Sailing at Tokyo 2020 Olympics live: Britannia rules the waves as Giles Scott retains Finn title and men's 49er crew claim gold
Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey finish sixth overall in the women's skiff 49er after finishing seventh in the medal race
Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell win gold after photo finish in the men's skiff 49er
Giles Scott successfully defends his Olympic title in another close finish
John Gimson and Anna Burnet win silver in the mixed Nacra 17 class
Follow all other Olympics events on day 11, including diving, athletics, gymnastics and boxing here
Giles Scott made it double sailing gold for Team GB in the space of a dramatic hour in Enoshima Yacht Harbour after recovering from a nightmare start to follow Iain Percy and Sir Ben Ainslie to secure Britain's sixth successive triumph in the heavyweight Finn class.
Scott, who had already established a clear lead before the medal race, feared that he made an infringement at the start and so, rather than risk being recalled, willingly turned full circle to leave himself with a mountain to climb over the rest of the race.
His rival, Hungary’s Zsombor Berecz, immediately took advantage and surged into the lead and, with the medal race carrying double points, Scott needed to work his way through virtually the entire field in order to defend the title he won in Rio de Janeiro.
Scott was still back in sixth even as he approached the final leg of the race but, just like team-mates Dylan Fletcher and Stu Bithell who had won the 49er class minutes earlier, produced a grandstand finish in what is the last time that the Finn boat will be raced at the Olympics.
The two golds were then also followed by silver just an hour later, with the British team of John Gimson and Anna Burnett finishing fifth in the final medal race to hold their second place behind the Italian crew.
Scott later revealed that, for agonising periods of the race, he thought he had blown gold. “I never gave up and always kept pushing but I'm a realist and I can count,” he said. “That's the greatest pressure of my career. It climbed throughout the race. I made it by the skin of my teeth. I tried to stay relaxed - I made a few nice calls - and just sneaked around that group but I've never been involved in a boat race as close as that. Hopefully it provided some entertainment.”
Back to back golds also cements Scott’s place among the all-time greats of British sailing and retained Britain’s 21-year unbeaten record in the event.
“This closes it out - we've won every gold since 2000 - we own it,” said Scott. “I'm so proud. There is such heritage in the Finn and it's a shame it's leaving the Games. Iain Percy and Ben Ainslie are legends - they were my heroes growing up.”
Scott, who is also a four times world champion and three times European Champion, had combined his preparation for Tokyo by sailing with Ainslie in the America’s Cup where he was the tactician for Team Ineos in Auckland between September to March. It had meant an especially disjointed build-up, with him only finishing ninth at the Finn World Championships, before peaking here in Japan where, aside from this major late scare, he had dominated the competition.
Scott explained that he had made the decision to turn back because he thought that a penalty was the only way he could lose. “It was mine to lose - I played it super safe, made the call and then I had quite a lot on,” he said. “If it had been any other race there was no way I'd go back.”
Giles began his race just as Fletcher and Bithell were finishing, but made a point of ignoring their ecstatic celebrations. “I'm so happy for them but it's not what you need to see five minutes before you start,” he said.
Fletcher and Bithell’s victory was also among the most dramatic medal races in Olympic history, with the British pair leapfrogging defending champions and two-time America’s Cup winners, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, of New Zealand.
Fletcher and Bithell had begun the final 49er medal race four points adrift of the New Zealanders, who are widely regarded as the world’s best sailors, meaning that they needed to finish two places ahead of their rivals to take gold. They began superbly and surged into a clear lead after the first two turns, ahead of New Zealand who, crucially, had also fallen behind the Germany crew.
Germany, though, then moved just ahead of Great Britain in the middle section of the race, meaning that the gap to New Zealand had been reduced to one place and Britain were back in silver.
Fletcher and Bithell, though, did not give way down an extraordinary final leg and, with the lead changing hands continuously as they approached the finishing line from different directions, they edged ahead of Germany in a photo finish to put a decisive extra boat between themselves and New Zealand.
Bithell, a 34-year-old from Rochdale who previously won silver in London in the 470 class with Luke Patience, said that he had never experienced a finish like it during his entire sailing career. “I’ve certainly never seen that in the Olympics,” he said.
“I think the exact moment I knew was the very last jibe at the end. They gybed and we gybed almost simultaneously and I could just see the bow coming out - we were on a little bit of a wave and we got a little bit of a surge on - and it popped us over.”
