There were so many amazing moments in Weymouth - tears, celebrations, big waves, big winds and some amazing sailing. Here are just a few of our favourite moments from the 14-day regatta...

Ben Ainslie wins gold in Weymouth
1. Celebrating a hard-fought victory - Ben Ainslie wins gold in the Finn class - his fifth Olympic medal and fourth gold - and secures his place in the history books. He is the world's most decorated Olympic sailor. Photo Tom Gruitt Photography


49ers wow crowds on the Nothe



2. The 49ers wowed the crowds on the Nothe spectator area. Sadly the British duo could only manage fifth overall, but the battle for bronze had everyone on the edge of their seats... or should that be picnic rugs! Photo Onedition
HRH the Duchess of Cambridge, aka Princess Kate

3. Top totty in the dinghy park - HRH the Duchess of Cambridge, aka Princess Kate greets Ben Ainslie, Paul Goodison, Stuart Bithell and Luke Patience. Photo Onedition

China's Xu Lija
4. China's Xu Lijia celebrates winning gold in a closely-fought medal race - the top four sailors were within a point of one another going into the race, but the white-faced sailor, who was the bronze medallist in Beijing, put in a masterful performance to take the gold. Photo Onedition

Nick Dempsey and Sarah Ayton

5. 'Silver surfer' Nick Dempsey picks up his medal with his family - his wife might look a little familiar, she is double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton. Dempsey wowed the crowds when he swam ashore to greet his son after the medal race. Photo Onedition
photo Onediton

6. And the prize for the best wetsuit goes to... The USA's Robert Willis. He didn't win any medals for it - but sadly neither did any of the US team - it was the first Games that the USA had failed to medal in Sailing since 1936! Photo Onedition

Paul Goodison performing back exercises afloat

7. Paul Goodison was tragically injured early in the regatta - he put on an amazing display between races as he did his back exercises on his Laser - how he did that, and finished one race in second place when he was barely able to walk once ashore, we have no idea! Photo Tom Gruitt Photography

Star Olympic Games photo Onedition

8. The Star class had an epic battle all week. Neck-and-neck, it was Sweden's Freddy Loof and Max Salminen who took gold ahead of Britain's Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, who had led the fleet going into the final day. Photo Onedition

Snorkelling 49er sailors

9. The Aussie 49er duo Nathan Outteridge and Iain Jensen didn't just dominate the 49ers, they also showed they weren't above a joke... see the full story behind their attire in our feature Olympic Sailors take to Snorkelling. Photo Onedition

Ben Ainslie lights the flame in Weymouth

10. Weymouth was the only venue outside London to have its own flame - lit rather appropriately by Ben Ainslie... it proved more than worthy of the honour. Photo Onedition

 

See our stories from earlier in the week, including Olympic Silver for Nick Dempsey and First Olympic Sailing Medals Decided in Weymouth.

 

Written by: Gael Pawson
Gael Pawson is the editor of Yachts & Yachting Magazine and the founder of Creating Waves. A keen racer, she has sailed all her life, and started writing about the subject whilst studying journalism at university. Dinghies and small keelboats are her first loves, but she has cruised and raced a huge variety of boats in locations across the world.