Monday, August 8, 2016
Mental Toughness
By Gary Jobson
Winning Medals in Rio is going to be very hard in the challenging wind conditions off Rio de Janeiro. Day One showed us just how capricious the winds can be on every race course. 
Each day the classes move to a different circle. It will be difficult to master the changing wind patterns from one day to the next. The winds weave around the surrounding mountains and high city buildings. One moment you are sailing in 14 knots of wind, and then suddenly the wind just stops. Every boat experienced emotional highs and lows during the first races in the Lasers, Laser Radials, and Men's and Women's RS:X sailboard classes. To paraphrase former President, Bill Clinton, I could feel the sailors' pain.
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Crazy Sailing
By Gary Jobson
It's only the second day of sailing of this 11-day Olympic Games, and we have learned a lot about sailing on the waters off Rio de Janeiro and the level of competition. After many years of racing, I have learned to avoid drawing early conclusions in any series, but there are several trends that are worth studying.
In the five classes that have raced so far, 21 different countries occupy the top five spots. Only Holland, with 3 boats, and Argentina and France, with two boats, have cracked the top tier. The USA has had a few good races, but all five boats are in a major battle to make the Medal Race.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Crazy Sailing
By Gary Jobson
Mixed gender sailboat racing debuted in the Olympic Games today off Rio de Janeiro with the Nacra 17 multihull class. The wind conditions off Flamingo beach for the speedy cats were bizarre. The race committee did well to get off two races. They spent several hours adjusting the turning marks, and waiting (hoping) for the wind to settle in. The Nacra 17s respond well to the slightest puff of wind, but unfortunately there were many dead zones. Then, a strong gust would suddenly arrive out of nowhere.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Heartbreak off Rio
By Gary Jobson
Every sailor has been through protest situations. Sometimes you are correct, and other times a decision goes against you. Protest hearings are never fun, but can be a learning experience. Some protests fade from memory quickly, while others haunt you for years.
The start of Race Four in the Finn Class was a devastating set back for American Caleb Paine.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Emotional Olympic Highs and Lows
By Gary Jobson
There are so many stories taking place on the waters off Rio de Janeiro my head is spinning. Let's start with the exciting debut of the 49er fleet. New Zealand's 2012 Silver Medalists Peter Burling and Blair Tuke and Australia's 2012 Gold Medalists Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen have been destined for a major showdown.
Saturday, August 13, 2016Solid Racing off Rio
By Gary Jobson
My commentating partner, Randy Smyth and I, called the Laser Men's and 49erFX racing with great interest today. Americans Paris Henken and Helena Scutt opened the regatta yesterday with a below average 13-16-14 in the 20-boat fleet. Henken is 20 years old and the youngest skipper in the class. Scutt is 24. Today their performance improved. Coming off the line in Race 4, the USA crew were in a good position. I wondered whether they would be able to hold on to their lane?
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Heartbreak off Rio
By Gary Jobson
Today was the start of the Medal Race finales in sailing at the 2016 Rio Olympics. There was a long wait for suitable wind to get the racing underway, but once the RS: X Men's and Women's finals started, we were given a real treat.
The Gold and Silver Medals were already decided in the men's sailboard. Holland and Great Britain clinched their positions two days ago after their 12-race series. The Bronze Medal was up for grabs.
Monday, August 15, 2016
No Wind + Too Much Wind = Frustration
By Gary Jobson
Our sport is hard on itself. Here we are with live coverage of sailing available of the Olympic Games. NBCOlympics.com is taking the International Olympic Committee's live feed. It is a big day, with two scheduled Medal Races in the Women's Laser Radial and the Men's Laser Classes. It is a beautiful day off Rio's Flamingo Beach. The capacity crowd is fully engaged in anticipation of the Medal Race. Most importantly for Brazil, one of its most famous athletes, Robert Scheidt, is in contention to win a record setting sixth medal in sailing. Since 1896 no sailor has won six medals in six consecutive Olympics. Actually, this is unheard of in any sport. The storylines are good. And then, disaster!
Read more: Rio Report #9: No Wind + Too Much Wind = Frustration
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
A Medal for the USA
By Gary Jobson
Caleb Paine had a difficult task ahead of him when he woke up this morning. He needed to put two boats between him and Croatia's Ivan Gašpić and beat Max Salminen from Sweden. The two Laser classes had already sailed on the Medal Course off Flamingo Beach that afternoon, and Paine, along with his coach Luther Carpenter, watched carefully. The sea breeze, blowing out of the south, had filled in at 10-12 knots.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
No Wind off Rio
By Gary Jobson
For centuries, a sailor's worst nightmare is getting becalmed. The 40 sailors slated to compete in the men's and women's 470 Medal Races spent the day waiting for an afternoon sea breeze that never arrived. At one point the Race Committee sent the women's fleet out to the race course off Flamingo Beach. A few thousand loyal teammates, families, friends and fans dutifully waited. There is a lot at stake. On the women's side, four crews are separated by just four points.
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Heartbreak off Rio
By Gary Jobson
Legendary television sports announcer Jim McKay captured the essence of the Olympic Games with his iconic words, “The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat.” Both emotions were vividly on display on the final sailing day of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The four Medal Races provided spellbinding stories, with frequent lead changes, inspiring heroics and devastating mistakes. Most sailing takes place on the water with little spectator interest. The Olympic Games are different, thanks to on-board cameras, aerial and water-level images. Cameras around the sailing venue recorded the many emotions. Randy Smyth and I spent three hours commentating the four races.
Read more: Rio Report #12: The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat
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