Ben Ainslie - absolute bastard

[Icy Gull]

forcing a pleading American out of the final Finn race into last place to guarantee that Ainslie got the gold. Ainslie had to finish withing 4 places of the American to guarantee gold regardless of the finishing place in the race itself. The American stood to drop from Silver medal to no medal though depending on how others finished. The hard hearted Brit was having none of the Yanks pleading in his pursuit of gold. Guess that's what it takes to be a 3 time gold medal winner though. Hardly sporting imo although within the rules.

Anyway, the race was abandoned just over halfway through due to no wind, gonna be really interesting to see the tactics in the re-run race.

I actually felt quite sorry for the American

 

[Gully]

The American was still a threat, he removed that, where is the problem?

 

[Mr deez]

How does/did he force him out of the race?

 

[Hercules Rockerfeller]

I don't give two hoots about the Olympics, BUT I don't see a problem with a Brit who actually as a spine and the ruthless streak you need to be a winner. SHame a few of our other sport "stars" don't have the same winning attitude.

 

[Icy Gull]

How does/did he force him out of the race?

It's all to do with who has right of way and Ainslie set himself up so he had right of way at the off and the American had to keep giving way, slowing them both down, resulting in the rest of the fleet going off into the distance. I didn't actually see the start but I'm assuming that's what happened as it's the only way I can think of that he could have done it.

 

[Gully]

...think it is all to do with keeping the best line to take the wind.

 

[Jello]

How does/did he force him out of the race?

he was shepparding/blocking him away from the pack which meant the yank may loose he own chance of a medal. I did sort of feel sorry for him but if he was good enough he'd be doing what Ainslie is doing to the guys who can catch him. Guess that's the difference between being a winner. I'm all for it if he wins gold.

 

[Icy Gull]

The American was still a threat, he removed that, where is the problem?

I'd like to see Ainslie actually race the guy rather than beat him with tactics, but you're right, winning is everything. Bit like Southampton v Spurs settling for the draw that saw both of them promoted and us staying in Div 2. Did you think that was OK?

 

[NMH]

IF he wins gold, as it's now back to square one and tactics having been revealed are now just memories.

The wind dropped, and whoever wins, if not Ainslie, can thank God for that.

 

[Mendoza]

Ben Ainslie :thud:

 

[dougdeep]

2nd place is the first loser.

 

[Gully]

I'd like to see Ainslie actually race the guy rather than beat him with tactics, but you're right, winning is everything. Bit like Southampton v Spurs settling for the draw that saw both of them promoted and us staying in Div 2. Did you think that was OK?

I didn't think that was OK, but that was a completely different scenario...it appeared that they had settled for a draw to take them both up and keep us down, in the knowledge that the result would achieve that. In this case he is defeating a threat, which would have been the same as us beating Saints or Spurs...had we been playing them instead, to keep one of them down and allow us to be promoted.

Agree with you that I would love to see Ainslie just go for it and win fair and square, but unfortunately that isn't how sailing races are contested, tactics are a major part of the sport.

 

[Icy Gull]

I didn't think that was OK, but that was a completely different scenario...it appeared that they had settled for a draw to take them both up and keep us down, in the knowledge that the result would achieve that. .

Both come down to the same thing, use whatever tactic you need to stop the opposition, in that case playing out a 0-0 draw.

 

[clippedgull]

:yahoo:

 

[severnside gull]

could get nasty in the re-run

 

[Cantona's Flying Dropkick]

It's all to do with who has right of way and Ainslie set himself up so he had right of way at the off and the American had to keep giving way, slowing them both down, resulting in the rest of the fleet going off into the distance. I didn't actually see the start but I'm assuming that's what happened as it's the only way I can think of that he could have done it.

The American would probably have done exactly the same thing if the places were reversed. So I can't see anything wrong with the tactics.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Im absolutely certain the yank would do the same to Ainslee if he was going for gold!!

 

[Icy Gull]

Im absolutely certain the yank would do the same to Ainslee if he was going for gold!!

He'll no doubt be out for revenge and change his tactics for the re-run, it could all blow up in Ainslee's face which would kind of be poetic justice,

 

[Mtoto]

This is pretty much a standard tactic in these events, and the one in second place would definitely do the same if the positions were reversed. Ainslie did the exact same thing eight years ago when he won his first gold.

 

[KZNSeagull]

He'll no doubt be out for revenge and change his tactics for the re-run, it could all blow up in Ainslee's face which would kind of be poetic justice,

Yeah, maybe, but then the yank should have know what Ainslie was going to do first time around, since that is the standard tactic in sailing. I remember Ainslie did the same thing last Olympics and I vaguely remember someone doing it to him in his first Olympics when he came second (but I may be wrong). As others have said, this is not a tactic solely employed by Ben Ainslie - everyone in a winning position would do the same. I think it is great that a Brit actually has a winning mentality, and providing he stays within the rules then let him get on with it.