Ainslie, Finn, Gold... just ...

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

with a bit of help from New Zealand in the last half mile...

(..alright, Ainslie - misuse of distress signals... you're nicked...)

[bamamick]

Whew! Seems to be a lot of spleen being vented on Ainslie by the bretheren on SA. I think it's funny to read people post things about him being 'lucky' and more 'stuff' about his supposed attitude. First off, a lot of these guys are not that nice. I hate to say it that way, but I have known more than a few that were pretty much, well, never mind. Doesn't matter. I have met Mark Reynolds a few times and he has always seemed to me to be a pretty nice guy, but as often as not that does not seem to be the case with the upper echelon of our sport. So, essentially, I don't really care what Ainslie's attitude is. I don't have to live with him. I just like to watch him sail.

The other thing, about luck? Well, I think he did get some help in winning this particular event, but he also sailed 10 fleet races to get to this medal race, and was just two points behind going into today. Essentially, it was a match race for the gold, and who is going to bet against Ainslie? In the big Star events I have sailed and in the few major Finn regattas I sailed the same guys would always work their way to the top no matter their start, the shifts, or any other kind of 'luck' they may have encountered. Buddy Melges said once that there is no such thing as luck on the race course, and although I can't quite agree with him 100%, having been on both sides of that particular coin before, I do understand where he is coming from. You make your own luck with boat speed and tactics, and if you happen to catch a break every now and then? Well, more power to you.

Ainslie is now the most decorated sailor in Olympic regatta history. Pretty damn impressive.

And also, congrats to former Finnster in Freddy Loof for taking the Star gold. A big day for former Finn Gold Cup winners!

Mickey Lake

[rbgarr]

Was it the Danish Finn sailor who was carried away/blocked by the NZer which maneuver redounded to Ainslie's benefit? I'd like to know everyone's thoughts on the matter. It was more than a match race as I understand it. At one point in the race the guy who got the bronze was in a position to win gold.