Sailing: Silver was worth the wait

Along with hockey fan Sue Shepherd, the Northern Advocate's other unofficial correspondent at the Olympics - keen sailor and photographer Stephen Western from Russell - has been following the action off the Weymouth coast as Kerikeri's Blair Tuke and teammate Peter Burling from Tauranga bagged a silver medal in the 49er class.

Their achievement was a triple milestone because it was Northland's first medal in 16 years, New Zealand's first sailing medal in 20 years and 100th medal in Olympic history. Stephen captured the celebrations.

Tuke, 23, said it had been "a really weird feeling" to have locked in the silver medal two days before the final race. Their win was starting to sink in, as was their milestone 100th New Zealand medal.

Tuke knew the 100th medal was coming up but didn't know who would end up winning it.

"It's just amazing," Tuke said.

"So many great people have won medals for New Zealand in the past and to be alongside them is pretty special.

"To be the actual 100th ones is quite crazy. We are quite proud."