Fletcher, whose parents are ballet dancers, described the finish as “mind blowing” and revealed that he had dreamt a week ago that they would leave Japan with gold medals. “It was last week a few days before racing - I was like ‘don’t engage, don’t tell anyone that' but it was amazing to feel that dream come true. It wasn’t quite that close in my dream.”
There were then joyous scenes in the Enoshima Yacht Harbour, with Fletcher met off the boat by his fiancee Charlotte Dobson who, with Saskia Tidey just an hour earlier, had finished sixth in the 49er FX class. Dobson and Fletcher are getting married in Pennsylvania Castle in Portland later this month and admitted that they still have all their final arrangements to complete.
“Time pressure will make us organised - we’ll be decisive,” said Dobson, who said she is planning a big white wedding.
Of the dramatic finish to Fletcher and Bithell’s race, she said: “It was amazing to watch - very very stressful. I think he'll have that gold medal on the dining room table for a while. That will be one of the sailing moments of the Games. It epitomises the yin and yang of sport. You risk feeling terrible to feel like that.”
07:21 AMDylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell speak…
Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell speak…
Bithell on the dramatic finish…
“I’ve certainly never seen that in the Olympics. I think the exact moment I knew was the very last jibe at the end. They jibed and we jibed almost simultaneously and I could just see the bow coming out - we were on a little bit of a wave and we got a little bit of a surge on - and it popped us over.”
Fletcher on having a dream they’d win gold…
“It was last week a few days before racing - I was like ‘don’t engage, don’t tell anyone that' but yeah it was amazing to feel that dream come true. It wasn’t quite that close in my dream.”
Charlotte Dobson - who, with Saskia Tidey just an hour earlier, had finished sixth in the 49er FX class, and is getting married to Fletcher - on the photo finish…
“It was amazing to watch - very very stressful. I think he'll have that gold medal on the dining room table for a while. That will be one of the sailing moments of the Games. I feel very bad for what we’ve done to our parents and friends and family over the last couple of weeks but I can’t be more happy for him.”
07:06 AMWhat a morning for British sailing!
What a morning for British sailing!
For those of you who've had the joy of sleep this is what you've missed.
GOLD - for Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithall in the men's Skiff 49er, in photo finish.
GOLD - for Giles Scott in the Finn class in yet another dramatic finish.
SILVER - for John Gimson and Anna Burnet in the mixed Nacra 17 class.
06:58 AMSir Ben's enjoyed watching all the medal-action
Boom. Gold number 2 for @GilesScott and @BritishSailing Another nail-biter but how cool under pressure. Seriously, well done 👏 https://t.co/NImYnEiatq
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
Brings back some memories but we shouldn’t forget the coaches who played a major part in the ongoing success #DavidHowlett #JezFanstone #MattHoward https://t.co/aU3UnzD9F1
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
06:55 AMWhat a day and what a week!
It's silver for @TEAMGBNACRA 🥈
What a week for John Gimson & Anna Burnet!#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/EJSuhzU4IN
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
06:53 AMSilver for Great Britain!
Sir Ben's enjoyed watching all the medal-action
Boom. Gold number 2 for @GilesScott and @BritishSailing Another nail-biter but how cool under pressure. Seriously, well done 👏 https://t.co/NImYnEiatq
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
Brings back some memories but we shouldn’t forget the coaches who played a major part in the ongoing success #DavidHowlett #JezFanstone #MattHoward https://t.co/aU3UnzD9F1
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
06:55 AMWhat a day and what a week!
It's silver for @TEAMGBNACRA 🥈
What a week for John Gimson & Anna Burnet!#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/EJSuhzU4IN
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
06:53 AMSilver for Great Britain!
What a day and what a week!
It's silver for @TEAMGBNACRA 🥈
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
What a week for John Gimson & Anna Burnet!#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/EJSuhzU4IN
06:53 AMSilver for Great Britain!
Silver for Great Britain!
John Gimson and Anna Burnet cross the line in fifth and that's enough for second overall.
Italy's Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti win the gold and Germany the bronze
That wasn't anywhere as thrilling as the previous two races - but it was asking way too much to expect that.
06:52 AMDefending champions Argentina
Defending champions Argentina
Win the medal race BUT they'll finish sixth overall.
That's a good way to finish the regatta for Lange and Carranza Saroli.
06:51 AMThe battle for medals
The battle for medals
Is all at the back of this medal race.
As it stands Italy will take the gold, Britain's Gimson and Burnet the silver and Germany are doing just enough to claim the bronze having been in 10th.
