What you need to know about the Olympic sailing competition at Rio 2016?

History, rules, categories, favorites, betting odds: GamingZion reveals the most important facts related to the Olympic sailing competition Rio 2016

Sailing has been part of the Olympic program since the first Olympics in Athens although due to the terrible weather conditions the first Olympic competition was canceled. However starting from the year 1900, the sailing events have been part of all Olympic Games so far. The perfect combination of mental and physical skills necessary for exercising a control on the boat and managing the waves makes this sport one of the most attractive in the Olympic program. This is especially so in the almost acrobatic RS:X windsurfing class. For the fans of high skilled sailing techniques or simply for all of you who like to sit in front of the TV and bet on sports in Brazil, the upcoming Olympic sailing competition Rio 2016 will definitely bring tons of enjoyment.

Olympic sailing events: categories, classes, race formats

In the history of this Olympic sport different categories and classes of boats have been used in the competitions, determined by means of meters, tons, feet etc. Nowadays there are three categories in the Olympic sailing competition: dinghy, multihull and sailboard which are divided in several classes.

• Sir Ben Ainslie is the most successful Olympic sailor in history
• The Australian sailors are the greatest favorites in Rio
• The Croat pair Fantela/Marinic to attack the gold in 470

Thus, for the women competition there will be 4 events in these categories, in the classes: Laser Radial, RS:X, 49erFX, 470. For men there are five Olympic events in the classes: RS:X, 49er, Laser, 470 and Finn. One mix-gendered event will also take place in the Olympic sailing program. That is the newly established Nacra 17 class which will be a great attraction in this year’s Olympic sailing program. The mode of the Olympic competitions is usually in a fleet race format although there have been in the past match race and mix format as well.

Most successful nations

The most successful nations in the Olympic sailing competitions so far are Great Britain, the United States, Norway and France. In terms of golds, the British sailors have so far won 25, which sets them on the first place in front of the US competitors with 19 and the Norwegians with 17 golds in the Olympic sailing history. However when the number of won medals is concerned the United States are the most successful nation with 59 medals, five more than the British and 21 more from the third placed France.

Stars and favorites on the Olympic sailing competitions Rio 2016

In absence of the magnificent British sailor, Ben Ainslie, winner of 5 Olympic medals, the stars and favorites on this year’s Olympic sailing competitions come mainly from Australia and New Zeeland. Mathew Belcher, William Ryan, Peter Burling, Blair Tuke are just some of the most famous names we will see in the waters in Rio. As internet betting sites in UK stress the British sailors also have their favorites. Thus Nick Thompson and Giles Scott, both world champions, will certainly try to enrich the British history of winning Olympic gold medals while Alison Young will try to do the same in the women’s Laser Radial competition.

Olympic sailing betting odds

Online sportsbooks in Australia such as Sportsbet give the greatest chances for golds to their Australian sailors. Thus for example Tom Burton in the Laser class is the greatest favorite with 2.70, while the duo Mathew Belcher and William Ryan, winners of the race in London 2012 in the 470 class are evaluated as biggest favorite with 1.62. However, when the 470 class is concerned one should not forget that the Croatians Sime Fantela and Igor Marenic have the best ranking this season in the class, and will certainly not be satisfied with anything but the gold in Rio.

In the mix-gendered Nacra 17 class, Australian sportsbooks also give advantage to the Australian sailors. They evaluate the chances of Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin at 1.67 while the second favorites are according to them the French pair Billy Besson and Marie Riou evaluated on 2.70. A few days more and we will see whether this favorizing was justified or not. The sailing excitement at Rio 2016 starts at 8th of August and will last for six consecutive days.