Disabled Sailing

The Paralympic Delta Lloyd Regatta ended yesterday. The English ladies remained on top of the 2.4 m Delta Lloyd Regatta with Megan Pascoe GBR as first and Helena Lucas GBR on the 2nd place. Barend Kol NED finished 3rd. In the Sonars, Udo Hessels NED is the winner ahead of Bruno Jourdren FRA and John Robertson GBR. The rankings.

The windy condition were above all at the pleasure of the Dutch teams. In the 2.4 m, Barend Kol NED is now only one point behind the leading Megan Pascoe GBR, but in the race for rank one is still Helena Lucas GBR as 3rd. Positive also the performance ot Sven Reiger AUT advancing on the 4th place, a newcomer in Paralympic racing. In the Sonars, the Paralympic Champions Udo Hessels NED und his team with three race wins. Bruno Jourdren FRA follows 6 points behind as 2nd. The results, the daily report and the video of the day.

The two Paralympic classes 2.4 m and Sonar engaged in the Medemblik Delta Lloyd Regatta have also completed their full program, thanks to the good sailing conditions. With 29 participants from 9 nations, the 2.4 m fleet has a remarkable size. The usual British lady favorites are already in top positions with Megan Pascoe GBR two points ahead of Helena Lucas GBR. The only one to follow this duo more or less is the 3rd-ranked Barend Kol NED. Lasse Klötzing GER on rank 4 is already 13 points behind.
Leaders in the Sonars are Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR followed by Jourdren/Flageul/Vimont-Vicary FRA with the same number of points. 7 teams participate.
All results and the reports.

The four Access single handers were on the water yesterday in rain and light winds. In the Access 303, Carlos Araujo ESP leads with just one point ahead of Gilles Guyon FRA. Lindsay Burns GBR is the clear leader in the Access 2.3, while Gérard Eychenne FRA is on top of the Liberty's. All other ranking lists, the event-website and the video of the day.

Very light winds prevailed on Lake Constance on the first day of the Access- and Skud-18-Europeans. In the morning, the single-hander Access 303, Access 2.3
and die Access Liberty sailed a race each, in the afternoon, the breeze was not strong enough for the first races of the two-person Skud-18 and Access 303. Lindsay Burns GBR was the winner in the (Access 203), Gérard Eychenne FRA in the (Liberty) and an Zoltan Pegan HUN in the (Access 303 Single). The daily report and the video of the day.

The Hyères Paralympic Worldcup ended yesterday as always without Medal Races. Heiko Kröger GER was the winner in the last 2.4m race as well and is the clear overall winner ahead of Helena Lucas GBR and Megan Pascoe GBR. The winner of 2012 Damien Séguin FRA missed the podium by just 2 points. With a French victory by Bruno Jourdren/Eric Flageul/Nicolas Vimonte-Vicary FRA ended the Sonar competition, ahead of Jens Kroker GER and Alexander Wang-Hansen NOR. The final report.

No change in the 2.4m overall rankings after yesterdays' two races in well established 15 - 20 kn conditions. Heiko Kröger GER keeps the lead ahead of Megan Pascoe GBR and Helena Lucas GBR. Aleksander Wang-Hansen NOR and his team replaced the tied Bruno Jourdren FRA on top winning both races in the Sonars. The report of the day.

The Paralympic Classes 2.4 mR and Sonar sailed also two races each yesterday. Heiko Kröger GER took the lead in the 2.4m ahead of the British women Helena Lucas GBR 2nd and Megan Pascoe GBR 3rd. The new leaders in the Sonars are Jourdren/Flageul/Viconte-Vicary FRA. Jens Kroker GER and Udo Hessels NED with their teams follow behind. The report.

The two Paralympic classes participanting in the Hyères Worldcup, the 2.4 mR and the Sonars, sailed two races yesterday. Leader in the Sonars is Udo Hessels NED with his team ahead of Jens Kroker GER and Bruno Jourdren FRA, in the 2.4m, Megan Pascoe GBR and Lasse Klötzing GER share the lead with one victory each. The report.

The only Paralympic class active at the Palma Trofeo was the one-person keelboat 2.4 m, ending the regatta yesterday without a Medal Race. Björnar Erikstad NOR ahead of Megan Pascoe GBR and Barend Kol NED was the final outcome. Lasse Klötzing GER was 4th, the newcomer Sven Reiger AUT 5th. 25 participants from 8 nations were racing. The ranking list, the daily report and the videos.

The Paralympic classes 2.4 m and Sonar concluded their World Cup competition in Miami yesterday as well. Thanks to two race wins, Megan Pascoe GBR climbed on rank 1 in the 2.4m. Allen Leibel CAN and Bruce Miller CAN complete the podium. Superior winners in the Sonars are Wang-Hansen/Solberg/Kristiansen NOR ahead of the two US teams of Andrew Fisher USA and Rick Doerr USA. All ranking lists and the report.

With Bruce Millar CAN, 2.4m, not sailing the last race of the day, Megan Pascoe GBR joined the Canadian on top. Only one point behind is Allen Leibel CAN. No changes in the Sonars, where Wang-Hansen/Solberg/Kristiansen NOR remain in the lead.
For details on the North American sailors see the US Sailing Team report and the Canadian Team report.All ranking lists and the report.

Bruce Millar CAN extended his lead in the 2.4m yesterday with another race win. Allan Leibel CAN and Megan Pascoe GBR follow on rank 2 at equal points. In the Sonars, Wang-Hansen/Solberg/Kristiansen NOR remain on top ahead of Twomey/Costelloe/Johnson IRL six points behind. All ranking lists and the daily report.

Bruce Millar CAN has taken the overall lead in the 17 boats' 2.4m fleet with two race wins. Björnar Erikstad NOR is 2 points behind. The Sonars have now also completed four races and Wanghansen/Solberg/Kristiansen NOR remain on top. Twomey/Costello/Johnson IRL are new on rank 2. All ranking lists and the daily report.

