:00:31. > :00:36.What are you doing at this time next year? Millions of us will
:00:36. > :00:46.forgo our summer holidays or make sure we are at home for the first
:00:46. > :00:50.
:00:51. > :00:59.two weeks in August, the pulling Holmes! Two gold medals for Rebecca
:00:59. > :01:09.Adlington! You are brilliant! Chris Hoy is coming up to the line!
:01:09. > :01:10.
:01:10. > :01:14.This is where Britain is expecting to deliver. In the last three
:01:14. > :01:21.Olympic Games, six British golds have been buoyant in the athletics
:01:21. > :01:31.stadiums. -- have been won. But Britain's sailors have done miles
:01:31. > :01:40.
:01:40. > :01:50.gold medal! The third British gold medal, Welburn. In Atlanta, it was
:01:50. > :01:52.
:01:52. > :01:56.silver, but for the last three, it Britain's Olympic sailors have led
:01:56. > :02:01.the world, so there is every expectation that the medal haul is
:02:01. > :02:08.not going to be just in the capital. But in the place where you can
:02:08. > :02:14.spend two weeks on the beach and still be part of the Games.
:02:14. > :02:24.Weymouth and Portland is the venue for sailing. It is getting ready
:02:24. > :02:30.
:02:30. > :02:34.It is a short drive from the beach to the place where it will happen.
:02:34. > :02:38.This August, there is a dress rehearsal, everything is for real,
:02:38. > :02:44.just like the Olympic Games. Can Britain walkaway from the Olympic
:02:44. > :02:51.test event with a stack of medals? Beijing delivered six, four of them
:02:51. > :02:56.gold medals. Can this team do better? Tremendous success in
:02:56. > :03:00.Beijing, there is pressure to perform even better next year.
:03:00. > :03:04.is a home Olympic Games, there is added pressure, primarily through
:03:04. > :03:10.the public expectation, but from our perspective, we will try just
:03:10. > :03:13.as hard as we have been in recent Olympic Games. Thinking back to the
:03:13. > :03:18.test event before the Beijing Olympics, the team that went there
:03:18. > :03:24.went to the Olympics. The sailors that we are seeing this week, will
:03:24. > :03:30.they be the same next year? Historically, we know that the 80%
:03:30. > :03:34.of the sailors two represent the team at the test event will be the
:03:34. > :03:38.team that will represent the country at the Olympic Games. There
:03:38. > :03:45.is some competition still to happen in a number of events. There is a
:03:45. > :03:50.lot of very competitive sailors in our squad who will be hoping that
:03:50. > :03:56.that statistic is incorrect this time around. 10 Olympic gold medals
:03:56. > :04:01.can be won in sailing in a variety of hard work, from windsurfing to
:04:01. > :04:06.birds like this. It weighs as much as a small car and requires either
:04:06. > :04:11.a crane or a forklift to put it in the water. Five gold medals can be
:04:11. > :04:18.won by sailors competing on their own. Four by those racing as part
:04:18. > :04:22.of a two person team. And at one, a boat like this, with three on board.
:04:22. > :04:27.Run in the Olympics is his huge merger stickle exercise, there are
:04:27. > :04:32.five courses, some close to land, other's way out in Weymouth Bay.
:04:32. > :04:39.Most classes have 10 races over a week, and after that, there is the
:04:39. > :04:46.cut. Just the top 10 after 10 races head into the medal race final. 30
:04:46. > :04:56.minutes of racing that decides gold, silver and bronze. In sailing,
:04:56. > :04:56.
:04:56. > :05:02.there is just one for each of the 10 classes. A sailing team consists
:05:02. > :05:08.of 16 people, nine men and seven women. For Britain, many potential
:05:08. > :05:12.medal winners will not be going. Take the 49er class, five out of
:05:12. > :05:18.the top 10 internationally are British. It is tough, only one will
:05:18. > :05:23.go to the Olympics, for the other four, they will be watching from
:05:23. > :05:27.home. There is no easy route to securing a place, with so many
:05:27. > :05:33.world-class sailors to choose from, competition is fierce. Three of the
:05:33. > :05:36.gold medal winners from Beijing are looking for a repeat performance.
:05:36. > :05:46.Having won an Olympic gold does not mean you get a free ticket to the
:05:46. > :05:50.
:05:51. > :05:54.Ben Ainslie is not just our most successful Olympic sailor ever, but
:05:54. > :06:02.one of Britain's most successful Olympians, with three gold medals
:06:02. > :06:05.already. With a record like that, you would imagine that his journey
:06:06. > :06:14.to the 2012 Olympics would be routine. But nothing in this
:06:14. > :06:20.competition is that predictable. He races the Finn, the largest and
:06:20. > :06:26.most powerful single-handed class. After the last Olympics, he put his
:06:26. > :06:30.Olympic life on hold. He returned two years later, and the class was
:06:30. > :06:36.brimming with fresh talent. That talent was not about to let the
:06:36. > :06:40.Olympic champion come back without a fight. Before there could be any
:06:40. > :06:45.talk about his fourth Olympic gold medal, there was some street
:06:45. > :06:52.fighting to be done on home soil. You came into this Olympiad late,
:06:52. > :06:56.your plans were elsewhere. Yes, the America's Cup as the focus before
:06:56. > :07:02.and after the Olympics, but ultimately, that fell apart, which
:07:02. > :07:11.was sad, but I was able to get focused on the Olympics again.
:07:11. > :07:16.off-peak were you? Massively. I had not stepped in a boat for two years.
