OLYMPIC GAMES: Sailor Scott lays down the gauntlet while Saxton enjoys a super start
Giles Scott during the second day of Finn Class competition in Rio. Picture: SAILING ENERGY/WORLD SAILING - Credit: All rights reserved
Huntingdon star Giles Scott swept to the top of the Finn Class leaderboard.
Ben Saxton and partner Nicola Groves in action in the Nacra 17 class in Rio. - Credit: Archant
The four-time world champion took second spot in the opening race yesterday (Wednesday) before leading from start to finish in the second contest.
The 29 year-old revelled in the conditions outside of Guanabara Bay as he laid down the gauntlet to his rivals for gold.#
Scott said: “It was big seas, really full-on racing and I was really pleased to come away with a first and a second, especially after a frustrating start on Tuesday.
“In the first race, I actually went to the wrong windward mark, because we were quite close to the leeward end of the Laser fleet.
“That was a bit of an error but I managed to pull back through to second place and then win the next race.
“It was quite nice to get some windy conditions just to dig your heels in and grunt up.”
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With three races now completed the sailors can discard their worst score. That means Scott’s 17th place in the first race is currently discounted.
Scott leads the way from Slovenian rivals Vasilij Zbogar with Alican Kaynar of Turkey in third overall.
The Finn Class continues today ahead of a rest day tomorrow (Friday).
Another Huntingdon sailor, Ben Saxton, enjoyed an excellent Olympic debut yesterday.
He and partner Nicola Groves finished third and fifth in the opening two races of the Nacra 17 class, held on the Pao de Acucar course. A third scheduled race was postponed due to darkness.
That leaves them second in the overall standings in an event which features in the Games for the first time.
Saxton, a member of Graham Water Sailing Club, said: “We are happy with how we sailed today. This is what we dream about - racing the best people in the world at the most important events is why we do this.
“The first start wasn’t good but we just had to accept where we were. We went round the first mark with only a couple of boats behind us, but after that we picked off a couple in each leg and then it was good.”
The Nacra 17 class continues today.