The Paralympic 2.4 m and Sonars enjoyed a good 4 bft breeze at their second 2013 World Cup event on Biscayne Bay. Björnar Eriksen NOR is first in the 2.4 m ahead of Allen Leibel CAN. A Norwegian team is also on top of the Sonars with Wang-Hansen/Solberg/Kristiansen NOR. The daily report and all ranking lists. This afternoon, the races of the day can be followed live on the Internet.

Sunday's competition on North San Diego Bay wrapped up another successful edition of the US Disabled Sailing Championships, hosted by the Southwestern Yacht Club. Titlists were crowned in three championship fleets in single-, double-, and triplehanded racing. In the 2.4 mR singlehanded fleet, Charles Rosenfield held off Joseph Hill to win his third Judd Goldman Trophy. Michael Strahle/Donna DeMarest captured the Martin 16 doublehanded fleet for the Chandler Hovey Trophy by a point over the hard charging team of Bob E. Jones/Ken Kelly. Andrew Fisher/Mike Hersey/Ryan Levinson finished an outstanding regatta with three more wins in as many races on Sunday to win the Capri 22 triplehanded fleet for the Gene Hinkel Trophy. Read the full report, watch the video and see the complete results.

Five races are complete in San Diego at the US Disabled Sailing Championships, hosted by the Southwestern Yacht Club. Sunday will be the third and final day of action on North San Diego Bay for these elite athletes competing in single-, double-, and triplehanded fleets. Competition could not be closer in the 2.4 mR singlehanded fleet, as Charles Rosenfield and Joseph Hill are in a tie for the lead. Rosenfield won both races on Friday, while Hill answered on Saturday by winning the first two races on Saturday. Michael Strahle/Donna DeMarest have a three point lead in the Martin 16 doublehanded fleet. They won all three races today and four bullets total for the regatta. The team of Andrew Fisher/Mike Hersey/Bradley Johnson have a one point lead in the Capri 22 triplehanded fleet. See the complete results and read the full report.

Perhaps, no other US Sailing National Championship demonstrates more spirit and courage than the U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships. The 2012 edition of this unique event is hosted by the Southwestern Yacht Club in San Diego, Calif. for three days of racing through Sunday. Sailors are competing in the area of North San Diego Bay in single-, double-, and triplehanded championship fleets. Two races were sailed on the opening day, Charles Rosenfeld is leading the 2.4m, Bob Jones/Ken Kelly are on top of the Martin 16 and Doerr/Tiernan/Ross are 1st in the Capri 22. See the complete results and watch the report of CBS.

The 2.4 mR World Championship ended yesterday with two races, both won by the former leader Stellan Berlin SWE, but Peter Andersson SWE defended the lead with just one point advantage. Megan Pascoe GBR, the first woman, finished 3rd, just ahead of the persuing duo Forsborn FIN and Heselius SWE. Bruce Millar CAN is on the 7th place. The final rankings and the event-website.

The three races of yesterday cleared up the positions on top of the rankings of the 2.4 mR Worlds. Peter Andersson SWE advanced on top with the day ranks 2/3/2, three points ahead of the former leader Stellan Berlin SWE. Another gainer of the day was Megan Pascoe GBR (1/7/6) moving up on 3rd. A trio, lead by Lennart Heselius SWE on the ranks 4-6 is already 6-10 points behind, but still with some chances for the podium in the last two races today. Bruce Millar CAN remains on rank 8. The results and the Event-Website.

Two more races were sailed yesterday by the tiny 2.4 mR yachts at the Italian Adriatic Coast. As most of the leading boats of day one finished with two-digit results, the fleet has come closely together and the ranks 1-7 are separated by 8 points only, and on this rank 7 is Bruce Millar CAN. New on rank 1 is now Stellan Berlin SWE. Jan Forsbom FIN advanced on the 2nd place. The ranking list and the event-website with illustrated reports from the previous days.

The 2.4 mR World Championship 2012 began yesterday in moderate conditions with three races. This year again, the Scandinavians dominate the fleet with Lennart Heselius SWE and Stellan Berlin SWE leading at equal points. Bruce Millar CAN is on the 10th place. 90 yachts from 10 nations participate. The ranking list.

Today begins the 2.4 mR World Championship at the Italian Adriatic Coast with non-handicapped sailors meeting the disabled persons. However, the three Paralympic Medalist from the 2012 London/Weymouth Games will not be present among the 90 participants from 10 nations. The event-website with an illustrated report.

No wind and no races on the last day of the Paralympics. Helena Lucas GBR is therefore the winner in the 2.4mR taking the Gold Medal in front of Heiko Kröger GER Silver and Thierry Schmitter NED Bronze. Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS had their Gold in the Skud-18 already before the last day. Silver goes to Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA and Bronze to Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR. A position change without racing happened in the Sonars, as behind the 1st and 2nd Udo Hessels/Marcel Van Veen/Mischa Rossen NED and Jens Kroker GER and his team, Aleksander Wang-Hansen/Marie Solberg/Per Eugen Kristiansen NOR advanced on rank 3, as John Robertson GBR and his team were penalised by the Jury because of an unallowed cleaning of the keel ! The report and all ranking lists.

The first two Paralympic Champions are known before the final races today already with Udo Hessels/Marcel Van Veen/Mischa Rossen NED winning in the Sonars and Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS first in the Skud-18. In the 2.4mR, there remains a theoretical possibility to replace Helena Lucas GBR on top, but she needs 'only' a 9th place today to secure the Gold Medal. Heiko Kröger GER and Thierry Schmitter NED separated by 2 points only will race for the other two Medals. Paul Tingley CAN and Mark LeBlanc USA are on the positions 5 and 6. In the Skud-18 too, a duel for Silver and Bronze will take place behind the winners Fitzgibbon/Tesch AUS, as the gap between Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA and Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR is also 2 points. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN remain on a solid 4th place. Even more open is the situation in the Sonars with four teams on the positions 2-5 behind the Gold Medalists within two points. Jens Kroker GER and his team are on the pole position with John Robertson AUS, Alexander Wang-Hansen NOR and Bruno Jourdren FRA closely behind. Paul Callahan USA is out of the Medal race after a 13th place yesterday. Bruce Millar CAN descended on rank 10. All ranking lists and the reports, as well as the report of the US Team.

