Bird's eye view

Alistair Skinner reports from the Qingdao breakwater on the frustrating Finns

Today on the waters of Fushan Bay off Qingdao Ben Ainslie did all that was required to become Britain’s Greatest Ever Olympic Sailor but this evening as the sun goes down he still sits on two Golds and a Silver.

In 2000 in Sydney it was Robert Schiecht of Brazil on the menu, today it Zach Railley of the USA that he had on toast, not once but three times

Take 1 saw Ainslie going to say ‘Hi’ to Zach and from there on in they were tied together as if by bungee chord. Then with less than 30 seconds to go there was a toot. At first I though my Omega timing disagreed with the committee boat’s Omega timing until I spotted the AP flying from the hoist.

Frankly it was a frustration that was to continue all afternoon as the gradient breeze fought with the sea breeze, both as weak as each other. From watching the flags on the breakwater we witnessed a shifting breeze that went from around 340 to 080 to 100 or so (just guestimates as I left my compass in Shanghai).

The only consolation for us fans sitting on the Olympic marina Breakwater was our feelings could only be mild compared to that of the competitors and of course the Race Officer team lead by PRO Peter Reggio. There was certainly no lack of skill on board that vessel but when the wind doesn’t blow it just doesn’t blow.

A move of the windward mark allowed a second start sequence, Ben again keeping close company of his only rival for Gold – 1 minute signal, looking good 50, 30, 40, 20…..toot! The start sequence aborted for the second time.

Third time lucky the race team got the boats away, Ben again shadowing but then he repeated his move of last year’s Test Event here in China but appearing to be over the line and dipping back.

It didn’t take him long to get back on the hunt however and soon saw him match racing the American towards the rear of the fleet. After all he had done the hard work during the past week, today he was only securing those efforts – or so we thought.

Dane Christensen and Frenchman Florent, Ben’s best friend (I jest) went for the left while the other eight competitors went right. The less tide inshore paid off and the World ranked No 1 rounded the top mark first, an advantage he was to maintain all the way down the run but it was the GBR on the 9th boat and USA on the 10th boat - very 9th and very, very 10th I hasten to add - that had the Team GBR supporters punching the air. In fact the Danish sailor, and all the rest were well into the second windward leg - except Ben and Zach when sound signals and the raising of the ‘N’ Flag signaled abandonment.

Not long, after racing was canned for the day with the Yinglings being sent home first closely followed by the Finns.

SO - three times Ben Ainslie has done what he had to do to secure his third Gold Medal and on each occasion he has been foiled by Qingdao’s weak and shifty breeze.

We are all back there tomorrow, same time, same place to see if on this occasion it is 4th time lucky.

The only thing though is that on the evidence of my own eyes today, there is no luck involved. What I saw was clinical, Ainslie knew what to do and he did it and Railley didn’t seem to have an answer. Let’s just hope he doesn’t have a flash of inspiration overnight.

So the celebrations are on hold but looking at the Mackerel Sky this evening and a forecast of 8-12 knots for tomorrow I rather think it will be down the pub for a few beers tomorrow evening.