SAIL Olympics Update: Strong Day for U.S. 470 Women

Although it was a rest day for Paige Railey in the Laser Radial class, it appears U.S. 470 sailors Annie Haeger and Briana Provancha are following in her footsteps, scoring both high and low in their two races today, leaving them in a position to still make a bid for the podium. Elsewhere, it was feast or famine as the offshore courses had plenty of wind while things were a good deal lighter in Rio’s Guanabara Bay.

As for U.S. Finn sailor Caleb Paine, although he has also been up and down in terms of his finishes that’s pretty much the way life is in the Finn class—arguably one of the toughest and most pedigreed on the planet—and although he finished 14th in today’s first race he roared back to a 2nd in race two, which now has him in 4th overall. (overall record: 7,10, 21, 3, 14, 2)

As evidence of just how tough things are, series leader Giles Scott from Great Britain also had his trouble today, taking 11th in the first race, the second time he’s finished outside the top 10 in six races.

Haeger and Provancha, who are both sailing in their first Olympics, got off to a rough start finishing 10th, but then like Paine finished 2nd in the second race, putting them in 6th place overall going into their third day of racing tomorrow. (overall record: 7, 3, 10, 2)

Leading the class are Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie of New Zealand, who were disqualified from the first race (which they are now counting as their one throw out) before going on to score 1, 4 and 1.

Faring less well are veteran U.S. sailors Stu McNay and David Hughes in the men’s 470 class, whose record of 10, 7, 8, 13 has them in 10th overall after two days of racing. Leading the class are Simi Fantela and Igor Marenic of Croatia, with finishes of 1, 2, 4, 1.

For both the Finn class racing on the Copacabana course and the 470 classes on the Niteroi course, both outside of Guanbara Bay on the open ocean, there was plenty of wind, with strong westerlies below 20 to 25 knots. Inside the bay, however, not so much, with both the Nacra 17 and RS:X classes finding themselves plagued by delays. Unfortunately, in all three classes, U.S. sailors are outside the top 10, although Marion Lepert is doing her best to remain in contention in women’s RS:X class.

For complete 2016 Olympic regatta results in the racing events, click here. 

August 2016