British crew Iain PERCY and Andrew SIMPSON won the final gold medal of the 2008 Olympic Sailing Competition after a thrilling finish to Thursday’s Star Medal Race held at the Olympic Sailing Regatta, Qingdao, on 21st August 2008. Britain finished on 45 points, eight in front of the Brazilians and Swedes. The South Americans took silver by virtue of their better result in the medal race.

“This win is far more sweet than the gold in the Finn,” said PERCY. “Six months ago, we knew we could do. It’s just that there was so much work involved and there are so many talents in the class. We always knew we were contenders, but only contenders. Every morning we wake up thinking about sailing and nothing else.”

Below is a small video of the race –

Britain eventually finished fifth in the medal race, behind race winners Poland, but the crucial factor was that they finished ahead of Sweden.

The two boats were neck-and-neck for much of the race but Percy and Simpson, who started the race two points behind Sweden, did just enough to keep their noses in front as the pressure increased in the closing stages.

The trio’s first international foray, in the Laser Radial class, at the 1994 Worlds in Wakayama, Japan. Percy and Simpson managed a 5th at the Laser Worlds, which Ainslie was to win later, whilst both Ainslie and Percy were twice selected to the Youth Worlds.

GiiraYachts congratulates them on their achievement and wishes the winners all the best in their other competitions and hope for the same result in the next Olympics.

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