Two more races were sailed at the Paralympics yesterday afternoon after some waiting for wind. With 8 of 11 planned races sailed, the ranking lists become clearer and clearer. Adding another race win, Helena Lucas GBR is now 11 points ahead of the 2nd-ranked Heiko Kröger GER in the 2.4mR. On rank 3 follows Thierry Schmitter NED, but the defending champion Paul Tingley CAN, best of the day on Tuesday, is now only 4 points behind a podium place. Damien Séguin FRA, another of the initial favorites, follows on rank 5. Mark LeBlanc USA is up on rank 6 finishing twice on 3rd yesterday. The 2.4mR report.
The leaders in the Skud-18 Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS have now an advantage of 4 points over the tied chasers French/Creignou USA and Rickham/Birrell GBR, who are 9 points ahead of John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN on the 4th position. The Skud-18 report.
Already 11 points is the lead of Hessels/Van Veen/Rossen NED in the Sonars, where the teams of Jens Kroker GER and Paul Callahan USA are on the position 2 and 3. To be noted, that the positions 3 to 7 are separated by 5 points only. Bruce Millar CAN and his team are on position 8.
All other details on the event-website and the report of the US Sailing Team.

Light winds prevailed on day three of the Paralympics 2012 in Weymouth GBR again. The ranking lists with the discards considered have now a clear structure. in the 2.4mR, Helena Lucas GBR - winning both races of the day - in now well ahead with a 9 points' lead on Heiko Kröger GER on rank 2 and another 3 points back Thierry Schmitter NED on rank 3. Damien Séguin FRA, only one point behind the Dutchman, has also all options for a Medal. Paul Tingley CAN remains on rank 5, while Mark LeBlanc USA is down on 8th after an OCS disqualification. In the Skud-18, there is a trio separated by 2 points only, well ahead of the rest of the fleet. Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS stay on top ahead of Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR and Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN follow on the 4th position. Superior leaders in the Sonars are Udo Hessels/Marcel Van de Veen/Mischa Rossen NED already 11 points in front of the second-ranked Jourdren/Vimont-Vicary/Flageul FRA, and closely behind follow the tied teams of Colin Harrison AUS, Jens Kroker GER and Paul Callahan USA. Bruce Millar CAN and his team are on position 9. All daily reports and the report of the US Sailing Team.

Tight racing yesterday in the two races of day two at the Paralympics in Weymouth, and in both heats, the outcomes were extremely close. Some of the top teams even had to approve disqualifications or penalties. The new 2.4mR leader is Heiko Kröger GER - here the report and the ranking list. Only one point behind is Thierry Schmitter NED, while Helena Lucas GBR dropped on rank 3 after two penalty circles. Well positioned is also Damien Séguin FRA with the ranks 1/4/4, but for the moment, he counts a disqualification in his overall points. Mark LeBlanc USA is 4th, Paul Tingley CAN 5th. Team of the day in the Skud-18 were Jen French/JP Creignou USA, winning both races and moving up to the two teams on top. Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS lead one point ahead of Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN follow on the 4th position. The report and the ranking list. After the disqualifications of Harrison/Harris/Churm AUS and Jourdren/Vimont-Vicary/Flageul FRA, Udo Hessels/Marcel Van de Veen/Mischa Rossen NED took the lead in the Sonars. Callahan/Brown/Johnson USA follow on rank 2, Colin Harrison AUS and his team are on rank 3 for the moment. Bruce Millar CAN and his team are on position 8. Upon the discards this evening, the ranking list will see some changes. The Sonar-rankings and the report.
The event-website and the US Sailing and Canadian Team websites.

No surprises on the first day of the Paralympics in Weymouth, where - in moderate winds - the favorites have taken the lead after two races in all classes. In the 2.4mR, Helena Lucas GBR leads ahead of Thierry Schmitter NED and Heiko Kröger GER. Mark LeBlanc USA is 4th, Paul Tingley CAN 7th. The co-favorite Damien Séguin FRA, ranks 1 and DSQ, follows on the 9th place of the 16 participants. As expected, there is a duel between Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR and Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS in the Skud-18. They share the lead with the day ranks 1 and 2 each. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN follow on the 3rd position. Jens French/JP Creignou USA are 4th. Harrison/Harris/Churm AUS are on top of the three-person-keelboats Sonar followed by Jens Kroker GER and Bruno Jourdren FRA with their teams on rank 2 with the same number of points. Paul Callahan USA and Bruce Millar and their teams are on the position 4 and 8. All results, the official reports and the daily report of the US Sailing Team.

The Paralympic Sailing Competition 2012 begins tomorrow on Saturday in Weymouth with the first two races. 41 boats from 23 nations participate. Here the official preview for the Sonars with Udo Hessels NED and Bruno Jourdren FRA as favorites. In the Skud-18, Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS and Alex Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR will probably duel for Gold. No new names on top of the 2.4m, where the World Champion Damien Séguin FRA will meet once more with the Paralympic Champion 2008 Paul Tingley CAN. The official ISAF-Paralympic-website.

The Kiel Week was also the last event of the Paralympic Worldcup 2012 in the 2.4mR (one-person keelboat), the Skud-18 (two-person keelboat) and Sonar (three-person keelboat). The Worldcup winners are Helena Lucas GBR in the 2.4mR, Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR in the Skud-18 and Udo Hessels/Marcel Van de Veen/Mischa Rossen NED in the Sonars. No Swiss participating. The ISAF report.

The Paralympic one-person keelboat, the 2.4 mR, finished the competions with two more races, without Medal Race. Damien Séguin FRA was again the best of the day and finished clearly ahead of Thierry Schmitter NED and Heiko Kröger GER. Paul Tingley CAN and Mark LeBlanc USA are on the positions 5 and 6. 35 sailors from 13 nations participated. The rankings and the report.

