British sailing protest rejected

Weather is playing a major part in the Laser sailing

Sailing officials have rejected a complaint by the British team about the decision to extend the Olympic regatta.

British sailors lead both classes and team management said they would make a claim for redress if British hopes were hurt by the decision to extend the regatta, which has come as a result of time lost to poor wind.

If a full series of racing is not possible, the race rules originally said medals would be awarded according to places held at the conclusion of the last possible race.

Race rules are set by the International Sailing Federation and the regatta's race committee.

Authority

British team manager John Derbyshire complained that the race committee did not have the authority to amend racing rules because the event's sailing instructions originally stated that no racing can be scheduled outside designated racing days.

"It would be Team Great Britain's intention to put in a redress claim if racing in a class occurred on a non-scheduled day and our position in that class on their last day of scheduled racing was affected adversely," Derbyshire said in his complaint.

But international jury chairman Bryan Willis said in a statement: "The race committee has the authority to change the regatta schedule within the framework and time schedule authorised for the sport of sailing by the Olympic Games sport programme."

Brazilian Robert Scheidt has slashed Briton Ben Ainslie's lead

Europe and Laser racing was to have finished on Friday but both have lost substantial time due to the light and fluky conditions that have plagued the regatta since it began 12 days ago.

Briton Ben Ainslie, a silver medallist in Atlanta, saw a 14-point lead in the Laser dinghy class cut to four points by defending Olympic champion Robert Scheidt of Brazil after races eight and nine were sailed on Thursday.

In the women's Europe single-handed class, Scotland's Shirley Robertson regained the lead and has an 11-point buffer over Serena Amato of Argentina after race nine on Thursday.

The last two Laser and Europe races are set to be sailed on Friday, with Saturday now set aside as a new reserve day for both classes.

The Finn dinghies and Soling and Star keelboats have Saturday as their last scheduled race days.