06:46 AMIt looks as though gold...
It looks as though gold...
...is beyond Gimson and Burnet. They remain in eighth and have way too much to do get far enough ahead of the Italians and grab the gold.
06:45 AMAt the second mark - GB are in the silver-medal position
At the second mark - GB are in the silver-medal position
Argentina lead, but they are out of medal contention.
Gimson and Burnet are back in eighth, that will keep them in silver-medal position overall.
06:38 AMGimson and Burnet
Gimson and Burnet
Are in eighth with the Italians content to keep them close.
Remember the British pair need to make five spots on their rivals to get gold - at the moment that doesn't look as though it's going to happen.
06:35 AMItaly doing what they need to do
Italy doing what they need to do
To get gold. They're in seventh with Briton's Gimson and Burnet in eighth - the Italians can just cover the GB pair and know they will be Olympic champions.
06:33 AMHere's what John Gimson and Anna Burnet have to do
Here's what John Gimson and Anna Burnet have to do
To get gold.
They have to put five boats between them and the Italy pair to get gold - in a twn-boat field that is a tough ask...
06:21 AMHere's how Giles Scott grabbed gold
Here's how Giles Scott grabbed gold
In another thrilling, nail-biting finish.
Another thriller on Enoshima waters. Another gold for #TeamGB
👏 @GilesScott 👏
🎥 @BBCSport pic.twitter.com/uJWRMOwHxm— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
06:19 AMHave you all calmed down after those two thrilling races?
Have you all calmed down after those two thrilling races?
Hope so as next up we've got John Gimson and Anna Burnet going in the mixed Nacra 17 class.
This is Gimson's fourth Olympics, while this is Burnet's , the niece of great New Zealand yachtsman Sir Peter Blake, Games debut.
06:12 AMFantastic Finn dominance
🥇🥇🥇 Six in a row! 🥇🥇🥇
The British hold over the Olympic Men's Finn continues and Giles Scott is a double Olympic gold medallist 🇬🇧#bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/OWKn2Z98OC
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 3, 2021
06:07 AMWith 30 seconds to go Scott was seventh
Fantastic Finn dominance
🥇🥇🥇 Six in a row! 🥇🥇🥇
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 3, 2021
The British hold over the Olympic Men's Finn continues and Giles Scott is a double Olympic gold medallist 🇬🇧#bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/OWKn2Z98OC
06:07 AMWith 30 seconds to go Scott was seventh
With 30 seconds to go Scott was seventh
But with the finish line in sight the defending champion somehow found the open water he needed to storm into fifth and snatch gold from the hands of Hungary's Zsombor Berecz.
06:02 AMGILES SCOTT WINS GOLD
GILES SCOTT WINS GOLD
Wow - Hungary's Berecz won the race meaning Giles Scott had to finish in the top five and from sixth he just about managed to do what he had to...
I need to lie down - that was another close, exciting race.
06:01 AMGiles Scott finishes in fifth right at the line!!!
Giles Scott finishes in fifth right at the line!!!
What another stressful, brilliant finish.
He just got into fifth place at the line.
GOLD IS HIS!
05:59 AMScott is yo-yoing between fifth and sixth
Scott is yo-yoing between fifth and sixth
The lead looks strong for Berecz so it's going to come down to whether Giles Scott can get in that top five...
He's in sixth at the moment...so so close...
05:58 AMIf Hungary's Berecz is second
If Hungary's Berecz is second
And Scott is sixth then gold goes to Scott...
BUT Berecz is currently lead with the finish line in sight...
05:56 AMGiles Scott is great on the downwind leg
Giles Scott is great on the downwind leg
And he needs one hell of a downwind leg here.
He needs to overtake some of those ahead of him - Sweden, New Zealand, and the Netherlands are those immediately ahead of Scott.
05:55 AMGiles Scott is in seventh place
Giles Scott is in seventh place
At the third mark - Hungary's Berecz is in second place. As it stands the gold is going to Hungary, Scott will get the silver.
The British banker for gold isn't happening at the moment...
05:52 AMHungary's Berecz now leads
Hungary's Berecz now leads
Giles Scott is in sixth - he needs to be in the top five to make sure of gold.
Yep, it's another tight finish in store on the water
05:50 AMIt's fair to say
It's fair to say
Everything that could have gone wrong for Giles Scott has.
There's still two legs left, though...
05:49 AMAt the second mark
At the second mark
Giles Scott finds himself in a car park - he wanted to go left but cannot. This is going to be a big challenge for him, he's down in seventh.