Not only the Olympic 49ers, but also the Paralympic 2.4 mR were racing yesterday. Damien Séguin FRA extended his lead by one point with a 2nd-place finish. Thierry Schmitter NED follows four points behind on second. The winner of the day Hans Asklund SWE replaced Heiko Kröger GER from the 3rd position. Only the German Press Release informs on the updated top-6 rankings for the moment.

Finishing 2nd in the only race of the day, the World Champion Damien Séguin FRA slightly extended his lead in the 2.4mR. Thierry Schmitter NED follows 3 points behind, while the winner of the day's race Heiko Kröger GER is new on rank 3. Paul Tingley CAN is 6th, Mark LeBlanc USA 7th. The results and the daily report.

The usual favorites occupy the top positions in the Paralympic one-person-keelboat, the 2.4 mR. Damien Séguin FRA leads after four races one point ahead of Thierry Schmitter NED, Hans Asklund SWE follows on rank 3. Mark LeBlanc USA is on rank 9, Paul Tingley CAN dropped on rank 11 after a DNF in the 4th race. 35 sailors from 12 nations participate. The results.

The Paralympic 2.4 mR class sailed two races on day one of the Kiel Worldcup Event in moderate conditions, and the declared favorites are already in front. Damien Séguin FRA leads ahead of Thierry Schmitter NED and Paul Tingley CAN. Mark LeBlanc USA is on rank 15. The /8/]results and the event website.

The storm was building to its peak during the night and by Friday morning the wind had not abated calling an early end to the Paralympic Sail for Gold Worldcup regatta. Thierry Schmitter NED finished first in the 2.4 mR ahead of Helena Lucas GBR with the same number of points. Damien Séguin FRA is on the 3rd place. Paul Tingley CAN is 6th, Mark LeBlanc USA 9th. In the Skud-18, Alexandra Rickham/Nikki Birrell GBR are clearly in front of John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN and Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS. Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Cregignou USA are 4th. The best Sonar team were John Robertson/Hannah Stodel/Steve Thomas GBR. The teams of Udo Hessels NED and Bruce Millar CAN completed the podium. Paul Callahan USA and his team finished 8th. The results, the daily report and the video of the day.

Too much wind for the three Paralympic Classes 2.4mR, Skud-18 and Sonar. Leaders after six races are Thierry Schmitter NED tied with Helena Lucas GBR in the 2.4mR, Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR in the Skud-18 and Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR in the Sonars. The results and the daily report.

Changes in the rankings also with the three Paralympic classes after the fresh breeze filling in yesterday and the discard result coming into effect. In the 2.4mR, Heiko Kröger GER and the Paralympic-Olympic Champion Paul Tingley CAN were the best of the day with the ranks 1 and 2 each. Overall, Thierry Schmitter NED remains on top at equal points with Helena Lucas GBR. Damien Seguin FRA follows on rank 3. Paul Tingley CAN remains 6th, and Mark LeBlanc USA stays on rank 9. Masterfully leading in the Skud-18 winning 5 of 6 races are Alexandra Rickham/Nikki Birrell GBR, and equally solid is the second rank of John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN. French/Creignou USA remain on position 4. The new leader in the Sonars is John Robertson GBR and his team, with Udo Hessels NED and Bruce Millar CAN following on the ranks 2 and 3. Callahan/Brown USA are 8th. The ranking lists and the report.

The three Paralympic Classes 2.4mR, Skud 18 and Sonar are also part of the Sail-for-Gold event at Weymouth and have completed four races by class so far. In the 2.4mR, Thierry Schmitter NED is the clear leader ahead of the World Champion Damien Seguin FRA, winner of both races yesterday, who is on rank 2. Paul Tingley CAN is 6th, Mark LeBlanc USA 9th. The best Skud-18 sailors are Alexandra Rickham/Nikki Burrell GBR ahead of McRoberts/Louttit CAN and Fitzgibbon/Tesch AUS. French/Creignou USA are 4th. In the Sonars, Udo Hessels NED and his team lead in front on Bruno Jourdren FRA and Aleksander Wang-Hansen NOR with the same number of points. Millar/Campbell CAN are 6th, Callahan/Brown USA 7th. The results and the report.

Some surprising changes on top of the rankings happened after the Medal Races of the Medemblik ISAF Worldcup Regatta 2012 yesterday. Owens/Flannigan IRL replaced in the 470 the long-leading Snow-Hansen/Saunders NZL having started prematurely. Bildstein/Hussl AUT took the Bronze Medal. Caleb Paine USA celebrated his first win in a Worldcup event. Björn Alansson SWE and Aleksey Selivanov RUS follow on the ranks 2 and 3. The dominating RS:X-windsurfer was Shahar Zubari ISR, leaving Louis-Benoít Hug FRA 20 points behind. Jean Le Coq FRA is third. In the RS:X-women surfers, Flavia Tartaglini ITA was the winner of the Medal Race and the overall rankings, ahead of Jessica Crisp AUS and Victoria Chan HKG. Bruno Jourdren/Nicolas Vimont-Vicary/Eric Flageul FRA are first in the Sonars, while Thierry Schmitter NED replaced Megan Pascoe GBR in the 2.4 mR.
The final positions of other NorAm sailors: Solvig Sayre USA 18th RS:X women, Paul Tingley CAN 5th and Mark Le Blanc USA 6th in the 2.4 mR and Bruce Millar CAN and his team, 5th, Sonars.
All ranking lists, the daily reports and the videos of the Medal Races.

The Medemblik ISAF Worldcup continued yesterday with three races by class. Shahar Zubari ISR came back in strength and took the overall lead in the RS:X-Windsurfers with two race wins. Pierre Le Coq FRA is on rank 2. No USA or CAN participation. In the RS:X-women windsurfers, Victoria Chan HKG is on the first place ahead of Flavia Tartaglini ITA. Solvig Sayre USA is 17th. On top of the 2.4mR Paralympics keelboats is Thierry Schmitter NED closely followed by Megan Pascoe GBR. Mark Le Blanc USA is 5th, Paul Tingley CAN 6th. The best Sonar team after 5 races is Bruno Jourdren's FRA. Bruce Millar CAN and his team are 5th. All results, the report and the video of the day.

