2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition - Overall

Paralympic disappointment for British sailors

Great Britain’s 2008 Beijing Paralympic sailing campaign has ended in disappointment in Qingdao today (Saturday 13 September).

Britain’s sailors went in to the final day of the six-day regatta still harbouring slender hopes of medals in all three classes but despite their huge efforts and some outstanding last day performances, the Brits ended in fifth, sixth and seventh overall across the three fleets.

The British Sonar three-person keelboat crew of John Robertson, Stephen Thomas and Hannah Stodel went into the final day of racing 12 points off the podium in eighth place and pulled out all the stops in their final two races to finish second in race 10 before rounding off their campaign with a hard-earned race 11 victory.

But although their mammoth last day effort saw them considerably cut the gap on the boats ahead of them in the overall standings it was not enough to force their way on to the podium and they finished sixth overall – their same result as at Athens 2004 – on 41 points just five points off a medal.

The Sonar event was won by German crew of Jens Kroker, Robert Prem and Siegmund Mainka who produced the upset of the day snatching gold from the week-long leaders Bruno Jourdren, Herve Larhant, and Nicolas Vimont-Vicary (FRA) at the death courtesy of the French crew scoring a final race DNF.

The SKUD two-person keelboat team of Niki Birrell and Alex Rickham ended their first Paralympics with a fifth overall, scoring a seventh and fourth today to close the regatta on 37 points. The SKUD class was won by American’s Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon Tucker.

Meanwhile, Helena Lucas in the 2.4mR one-person keelboat had to settle for a seventh place overall finish on her Paralympics debut, posting scores of 8,5 today to also end on 41 points. Gold was won by Canada’s Paul Tingley.

Stephen Park, RYA Olympic Manager, admits medals were a big ask going into the final day of racing but believes that the Brits have shown enough this week and at the Paralympic Test Event in May to be optimistic looking ahead to London 2012.

He said: “We are obviously disappointed that the results throughout the week have not been as good as we had hoped they would be but we have high quality sailors that have put together strong campaigns and made huge efforts in covering all the necessary bases in their respective build ups to the Games.

“When we look at the team’s preparation for the event there are very few areas where we feel we have come up short.

“We always knew that Qingdao was going to be a difficult venue for both the Olympics and Paralympics. At the Olympics we maybe won one or two more medals than we were expecting after what was a difficult opening week where as at the Paralympics we have lost out.

“At the Paralympic Test Event, with the same sailors, the same boats and the same set-ups and routines, the sailors showed they are more than capable of delivering at this level, coming away with two golds and a fourth. But for various reasons we didn’t deliver the required results this week and that is a disappointment to everyone in the team. Now we have to regroup and look ahead to 2012. ”

John Derbyshire, RYA Racing Manager/Performance Director: added: “The conditions in Qingdao were always going to difficult for all the sailors, both at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we still believe that the campaigns the Paralympians put together were as professional and complete as they possibly could have been to have given them the best chance of winning medals.

“The sailors and their support teams, who have given a massive commitment, will be deeply disappointed.

“At the RYA, we will need to look long and hard to see what lessons can be learned. Inevitably, UK Sport, who run a ‘money-means-medals’ World Class funding programme, will review funding for the Programme for the next four years.

“The UK Sport programme is a results-driven programme and about delivering medals, which on this occasion we have not done. The next few months will be challenging but we remain committed to success in the UK in 2012.”

For the lowdown on the ParalympicsGB team sailors and the most-up-to-date information straight out of the British camp in Qingdao, visit www.rya.org.uk/beijing2008

Irish Update (from Bernadette Fox)

Ireland’s sailors placed 9th and 10th overall

Ireland’s Paul McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Richard Whealey placed 9th overall in the 2008 Paralympic Games at the conclusion of their regatta in the Sonar class. On their final day’s racing they placed 12th and 11th.

Over the course of the Regatta they counted the following race results 7th, 10th, 10th, 5th, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 12th and 11th, discarding two 12th places as their lowest results.

Germany's Jens Kroker, Robert Prem and Siegmund Mainka took the Gold when they finished on 35 points, just one point ahead of the week's leaders France (Bruno Jourdren, Herve Larhant and Nicolas Vimont-Vicary) who took Silver. Australia's Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Graem Martin claimed Bronze.

In the Skud 18 class Amy Kelehan and John Twomey placed 10th overall in the 2008 Paralympic Games at the conclusion of their regatta. On their final day’s racing they placed 9th, 10th and 9th.

