British team are the best
Great Britain was on top of the sailing world today as the Olympic sailing team made certain of at least five medals on Sydney Harbour in a performance that has outstripped even the highest expectations of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).
With a gold medal for Shirley Robertson in Europes, gold for Ben Ainslie in Lasers, silver for Ian Barker and Simon Hiscocks in 49ers, an almost certain gold for Iain Percy in Finns and a medal for Ian Walker and Mark Covell in Stars, this has been an extraordinary two weeks and an achievement that makes Britain the most successful sailing nation at these Games, ahead of Australia.
It is also arguably the best performance by British sailors at an Olympic Games, being exceeded in terms of medals won only in 1908 in London and 1900 in Paris, when Britain won six and seven medals, respectively, but at a time when there were only five nations competing in the sport at the Games.
As the results swept round the Olympic sailing venue at Rushcutter’s Bay, the elation in the British team was obvious. Rod Carr, until recently racing manager at the RYA and now its new secretary-general, said it was an historic day for British sailing.
"We look as though we are going to at least achieve our goal of three medals and that is an outstanding achievement," he said. "The bottom line is that these are outstanding and talented individuals but at the end of the day you have to have a decent Olympic programme and you need to have decent leadership. I believe our Olympic team manager, John Derbyshire, and the coaches have been outstanding."
But even as the celebrations were getting underway, Carr sounded a note of warning about the national lottery funding which has been the well-spring of this success, providing £3 million for Olympic sailing over the past four years. The RYA is aware this funding may be cut, something Carr believes that would be regrettable.
"What we don’t want is a cut," he said. "There is a threat of a cut because lottery receipts are going down. We are being prepared for a cut of between 15 and 30 per cent; this could affect us very badly." Carr argues that success at this level requires British yachtsmen and women to compete year-round through the entire Olympic cycle and this has only been possible in the past four years because of the new funding.
Derbyshire, whose meticulous approach has been one of the cornerstones of the team's success, was delighted with results that he never dreamt were possible. "It’s quite amazing to sit here with a day to go and think we are going to get five medals," he said. "It’s a testament to the hard work and commitment of sailors and all the support team - every single one of them, however small they might think their part is.
"We came here thinking it was going to be a streetfighter’s venue," he said, in reference to the especially difficult wind conditions in Sydney, "and we've got some streetfighters in the team, but to convert all these medal possibilities - that was our aim and I’m thrilled."
Derbyshire was particularly impressed by Robertson who held on over a difficult last day when she almost saw her gold slip away under the challenge of the Dutch sailor, Magriet Matthysse. "To win your first major regatta and to do it at the Olympics is just fantastic," he said.
"She knocked on the door at the world championships earlier this year when she was second and I’m just so pleased for her. It’s been a long hard struggle and I think she has fully achieved the recognition she deserves."
EDWARD GORMAN
Sailing Correspondent
The Times