Winning three races in a row, the World Champion Damien Séguin FRA was finally the clear winner in the 25 boats' 2.4mR fleet ahead of Helena Lucas GBR and Thierry Schmitter NED. Paul Tingley CAN is 7th, Mark Le Blanc USA 10th. In the Sonars, John Robertson GBR and his team are on top, ahead of Bruno Jourdren FRA. Paul Callahan USA and his team are 9th. Best of the SKUD 18 were Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tresch AUS with four race wins in six races. Birrell/Rickham GBR are 2nd, Creignou/French USA 3rd and McRoberts/Louttit CAN 4th. The report.

All three Paralympic classes could sail according to schedule in a 15-20 kn breeze after the windy start day, having reduced the program. In the Sonars, Bruno Jourdren FRA has taken the lead in front of Udo Hessels NED. Paul Callahan USA and his team are 8th, Bruce Millar CAN 12th. New on top of the 2.4mR is Damien Séguin FRA followed by Bjornar Erikstad NOR and Helena Lucas GBR on the positions 2 and 3. Paul Tingley CAN is 6th, Mark Le Blanc USA 8th of the 24 participants from 11 nations. Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR have taken the lead in the small Skud 18 fleet with two day wins. Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS follow on rank 2 with the same number of points. Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA are 3rd, McRoberts/Loutitt CAN are 5th. The daily report and the videos.

The Paralympic Worldcup races in the Bay of Hyères began yesterday in a fresh breeze around 25 kn increasing during the day. For the Sonars, scheduled for the afternoon, the wind exceeding 30 kn was too strong. Megan Pascoe GBR was the winner of the only 2.4mR race ahead of Helena Lucas GBR and the World Champion Damien Séguin FRA. Paul Tingley CAN finished 6th, Mark Le Blanc USA 9th. In the Skud 18, Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tresch AUS were the winners in front of Alexandra Rickham/Niki Burell GBR and Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA. The report and the videos.

Thierry Schmitter NED was not only the superior winner in the 2.4 mR Paralympic class with 7 wins in 10 races, but also the most dominant athlete of all classes, taking the Troféo Sofía home to the Netherlands. Helena Lucas GBR finished 2nd, Bjornat Erikstad NOR 3rd of the 2.4 mR. Mark Le Blanc USA missed the podium by one point and finished 4th. Paul Tingley CAN is on the 8th place. The results.

Thierry Schmitter NED continued his winning straight with two more race wins, and his overall victory is without doubt. Helena Lucas GBR and Barend Krol NED follow on the ranks 2 and 3. Mark Le Blanc USA is 5th, Paul Tingley CAN 8th. The results, the daily report and the video

Adding two more bullets, Thierry Schmitter NED extended his lead in the 2.4mR once more. His advance on Helena Lucas GBR on rank 2 is now 7 points behind, and another 7 points back, Barend Krol NED is on the 3rd place. Mark La Blanc USA is 6th, the Paralympic Gold-Medalist Paul Tingley CAN is on position 8. The
results and the report of the day.

The only Paralympic class present in Palma are the 2.4mR, In absence of the World Champion Damien Séguin FRA, it is Thierry Schmitter NED on top after four races, one point ahead of Helena Lucas GBR. Paul Tingley CAN is 7th, Mark Le Blanc USA 8th of the 24 participants from 11 nations. The ranking lists.

The first 2012 World Cup event in Europe will begin off Palma de Mallorca with the first races today, to be sailed in a very light breeze of up to 8 kn. All Olympic classes but the windsurfer (having just finished their Worlds) will be present. Top teams will start in all events. The official preview and the entry lists.

The six members of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team – Sailing were selected based on performances at US Sailing's 2012 Rolex Miami OCR, held Jan. 23-28, 2012, in Miami, Fla., and the IFDS Worlds held two weeks earlier in Port Charlotte, Fla. As the top-scoring eligible American athletes in their respective Paralympic sailing classes, Jen French and JP Creignou (Skud-18), Mark LeBlanc (2.4mR) and Paul Callahan, Tom Brown and Bradley Johnson (Sonar) have successfully completed qualification. Read the full report including a video interview.

The Paralympic Classes terminated their MOCR Worldcup event with two races yesterday. As expected, the winner in the 2.4 mR is the World Champion Damien Séguin FRA 25 points in front of Paul Tingley CAN. Barend Kol NED moved up on rank 3. Mark Le Blanc USA is 8th. In the Skud-18, the podium is Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tresch AUS ahead of Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR and Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN are 4th. Hessels/van den Veen/Rossen NED took the overall win in the Sonars with the day ranks 1 and 2, leaving the teams of John Robertson GBR and Aleksander Wang-Hansen NOR behind. Doerr/Kendell/Freund USA are 5th, Millar/Campbell/Lutes CAN 7th. The official report and the videos.

The three Paralympic classes have already completed the qualification races and will sail the Medal Races today. Damien Séguin FRA, with a 20 points' lead on the Paralympic Gold medalist Pau Tingley CAN, is already the winner in the 2.4mR at the MOCR. The fight will go on for rank 3, where Megan Pascoe GBR is only one point ahead of the tied trio Le Blanc USA, Kol NED and Finch USA. The victory in the Skud 18 will be decided between the tied Fitzgibbon/Tresch AUS and Rickham/Birell GBR. Udo Hessels NED and his team are the new leaders in the Sonars, but the chasers John Robertson GBR and Bruno Jourdren FRA are not far away. The daily report and the videos.

