SKUD18 Arrives In The USA

by Marlieke EATON (As Amended By ISAF) on 16 Jun 2006 The first six production boats of the new Paralympic Two-Person Keelboat SKUD18 have arrived in the USA. The new boats were unloaded at Sail Newport in Newport, Rhode Island, and rigged by their new owners on site.

The SKUD18 (Skiff Universal Design) is similar in hull shape to the 29er with a big asymmetrical spinnaker and a bulb keel. The boats are fast, technical and challenging.

Four American teams and one Canadian team then took the boats on the water for three days of testing and training. Though the boats have now moved to various home locations, they will meet up again in Newport in August for the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team qualifier for SKUD18s. To date, four teams have purchased SKUD18s and announced their plans to compete for the Two-Person slot on the US Paralympic Sailing Team.

The four teams are:

* Karen MITCHELL and Mike GRIMM
* Maureen MCKINNON-TUCKER and Mark LEWIS
* Sarah SKEELS and Bob JONES
* Julia DORSETT and Scott WHITMAN.

Any sailors interested in owning a SKUD18 and competing for the US Disabled Sailing Team should contact US Disabled Sailing Team Coach Betsy ALISON at basailing@aol.com.