Race Day 3 - RSX Men report
Written by RYA | 31 July 2012
Windsurfer Nick Dempsey got his London 2012 campaign off to a solid start laying in fourth after the first two races of his regatta at Weymouth and Portland today (Tuesday 31 July).
Dempsey, the Athens 2004 bronze medallist, showed great resolve and grit to climb back up through the Men’s RS:X 9.5m2 fleet in both races to end the day with scores of fifth and seventh.
The top three were the same for both races, led by Dutchman Dorian van Rijsselberge, with Przemyslaw Miarczynski (POL) in second and Toni Wilhelm (GER) third. But Dempsey sits in the strongest position amongst the chasing fleet, with racing scheduled to resume at 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday 1 August).
Nick said: “It was nice to get going, it’s been a long time coming as I’ve been ready and waiting for the last couple of weeks now so it was nice to get started with some nice conditions and its game on now.
“I felt pretty calm actually, far calmer than I have been at previous Games which is a good sign. When I was racing today I was just sailing like I would at a normal regatta which I think bodes well for the rest of the week. I think it will all come together.”
Dempsey got off the start line in the middle of the pack in both races, rounding the first mark in 12th and 10th respectively. But with strong breezes up to 20 knots blowing across Weymouth Bay West course, the sailors were planing throughout, pumping hard, with their bodies being put through a constant and stern physical test.
He continued: “I made it very difficult for myself today, I had two shocking starts in both races going to the left of the course, and having to tack away, then tack back and I was just at a massive disadvantage and had to play catch up from there.
“I managed to catch up to a fifth and seventh which isn’t the best, but they are two good counters and it’s not the end of the world. It was good to pull back from the bad starts and I’m looking forward to the rest of the regatta feeling very positive.”
Both Men’s RS:X races tomorrow (race three and four) are scheduled to take place on the spectator Nothe course.
The Olympic Sailing Regatta runs from Sunday 29 July – Saturday 11 August. The RS:X Men’s medal race is scheduled for Tuesday 7 August (1pm).
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