:07:16. > :07:21.In any sport, that is a huge amount of time. I was doing other sailing
:07:21. > :07:29.at, but in terms of being in the boat I was supposed to be racing,
:07:29. > :07:34.it was a lot of time away, so I was thirsty. -- I was thirsty.
:07:34. > :07:39.He knew he was of a Olympic pace, and was at the beginning of a
:07:39. > :07:43.journey to get back on it. He was beaten a year ago by one of the
:07:43. > :07:49.British sailors allowed to take his place, the ferociously talented
:07:49. > :07:52.Giles Scott, 10 years under, and Ben Ainslie finished off the podium
:07:52. > :07:56.in fourth place. -- 10 years younger.
:07:56. > :08:01.Proving that you can win in Weymouth is massive, because it is
:08:02. > :08:08.where the Olympics are. It is worth a lot.
:08:08. > :08:12.Exactly one year later, the Bible's met again here in Weymouth --
:08:12. > :08:22.rivals. The battle raged all week as each man pulled himself to the
:08:22. > :08:30.
:08:30. > :08:37.Ainslie is trying to squeeze around. Ben Ainslie has got to do a penalty
:08:37. > :08:46.turn. Scott can sail away, it is a real battle. All credit to Scott,
:08:46. > :08:54.he is not crumbling under the Scott was trailing it going into
:08:54. > :09:04.the final race, but he could still win. The winner would go into the
:09:04. > :09:08.
:09:08. > :09:12.Scot finishes right at the back. He is doing a perfect job. We have
:09:12. > :09:22.seen it so many times at the Olympic Games, so often it comes
:09:22. > :09:22.
:09:22. > :09:26.down to a head to head, and Ben Britain's best ever Olympic sailor
:09:26. > :09:30.had done what most assumed would be a foregone conclusion.
:09:30. > :09:37.There is an expectation that, whenever you step into a boat, it
:09:37. > :09:45.will be successful. That follows you around. How frustrating was it
:09:45. > :09:51.to have people start to doubt you? You always have your doubters.
:09:51. > :09:55.Again, it is in any sport, people are keen to knock people off their
:09:55. > :10:01.perch. It is tough when you have moved away from an arena weighty
:10:01. > :10:07.were dominant and you come back and that is not the case any more. It
:10:07. > :10:13.is hard work. A couple of times, I had to have a good think about how
:10:13. > :10:21.I would make that happen. We are a year away from the real thing, how
:10:21. > :10:28.off peak do you think you are? Right now, there is a lot I can
:10:28. > :10:32.improve on, physically, I am running around 85, 90%. Technically,
:10:32. > :10:38.we are always looking to improved. You have got to keep pushing
:10:38. > :10:42.forward and make the Games. What about the other gold medal
:10:42. > :10:50.winners? How have they fed in their attempt to get themselves back to
:10:50. > :10:54.the Olympic Games? In the Star class, the most technical of all
:10:54. > :11:04.classes, the British team have announced -- have an outstanding
:11:04. > :11:09.
:11:09. > :11:17.picture, the Germans crossed the line. The Britons have won the gold
:11:17. > :11:25.medal! Brilliant! Ben Ainslie, how close was at? I am speechless, that
:11:25. > :11:28.is the closest race I have ever There was never any doubt about
:11:29. > :11:33.this team from Beijing making the cut for the British team at the
:11:33. > :11:37.Olympic test event. Ben Ainslie has had a battle to
:11:37. > :11:41.qualify, but it has been different for you. We have got a good
:11:41. > :11:47.relationship with the young guys, but we work as a team, they are
:11:47. > :11:56.looking more to the future. With no other strong British
:11:57. > :12:03.competition, their place is secured. But since Paul Goodison came back
:12:03. > :12:13.from Beijing, he has been peddling hard to stay as Britain's number
:12:13. > :12:21.
:12:21. > :12:26.The simplicity provides the ultimate test of skill. Since
:12:26. > :12:32.Beijing, his progress has not been plain sailing. Last year, at the
:12:32. > :12:37.World Championships, he missed the podium. But another British sailor,
:12:37. > :12:40.Nick Thompson, finished second. Their rivalry as they battled for
:12:40. > :12:48.the one slot at the Games intensified.
:12:48. > :12:53.Quite competitive, we played golf, table tennis, pulled together. We
:12:54. > :13:00.do not like to let the other one win. That is quite intense.
:13:00. > :13:04.A month ago, Thompson was here at the regatta in Weymouth, where the
:13:04. > :13:08.first British sailor to finish would get the only slot in the
:13:08. > :13:14.Laser class at the test event and take a major step forward to
:13:14. > :13:24.selection for London 2012. The man on form was Nick Thompson. Halfway
:13:24. > :13:27.
:13:27. > :13:31.through, he was five places ahead You have beat the last Gold
:13:32. > :13:36.Medallist. How intense has it been? I have been training non-stop with
:13:36. > :13:41.Paul and other guys about trying to raise my game and get myself in a
:13:41. > :13:47.position that I'm able to go to the Olympics. Then Paul decided to
:13:47. > :13:53.carry on and so it makes it tough. But it has been good for both of us
:13:53. > :13:57.and pushed us on and made us both raise our game and realise to beat
:13:58. > :14:03.each other we must be one of the best in the world. He is a talented
:14:03. > :14:07.sailor. He has medalled at the World Championship. So we have a
:14:07. > :14:13.good relationship off the water. As the trials comes around, it gets
:14:13. > :14:18.more intense. You don't hang out with each other as much and you are
:14:18. > :14:24.fighting each other and the end of the day. Things started well for
:14:24. > :14:33.nick Thompson in the early part of week, carving out an impressive
:14:33. > :14:37.advantage. However half way through event, his fortunes changed. Wile
:14:37. > :14:45.Goodison found form and began to chase his younger rival.