Berecz is in second - as it stands the Hungarian has the gold.
05:47 AMSir Ben congratulates Fletcher and Bithell
What an awesome race. As close as it gets but these boys nailed it. Huge congrats @StuBithell @GBR49erTeam @Tokyo2020 #gold https://t.co/wRODXhaQiy
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
05:46 AMIt's going to be another close one
Sir Ben congratulates Fletcher and Bithell
What an awesome race. As close as it gets but these boys nailed it. Huge congrats @StuBithell @GBR49erTeam @Tokyo2020 #gold https://t.co/wRODXhaQiy
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
05:46 AMIt's going to be another close one
It's going to be another close one
Giles Scott is in fifth at the moment with Berecz of Hungary in second.
Can your nails stand another photo finish? Not sure mine can...
05:44 AMAt the first mark
At the first mark
Giles Scott is fourth! What a recovery.
As it stands gold is his.
05:42 AMHungary's Berecz has to...
Hungary's Berecz has to...
..;put four boats between him and Scott to take the gold.
05:41 AMGiles Scott does not need to win this race
Giles Scott does not need to win this race
If he finishes in the top five gold his his.
BUT he's currently in eighth after that shock start.
05:40 AMHungary's Zsombor Berecz
Hungary's Zsombor Berecz
Is currently in second. He's in the group on the right. Giles Scott is in the bunch on the left - that seems to be where the gains are being made.
05:37 AMGiles Scott rarely makes an error
Giles Scott rarely makes an error
BUT he just has now. He's currently in silver medal as it stands.
It was always going to be a big race but now it's HUGE.
He has to finish in the top five to guarantee gold. He's back in eighth at the moment.
05:35 AMDisastrous start from Giles Scott!
Disastrous start from Giles Scott!
He's gone early and has gone back to the start to avoid risking a recall.
He said he wanted to go fast at the start and stay at the front BUT that's too fast, too early.
There's a shout of frustration from Scott as he goes back to the start - he's away now but safe to say that was not part of the plan.
He's got a bit of a buffer to Hungary but still...
05:33 AMHere's THAT finish again
Here's THAT finish again
Did I say it was close?
What a thrilling finish!
It's gold to #TeamGB in the men's sailing 49er (with thanks to an assist from Germany 😉)#bbcolympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Vsy3VFvmW0— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 3, 2021
05:29 AMHow's this for a CV?
How's this for a CV?
Giles Scott: defending Olympic champion, four-time Finn world champion and member of Sir Ben Ainslie's America's Cup team.
I'd take it...
05:26 AMGiles Scott is up next in the Finn class
Giles Scott is up next in the Finn class
He's defending the title he won in Rio.
Here's a good read on how he and Ben Ainslie went from big rivals to best sailing buddies.
READ: How Ben Ainslie and Giles Scott went from 'heated' rivals to brothers-in-arms
05:20 AMThis is what I call a photo finish
This is what I call a photo finish
This is one of the great finishes of these Games - in any sport...
05:11 AM'By the barest of margins'
'By the barest of margins'
That was uttered the last time a team from Britain (granted it was England) beat New Zealand in the tightest of tight finishes (cricket World Cup final, in case you didn't know...). It's a phrase that is definitely appropriate today after that exciting race.
05:08 AMThere is absolute elation from Fletcher and Bithell
There is absolute elation from Fletcher and Bithell
And who can blame them. They did the job and sailed a great race.
By fine margins golds are won and that race is Exhibit A when using that cliche.
Great Britain and New Zealand both finished with 58 points but as Fletcher and Bithell beat the Kiwi pair of Burling and Tuke in the medal race it is them who grab the gold.
04:59 AMGreat Britain win GOLD!
Great Britain win GOLD!
That was the tightest of tight finishes!
BUT Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell just (by must have been inches) pip Germany to victory in the medal race with New Zealand in third.
That means the Team GB pair have won gold 'by the barest of margins' from New Zealand who take the silver having been in first heading into this race.
Wow!
04:57 AMSo so so close
So so so close
This will be a photo finish!
04:56 AMThis is so tight!
This is so tight!
Fletcher and Bithell are in the lead in the medal race (just!) and as it stands would take the gold. Germany are second and New Zealand third.
04:55 AMBritain overtake Germany!
Britain overtake Germany!
With the finish line in sight!
