Britain's Yngling team members Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson (from left to right) sail back to the Olympic Sailing Center after winning the gold medal during the Yngling three-women keelboat sailing competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in Qingdao Sunday August 17 2008. [China Daily]

QINGDAO: British Yngling trio Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson snatched the first gold medal at the Olympic sailing regatta Sunday.

The defending Yngling champion led the keelboat class from the beginning of the medal race to round the windward mark first, a second ahead of rest of the fleet, despite heavy rain on the sea.

Although they were overtaken by Germany at the third mark, they kept their composure and first crossed the finishing line seven seconds ahead of Germany and a minute in front of the Dutch.

The British Yngling women ended up on top of the podium with 24 points overall, pocketing the first gold medal in Qingdao.

"When we crossed the line, the three of us just looked at one another. I can't describe the feeling, because you just know that you're the best in the whole world at what you do," said Ayton.

"The conditions today were quite Great Britain: big wind and big rain. We were quite prepared," she added.

"It has been a fantastic journey. It is so exciting with a little relief and, of course, loads of joy," said Webb.

Ayton and Webb won gold in 2004 Athens with Shirley Robertson; they are two-time world champions and they won the Olympic test event in Qingdao last year.

The silver medal went to Mandy Mulder, Annemieke Bes and Merel Witteveen from the Netherlands with 33 points overall, finishing fifth in the medal race though.

"This is my first Olympic medal. But it's a pity that we didn't beat GBR," said Bes.

Their coach Thanasis Piniaris said, "We're going to Shangri-la tonight to eat the chocolate fondue. They were not allowed to eat it before they got a medal. They have worked three years for this medal."

The bronze medal was taken by Sofia Bekatorou, Sofia Papadopoulou and Virginia Kravarioti from Greece with 48 points after their third finish in the medal race.

"We made our gain today on the first downwind. We feel great for the 10 million Greeks back home. It's wonderful," said Bekatorou.

Chinese Yngling team members Song Xiaqun, Yu Yanli and Li Xiaoni also sailed their best performance today, placing 9th overall with 65 points.

"This is my first and last Olympics. If I had a chance, I would do this all over again," said Song.

Danes wait for gold ruling

The Danish team of Jason Warrer and Martin Kirketerp Ibsen is being listed as the winner of the 49er skiff Olympic sailing class, but race officials say they cannot confirm the medal because they are handling three protests against the result.

The mast on the Danes' boat broke shortly before the start of the 49er medal race, and they rushed back to port and borrowed a skiff from the Croatian team, which failed to make the field of 10 boats for the 49er medal race.

International sailing federation spokesman David Knapman says the race measurement committee is protesting the finish, saying the two could not start in another country's boat. He said protests were also under consideration that demand the annulment of the race because it started after a 4:30 pm deadline set in Olympic racing rules.

If the Danes are disqualified after Sunday's race, Spain's Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez, winners of the medal race, will retain the title they won in Athens fours years ago.

Xinhua/Agencies