:14:45. > :14:51.COMMENTATOR: This is Paul Goodison just ahead of the bunch. He rounds
:14:51. > :15:01.in fifth. Here is Nick Thompson. He is back in the bunch and he is
:15:01. > :15:05.
:15:05. > :15:15.struggling. A destiny this display secured his place in the Olympic
:15:15. > :15:23.
:15:23. > :15:30.team and left his friend and rival You probably had one of the toughst
:15:30. > :15:40.trials of any nationality. Yeah, it's not been easy, Nick is a
:15:40. > :15:40.
:15:40. > :15:48.fantastic sailor. He didn't quite keep it together. How are you
:15:48. > :15:53.feeling now? OK. Not great. You know? A bit frustrated really. If
:15:53. > :15:58.only I had done one of the days differently. It was all going well
:15:58. > :16:02.and then just one day sort of pushed me back and made it all
:16:02. > :16:07.tough and from then it was a case of trying to work through the fleet
:16:07. > :16:12.and that was a difficult thing to do. I read your tweet, where you
:16:12. > :16:16.said sorry to everyone. Yeah, I feel a bit disappointed in myself
:16:16. > :16:21.and how the week's gone and also I feel like I have let a few people
:16:21. > :16:31.down and the people who supported me. So, yeah, just... You know I
:16:31. > :16:41.feel a bit bad. Not great. For now his dream is all be over. But he
:16:41. > :16:56.
:16:56. > :17:00.has got the talent to continue the All three of our returning Gold
:17:00. > :17:07.Medallists from Beijing will be part of the British team. If any of
:17:07. > :17:12.them medal here there will be a guaranteed place for next year.
:17:12. > :17:22.Burr there are 450 sailors from 65 nations trying to stop the British.
:17:22. > :17:31.One of the strongest is the team from down uner -- down under.
:17:31. > :17:36.of your boys going to watch the Aussie's Kim the Poms'? Tfrpblgt
:17:36. > :17:41.British team is great. They have a lot of -- the British team it
:17:41. > :17:45.grease they have a lot. They have Ben Ainslie. We have a couple of
:17:45. > :17:53.strong guys. But we don't have as many people as they do. But we try
:17:53. > :17:58.to knock them off in our good classes. You beaten the Poms in
:17:58. > :18:02.your class? Of course. Are you got them. We have got them too. Don't
:18:02. > :18:09.threat beer and chips fool you. They may not look like it, but
:18:09. > :18:16.around this table are five of the best sailors in the world. One has
:18:16. > :18:23.been voted word sailor of the world. Unbeaten in the lacer class at
:18:23. > :18:31.Weymouth. -- laser class at Weymouth. The form team in the 49er.
:18:31. > :18:37.Then there is Matthew Belcher and Malcolm Page in the 470. Ranked No
:18:37. > :18:43.1. This team are a formidable talent. It is always great to beat
:18:43. > :18:53.the Poms. There will be a rivalry, Australia loves beating England in
:18:53. > :18:59.anything. Sailing is no exception. Just how will the British team
:18:59. > :19:05.perform next year? This test event should give us a good indication.
:19:05. > :19:10.Can British sailors turn the waters they know well into solid gold?
:19:10. > :19:16.There will be over a hundred races and this is how an Olympic race
:19:16. > :19:23.works. The start is about being in the front row, having clean air. If
:19:23. > :19:28.you're in the turbulent air off another boat, it will slow you down.
:19:28. > :19:33.COMMENTATOR: The Polish team got the best start. They had clean air
:19:33. > :19:38.and they're off, heading up wind. When you're sailing up the first
:19:38. > :19:43.beat to the first mark, you're looking for wind to see if that's
:19:43. > :19:48.changing. You're thinking about the current and the opposition. Sailors
:19:48. > :19:54.that went to the right hand side are coming across, who got their
:19:54. > :19:59.tactics right. Ben Ainslie leading the flaet here. When you come
:19:59. > :20:05.around the top mark, you're bearing away and the wind's generally
:20:05. > :20:11.directly behind you. Ainslie bears away. Big waves. He will look to
:20:11. > :20:19.surf down these and catch a wave. We saw him in the last race in five
:20:19. > :20:24.or six place on each downwind leg. He is pumping away on the sail.
:20:24. > :20:30.you're in the lead, it's about keeping clean air on the downwind
:20:30. > :20:34.leg to keep the speed on the upwind leg it is about the strategy of
:20:34. > :20:37.what side of course you are favoured. You try to manipulate the
:20:37. > :20:43.opposition to come with you and keep yourself between the
:20:43. > :20:53.opposition and the next mark to defend that lead. That is a perfect
:20:53. > :21:01.
:21:02. > :21:09.When Ben Ainslie enters an competition there is an ashumion
:21:09. > :21:14.that he will win. -- asup sum -- there is an assumption he will win.
:21:15. > :21:21.Look at this a minute after the start and he is pulling away again.
:21:21. > :21:31.Coming up to the top mark. Some of Coming up to the top mark. Some of
:21:31. > :21:35.the windiest conditions. He will round this in first place. For Paul
:21:35. > :21:40.Goodison, there was plenty to think about as they approached the half
:21:40. > :21:44.way stage. First his Australian rival was in Silver Medal position
:21:44. > :21:53.and looking forward not back. Goodison was trapped in the middle
:21:53. > :21:58.of the biggest fleet at the event. COMMENTATOR: It is very crowded.
