Paralympics London 2012 - Busy day in Weymouth
by Canadian Sailing Team on 6 Sep 2012
SKUD18 sailing at the Paralympics London 2012 David Staley - IFDS
It was a busy day of racing at the London 2012 Paralympic Sailing Competition! The Sonar class pumped out three races in an effort to catch up and the other two classes (2.4mR and SKUD) both completed two races on this penultimate day of competition.
While podium spots are already guaranteed for some countries, others will have to give their everything to earn those elusive top three positions.
The battle continued in the 2.4mR today. According to IFDS reports, Lucas (GBR) was well back in 13th place on part of the first leg of the first race but the only woman in the fleet must have been even more disappointed when reigning Olympic champion Paul Tingley (CAN) arrived at the first mark to slip ahead of her. They battled back and forth to finish 8, 9 respectively.
In the second race of the day Tingley sailed cleanly away from the start, taking the right-hand side, chased by Lucas, who left Kroger to lead a pack heading left. Tingley was leading by the first mark, followed by Schmitter, with Lucas slotted into fourth place ahead of Kroger. But at the first mark all the main medals rivals were within 17 seconds of one another at the top of the fleet. On the fast downwind, IFDS reported that Lucas pulled into fourth place at one point, ahead of Tingley. She then blocked Schmitter, but Tingley slipped over the line ahead of her in third behind winner Kroger and second-placed Seguin. Tingley is in fifth place 10 points back from the podium.
The medals are already decided in the SKUD class secured by the Aussies, USA and Brits. The US and UK will battle it out tomorrow for silver and bronze while the gold medal is a done deal. Canadian SKUD team McRoberts/Louttit are currently in an impressive fourth place overall going into their final race.
The Dutch have already secured their gold medal today in the Sonar class with a dominating 20 point lead over their competitors. The remaining sonar teams will battle it out tomorrow including Canadians Millar/Lutes/Logan who are currently in
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