getting asked to move back by the marshals!
most sailors on starboard now, just a couple up the port end
four minutes, line looking a little fairer now
five minutes to the restart
conditions today looking 10-12 knots, maybe dropping a little below this at times, but VERY shifty. Wind all over the place, should shake up both the up and down wind legs
postponed! wind switched massively, sailors on starboard wouldn’t have made it across the line!
around a third of the fleet on port, could be a tricky start!!!
line again looking fairly port biased, quite a lot of the girls around thep pin end including, spain, and bryony
First women’s race starting in five minutes
I suspect the BBC TV coverage will mostly be of the medal races in the Star class and Finn, with their races starting at 1300 and 1400hrs respectively.
Great shots and let’s hope we get better BBC coverage. It would seem that the BBC have already forgotten about Windsurfing and Nick’s efforts, even before it’s been taken out of the olympics. They are so far up Ben Ainsley’s chuff they are forgetting about our other very real gold medal prospect (the Flying Dutchman aside of course – let’s hope he makes a balls of it today!!).