:21:58. > :22:05.Colin Chang will sail around. He has fallen out. Paul Goodison is
:22:05. > :22:13.behind him. I can see him. Goodison is out of trouble. He is fifth at
:22:13. > :22:18.the moment. He is chasing now, leading the race. In the star class
:22:18. > :22:22.it wasn't Australia that was leading, but Robert Scheidt from
:22:22. > :22:26.Brazil. The British team having problems with their boat. They have
:22:26. > :22:33.had major gear failure. They're getting a new boat after this. But
:22:33. > :22:39.they will need a good second half of the week to get a medal. So at
:22:39. > :22:49.the half way stage, two Beijing Gold Medal is struggling to get
:22:49. > :22:50.
:22:50. > :22:54.anywhere. For ains sli leading in the finn class. -- - for Ben
:22:54. > :23:01.Ainslie leading in finn class. In the last Three games, British women
:23:01. > :23:06.have won four medals in sailing and I'm proud to say, I played my part.
:23:06. > :23:14.My team was labelled three blondes in a boat when we won gold in
:23:14. > :23:23.Athens. My No 2 led her team of blondes to success in China. But
:23:23. > :23:31.three blondes in a boat will not win gold in London 2012. Three
:23:31. > :23:39.bruen ets? Now they just might. Women's racing is in the only
:23:39. > :23:44.three-person boat. The Elliott 6 metre. They enter this dress
:23:44. > :23:51.rehearsal as world No 1. But they're playing a different kind of
:23:51. > :24:00.game too the others. Unlike the rest of the Olympic sailing, match
:24:00. > :24:09.racing is a dual on water. It is a women only competition in the games.
:24:09. > :24:17.But elsewhere, men compete and it gets very heated. I know this crew,
:24:17. > :24:27.or rather two of them well. Lucy and any -- Annie sailed with me for
:24:27. > :24:29.
:24:29. > :24:34.two years. It feels very odd, Lucy steering. Why? Get at the front.
:24:34. > :24:40.The game they play can be compared to a bare fist fight on the water.
:24:40. > :24:45.It this a intense. A million miles from this. When we sailed, I was
:24:45. > :24:53.the aggressive one and you were the quiet one. What is it like now? I
:24:53. > :24:58.should ask them. I think I'm still the quiet one in many respects. But
:24:58. > :25:03.it is intense. You know it is not about shouting all the time, but
:25:03. > :25:06.being intense at the right moment and getting the job done.
:25:06. > :25:11.remember Annie said you would come sailing us with, she was like, we
:25:11. > :25:15.have no one to sail w Lucy's bringing her sister. Now you're
:25:15. > :25:20.brilliant on the boat. We used to sail together when we were younger.
:25:20. > :25:26.But I never thought that this would happen. Two years ago if people
:25:26. > :25:29.asked me if I might have a chance of going to 2012, I was like, no.
:25:29. > :25:35.I'm far too young. Too inexperienced. This time last year
:25:35. > :25:40.I got to sail with Lucy and Annie. I couldn't really say No so I took
:25:40. > :25:45.it up. It is the first time two sisters have competed at this level
:25:45. > :25:53.and with the experience of Annie Lush, three girls in a boat have
:25:53. > :25:58.the potential to make headlines. COMMENTATOR: The wish world No 1
:25:58. > :26:06.are on the attack. Goes for her rival. This is just before the
:26:06. > :26:12.start. The British team are hounding their opponents. The team
:26:12. > :26:20.had their moments. It is advantage Britain, Lucy McGregor with a lead.
:26:20. > :26:27.She will be pleased with that. this was a bad week for the team.
:26:27. > :26:33.The Australians have the British team just where they want them.
:26:33. > :26:38.McGregor's on the attack again, but no no avail. That says it all. The
:26:38. > :26:43.world No 1 have finished seventh here and that is a shock. Bitter
:26:43. > :26:47.disappointment for the team that the form guide placed as favourites.
:26:47. > :26:55.They have won year to raise their game. -- one year to raise their
:26:55. > :27:01.game. Charlotte Dobbson is the British hopeful in the lacer. It
:27:01. > :27:06.has a smaller sail, designed for lighter weight crew. I was with her
:27:06. > :27:11.at home just two miles from the venue as she packed before moving
:27:11. > :27:17.in with the squad. I like the way you have the short wet suit and two
:27:17. > :27:22.bobble hats. Yes exactly. She is a new girl and about to join some of
:27:22. > :27:28.her heroes. Does it feel like a big deal? It is the first time you have
:27:28. > :27:32.been part of the select few? Yes it does feel a bit strange. I'm quite
:27:32. > :27:36.excited about tonight, going into the team and it will be the first
:27:36. > :27:41.time we're sitting having dinner together. It could be the Olympic
:27:41. > :27:49.team. That is exciting. I'm trying hard not to think about that too
:27:49. > :27:54.much. I'm too nervous. Here we go. It is a good job you're not flying.
:27:54. > :27:59.Yes there would be the biggest excess bill. You have even got your
:27:59. > :28:04.Irn Bru. You can take the girl out of Scotland! This takes me back to
:28:04. > :28:11.my first games. Like Charlotte, I was sailing alone and like her, I
:28:11. > :28:18.had a mixture of apprehension and excitement. The drive to the hotel
:28:18. > :28:26.may only be two miles, but it is a journey that may decide if she will
:28:26. > :28:29.compete in London 2012. This is it. I'm going to have to leave you here.
:28:29. > :28:39.Here we go. It is a massive achievement to get into this event,
:28:39. > :28:43.
