Kendall Double Bullets - Back on form, Barbara took a bullet in today's races 9 and 10, but a case of too little too late in this Olympic game.
The day's racing got underway in 14 knots of wind, decreasing as the racing progressed. Pressure at the front saw the sailors get themselves into their penultimate positions, ready for the medal attach in the final race 11 the day after tomorrow.
Race 9 was a fairly straightforward affair, initially led by Ukraine’s Olga MASLIVETS, but this was a position she could not retain eventually finishing 11 overall. From the second windward mark, whilst they challenged each other throughout for the lead there was no change in the line up, which was maintained through to the finish byBarbara KENDALL, followed by Yin JIAN, Alessandra SENSINI, Faustine MERRET and Lee Lai SHAN.
Further down the fleet Amelie LUX (GER) put in her best results today, moving herself up from tenth going into today to seventh overall.
Race 10 was in the hands of three sailors during the 34 minute 14 second race. It was again Barbara who took the bullet – pushing herself to the limit, spurred on by the continual lead changes between herself and Alessandra – it exchanged four times between them. Barbara went into today knowing that if she wanted any chance of a medal she had to reduce her points deficit over the leading four women and the double bullet was her only real hope. This approach would only succeed if her nearest rivals were way down the fleet, but they were right there with her throughout. Despite her comeback today, Barbara is now out of the medal frame – how it could have been so different if Barbara had kept herself back off the startline in races 3 and 5.
Star of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, Zofia KLEPACKA put in her best result of the series, a four in race 10, to remain in twelth overall. This youngster has plenty of years ahead and is likely to be making her mark in Quingdao four years hence.
The gold, silver and bronze are between four sailors on Wednesday 25 August, Alessandra SENSINI (ITA), Faustine MERRET (FRA), Yin JIAN and Lee Lai SHAN (HKG) and anything could happen.
