Para Worlds - USA SKUD-18 Rio 2016 selection tightens up

by Will Ricketson on 27 May 2016 Competitors at the 2016 Para World Sailing Championships (May 24-28) / Delta Lloyd Regatta experienced a light-air affair on Day 3 of racing, but regatta officials managed to conduct a full day of racing in Medemblik. The US Sailing Team Sperry continues to battle near the top of the fleet in the Sonar and 2.4mR classes, while the SKUD-18 Rio 2016 selection battle continues to heat up with over half the regatta now complete.

Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine) went into the day as the Sonar class leaders, and are now in second overall after scores of ten, two on the day. “You just need to look at the big picture all the time,” said Doerr, who will become two-time Paralympian in August. “You can have bad races, but you need to keep it in perspective. We worked hard in the first race to keep on the tails of the lead boats after an early foul, and in the second race to get a good overall score.”

The Rio 2016 selection series for the SKUD-18 is in its final stages, with just two more days of racing left at the Worlds. Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Cindy Walker (Middletown, R.I.) are in 10th overall, and continue to be the lead U.S. team in the regatta after six races. “We feel good about certain things we’ve done so far,” said Everhart-Skeels. “Our communication and teamwork is good. There is room for improvement in other areas, and we are ready to make those changes. This fleet is good, and we have to be better.” Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Beijing 2008 SKUD-18 gold medalist Maureen McKinnon (Marblehead, Mass.) are in 11th overall, just behind the other American boat. Everhart-Skeels and Walker must be the top U.S. Boat by at least two places overall at the Worlds to win selection.

Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.) had the best day of all US Sailing Team Sperry competitors, with scores of nine, one on Thursday. Smith, an America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran, is now in sixth overall. Smith was granted redress for races one and two, due to damage inflicted on his boat by a competitor.

US Results - 2016 Para World Sailing Championships:

Sonar (Paralympic Three-Person Keelboat)

• 2nd overall, Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine), U.S. Paralympic Team and US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
•
SKUD-18 (Paralympic Two-Person Keelboat)

• 10th overall, Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Cindy Walker (Middletown, R.I.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
• 11th overall, Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Maureen McKinnon (Marblehead, Mass.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)

Note: Everhart-Skeels/Walker must beat Porteous/McKinnon by two places or more to win Rio 2016 selection.

2.4mR (Paralympic One-Person Keelboat)

• 6th overall, Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.), U.S. Paralympic Team & US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)