Olympic Sailing Updates

Though the results are in for most of the Olympic sailing fleets, there’s still time to cheer on team USA in the NACRA 17, both 470 and Finn classes.

In the NACRA 17 fleet, Riley Gibbs and Anna Weis are in 9^th place securing a spot in the medal race. They’re currently 17 points behind the 8^th place French team and just four points ahead of the Brazilian 10^th place team. These scores are corrected to include one throw-out race. Notably, the Americans threw out a 13 while the French and Brazilian teams each threw out 18s, proving if nothing else that the Americans have been remarkably consistent throughout. Only the medal race remains in this class, which will score double points and include just the top ten finishers from the qualifying races. It will be held Tuesday, August 3.

Nikole Barnes and Lara Ballman-Weiss represent the United States in the 470 class and are also currently in 9^th place. Two more races for the entire fleet are scheduled for the coming days. If they can hold their spot, they’ll also sail in the medal race, scheduled for Wednesday, August 4. Ahead of them by five points is Israel. Germany is behind the United States by just two.

Men’s 470 team Stuart McNay and David Hughes are currently in 11^th. The pressure is on for these two as they only have two races left to break into the top ten. Fortunately for them, the middle of the fleet is very tight and they’re only one point away from Turkey and France who are in 9^th and 10^th respectively (currently tied in points). In fact, only four points separate the 7^th-11^th place teams, meaning that one bad race for any of them will close the door for the medal round.

In the Finn class, Luke Muller is in 13^th. The medal race will determine the podium.

The Netherlands won in the 49erFX, followed by Brazil and Germany. Notably, Brazil’s 49erFX was helmed by Martine Grael, daughter of Brazilian Olympic sailor Torben Grael and crew of the VO65 AkzoNobel during the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race. American sailors Stephanie Roble and Maggie Shea finished in 11^th place.

In the laser fleet, Australia, Croatia and Norway filled out the podium. American Charlie Buckingham finished 13^th. Winning the laser radial fleet was Denmark, Sweeden and the Netherlands, with American Paige Railey in 37^th after two max-points UFD starts.

The Netherlands, France and China took home medals in the men’s RS:X fleet. American Pedro Pascual finished 9^th. China, France and Great Brittan made up the podium for the women’s RS:X fleet, with American Farrah Hall in 15^thplace.

New Zealand took gold in the 49er class, followed by England and Spain. There was no American entrant.

For more results, visit tokyo2020.sailing.org