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