In total over the course of the Regatta they counted four 9th places, three 10th places and discarded two additional 10th places as their lowest results.

America’s Nick Scandone & Maureen McKinnon Tucker took Gold despite discarding their last race. Australia's Daniel Fitzgibbon and Rachael Cox took Silver followed by Canada's John Scott McRoberts and Stacie Louttit in Bronze place.

USA Update (from Marni Lane)

Scandone/McKinnon-Tucker Win Gold, Ruf Wins Bronze

2.4 mR sailor John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wis.) added a Bronze Medal to the U.S. Paralympic Team’s medal count today, joining Gold Medalists Nick Scandone (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Maureen McKinnon-Tucker (Marblehead, Mass.) on the podium at the 2008 Paralympic Regatta. Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Tim Angle (Marblehead, Mass.) and Bill Donohue (Brick, N.J.) finished eighth in the competitive Sonar class.

Ruf scored two fourth place finishes today, securing a coveted bronze medal in the tight 2.4 mR fleet. Going into the final day of racing today, the top seven players of the fleet were all within single-digit points of each other. Surrounded by previous Paralympic medalists and world champions, first-time Paralympian Ruf sailed two solid races today and proved his talent by claiming his place on the podium. (France’s Damien Seguin was the defending gold medalist, Germany’s Heiker Kroger won a gold medal in 2000, and The Netherlands’ Thierry Schmitter won bronze in 2004.)

“He’s over the moon,” said Head Coach Betsy Alison (Newport, R.I.). “He came into this as an underdog. For those of us who know Johnny, his work ethic and how hard he has been working to improve his speed, we are so proud.”

Ruf spent the last year training with Canada’s Paul Tingley, who won the gold medal, and his hard work paid off. Alison also credits his improvements to his coach, Marko Dahlberg (Ylojarvi, Finland), who, himself, is a 2.4 mR world champion. A year ago, Ruf finished tenth overall at the 2008 IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship in Rochester, N.Y.. “Since then, he has jumped to the forefront and onto the leader board,” said Alison. “It’s a fantastic achievement.”

Champions Scandone and McKinnon-Tucker clinched the gold medal in the SKUD-18 class yesterday with two races left in the series. While their substantial lead secured their medal yesterday, they decided to sail one race today to show their support for the rest of the fleet. They enjoyed the second race from the sidelines. “They showed great camaraderie and respect for their fellow competitors by sailing hard and sailing well,” said Alison.

Not only were they both first time Paralympians and first-time Paralympian gold medalists, McKinnon-Tucker entered the history books as the first female gold medalist in the history of the Paralympic Sailing Regatta. Their win was also the first time the U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team has won a gold medal. During tonight’s Medal and Closing Ceremonies in Qingdao, Scandone and McKinnon received a thunderous round of applause of appreciation from their fellow international competitors.

The Sonar team of Doerr, Angle and Donohue ended the regatta with a strong final race, in which they finished second behind Great Britain and way ahead of the rest of the fleet. After a tough first race, Alison advised the team to win the start of the next race, have fun and sail their hearts out -- and that they did. The breeze built over the course of the day, helping their boat speed. “They have heart and they have determination,” said Alison. “They came here to sail, and they gave it their all.”

“I’m proud of their work and effort preparing for this event over last couple years,” said Alison. “They’re all positive and smiling tonight, so I’m really happy for them.”

Throngs of spectators, sailors and support teams gathered for tonight’s medal ceremony, basked by idyllic pre-sunset light. “There’s so much energy that surrounds a prize giving, especially of this magnitude,” said Alison. “It was so exciting to see the sailors parade in behind the podiums.”

During the 2.4 mR medal presentation, Ruf grinned brightly while watching the American flag being raised. “His smile could have lit up the Empire State Building,” said Alison. When the national anthem played for teary-eyed Scandone and McKinnon-Tucker, the emotion felt by the entire U.S. Paralympic Team, who are all first time Paralympians, was palpable, said Alison.

“It was incredible to be able to experience it with them, especially because it’s been a long and hard road with the athletes,” said Alison. “It was a collective team effort, from families to coaches to support staff. Everyone who was there was part of that medal and victory today.”

The team will travel to Beijing to represent Sailing and Team USA at the Closing Ceremony on Wednesday, September 17.

More information and full results on the ISAF Paralympic Microsite