Olympic Diary: August 2 - Netherlands prevails at end of Women's Skiff Medal Race

by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 2 Aug 2024 12:15 BST 2 August 2024

Odile van Aarnhold and Annette Duetz (NED) celebrate their Gold Medal win - Womens Skiff - Paris Olympic Sailing in Marseille, France August 2, 2024 © World Sailing / Lloyd Images

Netherlands win the Gold Medal after confusion over the finish line position.

Netherlands dominated the race, but on the final leg passed between the Race Committee and a mark. However the Finish line was offset from the angle of Leg 3, with the second Committee boat flying a flag indicating that it was the Finish line.

After crossing the false finish line, the Dutch World Champions and pre-series favorite, dropped their spinnaker and rounded up slightly to watch the finish of the other boats.

Start - Medal Race - 49erFX - Womens Skiff - Paris Olympic Sailing in Marseille, France August 2, 2024 - photo © World Sailing / Lloyd Images

Sweden had been second for most of the race, but realised the Dutch error and continued in full cry to the finish line, and appeared to have stolen a march on the Dutch and with it the Gold medal.

Realising their error, the Dutch unwound and set off for the finish, just making the finish to hang on for first place, and the Gold Medal.