Olympic Sailing Medals: Wilson’s Windsurfing and ILCA Dinghy

Team GB are desperate for another medal… Here’s an analysis of the latest Olympic sailing from Andy Rice. From women’s windsurfing to ILCA (Laser) dinghy classes, here’s the latest…

Bouwmeester sails past Mills as the GOAT of Olympic Sailing

The fallout from the Women’s Windsurfing medal race continues on social media, particularly from British fans who are still hurting on Emma Wilson’s behalf. After amassing a points lead of more than 30 points over her nearest rival, the British rider had secured her spot in the three-rider final and therefore a guarantee of a bronze medal at worst.

After a great start and taking an early lead, Wilson stood on too long over the port-hand layline of the upwind leg while third-placed Marta Maggetti made an early break for the layline and judged it perfectly to seize the lead and with it, the gold medal. Israel’s Sharon Kantor took silver and Wilson the bronze, which has left Wilson and her fans devastated.

The iQFOiL competitors have long been complaining about the unfairness of the format, how back-end loaded it is on the final race. But it takes the white heat of an Olympic Games to sit up and take notice. Let’s see if any change of the format arises out of Wilson’s pain.

While I have long been a critic of the boring Medal Race format used in the boat classes, the skiff finales last week forced me to suspend by scepticism. With seven out of 10 men’s teams and five out of 10 women’s teams still in with a shout of the Skiff gold medals, that was a great climax to the competition.

Olympic News: ILCA (Laser) Dinghy Classes

The ILCA (Laser) dinghy classes, however, have run much more to form and much more predictably. But enough of my whinging. Instead we must congratulate Marit Bouwmeester who has all but wrapped up the gold medal in the ILCA 6.

Back in 2008 the determined Dutchwoman said she wanted to become the best female Olympic sailor of all time and this week she has achieved that feat. Adding a new gold medal to her collection of a silver, gold and bronze from the previous three Games means Bouwmeester surpasses British 470 sailor Hannah Mills’ tally of two golds and a silver.

Matt Wearn is on the verge of becoming the first ever to win back-to-back Olympic titles in the men’s singlehander dinghy. The Australian has sailed a supreme regatta in very trying conditions, and only Cypriot Pavlos Kontides has a mathematical chance of taking gold away from Wearn. Which means Kontides has a target on his back. Yesterday I asked the Australian if he had any plans to match race Kontides down the fleet, which would potentially knock Cyprus all the way out of the medals. Wearn said he hadn’t made his mind up yet. So let’s see how that scenario plays out. Any shenanigans between the front two might at least open the door to Britain’s Micky Beckett who sits in fourth place just a few points off the podium. 

Following Wilson’s heartbreaking bronze, Team GB is desperate to get another medal on the board.

Other Olympic Sailing News?

Want to hear more about how our Team GB sailing crew are doing? Catch-up with more Olympic news from Andy Rice…

Show Me More:

• The WORLDSTAR 2026 Race: Circumnavigate in your Own Boat
• Southampton Boat Show 2024: What to Expect
• TeamGB Interview: Olympic Sailing Coach Stevie Morrison

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