Canned in Qingdao

The first really awful day in Qingdao has arrived

Sailors spent the day sitting ashore in Qingdao waiting to head out onto the race course. However, it was not to be as one to two knots of wind was as much as anyone saw at the Olympic sailing venue. In addition to this light breeze a very thick fog has been hovering over the water all day.

There are rumors a storm is due this evening and that 15 knots are forecast for the next three days or so, hopefully allowing organisers to catch up on some of the lost races from today and yesterday afternoon.

When racing does get tomorrow all fleets will be taking to the water the Finn, Lasers, Radials, RS:X men and women will start at an earlier time of 1200 hours (Qingdao time), while the 470 men and women and Star and Tornado will start at 1300 hours.

With the wind forecast to build through to the weekend there may well be some changes in the overall results in many classes. In particular, we would expect to see Australian, Tom Slingsby finding his pace in the Laser. Rogers and Glanfield (GBR – 470 Men) would be happy with windier weather as would Nick Dempsy (GBR) in the RS:X. We would also expect Sarah Steyaert (FRA) to improve in the Laser Radial. In addition to these few, there could be any number of other competitors relishing windier weather. Finally as the Tornados have already measured in, it is now too late for those that elected to use the controversial 'Code Zero' spinnakers to back out of the risky decision.