The top three finishers from each of the heats advanced directly to the semifinals.
The remaining eleven teams were relegated to the repechage heats.
Taking place on September 27, the top three competitors in each of the two repechages advanced to the semifinals.
The top three finishers in each of the three semifinals (raced on September 29) advanced to the final.
Pre-Olympic favorite France was disqualified in the first semifinal for failing to make it to the starting line on time.