:28:43. > :28:53.but the pressure is now to qualify This is where it all begins. Yes!
:28:53. > :29:12.
:29:12. > :29:17.Dobson trying to squeeze into the gap. That will be a penalty turn.
:29:17. > :29:21.She will not get a medal this week. I am sure the Olympic selection
:29:21. > :29:31.will go beyond the test event, and I am sure Charlotte Dobson will be
:29:31. > :29:41.
:29:41. > :29:43.Bryony Shaw knows the Olympic world inside out. Her domain is the RS:X
:29:43. > :29:47.windsurfing, the class that requires greater physical fitness
:29:47. > :29:57.than any other. Since she made history in Beijing, she has not
:29:57. > :30:02.
:30:02. > :30:12.fifth medal for Great Britain on the waters, but the first British
:30:12. > :30:17.
:30:17. > :30:22.Since then, she has been winning on the road. She is in a class of her
:30:22. > :30:32.own, and while her selection is not official, the bronze medal she won
:30:32. > :30:33.
:30:33. > :30:43.at the test event should seal her there is potential for an upgrade
:30:43. > :30:43.
:30:43. > :30:48.She is not the only British wind surfer in with a shout at their
:30:48. > :30:54.medal next year. Nick Dempsey as well. Going into the last race in
:30:54. > :31:04.Beijing, he was one of four that could secured a gold medal. Sarah
:31:04. > :31:10.
:31:10. > :31:17.Ayton, his fiancee, went out to but this race is going horribly
:31:17. > :31:22.wrong. Nick Dempsey went out in the silver medal position, with the
:31:22. > :31:29.prospect of a gold medal, but he is not looking at Silver, gold or even
:31:30. > :31:39.bronze. The Frenchman has finished ahead of him, and that means Nick
:31:40. > :31:44.
:31:44. > :31:54.Dempsey will finish fourth. He will Finishing fourth only rubbed salt
:31:54. > :31:54.
:31:54. > :32:00.into the wind. -- wind. My heart is breaking for you, I have been in
:32:00. > :32:08.that position before, it is the worst position to finish in. Yes,
:32:09. > :32:17.it was always come to be close, -- going to be close, it was tight, we
:32:17. > :32:23.only had one lap, so it made it difficult. Not quite a day. --
:32:23. > :32:28.today. I get goose bumps, thinking about
:32:28. > :32:38.it, because it was an awful race. Huge excitement to see him going
:32:38. > :32:40.
:32:40. > :32:50.into that, and to finish fourth, it was the worst thing ever. It took a
:32:50. > :32:55.
:32:55. > :33:01.But that was four years ago, and he is determined not to lose out on
:33:01. > :33:07.the top spot this time around. In those three years since Beijing, he
:33:07. > :33:10.has been a man with one finger on his mind. All of his energy and
:33:10. > :33:14.determination has been focused on becoming the best in the world,
:33:14. > :33:18.competing at one of the most demanding sports in the event, his
:33:18. > :33:23.fitness levels are unsurpassed. Every action is designed to secure
:33:23. > :33:27.the gold medal he did -- he believes he deserves.
:33:27. > :33:33.I love windsurfing, there is nothing better than that,
:33:33. > :33:38.especially when you are racing, you are all close, the adrenalin is
:33:38. > :33:44.going, knowing you can wipe out at any time. Is it the speed you love?
:33:44. > :33:50.Yes, you get used to it, but you still love it. One of the sailors
:33:50. > :33:57.of it now, they all trained hard. - - all of the sailors. I think back
:33:57. > :34:04.to Sydney, boy you fitter than you were then? I am so much fitter than
:34:04. > :34:14.I was. I was 20. I was a windsurfer, it was their core support, and
:34:14. > :34:19.
:34:19. > :34:25.being a professional athlete was not called. -- cool. I loved it. I
:34:25. > :34:30.still love it. But it is very different to what I do today.
:34:30. > :34:36.Dinghy sailing did not have the St street-cred! When I was 12 and I
:34:37. > :34:41.saw them out there, they were the nerds! You can tell your wife but!
:34:41. > :34:47.I do! When he started handing out at the
:34:47. > :34:53.beach, he could never have expected it would lead to a life dominated
:34:53. > :34:57.by routine, commitment and focus. As the years go by, reality hits
:34:57. > :35:01.home that, if you want to win, you have to be the best athlete, you
:35:01. > :35:08.have to be professional, you have to do everything right. That is
:35:08. > :35:18.where I have changed as a person. I am a professional athlete. I am
:35:18. > :35:21.
:35:21. > :35:31.It is halfway through his tested and, and he is in second place. --
:35:31. > :35:31.
:35:31. > :35:39.his Test event. Watching him is his wife and his son.
:35:39. > :35:43.Come on, Daddy! As a former Olympian, she is more
:35:43. > :35:51.used to competing than watching it, and she was on target for London,
:35:51. > :35:56.but she withdrew. It was a tough decision. There are
:35:56. > :36:00.still times when I think, have I made the right decision? Especially
:36:00. > :36:07.in this environment, where life has been about the Olympics, and that
:36:07. > :36:14.is every four years, so to not be a part of that is tough. But I have
:36:14. > :36:20.got my son Thomas to look after, and I watched the racing today, and
:36:20. > :36:25.it is my job to support a Nick, to make sure he is well rested and
:36:25. > :36:27.well-fed, and he can deliver his best performance. I need to be the
:36:27. > :36:34.best wife as opposed to the best sailor.
