Medal Day in The Hague

There are a few runaway leaders in yellow bibs who look destined to win gold this afternoon, but in other events there’s all to play for. In the case of the iQFOiLs, the foiling windsurfers are looking to catch up on their schedule. The prospect of 10 races offers a big opportunity for some big moves on the podium.

The forecast is for the breeze to increase from barely a breath this morning to solid wind by this afternoon. However, with a 1500 hours cut-off for racing, it’s a matter of how soon the good breeze arrives in Scheveningen. From a meagre 4 to 6 knots at 1000 hours it builds to 5 to 8 knots by midday. By 1400 hours it is expected to have increased to a more interesting 7 to 10 knots, all the while rotating from a north-easterly this morning to north-westerly by late afternoon.

The current has played a huge part in the competition this week, with the risk of being pushed early over the start line and the leeward mark traffic jams being two features that offer great potential for gain or loss on the race course.

There are five course areas, with racing starting at 1100 hours:

• Course A – from 1200 hours, 10 races each for Windsurfing Male and Female (Youth iQFOiL)
• Course B – at 1100 hours, two races for Male Skiff (29er), then at 1230 hours two races for Female Skiff
• Course C – at 1100 hours, two races each for One Person Dinghy Male and Female fleets (ILCA 6 class), then at 1330 hours two races for Multihull Mixed (Nacra 15 class)
• Course D – at 1100 hours, one for the Male/Mixed 420 fleet, and 1230 hours one race for the Female 420 fleet
• Course E – at 1200 hours, four races each for Kiteboarding Male and Female (Formula Kite)

written by Andy Rice, event reporter for World Sailing