Sailing/Yachting is an Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad. With the exception of 1904 and possibly the cancelled 1916 Summer Olympics, sailing has always been included on the Olympic schedule. The Sailing program of 2008 consisted of a total of nine sailing classes. Eleven races are scheduled for each event except for the 49er class, for which 16 races are scheduled from 9 August 2008 to 21 August 2008 of the coast of the Qingdao International Sailing Centre facing the Yellow Sea. Of the 11 (16) races, 10 (15) are scheduled as opening races and one as a medal race. The sailing was done on four different types of courses.
The Finn was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled. Only nine races were completed, including the medal race, due to lack of wind. 26 sailors, on 26 boats, from 26 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The Mixed Tornado was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled and completed. 30 sailors, on 15 boats, from 15 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The mixed 49er was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Sixteen races were scheduled. Only thirteen races were completed including the medal race due to lack of wind. 38 sailors, on 19 boats, from 19 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The men's Star was a sailing event on the sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled and completed. 32 sailors, on 16 boats, from 16 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The Men's RS:X was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled and completed. 35 sailors, on 35 boards, from 35 nations competed. Ten boards qualified for the medal race.
The Laser was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled. Only ten races were completed including the medal race due to lack of wind. 43 sailors, on 43 boats, from 43 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The Women's Yngling was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled. Only nine races were completed including the medal race due to lack of wind. 45 sailors, on 15 boats, from 15 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The women's 470 was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled and completed. 38 sailors, on 19 boats, from 19 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The Laser Radial was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled. Only ten races were completed including the medal race due to lack of wind. 28 sailors, on 28 boats, from 28 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race.
The Women's RS:X was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics program in Qingdao International Sailing Centre. Eleven races were scheduled and completed. 27 sailors, on 27 boards, from 27 nations competed. Ten boards qualified for the medal race.
Nathan James Wilmot is a sailor, and a member of the Australian sailing team. He has won five world titles along with teammate Malcolm Page in the 470 class. They also won the Olympic test event in Qingdao in 2007 and were considered favourites to win the 470 event at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
The Flying Dutchman was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1960 Summer Olympics program in Naples. Seven races were scheduled. 64 sailors, on 31 boats, from 31 nations competed.
The Men's 470 Class Competition was a sailing event on the program at the 1996 Summer Olympics that was held from 24 July to 1 August 1996 in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Points were awarded for placement in each race. Eleven races were scheduled and sailed. Each team had two discards.
The Women's 470 Class Competition was a sailing event on the program at the 1996 Summer Olympics that was held from 24 July to 1 August 1996 in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Points were awarded for placement in each race. Eleven races were scheduled and sailed. Each team had two discards.
The men's 470 was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2012 Summer Olympics program in Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, in the 470 dinghy Eleven races were scheduled and completed. 54 sailors, on 27 boats, from 27 nations competed. Crews of ten boats qualified for the medal race on course area Nothe in front of Weymouth, where each position scored double points.
The women’s 470 was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 2012 Summer Olympics program in Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, in the 470 dinghy. Eleven races were scheduled and completed. 40 sailors, on 20 boats, from 20 nations competed. Ten boats qualified for the medal race on course area Nothe in front of Weymouth, where each position scored double points.
Joanna Ayela Aleh is a New Zealand sailor. She is a national champion, a former world champion, and an Olympic gold medallist.
Naoko Kamata is a Japanese former sailor, who specialized in the two-person dinghy (470) class. Together with her partner Ai Kondo, she was named one of the country's top sailors in the double-handed dinghy for the 2008 Summer Olympics, finishing in a lowly fourteenth place. Outside her Olympic career, Kamata collected a total of two medals in a major international regatta, spanning the World Championships and the Asian Games. A member of Team ABeam's sailing roster, Kamata trained most of her sporting career under the tutelage of her personal coach Kazunori Komatsu.
Xu Yuan Zhen is a Singaporean former sailor, who specialized in the two-person dinghy (470) class. A member of the Singapore Sailing Federation, Xu trained for the Games under head coach Craig Ferris.
Helmsman: Nathan Wilmot
Crew: Malcolm Page