:36:34. > :36:40.While her decision is undoubtedly good for her husband, it was not
:36:40. > :36:45.such good news for Saskia Clark, her partner. For her, it meant she
:36:45. > :36:49.was suddenly left without a team mate.
:36:49. > :36:56.Already, the campaign has been a roller-coaster. This, it was not
:36:56. > :37:01.planned like that. I was teamed with Sarah Ayton, but she made the
:37:01. > :37:06.call that she could not balance the pressures, and her family life was
:37:06. > :37:16.more important, so I had a big decision, and I quickly made the
:37:16. > :37:20.
:37:20. > :37:25.call to give her a drink. -- her a wind. That was our biggest worry,
:37:26. > :37:31.from my side, I always knew that we could be really good, it was just
:37:31. > :37:34.how quickly it could come together. Luckily, it came together Justin
:37:34. > :37:38.Time. The team that have only been
:37:38. > :37:43.together for six months head into the final day of the Olympic test
:37:43. > :37:51.event with a shot at the gold medal. This is where it will happen
:37:51. > :38:01.tomorrow. We are tied with the Japanese, effectively. There will
:38:01. > :38:04.
:38:04. > :38:09.be a lot of nerves. She thrives on that! Are to be here now, a
:38:09. > :38:19.guaranteed medal, we are desperate to make that a gold medal, but
:38:19. > :38:27.
:38:27. > :38:34.would be great. -- that would be winner-takes-all. -- Great Britain.
:38:34. > :38:40.Saskia Clark bouncing on the trapeze. The Japanese boat has
:38:41. > :38:50.slowed down. The British have definitely gained. Five or six
:38:50. > :39:00.metres between the boats. Somebody squeezing between them. Can the
:39:00. > :39:00.
:39:00. > :39:06.British team overtake the Japanese? Big boat link between them. --
:39:06. > :39:15.length of a boat between them. This is the moment. Will they overtake?
:39:15. > :39:23.200 metres left to the next mark. Japan get a surge of speed. Ai
:39:23. > :39:31.Kondo and Wakako Tabata. The British team or through? Almost.
:39:31. > :39:36.They are just ahead. Right now, Great Britain or in gold. Can the
:39:36. > :39:46.Japanese team get an overlap? If they can, the British team would be
:39:46. > :39:47.
:39:47. > :39:54.in second. The Japanese will round up first. But no ground the mark
:39:54. > :40:02.first. The pendulum has swung in favour of Japan. That is the gold
:40:02. > :40:06.medal for Japan. That is 15 metres between gold and silver. Silver for
:40:06. > :40:11.the British team, they will be disappointed, but that is still a
:40:11. > :40:21.very impressive performance. The Japanese team celebrating their
:40:21. > :40:24.
:40:24. > :40:31.It was so close, nail-biting. Unit frustrated. Yes, pretty frustrated.
:40:31. > :40:35.We really wanted to win. We thought we did a pretty good race, we were
:40:35. > :40:43.always closing them down, but we did not get the last shift into the
:40:43. > :40:48.mark. We had a bit too much to do. A bit gutted. Think way you were a
:40:48. > :40:53.few months ago, silver medal here, you will be happy with that. When
:40:53. > :41:00.it sinks in, we will be happy, but at the moment, we think we lost the
:41:00. > :41:07.gold medal. But we will get some perspective, we have had a good
:41:07. > :41:14.week, the conditions have been windy, I am sure we will be happy
:41:14. > :41:24.in a few days, may be! The fastest of all of the Olympic
:41:24. > :41:26.
:41:26. > :41:34.Assailed by two people, if either one puts a foot wrong, they will be
:41:34. > :41:44.swimming. In the Olympics, even the best in the world could not cope
:41:44. > :41:48.
:41:48. > :41:58.French team leading the race have capsized, and the Germans are going
:41:58. > :41:58.
:41:58. > :42:04.as well! France and Germany on One nation is stronger than any
:42:04. > :42:14.other, Great Britain. Five teams are in the world top 10, but four
:42:14. > :42:18.will miss out on competing in their home games. Wind the clock back a
:42:18. > :42:25.month, and the battle for the one place at the test event took place.
:42:25. > :42:31.In the fight was a team from Bevan, Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes. --
:42:31. > :42:35.from Devon. Amongst their competitors, a man who went to the
:42:35. > :42:45.Olympics in 1992 and who has not been back since. The partnership
:42:45. > :42:49.
:42:49. > :42:51.Four weeks later, they arrive in Weymouth for the test event, with a
:42:51. > :42:55.surprising new addition to their team.
:42:55. > :43:05.A few weeks ago, Paul Brotherton was one of their greatest rivals,
:43:05. > :43:12.but now, he is their right hand man. Back down. We will see a fall of
:43:12. > :43:15.the hard work has paid off. -- all of the hard work.
:43:16. > :43:22.It is hard to think that you were trying to get selection for the
:43:22. > :43:28.test event for weeks ago. It is an odd sensation. I was as keen as
:43:28. > :43:34.anybody to win the event, I put everything I could into what, but I
:43:34. > :43:39.was also pretty happy to except -- to accept that we finished sixth.
:43:39. > :43:49.That is a long way from first. The Olympic Games is all about coming
:43:49. > :43:51.
:43:51. > :43:55.I love it. I enjoy the coaching. I can't deny that my results are
:43:56. > :44:03.better as a coach than as a competitor. What did he say when
:44:03. > :44:11.you phoned him up? He said I'm out of work, could you fix me up with a
:44:11. > :44:17.job! No, he said things had changed. It is special to have somebody
:44:17. > :44:21.coaching us who was a top level performer. Back to full off again.
