Another bright and sunny day at Dorney with a brisk cross tailwind.  It’s going to be fast times again for racing today.   There have already been crabs and steering errors in earlier repecharge racing…. watch out for neat bladework.

Heat 1:

New Zealand, Great Britain, Czech Republic, China, The Netherlands.  And they’re off!   Brits press ahead to show dominant form early with a half length lead.  Two crews go to A final everyone to repecharge.  New Zealand a clear second at 500m one length behind GB and 2/3 length up on China in third.   Half way and these two are still out in front China closing on NZ to a canvas.  GB way out in front.  “Scotland’s Sporting Heroine” says the commentator Robert Treharne-Jones.  New Zealand breaking away from China to half a length ahead.  Pressing on but 2 lengths behind GB.   NZ sprint and China look a bit heavily geared.  At the line it’s GB first and second qualifying spot to  New Zealand.

Heat 2: Germany, Ukraine, USA, Australia, Poland  

Includes Kim Crow of Australia who is also racing the W1x.  Poland and Germany are the early leaders.  By half way Australia lead Poland with half a boat length and USA third with a canvas overlap. [education from commentator – a Deck = Canvas ‘over there’.  Buoys = Booeys].  Australia still leading but the Polish crew push on trying to close the gap at 1500m one third length behind.  Australia puress on to 2/3 length and the Poles look over to see the gap and they press on.   USA chasing behind – it’s a 3 boat race.  USA one length behind the leading pair.  Australia and Germany qualify for the A final.