International sendoff for Nick Scandone

by Lynn Fitzpatrick on 14 Sep 2008
As 42-year old Nick Scandone and Maureen Mckinnon Tucker were pushed away from the dock on Thursday, their coach and Scandone's childhood friend, Mike Pinckney gave the same confidence builder that he has always given them, 'Don't mess with the best, because the best don't mess.'

Scandone, strapped in the helmsman's seat of the Skud 18 and was struggling for breath from the degeneration of his lungs, one of the final stages of ALS, responded, 'Let's go and end this.'

When Scandone and Mckinnon Tucker returned to the dock, not only did the entire American squad congratulate them, but so did sailors from every country and every fleet at the 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition. By sailing a perfect score for the day, the Americans did not have to sail the final races of the regatta.

Their large team of supporters shared their feelings and emotions later evening.

Scandone's staunchest supporter, Mary Kate, his wife, kept from crying and said, 'It has been four years of hard work and a lot of struggles and now it is time to go home and rest.'

His brother, Vince, said, 'They (Nick and Mary Kate) give each other support and make sacrifices for one another that everyone wishes they could have in a relationship.'

Looking at his exhausted brother who was recline in his motorized wheelchair, Vince said, 'This has everything to do with ability.'

Although had locked up the Gold, and did not have have to sail either of the final two races of the series, he told Pinckney to rig the boat. Rig it up he did! Club burgees on the shrouds and American flags off the stern, Scandone went out in style...The Stars and Stripes on the spinnaker let all of the spectators know that Scandone and Mckinnon Tucker were champs.

Their second place finish in the final race of Scandone's life enabled them to improve upon their total scoreline for the regatta, because they were able to discard a third place finish sailed earlier in the series in the series.

Tears were shed in the viewing stand as the American flag was raised and the Star Spangled Banner was played for Scandone who has outlived his life expectancy by two years by remaining steadfastly focused on winning the Gold.

Scandone would be the first to say that the Gold belonged to everyone - Marueen Mckinnon Tucker and her family, friends and supporters; his wife, Mary Kate, his childhood friend and coach, Mike Pinckney; his brother, Vince; the rest of his family, the medical and coaching staff of US Sailing and his mom.

Scandone's mother, who introduced him to sailing, died during his Paralympic campaign and he never leaves the dock without a keepsake of her and Mike's encouraging words.

There wasn't a singe person at the reception following the closing Ceremony of the 2008 Parlaympic Sailing Regatta that didn't congratulate Nick and try to get their picture taken with him.

Nick Scandone will focus on the Closing Ceremony in Beijing, heading home to rest and thanking his supporters.