Team GB sailor Giles Scott leads way in Finn class
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 14/08/16 12:47am
Giles Scott continues to dominate after the Team GB sailor extended his lead at the top of the Finn class on Saturday.
The 29-year-old has made light work of the pressure that comes with being dubbed Sir Ben Ainslie's heir and competing in a class Britain has dominated since Sydney 2000.
Scott heads into the final two fleet races in Rio 16 points clear of Slovenia's Vasilij Zbogar in second, with a 31-point cushion over fourth after a bullet and third on Saturday.
"I'm very pleased with the two races," he said. "I'm certainly not going to turn my nose up at a first and third.
"It's nice to put in consistent results at the top of the fleet. Myself and Vasilij had a good day and behind that there were a few guys who were up and down.
"It's looking good going into the next two races but there's still a lot to play for.
"The conditions were nice with clear skies, the sea breeze kicked and the wind funnelled straight down the bay. It was a nice and clean 12 knots - really nice sailing."
Scott could be all but assured of a podium finish on Sunday, when Nick Dempsey will wrap up men's RS:X silver and Bryony Shaw will compete in the women's final.
Nick Thompson is not back in action until his medal race on Monday and the two-time Laser world champion left the water frustrated on Saturday, having dropped down to sixth overall.
"I'm certainly going to fight for that bronze," he said. "I'm just disappointed that I haven't given myself any more of a chance.
"I think it will be good to have a day off, reset and go into the medal race fully fired up and fighting."
Reigning Laser Radial champion Alison Young sits eighth overall ahead of the medal race after posting a 16th and a first.
Ireland's Annalise Murphy is on course for a Laser Radial medal after she enjoyed an impressive regatta in Brazil and heads into Monday in bronze medal position.
Charlotte Dobson and Sophie Ainsworth are sixth at the midway stage of 49er FX, while Ben Saxton and Nicola Groves have dropped to third overall in the Nacra 17.
Meanwhile, Dylan Fletcher and Alain Sign have risen from 14th to 12th in the 49er fleet, but face a tough ask to finish in the medal hunt.