No changes on top of the three Paralympic Classes after yesterday's two races. Damien Séguin FRA clearly keeps the lead in the 2.4 mR. The new second - after the discard becoming effective - is Mark Le Blanc USA. In the Skud-18, Rickham/Birell GBR extended their lead on Fitzgibbon/Tresch AUS on 2 points. Bruno Jourdren FRA and his team kept his first place in the Sonars, despite of their weakest day so far. The daily report.

As in most of the ISAF World Cup events, the Paralympic Classes join the Olympic circuit, also in Miami, where the MOCR followed the Paralympics Worlds back-to-back. The World Champion in the 2.4 mR Damien Séguin FRA is on a clear leader position already, followed by Paul Tingley CAN and Megan Pascoe GBR with the same number of points. John Ruf USA is 7th, but watch out for Mark Le Blanc USA on 8th with two race wins and an OCS, In the Skud 18 is a duel between Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR and Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tresch AUS going on, separated by one point only. Ranks 3 and 4 go the US boats, 5th is Canadian. Another French lead by Bruno Jourdren FRA stays in the Sonars, where Paul Callahan USA follows 4 points behind on rank 2. The best Canadian team Millar is on rank 8. The daily report.

The Olympic and Paralympic Wordcup event two racing starts today on Biscayne Bay with 521 competitors from 41 nations on the entrylist. A moderate easterly breeze around 15 kn has been forecast promising perfect conditions. The official preview.

No changes in the top positions after the final races yesterday. Damien Séguin FRA added another bullet taking the World Champion title with a big advance on Thierry Schmitter NED silver and Paul Tingley CAN bronze. On rank 4 follow with the same number of points Helena Lucas GBR and Heiko Kröger GER. Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR stayed on top of the Skud-18. To mention the improved performance of Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA in the last races and winning the last heat, they took silver ahead of the tied Fitzgibbon/Tresch AUS. Alexander Wang-Hansen NOR and his team had the title in the Sonars secured already on Saturday, with Bruno Jourdren FRA finally with silver and John Robertson GBR bronze.
The final rankings and the reports and videos.

Two races by class were sailed yesterday on the penultimate day of the Paralympic Classes Worlds in a well established 3-4 bft breeze. The Sonar World Champions are already known, as Alexander Wang-Hansen/Marie Solberg/Per-Eugen Kristiansen NOR - with an 11 points lead - cannot be passed by the second-ranked John Robertson GBR and his team. Bruno Jourdren FRA and his team are 3rd, but four teams within 4 points fight for the Bronze medal . Damien Séguin FRA has a safe lead of 9 points on Thierry Schmitter NED, who - together with Paul Tingley CAN and another three points back Heiko Kröger GER will fight for the other medals. In the Skud-18, Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR are 4 points ahead of Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tresch AUS, and another point behind Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA. All results, the video and the report.

Another light wind day witha 5-8 kn breeze allowed for a reduced program with two races only. Alexander Wang-Hansen NOR and his team were the dominators of the Sonars and clearly took the overall lead with two bullets. Bruno Jourdren FRA descended on rank 4. In the 2.4mR, Damien Séguin FRA extended his lead on Thierry Schmitter NED to 8 points. The best of the day was Helena Lucas finishing 1 and 2, climbing on the 4th position overall with the same number of points as Heiko Kröger GER as 5th. Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR extended their lead in the Skud-18 on 5 points. All results, the report and the video of the day.

Circling and unconstant winds made sailing difficult yesterday at the Paralympic Classes World Championship, and leader changes happened in all three fleets. Damien Séguin FRA is now on top of the 2.4mR, four points ahead of Thierry Schmitter NED. Paul Tingley CAN is now 3rd, Heiko Kröger GER 4th. John Robertson/Hannah Stodel/Steve Thomas GBR led in the Sonars two points in front of Alexander Wang-Hansen NOR and his team. Bruno Jourdren FRA follows on rank 3. Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR are now on top of the Skud-18. The results and the report with video.

As announced, the rain front brought a 15 kn breeze with 20 kn in the gusts, and the Paralympic classes sailed three races each yesterday. The new leader in the 2.4mR is Thierry Schmitter NED, day ranks 1, 2 and 3, with a 7 points lead on Heiko Kröger GER. Only one point behind the German is the Paralympic Champion Paul Tingley CAN. Racing for a medal is also Damien Séguin FRA on rank 4 after the discarded result. In the smallest fleet, the Skud 18 with only 8 boats, the leaders are Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA one point ahead of Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR. Tightly packed are the leading teams in the Sonars with John Twomey IRL and his team tied on top together with Alexander Wang-Hansen NOR. Bruno Jourdren FRA folllows only one point behind. The results, the report and the .video of the day

The Paralympic Classes World Championship began yesterday in Florida in light winds, and only the One-Person Keelboat 2.4mR could sail two races on an inshore course. The Skuds and Sonars had their races postponed to today, when a passing bad weather front promises good sailing conditions. The Paralympic Champion Paul Tingley CAN took the lead with two race wins on day one, already 5 points ahead of Lasse Klötzing GER. Heiko Kröger GER follows as third, while one of the top favorites, Damien Séguin FRA, remains on the 13th position with the day ranks OCS and 2. The www.regattatech.com/scoring/action/showResultsRoster?clubCode=CHR&eventCode=IFDSWorlds12&divisionName=all]results[/url] and the report.

Tomorrow begin the World Championhips of the Paralympic classes 2.4mR (One-person keelboat), Skud-18 (2-person keelboat) and Sonars (3-person keelboat) in Florida. 42 yachts including all medalists from the last Paralympics participate. The event-website and a preview.

The first event of the 2012 ISAF Olympic Classes World Cup ended today with the Medal Races. The results in the different classes are: 470 men McNay/Biehl USA ahead of Belcher/Page AUS and Kivell/Ryan AUS. 470 women Rechichi/Powell AUS ahead of Kondo/Tamata JPN and Clark/Lihan USA. Maxwell/Farrar USA are 4th. 49ers Outteridge/Jensen AUS, RS:X-male windsurfers JP Tobin NZL closely followed by Dorian Van Rijsselberge NED, Zach Plavsic CAN, 4th in the Medal Race, is on rank 5. RS:X-female windsurfers Jessica Crisp AUS overtaking the leading Bryony Shaw GBR with a victory in the Medal Race. Finns Oleksiy Borisov UKR.
Please consult the next news item for the results of the Lasers. The keelboats did not compete in Melbourne. The complete result overview and the videos.

