Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta - Final Day

Tougher competition than the Olympics was Ben Ainslie’s summary of Skandia Sail for Gold 2011. It was medal race day and the tension could be felt throughout the boat park as the elite of each Olympic discipline prepared to be tested.

There was so much on the line – possible Olympic selection, ISAF World Cup points, the regatta result and of course a hefty dose of pride. Five hours later and spectators had been treated to some stunning racing, topped off when Ainslie clinically dispatched another rival to take gold. Ainslie’s win sealed Britain’s place as the top nation sailing nation at the 2012 Olympic venue. Australia was the only country that could match the home team’s gold medal tally across 13 Olympic and Paralympic classes.

It was the Women’s Match Racing that got going first, and Sally Barkow, Elizabeth Kratizig-Burnham and Alana O’Reilly (USA) recovered the form that took them so smoothly through the early rounds. The Americans took the bronze medal from Claire Leroy, Elodie Bertrand and Marie Riou (FRA) with a 2-0 sweep. It was not much different in the final, where Barkow’s compatriots, Anna Tunnicliffe, Molly Vendemoer and Debbie Capozzi swept imperiously past current World Champions, Lucy Macgregor, Annie Lush and Kate Macgregor (GBR). Tunnicliffe and her team took the gold medal without the loss of a single race. It left the Brits with silver, sandwiched between the two Americans in gold and bronze.

Quotes of the Day

Anna Tunicliffe (USA) – Match Racing Winner

In the first match we had a really good start, I just led her (Lucy Macgregor) off the line, we were able to extend our lead up the first beat, kind of just held on to that around the race course. We led off the line and we basically extended upwind. Then downwind the Brits were always going to close up the gap, and so they put some pressure on us at the leeward marks, but we stayed calm and we kept extending our lead.

I think whenever you sail against the Brits they’re such a great team you never really let your guard down, so it was close the whole time. We’re very, very excited, we put a lot of work in and had a great week here in Weymouth.

Skandia Sail for Gold 2011 – Medal Race Day 11 June 2011

MATCH RACING
Final:
USA Tunnicliffe / Vandemoer / Capozzi 3 - Gold
GBR Macgregor / Lush / Macgregor 0 - Silver

Petit Final:
USA Barkow / Kratizig-Burnham / O’Reilly 2 - Bronze
FRA Leroy / Bertrand / Riou 0

Event Website: Sail For Gold website

Overall Results: Overall Results