KEY POINTS:
Frustrated team manager Russell Green was in no doubt that Andrew Murdoch was denied an Olympic medal because of the shortened Laser series.
"I have no doubt that the inability of this regatta to run another race in the Lasers cost Andrew a medal," said Green, referring to Murdoch's storming finish in the medal race, winning it clearly.
But the points garnered from the 9-race series were such that even winning the medal race (with double points awarded) wasn't enough to leapfrog Murdoch into the medals.
The series was scheduled for 10 races but, as well as the fickle Qingdao breezes which affected racing in most other classes, the Lasers also had a race called off when the committee boat had problems.
The anchor chain broke on the one day when conditions whipped up, meaning the organisers couldn't set a start line and start a second race.
Green acknowledged conditions were rough but any sailor at any regatta will tell you that a committee boat has to have adequate equipment and adequate replacement equipment.
Neither applied in this case. Green felt it cost Murdoch, as another race would likely have seen him continue his fast finish.
Murdoch himself was a little more philosophical. "I thought the race organisers always had conditions against them so maybe it was a bit of a miracle we even got nine races.
"I can't complain too much - the variables of sport are what I love. I am disappointed but I'm not going to give up on the sport or anything."
