Tom Ashley of New Zealand approaches the down wind mark of race three of the RS: X men's windsurfing competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Qingdao, Shandong province in this August 12, 2008 file photo. Ashley won gold in the men's RS:X class at the Beijing Olympics. [Agencies]

France's Julien Bontemps got silver and Israel's Shahar Zubari took bronze in the event Wednesday.

Bontemps was just one point ahead of Ashley and Britain's Nick Dempsey after 10 races leading into the final, which counts double. Zubari was nine points behind the lead, but came back strong to take second in the medal race behind Hong Kong's Chan King Yin and clinch the bronze medal.