News / Results Medal Chance Evaporates 
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Qingdao, China We fell from grace today when a split-second timing error knocked us out of contention in the Yngling Medal Race at the 2007 Good Luck Beijing International Regatta in Qingdao. It killed our excellent chances of winning the Gold Medal and dropped us to fourth overall for the series. Sarah Ayton’s British crew, our major rivals, sailed a great series and deservedly won the Gold even though we handed it to them on a platter at the end. We had lively conditions for the Medal Race with a good 8-10 knot south-easterly breeze and got a great start. We knew it was going to be tricky because the tide was flooding and pushing us upwind but we had an excellent position approaching the line, with Sarah to leeward of us. After the start the Race Committee signalled boats over early and four boats went back. We weren’t certain about our situation. We’d worked on time and distance and thought we had it right. At that point it was a lose/lose proposition. We could continue and risk being flagged over early when we got to the weather mark or we could go back and restart and concede the medal to Sarah. We chose to press on. It was the only call we could make. We were first boat to reach the weather mark but we were flagged OCS and that was the end of our race. Ekaterina Skudina’s Russian crew won the race to take the Bronze Medal. Sarah was second and earned the Gold. The Dutch girls, skippered by Renee Groeneveld, finished the race third and got the Silver Medal. We really wanted to win this week but we also knew this was an important learning experience, in advance of next year’s Summer Olympic Games. Well, we didn’t win but we certainly learned big time. Now we’re on fire to do it right next year. Thanks for following our big adventure. You will find full results at Qingdao Yngling Results and you can visit the Team 7 site at http://www.team7sailing.com Carrie for Team Seven Sailing - |
