Rio 2016 - Kiwis well placed after tough Day 3 at Paralympics

by Jodie Bakewell-White and Celia Snedden on 14 Sep 2016 New Zealand’s Parasailing Sonar team are back into third overall after three races sailed today in Rio at the 2016 Paralympic Games. The competition has now passed the halfway mark.

New Zealand's crew of Rick Dodson, Andrew May and Chris Sharp went 4, 6, 4 in the Sonar class racing today and are just three points behind USA, while the Australians hold the lead.

Yesterday conditions in Rio were light and tricky, but today brought stronger breeze.

There were white caps on the water as the boats headed out for a start just after noon, local time.

The Sonars raced on the Escola Naval course, on Guanabara Bay, which meteorologist which Roger 'Clouds' Badham forecast as 15-17knt SSW. As there was only one race sailed yesterday the race committee have decided to try and fit in three races today. (Physically this is very hard on our team and especially Rick Dodson). The Kiwi Team started today in fourth place overall.

Race 4: The NZ Team were coming fourth up until Mark 4, then slid back to seventh at Mark 5 then clawed their way back to finish in fourth place, and third overall.

Race Five: At the first mark in Race 5 the Kiwis were in ninth place, and slowly through the race managed to climb their way up to finish in sixth place and fifth overall. The Aussies are now leading overall by 4 points, then it is so close with only 6 points between second place and sixth place.

Race Six: NZ held fourth place for most of the race however they snuck up to third around Mark 2 then back to fourth for the rest and finishing fourth and back on third overall.

Good consistent sailing kept the New Zealand team in third place overall.

Dodson spoke after racing about the conditions and their performance: “We thought we were doing a smart thing we had the right sails on. Speed wise, I think we’re good.”

“There were gusts of 25 knots – quite breezy, so we’re happy enough. We got two fourths and a sixth so we’re happy.”

“We’re lying third right now, which is a really good goal I think – to medal would be fantastic.”

While the Australian team of Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Jonathan Harris have a five point leading margin, points on the leader-board are close through the top half of the 14 boat fleet and the remaining three days of the regatta will be crucial.

Talking about their team he said, “I’ve been very lucky, and through my sailing all these years I’ve done very well. These two guys – Chris Sharp and Andrew May – they’ve been very good, so I’m happy with our team. I think the whole team is good. I think that’s what it’s all about, and we enjoy it, we’re having fun.”

Yesterday Dodson’s team-mate Chris Sharp spoke very passionately about the positive experience of competing in Rio at the Paralympic Games and today Dodson was asked if he felt the same way;

“Of course, because I have MS and I’ve sailed America’s Cup and everything else, and I sort of think okay, I’ve got MS and I’m 55 years of age, and you know, I’m getting a bit old. But now I can do it again with Parasailing and I enjoy it and I enjoy all the people that are involved with this – it’s a good bunch. It’s really good.”

Dodson knows that winning a medal in Rio would provide the platform to bring Parasailing into the spotlight in New Zealand.

“I really do want to get Parasailing up and running a bit better in New Zealand. I think we can do well, and everyone who has a problem with their ability to do things, you know they can get involved with parasailing – give it a go, its fun!”

Three days remain with two races per day for the next two, and one race on the last day.

Rio 2016 Paralympic Games - Sonar Event top five

1st AUS Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden and Jonathan Harris – 12 points
2nd USA Alphonsus Doerr, Hugh Freund and Bradley Kendell -18 points
3rd NZL Richard Dodson, Andrew May and Chris Sharp – 21 points
4th NOR Aleksander Wang-Hansen, Marie Solberg and Per Eugen Kristiansen – 22 points
5th GBR John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas – 23 points

Full results click here

Rio 2016 Sonar Schedule:

Monday 12 Sept – 2 races
Tuesday 13 Sept – 1 race
Wednesday 14 Sept – 3 races
Thursday 15 Sept – 3 races
Friday 16 Sept – 1 race
Saturday 17 Sept – 1 race

More on the official website click here