Chinese Yin Jian reacts after winning China's first ever Olympic sailing gold. Yin was crowned champion of RS:X Women at the Olympic Sailing Regatta in Qingdao on Wednesday. [Song Zhenping/Xinhua]

China's Yin Jian was crowned champion of RS:X Women at the Olympic Sailing Regatta in Qingdao on Wednesday, winning her country's first ever Olympic sailing gold.

Yin used her knowledge of local water to the best effect. Despite a fourth and three fifth finishes by the first four marks, Yin Jian collected her composure and stormed back to the third by the finishing line, gaining 39 points overall to claim the title.

China has already won two Olympic silver medals in windsurfing, with Zhang Xiaodong in Barcelona in 1992 and Yin Jian in Athens in 2004, plus the Laser Radial bronze won by Xu Lijia on Tuesday.

Alessandra Sensini from Italy took the silver medal with 40 points overall and Bryony Shaw from Britain claimed the bronze medal totalling 45 points.