:44:21. > :44:28.How good is their boat handling? think it is excellent. I have seen
:44:28. > :44:34.that from both sides, from racing them and obviously watching them
:44:34. > :44:41.since. But as the breeze increases, it gets to above 18 knots and they
:44:41. > :44:45.calm it down and draw strength from seeing everyone else struggle. From
:44:45. > :44:52.a coaching view that is great. They sail the poet well. The team may
:44:52. > :44:59.have had a smart plan to turn a rival into a team member, but
:44:59. > :45:05.needed a good result. Amongst these they were looking to beat was the
:45:05. > :45:09.Australian double act. And there Australian double act. And there
:45:09. > :45:16.was an encouraging start. COMMENTATOR: 15 races and that is a
:45:16. > :45:21.great start no race No 6. Stevie Morrisson, Ben Rhodes from Britain,
:45:21. > :45:26.they have spent a short amount of time with their new coach, Paul
:45:26. > :45:32.Brotherton and they're starting well here. A familiar head-to-head
:45:32. > :45:38.at the top mark. Australia against Great Britain and it is advantage
:45:38. > :45:43.Great Britain. An aggressive turn there by Morrisson. Ben Rhodes goes
:45:43. > :45:49.to put the sail up. When that is up, you will see a tweet on the helm
:45:49. > :45:59.and watch this boat take off. The Australians now about 150 metres
:45:59. > :46:03.
:46:03. > :46:08.behind. The 470 is raced by both behind. The 470 is raced by both
:46:08. > :46:14.men and women at the game. Two year ago, Britain's Nick Rogers had no
:46:14. > :46:18.intention of being at the Test event. A veteran of three Olympics,
:46:18. > :46:28.he knows about the agony of finishing fourth. That was in
:46:28. > :46:30.
:46:30. > :46:38.Sydney. Then in Athens, he won silver. And did it again in pay
:46:38. > :46:46.jing. Then his medal winning crew retired and he followed soon after.
:46:46. > :46:51.Until he changed his mind. He teamed up with Chris Grew, Twiggy,
:46:51. > :46:58.but me needed a family loan to keep afloat. A totally different
:46:58. > :47:02.pressure. I mean sleepless nights. Immense pressure. It is so
:47:02. > :47:06.different to the racing. It has been really hard this year. Twiggy
:47:06. > :47:16.and I have have worked and worked. They have had to, because world
:47:16. > :47:21.class British teams were already battling for selection. On the
:47:21. > :47:27.water we just nailed the job and -- know the job and that is
:47:27. > :47:32.concentrate on the things that make the boat go faster. You must really
:47:32. > :47:37.want this? Yeah. Yeah a lot. It is everything I have ever dreamed of
:47:37. > :47:41.doing. And I don't want to just go. That is not goal. If we can qualify,
:47:41. > :47:45.I believe that would buy us more time and make an enormous
:47:45. > :47:50.difference. I believe with that time we can put a team together
:47:50. > :47:55.which can win a gold. That is what you're trying to do. A month ago
:47:56. > :48:01.and against the odds, head to beat Luke Patience and his partner to
:48:01. > :48:06.win selection for the Test event. The man who came out of retirement
:48:06. > :48:13.steered the pair home. Leaving stunned rivals in their wake. Pay
:48:13. > :48:19.back for sleepless nights, the first return on the investment made.
:48:19. > :48:24.In the last three years it has been up and down and I'm just over the
:48:24. > :48:30.moon and the team and what we have achieved. It is a great step ford e
:48:30. > :48:35.forward. We go to pr pre--- step forward to the future and we go to
:48:35. > :48:41.pre-Olympics. Attest events they qualified for the final and were in
:48:41. > :48:44.contention for a medal. contention for a medal.
:48:44. > :48:51.COMMENTATOR: they could Britain bronze, but Israel and Japan could
:48:52. > :48:57.stop them. The advantage is with Israel. It is no looking good for a
:48:57. > :49:02.medal for Nick Rogers. In the final, their hopes faded. They finished
:49:02. > :49:07.fourth. Their place at London 2012 may not be guaranteed, but they are
:49:07. > :49:14.may not be guaranteed, but they are no longer on the outside looking
:49:14. > :49:20.in.. We're disappointed. It was so close. We were welcome back a -- we
:49:20. > :49:25.were within a grasp of a medal. It is not to do it as yourself, that
:49:25. > :49:34.is pushing water uphill. We're on a short leash. We couldn't survive
:49:34. > :49:39.another week. Not like that. team from Devon, Stevie Morrisson
:49:39. > :49:43.and Ben Rhodes spent the week in the 49er just outside the top three.
:49:43. > :49:52.They went into the final fighting for medal. Beat New Zealand and
:49:52. > :49:59.bronze would be the prize. That would be a good start for their
:49:59. > :50:05.life with new coach Paul Brother tob. -- Paul Brotherton. But
:50:05. > :50:11.Australia won gold and the Kiwis beat the British into fourth.
:50:11. > :50:15.Frustrated. It is an important event. We have learned a lot. We're
:50:15. > :50:20.not far away, but we're not there. The skill's there, the talent's
:50:20. > :50:23.there. But there is something missing at the moment. The
:50:23. > :50:28.performance this week is not good enough and there is only one reason
:50:28. > :50:34.I'm here and that is to win a gold. Fourth of fifth. I'm confident I
:50:34. > :50:40.could do that myself. So far the British medal haul is one silver
:50:40. > :50:50.and one bronze. The target the team set itself is four medals. So a bit
:50:50. > :51:12.