04:55 AMBritain need to overtake Germany
Britain need to overtake Germany
To have a chance of gold as it stands - assuming New Zealand stay in third. Poland are in fourth but some way back. So it looks as though Fletcher and Bithell will need to pass Germany's Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessell to take the gold.
04:53 AMAt the third mark
At the third mark
Germany lead from Great Britain and New Zealand.
That means New Zealand's Burling and Tuke would take the gold and Fletcher and Bithell the silver.
04:51 AMCan Germany help out Team GB?
Can Germany help out Team GB?
If the German pair of Erik Heil and Thomas Ploessell finish first then New Zealand would take the gold.
And as I type that Germany take the lead. Fletcher and Bithell are second with the Kiwis third.
As it stands Fletcher and Bithell would take silver.
04:49 AMThis is so close
This is so close
Fletcher and Bithell are going toe-to-toe with the Kiwi pair of Peter Burling and Blair Tuke.
As it stands, I think, New Zealand would just edge it for the gold. Britain need Germany to help them out and edge New Zealand into third.
04:47 AMAt the halfway mark
At the halfway mark
Fletcher and Bithell are still in front!
It's bunched up behind them - New Zealand are second and Germany are third.
04:44 AMFletcher and Bithell
Fletcher and Bithell
Have the lead at the end of the first leg of four.
The Kiwis are in third.
This is going to be tight for the gold! As it stands Britain would win gold, they'd be level on points BUT in a tiebreaker it's the leading boat in the medal race that wins it...
04:39 AMNew Zealand are far out on the right
New Zealand are far out on the right
While Great Britain are far out on the left.
They converge on the first turn.
04:36 AMGreat start from Great Britain
Great start from Great Britain
But awful start for Portugal whose race is over for a false start.
04:35 AMNew Zealand and Spain
New Zealand and Spain
Head to the right - the rest of the field, including Fletcher and Bithell are down the line and looking good, they're ahead of that group.
04:32 AMThis is a double points medal race
This is a double points medal race
If the British duo can get a boat between themselves and the New Zealand pair then gold should be theirs.
04:31 AM The men's skiff 49er race is under way
The men's skiff 49er race is under way
Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell lie in second overall - can they get gold?
Sorry to state the obvious but a good start is needed but the start in these races of these races are tricky, they know where they want to be but cannot cross the start line before the the hooter.
"It's like trying to hold back a race horse."
04:21 AMConfirmation of the women's 49er result (in tweet form)
The 49erFX Olympic competition is done!
Charlotte Dobson & Saskia Tidey finish 6th overall 👏
Congratulations to 🥇 Grael/Kunze🇧🇷 🥈Lutz/Beucke🇩🇪🥉Bekkering/Duetz🇳🇱@timebrasil @cbvela @TeamD @teamallianz_nl pic.twitter.com/MdnEDiISW7
— British Sailing Team (@BritishSailing) August 3, 2021
04:16 AMCan they get the gold?
Confirmation of the women's 49er result (in tweet form)
The 49erFX Olympic competition is done!
— British Sailing Team (@BritishSailing) August 3, 2021
Charlotte Dobson & Saskia Tidey finish 6th overall 👏
Congratulations to 🥇 Grael/Kunze🇧🇷 🥈Lutz/Beucke🇩🇪🥉Bekkering/Duetz🇳🇱@timebrasil @cbvela @TeamD @teamallianz_nl pic.twitter.com/MdnEDiISW7
04:16 AMCan they get the gold?
Can they get the gold?
They have a fine pedigree - London 2012 silver medallist Bithell and Fletcher have won world and European gold together.
04:10 AMDylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell are up next
Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell are up next
Fletcher on how the race for medals has gone...
“It's been the most stressful week of my life from a racing point of view.”
On how they're approaching the medal race...
“I think we back ourselves a lot, we’ve had a strong record of medal racing, it suits our style, we’re fiery, and ready.”
Bithell on what they need to do...
"It’s going to come down to who can execute the best race plan."
04:07 AMThat was a tough race
That was a tough race
And confirmation that Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey finished seventh in the medal race and that means they finished sixth overall.
They never really got going in a tough race.
03:58 AMWho's going to take bronze?
Who's going to take bronze?
Netherlands cross in ninth and that's enough for them to take the bronze.
Dobson and Tidey, I think, crossed in sixth and that wasn't enough for them to get into the medal positions having gone into this race in fifth overall.
03:56 AMBrazil finish third to take gold
Brazil finish third to take gold
They sailed a beautiful strategic race and have defended their title.
