(QINGDAO, August 16) -- The first set of 2008 Olympic Sailing medals were supposed to be awarded in the Finn (Heavyweight Dinghy) and Yngling (Women's Keelboat) classes Saturday, but more delays, due to light, shifty breezes, led to racing being abandoned. Now the two classes, along with the 49er, will sail their medal races on Sunday.
Finn
The Finns will sail for the first set of medals to be awarded at the 2008 Olympic regatta, with Ben Ainslie of Great Britain and Zach Railey of the United States competing for gold. Railey needs to put six boats between him and Ainslie to win, no easy feat in a 10-boat fleet.
Ainslie is seeking his third consecutive gold medal in the Finn and fourth medal in four Olympic Games. Daniel Birgmark of Sweden can try to put six boats between him and Railey or he can defend his bronze position against Guillame Florent of France, who is in fourth place with 50 points.
One point behind Florent is Christopher Cook of Canada, Gasper Vincec of Slovenia and Ivan Kljakovic-Gaspic of Croatia will also try for bronze.
Yngling
Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson of Great Britain are winning the Yngling regatta as they go into the medal race, but Mandy Mulder, Annemieke Bes and Merel Witteveen of the Netherlands are just one point behind them in second place.
Only the British and Dutch teams have a chance at gold and silver. The remaining eight boats in the fleet are in such a narrow band on the point spread that all have a chance at the bronze.
49er (Skiff)
Saturday was important for 49er competitors, as it was their last chance to make the medal race, which is to be sailed Sunday. The Danish crew of Jonas Warrer and Martin Ibsen are looking hot to take gold after sailing perfectly under pressure.
The Italian Sibello brothers, Pietro and Gianfranco, have moved up into second place, with Friday's leaders Nathan Outteridge and Ben Austin of Australia dropping to third.
Athens 2004 Olympic Gold medalists Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez of Spain are back in the picture after their best day of the series.
Although pre-Olympic favorites for a medal, and even though they have made the medal race, British sailors Stevie Morrison Ben Rhodes's scores mean they cannot win a medal, while Athens silver medalists Rodion Luka and Georgii Leonchuk of the Ukraine did not make the medal race at all.
Laser (Men's One Person Dinghy)
Although three races were anticipated for Saturday, the weather failed and the Lasers only sailed the fifth race and the scoreboard changed yet again -- mostly because a race drop came into play.
Diego Romero of Italy has regained control of the top position that he lost to Paul Goodison of Great Britain on Friday.
Following Romero now are Rasmus Myrgren of Sweden, Athens Bronze medalist Vasilij Zbogar of Slovenia and Goodison.
The points are so tight, just one point between each, even further down the board, that any of the top 10 could realistically win gold, including Julio Alsogaray of Argetina, who is now in 10th place.
Laser Radial (Women's One Person Dinghy)
Like the Laser, only one of the three races took place on a day when Anna Tunnicliffe of the United States lost the lead she has held since the first day, as a race drop came into play. New Zealander Jo Aleh moved from fourth into the lead and Gintare Volungeviciute of Lithuania stays in second place after notching up another win on Saturday. Tunnicliffe is relegated to third overall, 10 points behind Aleh
A medal favorite coming into the series, Xu Lijia of China has moved into fourth, four points behind the American sailor and there are three others close behind her in what is developing into an interesting competition.
Star
The Stars are scheduled to sail Race 4, 5 and 6 of their series.
John Dane III and Austin Sperry of the United States are out in the lead with 14 points and Afonso Domingos and Bernardo Plantier Santos of Portugal and 2006 Star World Champions, Hamish Pepper and Carl Williams of New Zealand are in hot pursuit.
After three races, only 11 points separate the top 10 teams.
Tornado
The Tornados are to hold three races on Sunday. Look for Fernando Echavarri and Fernando Paz of Spain and World No. 1 Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby of Australia to continue to perform well.
The fleet could have five races under its belt by the time it returns to the dock on Sunday and they will be able to discard their worst race. Positions will be shuffled a little as some competitors will be able to drop some deep scores.
Men's and Women's RS:X
Did not race on Saturday as breezes dwindled to almost nil. Each fleet has three races scheduled for Sunday.
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