Last Tornado Race at the Games

‘Start of the third Tornado race - 2008 Olympic Regatta - Day 10 -’ Richard Gladwell

When the Tornado sailors line up for the start of the medal race today I’m sure it will be emotional. Today is the last race at an Olympic Games for the high performance Tornado catamaran…

From Sail-World.com & Australian Sailing Team Media

The Aussies need to finish the medal race two places ahead of Spain to take the Gold medal, but they also need to cover third-placed Argentina. For Argentina to win Gold, they need to finish at least three places ahead of Australia and five places ahead of Spain.

However, Bundock and Ashby are the only crew in the Tornado fleet to cross the finish line in the top ten in every race of this regatta.

The consistency of the world’s current number one ranked team and their ability to perform in the pressure cooker environment of a medal race will be critical in determining what colour medal they win tomorrow. Based on their medal race history over the past two years, the team has every reason to expect a positive outcome.

The wind is forecast to whip up with possible gusts up to 18 knots. However, no matter the strength of the breeze, the windshifts remain the biggest challenge for competitors on Fushan Bay.

‘You need to have eyes in the back of your head here, looking out for the shifts and changes,’ said Ashby.

‘We’ve proven that we go well in light, medium and heavy conditions and we’re happy to sail in anything.’

The Australians are highly experienced, with 11 world titles between them. While they are based in different states, with Bundock on the NSW Central Coast and Ashby in Victoria’s Bendigo, they spend so much time travelling and competing together they are almost a single entity on the boat.

This year alone, they have won the Australian Championships, Sail Melbourne, Sail Auckland, the Holland Regatta, the SOF Heyeres Regatta in France and the World Championships. Their ability to tame the Qingdao waters has already been proven with Silver at the 2007 Olympic Sailing Test Event.

‘We’ve been very consistent in difficult conditions and we’re looking good for a medal,’ said Bundock, who knows the thrill of Olympic success, having won a Silver medal with John Forbes at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

‘Tomorrow’s a big day - we’re just going to go for it and try to win.’

Can they do it?!?!?

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