Racing goes on right now in rather light winds at the Sail Melbourne World Cup Event to complete the qualification phase by this evening Tomorrow, the Medal Races are on the program.
In the 470 men, McNay/Biehl USA are now on top three points ahead of Kivell/Ryan AUS and Belcher/Page AUS 5 points behind. Roberts/Martin USA 4th and Ramsay/Leigh CAN 7th are also qualified for the Medal Race. In the 470 women, the lead of Elise Rechichi/Belinda Stowell AUS on Ai Kondo/Wakako Tabata JPN is now 8 points. The fight for the Bronze Medal will be between Amanda Clarke/Sarah Lihan USA and Kathrin Kadelbach/Friederike Belcher GER. Eight points behind her compatriotes on rank 5 of the tiny fleet, Erin Maxwell/Isabel Farrar USA will hardly interfere in this fight for the last medal. The new first in the RS:X-men is JP Tobin NZL, while in the RS:X-women, Bryony Shaw GBR extended her lead. The clear favorites Outteridge/Jensen AUS only have a small advantage on Philipps/Philipps AUS and Burling/Tuke NZL in the 49ers. With one race posted on the web today up to now (racing still underway in a light south-westerly breeze of about 8 knots), Tom Slingsby AUS confirms his dominant - now 16 points - lead over Nick Thompson GBR. Ashley Brunning AUS, Tom Burton AUS and Lee Parkhill CAN separated by 4 points, will battle for the third place today and tomorrow's Medal Race. Charlie Buckingham USA on rank 14 can still make the top-10 if he can catch-up 7 points. All results, the report of yesterday and the videos.

Today's racing is proceeding according to program, contrary to yesterday, when racing was cancelled in the afternoon due to too much wind. Here the first results of today: In the 49ers, Outteridge/Jensen AUS have joined Burling/Tuke NZL on top. A close-up on top also in the RS:X men windsurfers with Zach Plavsic CAN and JP Tobin NZL with the same number of points. In the RS:X women windsurfers, Bryony Shaw GBR is one point in front of Flavia Tartaglini ITA. Best of the day in the Lasers Radial was again Lijia Xu CHN (3/1), extending her lead on Tuula Tenkanen FIN to 7 points. Alison Young GBR follows on rank 3. The Lasers Standard sail now in a Gold- and Silverfleet with Ashley Brunning winning the two races, jumping on rank 2, but Tom Slingsby AUS remains on top in the overall Laser rankings, as did Lee Parkhill CAN on rank 4. Charlie Buckingham USA advanced on rank 16. Reshuffle on top with Belcher/Page AUS taking the lead ahead of Kivell/Ryan NZL, McNay/Biehl USA and Ramsay/Leigh CAN in the 470 men after 6 races. No change on the first three ranks of the 470 women with RechichiStowell. Kondo/Tabata JPN and Clark/Lihan USA. The results overview and the event-website, a.o. with video-interviews by Tom Slingsby AUS and Nathan Outteridge AUS.

On day 3 of Sail Melbourne, the opening round of the ISAF Sailing World Cup, heavy winds brought a premature end to the day with gusts above 30 knots recorded on Port Phillip Bay. It was the complete opposite of Tuesday's conditions when light winds kept sailors ashore. The conditions today tested those crews that did go racing.
In the 470 men, Ryan/Palk AUS lost some of their advance on McNay/Biehl USA now only three points behind. Belcher/Page AUS as 3rd suffered a premature start. More good NorthAm results with Ramsay/Leigh CAN as 4th and Roberts/Martin USA as 5th. In the 470 women, the Olympic Champions Elise Rechichi (2008)/Belinda Stowell (2000) had their worst result so far and remain only one point ahead of Ai Kondo/Wakako Tabata JPN. Clark/Lihan USA, Kadelbach/Behrens GER und Maxwell/Kinsolving USA follow with the same number of points on rank 3. In the Lasers, the first three Standards for the moment are Tom Slingsby AUS, followed by Nick Thompson GBR, Leemin Ha KOR and Lee Parkhill CAN. Charlie Buckingham USA is down on rank 20. The Radials top three are Lija Xu CHN, Tuula Tenkanen FIN and Marit Bowmeester NED (no NorthAm). Zach Plavsic CAN is the leader after 4 races in the RS:X windsurfers ahead of Dorian Van Rijsselberge NED and JP Tobin NZL The results overview is continuously updated. In addition to the 470s and RS:X windsurfers, the Finns were racing up to now. The video of the day and the official report. Read also the Sailworld report from down-under.

Insufficient wind on Long Island Sound prevented the four fleets at the U.S. Disabled Championship from competing on Sunday's final round of racing. Fortunately, each fleet completed at least the three race minimum required by each division to constitute a regatta. The Sonar and SKUD-18 fleets completed four races and the 2.4 mR and novice Ideal 18 fleets finished three races. The 2011 U.S. Disabled Championship was hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club. Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), a 2008 Paralympian, with crew Brad Kendall (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine) won the Sonar fleet. Scott Whitman (Brick, N.J.) and Julia Dorsett (Boca Raton, Fla.) took a two point lead after posting bullets in both races Saturday to win the SKUD-18 fleet. They won three of the four races total. Charles Rosenfield (Woodstock, Conn.) won the 2.4 mR division by three points over Daniel Evans (Miami, Fla.). Read the full report and see the final results.

