As an experiment it would have been better to see more then one crew try to code-0 (hooter) in this field. However, the results by team USA so far (only one with code-0 and 2nd in 2004 olympics) is far from promising.

Race 1 : 9 knots average winds placing 14th out of 15 competitors ; 7min:58sec behind winners
Race 2 : 7 knots average winds placing 12th ; 11:12 behind winners
Race 3 : 5 knots average winds placing 7th ; 2:49 behind winners
Race 4 : 20 knots average winds placing 11th ; 4:04 behind winners
Race 5 : 11 knots average (decreasing 13->8) winds placing 12th ; 2:58 behind winners
Race 6 : 8 knots average winds placing 14th ; 2:20 behind winners
Race 7 : 8 knots average winds placing 15th ; 4:04 behind winners


They are now 14th overall out of 15 competitors with only 1 regatta point ahead of the last place holder China whose team has already scored a OCS and a DNF ! At 70 points overall the US team with the Code-0 is 50 points behind the scoreboard leaders (1st and 2nd) who are tied in points. Even the number 10 in the listing is 22 regatta points ahead.

This is a pretty bad result for the 2004 Olympic silver medalists. With only 3 more races to go (max 45 point in even when DNS) they are off the podium for sure and will not even be able to break into to the top 10 places. The latter assuming the French team at 10th overall keeps doing what is has scored so far leading to an end score after 10 races of 69 where the US team already has 70 points and can never get below 73 even when scoring 3 bullets in the remaining races.

Either the crew was unlucky with some sickness or the Code-0 is one big dud. The conditions at Qingdoa seem to be similar to Athenes in 2004 where this team scored a silver medal.

For details like mark rounding times etc see :

http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/Schedule/SA.shtml

Wouter