Rooster to Feather Duster - Qingdao Finn Race One
'Qingdao Olympic Regatta 2008. Emilios Papathaasiou (GRE) scooped a bullet in the opening race of the Finn series.'
Guy Nowell © Click Here to view large photo
He might be ranked just 28th in the World on the ISAF Rankings, but reigning World Champion Ben Ainslie looked like he was going to put his stamp on the 2008 Olympic Finn class with an impressive win in the first race of the Qingdao regatta. However, today's first race was not the stuff of fairy tales.
There was sunshine and light haze as the 2008 Beijing Finn fleet assembled on course A. The wind was a three to four knots easterly, with a course heading of 115 degrees, but an AP flag went up at 1300. There was yet another AP just as the fleet was lining up. Third time lucky, the course heading was still 115 but perhaps with a little more breeze.
Ainslie started seventh or eight from the pin and cleared to leeward. Conditions were soft in the middle which initially cost the World Champion, but he found more pressure on the right, crossing behind the sailor from Cyprus.
At the top mark, Jonas Hoegh-Christensen (DEN) led from Giorgio Poggi, (ITA), then Rafael Szukiel (POL). Followed by Russia, GBR, Ned, Slo, Swed, Cyr. Zach Railey (USA) was 14th, followed by Australian Anthony Nossiter in 15th ahead of NZL.
It was soft down the run, Hoegh-Christensen stayed on the left of course. Poggi lead Ainslie.
It seemed like a race winning run from Ainslie, who rounded a second ahead of Ivan Klakovic-Gaspic (CRO,) with Guillame Florent (FRA) then Emilos Papadopoulos (GRE). Railey (USA) was still back amongst the pack, 14th and sadly the Dane had fallen back to 18th place.
At the top mark for the second time, GBR led Michael Maier (CZE) who had climbed from ninth place. In third place was France, then Croatia, Sweden and Greece. Australia's Anthony Nossiter climbed to seventh place. Zac Railey was 15th.
The last run was a nail biting drift, Ainslie had attempted to cover the fleet but the Greek sailor found puffs on the edge of the course, to sneak into the lead and amazingly Railey (USA) shot into second place, coming from the other edge.
Rafael Szukiel (POL) finished third. Fourth overall was Indian army sailor Nachhatar Johal with his best ever Finn race result.
Ainslie had attempted to cover the fleet behind him, but snatched defeat from the jaws of victory; he finished 10th, 61 seconds behind the winner and only just ahead of Nossiter, with New Zealand's Dan Slater a disappointing 18th. 
Provisional Results Race One - Finn
1. GRE Emilos Papathanasiou
2. USA Zach Railey
3. POL Rafal Szkiel
4. IND Nachhater Singh
5. FRA Florent Guillaume
6. CRO Ivan Gaspic
Full results available at ISAF Olympic site click here
by Rob Kothe Sail-World.com 
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