19/08/2004

British women's sailing trio secure Gold medal with race to spare

Team GB's women's sailing team of Shirley Robertson, Sarah Webb and Sarah Ayton clinched the Gold medal with points to spare and a race in hand.

The trio competing in the Yngling keelboat class had built up an unassailable points lead during the series of 10 races and despite an eight place in the tenth race have points to spare over nearest rivals Denmark.

Competing in the single-handed Finn class, Ben Ainslie is assured of at least a Silver medal as he secured a fourth first place today in the ten races held to date. Ainslie has a 14 points lead over nearest rival Spaniard Rafael Trujillo.

It is also a similar situation for the men's 470 team of Nick Rogers and Joe Glanfield as they slipped to second place after a disappointing 19th place finish in one of today's races. But with just four points between the USA 470 team who move into the lead on points, the Gold medal will depend on the two crew's relative finishes in the final race.

Weather conditions permitting the final races in both the men's Finn class and 470 class are scheduled for Saturday.

(SP)

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