2008 Olympic Sailing Regatta - USA Team Day Ten Review

Tunnicliffe locks up medal

After today’s three races USA Laser Radial representative Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) has ensured herself a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. Usually reserved after a day of racing, Tunnicliffe let herself enjoy today’s accomplishment as she hit the dock. After a 15, 2, 2 today, she sits in first and is 21 points over fourth place to just squeak by with a medal.

Wearing her anti-seasickness patch, she said of her position, “It’s a huge relief, but it’s still a big race tomorrow.” Tunnicliffe has consistently been in mix of the top of the event, but her lead has always been within striking distance of her competitors. The same is true for tomorrow’s medal race, as the double-points format chops her lead in half. Tunnicliffe is seven points ahead of second and eleven points ahead of third. She says tonight she will sit down with her coaches and work out the final approach. “We’ll discuss strategies and best-case and worst-case scenarios. We’ll plan an attack in case I have to do any of that.”

Tomorrow’s Laser Radial medal race is to take place at 1:00 p.m. in winds forecasted for 4-6 knots. World #1 ranked Tunnicliffe has performed in all conditions at this event. She was happy to have one windy race yesterday to flex her big breeze muscles, but she’s just as quick in the light winds.

RS:X Men’s boardsailor Ben Barger (St. Petersburg, Fla.) had his best finish of the regatta today with an 18th place in his 35-board class. He was in 11th in the race, but caught a plastic bag and had to clear it from his board. Barger said, “In the beginning of the regatta I tried to enjoy the Olympic experience and take it in and to do well but it was too much. Now that we’re further into the event I feel like I’ve learned a lot from my first Olympics and now I just have to do what I can.” After today’s better finish he said, “I feel like I’m racing again.”

RS:X Men and Women were the only two fleets unable to complete three races today, so Barger and Nancy Rios (Miami, Fla.) will go back for one more race tomorrow before Wednesday’s medal race.

In the Star and Tornado classes, today’s medium-strength breezes proved incompatible with the USA’s light air equipment selections. In the Tornado, John Lovell (New Orleans, La.) and Charlie Ogletree (Kemah, Texas.) have been using their small gennaker designed for very light winds. In the Star, John Dane III (Gulfport, Miss.) and Austin Sperry (Gulfport, Miss.) had chosen a hull designed for Qingdao’s predicted light winds. Dane said, “We used the light air equipment, but we haven’t sailed in any light air.” Tomorrow’s forecast may be good for these teams.

In the Laser class, Andrew Campbell (San Diego, Calif.) started off strongly but was unable to achieve the points needed to make the medal race. He ends his regatta short of his goal, but can be proud of his August 13 Olympic race win and that he was a part of the USA’s six-win day.