Denmark are in fourth.
Germany cross the line to take silver.
03:55 AMArgentina win the race
Argentina win the race
But they're out of the medals...
Norway finish second, but as with Argentina are out of the medals.
03:54 AMGreat Britain are in seventh
Great Britain are in seventh
As they go round the third mark, they need a miracle to get into the medal in this last leg.
As it stands the gold is going to Brazil, the defending champions, and the silver going to Germany.
03:50 AMArgentia currently lead at the second mark
Argentia currently lead at the second mark
The best they can finish, however, is fourth overall.
Norway are second, but they too are not challenging for the medals.
Of the medal hopefuls Brazil are third - that will put them first overall - Germany are fourth and the Netherlands are out of the bronze medal position as it stand.
Dobson and Tidey are down on the field and it's looking as though their hopes of a medal are gone.
03:41 AMGood start needed
Good start needed
Remember Dobson and Tidey are 2020 world silver medallists and are currently eight points off bronze. They could do with a good start.
03:37 AMThe women's skiff 49er is under way
The women's skiff 49er is under way
Can Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey improve on their current fifth place coming into this race?
03:28 AMSir Ben's back the team
Huge day on the water coming up for @BritishSailing with four medal races in @Tokyo2020 #goteamgo 🌬🤞👍
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
03:21 AMHigh hopes for Team GB
Big day getting underway at the sailing with four crews going for medals...
⛵️ @GilesScott in the Finn
⛵️ @TEAMGBNACRA in the Nacra 17
⛵️ @GBR49erTeam and @StuBithell in the 49er
⛵️ @SaskiaTidey and Charlotte Dobson in the 49erFX
Good luck team 👊#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/hV4H6JSZdz
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
03:18 AMFirst up in terms of British interest
Sir Ben's back the team
Huge day on the water coming up for @BritishSailing with four medal races in @Tokyo2020 #goteamgo 🌬🤞👍
— Ben Ainslie (@AinslieBen) August 3, 2021
03:21 AMHigh hopes for Team GB
Big day getting underway at the sailing with four crews going for medals...
⛵️ @GilesScott in the Finn
⛵️ @TEAMGBNACRA in the Nacra 17
⛵️ @GBR49erTeam and @StuBithell in the 49er
⛵️ @SaskiaTidey and Charlotte Dobson in the 49erFX
Good luck team 👊#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/hV4H6JSZdz
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
03:18 AMFirst up in terms of British interest
High hopes for Team GB
Big day getting underway at the sailing with four crews going for medals...
— Team GB (@TeamGB) August 3, 2021
⛵️ @GilesScott in the Finn
⛵️ @TEAMGBNACRA in the Nacra 17
⛵️ @GBR49erTeam and @StuBithell in the 49er
⛵️ @SaskiaTidey and Charlotte Dobson in the 49erFX
Good luck team 👊#TeamGB pic.twitter.com/hV4H6JSZdz
03:18 AMFirst up in terms of British interest
First up in terms of British interest
Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell are well placed to win Britain's second medal on the water after Emma Wilson's windsurfing bronze. They sit second behind New Zealanders Peter Burling and Blair Tuke with only the medal race to go, while Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey sit fifth in the women's field and have an outside chance of a medal.
03:06 AMWill Britannia rule the waves?
Will Britannia rule the waves?
Great Britain's sailing team secured another two Olympic medals in Enoshima on Sunday with Finn defending champion Giles Scott and Nacra pair John Gimson and Anna Burnet guaranteed to reach the podium today.
Scott will go into this morning's double-points race in the gold medal position, while Gimson and Burnet look set for silver behind Italian pair Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti.
Emma Wilson won the sailing team's first medal on Saturday with a bronze in the women's windsurfing and, with others well-placed in the preliminary standings, there are hopes the team could match or even eclipse the record six medals they claimed at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Scott, who has won six of the 10 preliminary races, said: "I've probably sailed the best week of my life and hopefully I can finish it off.
"I had to put in a good showing. The guys are stacked up behind me and I'm not the only one who has been putting together an amazing series.
"Go back four years and there's probably three people that would have almost won the regatta with a day to spare. To lead those guys out in the medal race you have to put together an amazing week."
The sailing medal tally could increase even before Scott heads back to the water, with Dylan Fletcher and Stuart Bithell heading into the conclusion of the men's 49er well placed. Charlotte Dobson and Saskia Tidey stand an outside chance of a medal in the women's 49er.