Danes Warrer, Ibsen keep 49er gold after protest

QINGDAO: Denmark's Jonas Warrer and Martin Kirketerp Ibsen were awarded the gold medal in the 49er skiff class yesterday after a jury rejected a protest over a broken mast, a borrowed boat and capsized vessels in rough waters of the Yellow Sea.

The decision meant that the silver went to Spain's Iker Martinez and Xabier Fernandez, who won the title in Athens four years ago. The bronze went to Germany's Jan-Peter Peckolt and Hannes Peckolt.

In Sunday's medal race in strong winds and rough conditions, the Danes broke their mast just before racing started. They rushed back to port and borrowed the skiff from the Croatian boat, which failed to qualify for the 10-boat medal races, and sailed to overall victory. Protests that were rejected yesterday included one from the race committee that the Danes had switched boats illegally.