OCTOBER 2004 - Finn

Rafael commented, “It was a very difficult
day as the winds were shifting throughout
the race. However, I tried hard to win a race
but it was impossible due to Ben. He is from
another planet.”
Mateusz commented on his strategy for the
final race, “I’ll have probably decided by the
time I round the first mark. In the beginning
I’ll definitely try to win the race but will also
look at Karlo and Rafa. It depends on the
weather conditions. If it’s going to be tricky,
then it will be really interesting.”
Day seven
Race 11 – Ainslie does the double
On the final day, Ben Ainslie won GBR’s
second Gold medal in emphatic style, carving
his name on the slate of Olympic history with
his third Olympic Medal. Going into the final,
deciding race of the series, Rafael, was a
mere 14 points behind Ben. So to break into
the Gold medal position he had to finish at
least fourteen places ahead of Ben.
The final race started in a steadily building
sea breeze and off the port end of the line,
in true style, Ben and Rafael were close
together. In the early part of the first beat Ben
looked to have done half the job. But Rafael
pulled back through by sailing to the righthand
side, and he rounded the top mark
seven places ahead of Ben.
The race was being led by Kevin Hall from
Emilios. By the top of the first run Rafael had
retained his sixth place, whilst Ben pulled up
to tenth. With a long way to go in the tricky
conditions, anything the Saronic Gulf could
throw at the pair could change the result.
Ben caught up to Rafael down the first run
and a furious gybing duel ensued as the pair
negotiated traffic in the lightening pressure.
At mark three chaos ensued. It seemed that,
bar the front three, the entire fleet rounded
at the same time (see page 3).
Mateusz made the best of the situation,
picking up first place in the melee to lead by
the next windward mark, but behind him in
the pack, Ben rounded just two places behind
Rafael. On the early part of the second beat
Rafael dropped behind Ben, leaving Ben the
easy job of covering for the rest of the race.
At the finish it was Mateusz who took the
race win and a jubilant leap out of the boat
confirmed that he was to be the recipient of
the bronze medal. Ben let Rafael past on the
final run, but the Gold medal was in the bag.
Oh what a night – medals and honour
The atmosphere was electric in the auditorium
as it filled to a capacity with team mates,
family, friends, spectators and support
personnel ready to honour the sailors
receiving medals.
Enter stage left, the medalists who had their
medals presented by past Finn sailor and
Olympian and now IOC President, Jacques
Rogge. The flowers were presented by ISAF
Treasurer Brian Southcott. Bronze went to
Mateusz his second Olympic medal, with
Rafael taking the silver. Keen followers and
participants in sailing, Her Majesty Queen
Sofia of Spain and daughter were in the
auditorium cheering on Rafael. But the biggest
cheer was reserved for Ben who averted
disaster by fighting back from his DSQ in
race 2 to overall victory in the final race.
FINNFARE OCTOBER 2004