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Massive waves and strong winds bring dramatic images but little racing to the waters off The Hague.

Credit Thom Touw

Sarah Ayton commented on the conditions seen in the photo above which has captured the imagination of the sailing world.

"It was pretty big, with massive waves and 20-25 knots in the gusts,” confirmed Ayton, "It was probably my second day sailing in those conditions - we are still really learning how to sail the boat, but it was really good fun. You have to come together as a team when it is like that, because if you are not doing the same thing you are dead...literally..!”

So was the call right to come in? "I don’t think it would have been fair racing, it would have been survival,” agrees Ayton. "Especially with the tide turning – it was only going to get worse.”

Ayton and Clark are lying in 11^th place after four qualification races and Ayton says she is happy with the way things have been going so far this week. "We seem to have good average speed all round and that will only get better and better through the conditions. So we’re enjoying it - particularly the races when we are at the front!”

Speaking on her switch to the 470 class from the Yngling after the latter was dropped from the Olympic schedule.

"It is a technical boat like the Yngling was, so that is nice, still doing all the technical side, With this boat you have to be a lot more alert than any of the sailing I have done before as things are happening a lot faster - it is all about the angle and the phrase ‘if you snooze, you lose’ definitely applies in the 470! There is always someone attacking, there is no margin for error - that is the difference between this and the Yngling, where there was time to think. It is a great boat and I am really enjoying the physical challenge."

Credit Thom Touw

Racing has been postponed whilst the storm clouds still hover over The Hague, but the event organisers are hopeful that the qualifiers will all be completed in time for the medal race which is scheduled for tomorrow.

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