US favorite Anna Tunnicliffe topped the rankings in Laser Radial sailing after two opening races in the Beijing Olympics yesterday, while Australia maintained its lead in both the men’s and women’s 470 dinghy classes.
China’s 2004 windsurfing silver medalist Yin Jian remained on top in her quest for the host country’s first-ever sailing gold, as did Israeli Shahar Zubari in his bid for his nation’s second Olympic gold ever.
The Lasers for men and the Laser Radials for women had their opening races yesterday off the coast of Qingdao, the sailing venue about 500km south of Beijing.
“It was a tough day out there. I think the trick to the day was just trying to keep it simple,” said Tunnicliffe, who finished the Laser Radial opening races with a fourth and a fifth place. “It was good sailing. Shifty. The current was changing throughout the race. Tough conditions for sure. But fun.”
Consistent sailing gave Tunnicliffe, 25, the lead over Evi Van Acker of Belgium, with a win and a 10th place, and Sarah Steyaert of France, with a first and an 11th.
In women’s windsurfing, Yin suffered her first loss, a third place in the last race of the day after three straight wins in a streak that started on Sunday. She leads Marina Alabu of Spain with a second, third and two fifth paces, and Jessica Crisp of Australia, with the scoreline 2-2-3-8.
Israeli windsurfer Zubari, 21, remained at the top of the men’s RS:X class with a first and a third, leading Chan Yin-ching of Hong Kong (5-4-2-5) and Tom Ashley of New Zealand (4-7-7-1).
Taiwan’s Chang Hao (張浩) was in 30th place in a field of 35 with a scoreline of 31-29-31-28.
Zubari was under intense scrutiny in Israel because during his national trials, he defeated windsurfer Gal Fridman, who won Israel’s first-ever Olympic gold in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Australia led both the men’s and women’s 470 classes in Olympic sailing yesterday after four races, with one team of veterans and one of Olympic first-timers.
Veteran Australian 470 pair Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page clung to their hope of avenging their 12th place humiliation in Athens, with two third places in yesterday’s races to give them a one-point lead on France’s Nicolas Charbonnier and Olivier Bausset in the 29 boat fleet.
In the women’s 470s, Australian pair Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson had a solid lead, with nine points after four races, following their four and first places yesterday. Spain’s Natalia Via Dufresne and Laia Lluisa Tutzo are second ranked, with a second and sixth yesterday for 17 points overall, with Marcelien de Koning and Lobke Berkhout, ranked third after a ninth and a fifth pace gave them a point total of 18.
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