Morning Report: Competition to commence under Fuji’s gaze

The wind looks set fair for a spectacular start to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Sailing Competition, with an almost perfect forecast.

It’s not often you get to see Mount Fuji so clearly in the distance, but the last few days the sailors have been blessed with clear views of Japan’s sacred mountain.

Today is forecast to be clear with occasional cloud and no chance of thunderstorms, so the athletes might want to remember the moment they set sail under the blessed gaze of Fuji – if they’re not too preoccupied with the battle ahead.

Perhaps they will be more focused on the weather forecast – wind direction from east-north-east, blowing a light 6 to 8 knots this morning but rising to 10 to 13 knots later with gusts of 15 to 19 knots by 1400 hours this afternoon. Sea state will be a wave height of 0.5m.

After such a long wait, the sailors will be happy just to get racing. The Men’s Windsurfer – RS:X will start their regatta at 12:00 JST with three races on the Enoshima Course, while at the same time the Women’s Laser Radial, One Person Dinghy, is set for two races on the Kamakura course area.

Three hours later, at 15:00, the Women’s Windsurfer – RS:X will contest three races on Enoshima and the Men’s One Person Dinghy Laser will open with two races on Kamakura.

Every sailor has high hopes for day one of the regatta. As the old saying goes, “You can’t win on day one, but you can lose!” So expect the leading lights in each fleet to start conservatively.

Oh, but wait! Late, breaking news of a radical haircut in the RS:X Men’s fleet. Hang on, it can’t be Dorian van Rijsselberghe, who shaved his head before winning gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016. No, it’s the flying Dutchman who narrowly beat his bullet-headed friend to Tokyo selection – Kiran Badloe! He has shaved a blue arrow into his hair, looking to draw upon the elemental power of cartoon character Avatar: the Last Airbender.

“This week I aspire to be like him,” explains Badloe. “He needs to use all the elements to stop the ongoing war. Like him I need to control the wind, the water and all the elements in order to do well and hopefully get a chance of a medal.”

We wish the Last Hairbender, and all the athletes competing today, the very best of nature’s elemental power to them.

By Andy Rice – World Sailing
Photography by Sailing Energy / World Sailing