:51:12. > :51:17.to do and time to wheel out some Lacer medal race, Paul good sop,
:51:17. > :51:20.fourth at the moment. -- goodson, fourth at the moment. -- goodson,
:51:20. > :51:28.fourth at the moment. Got to sail himself and see what happens behind
:51:28. > :51:33.him to Holland, New Zealand and Australia. He can't do more than
:51:33. > :51:39.that. Paul Goodison around the first mark leading. Holland behind
:51:39. > :51:48.and then Australia. Goodison heading for the finish. It is
:51:48. > :51:53.cumulative points. If he wins this, that will give him bronze. Goodison
:51:53. > :51:58.wince bronze, but it is another wince bronze, but it is another
:51:58. > :52:02.gold for Australia. In the star class, the British needed to beat
:52:02. > :52:12.Ireland and Poland in the final race. Someone was looking down on
:52:12. > :52:12.
:52:12. > :52:19.them. COMMENTATOR: Surely silver for the British. So four medals for
:52:19. > :52:23.Britain. Target reached. But no golds. Not yet. Nick Dempsey was on
:52:23. > :52:28.the right road. After disappointment of fourth in Beijing,
:52:28. > :52:38.winning gold in 2012 in the place where he lives is the driving force
:52:38. > :52:43.
:52:43. > :52:49.of every single day. COMMENTATOR: Top top there will be celebrations
:52:49. > :52:54.if Dempsey can beat the Dutchman Dorian van Rijsselberge. The plan
:52:54. > :52:58.is to sail his Dutch rival to the back of the fleet and then for
:52:58. > :53:04.back of the fleet and then for Britain's No 1 to go on a charge.
:53:04. > :53:09.At the moment it is working. Dempsey is launched. The dumpman is
:53:09. > :53:14.right at the back and it is gold at the moment for Britain. Oh demp
:53:14. > :53:24.circumstances he is turning around. He won't like what he says, because
:53:24. > :53:29.
:53:29. > :53:39.his Dutch rival, I'm counting up the places has overtaken Greece, he
:53:39. > :54:10.
:54:10. > :54:16.It will be tight next year and it is a case of moving on and making
:54:16. > :54:26.sure I'm 100%. Five medals won for Britain. Still no gold. Enter a man
:54:26. > :54:32.who has made an impression in the Olympic world. Ben Ainslie. He has
:54:32. > :54:37.achieved everything there is to achieve many times over. And in the
:54:37. > :54:44.nature of sailing you can only compete in one event. Ben deserves
:54:44. > :54:54.every honour there is to give him already. Without competing at
:54:54. > :54:56.
:54:56. > :55:00.London. To me, he is the ultimate sportsman. COMMENTATOR: Ben Ainslie
:55:00. > :55:06.has a huge points advantage as the has a huge points advantage as the
:55:06. > :55:12.gun goes. All he has to do is complete this race and he is
:55:12. > :55:17.guaranteed gold. The only British gold in the British test event. A
:55:17. > :55:20.year ago he came back to the finn after a two year absence, by his
:55:21. > :55:25.own admission off the Olympic pace. But that has changed. He qualified
:55:25. > :55:32.for is in and against international competition the best in the world,
:55:32. > :55:37.he is about to overtake the best in the world. Well there is the
:55:37. > :55:42.example. Ainslie is simply in a different league. British
:55:42. > :55:47.supporters have had to wait until the final moments of the final race
:55:47. > :55:51.here at the test event, but this is here at the test event, but this is
:55:51. > :55:55.it. Gold for Ben Ainslie. looked relieved when it was all
:55:55. > :56:04.over. It has been been one big summer? Yes it has been a big
:56:04. > :56:08.summer A lot at stake. But that was hard work and so I was happy to get
:56:08. > :56:13.across the line and have a breather. Talking about selection, what do
:56:13. > :56:18.you think now? Well I don't know, it is up to the selection committee.
:56:18. > :56:22.It is their decision. I guess I ticked all the boxes, so they will
:56:22. > :56:32.have to think up some good reasons not to send me to the Olympics. But
:56:32. > :56:33.
:56:33. > :56:39.I will have to think what they might be. He delivered gold in
:56:39. > :56:47.style and again Britain's greatest Olympic sailor is the star of the
:56:47. > :56:55.show. So the dry run for the Olympics is complete. 460 sailors
:56:55. > :56:59.from 66 nations have put the venue through its paces. We have seen the
:56:59. > :57:09.16 person British sailing team compete for all ten Gold Medals
:57:09. > :57:09.
:57:09. > :57:14.here. An impressive medal haul but not the colours you were hoping for.
:57:14. > :57:19.We have medals in six events. We have some work to do. But it is a
:57:19. > :57:26.great position to be in with eleven months to go. There has been much
:57:26. > :57:33.to celebrate and whet the appetite for the supporters. And once again
:57:33. > :57:37.British sailor s who failed to make the medals are in the minority.
:57:37. > :57:41.Disappointing week really. Always a bit difficult going to ceremony,
:57:41. > :57:46.seeing your opponents up there. We think we have the capability of
:57:46. > :57:53.winning gold in a year's time. But we know there is a lot of hard work
:57:53. > :57:57.to come before then. The team manager is right, it is harder than
:57:57. > :58:01.ever. Britain won the most medals hoor but Holland and Australia won
:58:01. > :58:09.more -- here but Holland and Australia won more golds. But I
:58:09. > :58:19.believe here in 12 months we will be one of British medal hotspots of
:58:19. > :58:23.2012. Tune in tomorrow as we look at how the preparations have been
:58:23. > :58:30.going at some of the other test events taking place in London. We