Two Person Heavyweight Dinghy (Flying Dutchman), Open

Britain’s Rodney Pattisson had won this event in 1968 and 1972, and won the opening race, finished second in the second race, and led through three races, but then faltered badly, placing 18th, 12th, and 11th in the final three races and dropping back to a silver medal. The gold went to the West German crew of brothers, Eckart and Jörg Diesch, who did not win a race, but had three seconds, a third, and two fifths as their scoring races. Prior to the final race the Diesches noted that their centreboard was cracked. They were able to return to shore and replace it and get back to the starting line in time for the race.