Light breezes prevailed again on Saturday for the four fleets competing on Long Island Sound at day two of the 2011 U.S. Disabled Championship, hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club. The Sonar and SKUD-18 fleets completed two more races for a total of four. The 2.4 mR and Ideal 18 fleets managed just one race. Sailors were greeted with light and shifty winds at approximately five knots under humid conditions. Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.) with crew Brad Kendall (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine) held on to their lead from Friday in the Sonar fleet by winning race three and finishing third in race four. Scott Whitman (Brick, N.J.) and Julia Dorsett (Boca Raton, Fla.) took a two point lead after posting bullets in both races today in the SKUD-18 fleet. Daniel Evans (Miami, Fla.) won the only race conducted on the 2.4 mR course to pull within three points of leader Charles Rosenfield (Woodstock, Conn.), who finished second today. Read the full report and see the complete results.

Light breezes and approaching thunder storms put a damper on day one of the U.S. Disabled Championships today on Long Island Sound. Four fleets finished two races on Friday. Rick Doerr with crew Brad Kendall and Hugh Freund have a two point lead in the Sonar fleet after finising second and first. Meanwhile, Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett are tied with Sarah Everhart Skeels/John Ruf in the lone SKUD-18 fleet. Charles Rosenfield posted a pair of bullets in the 2.4 mR fleet to take a four point advantage. Skipper Edward King with crew Bill Sandberg and Jim Scott won both races in the developmental Ideal 18 division. See the complete results.

Plenty of competitive drive and fortitude will be on display in Larchmont, N.Y. this weekend at the 2011 U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships. Sailors representing three countries, including several Paralympic hopefuls will compete on Long Island Sound in the single-, double- and triplehanded classes chosen for the Paralympic Games. The 2011 U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships is hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club and American Yacht Club. The start of racing begins Friday, September 23 and concludes Sunday, September 25. The U.S. Disabled Sailing Championship is a US SAILING National Championship event. Read the preview and see whi is coming
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As expected the final three races of the 2.4m North Americans didn't change anything on the podium. Allan Leibel CAN posted another victory and is winning the championship by a comfortable margin of 12 points on Bruce Millar CAN. Jerry Wendt CAn completes the podium while John Ruf USA moved up to 3rd after discarding his two premature starts in the beginning of the series. See the complete results. Racing in the Mobility Cup Classes Martin 16 and Access Liberty continues today. Pierre Richard CAN and Marc Villeneuve CAN still are separted by only one point at the top of the Martin 16 Gold fleet. In the Access Liberty Fleet Geneviève Wickham AUS extendes her lead to four points no. See the event web site.

There were no surprises, just a great day of sailing, as the ninth annual C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta, North America's premier event for sailors with disabilities, concluded after three days of racing on Narragansett Bay. The standings leaders in the three Paralympic classes - the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD-18, and the singlehanded 2.4 Metre - were confirmed as winners once a dying north-westerly breeze gave way to a southerly that allowed three races to be held for the completion of the series. See the complete results and read the full report (PDF).

Conditions were wet and wild on Narragansett Bay as the second day of racing got underway at the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta . The ninth edition of the premiere event for sailors with disabilities has attracted over 60 competitors racing in four classes of boats: the three-person Sonar, the two-person SKUD-18, the singlehanded 2.4 Metre and the four-person J/22. Mark Leblanc (New Orleans, La.) had perfect day in the 2.4 Metre, winning all three races to retain the lead position in the 12-boat fleet with eight points. In the SKUD-18s, Scott Whitman (Brick, N.J.) and Brooke Thomson (Newport Beach, Calif.) won three out of four races today to retain the standings lead with seven points. In the Sonar class, Paul Callahan (Newport, R.I. /Cape Coral, Fla.), Tom Brown (Castine, Maine) and Brad Johnson (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) lead with seven points after eight races. Read the full report and see the complete results.

Enabling sailors with disabilities to reach their personal competitive goals has always been central to the mission of the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta. The first day of racing, which was held in puffy conditions, with gusts up to 20 knots, saw five races completed by the blind sailors who are competing on J/22 for the 2011 Sail Newport Blind Sailing National Championship. They will complete their series today, Monday, August 22, while the competitors in the Paralympic classes – 2.4 Metre, SKUD-18 and Sonar – got in four races yesterday and continue racing through Tuesday, August 23. In the seven-boat J/22 fleet, the Texas team skippered by Karen Penrose (Shore Acres) and James O'Laughlin (Clear Lake) with David Atkinson and Scott Tuma (both Shore Acres), holds a one-point lead over 2009 Blind Sailing World Champion Jason Wallenstein and Bruce Howell (Needham, Mass.). The 2.4 Metre class has the largest contingent racing with 12 boats and is led by Mark Leblanc (New Orleans, La.). In the SKUD-18s, Scott Whitman (Brick, N.J.) and Brooke Thomson (Newport Beach, Calif.) won all four races and lead the standings, while in the Sonar class, Paul Callahan (Newport, R.I. /Cape Coral, Fla.), Tom Brown (Castine, Maine) and Brad Johnson (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) lead with five points. Read the full report and see the complete results.

No changes on top of the rankings of the 2.4 mR Worlds at Aalesund NOR during the last three races yesterday. Adding another bullet, Stellan Berlin SWE took the title prematurely ahead of Marko Dahlberg FIN and Rikard Bjurström FIN getting Silver and Bronze. As best of the day with the ranks 1, 2 and 7, John Ruf USA finished as best of the Paralympic circuit on rank 5 overall. The final rankings and the report.

Difficult racing yesterday in light winds and a strong current but nevertheless, three races were completed with Stellan Berlin SWE as man of the day with two victories. With 7 points' lead on Marko Dahlberg FIN, he is in the pole position for the title, but there are still 4 races left on the program for today. Burjström FIN 4 points behind Dahlberg is also on a good position for a medal. The Paralympic Goldmedallist Paul Tingley CAN is now 6th just ahead of the best-ranked woman Megan Pascoe GBR. John Ruf USA is down on rank 10 after a 17th in race 8. The results and the report of the day.

After a first day with very light winds, the breeze was back in Norway yesterday with 16-18 kn allowing to sail four races. The man of the day was Stellan Berlin SWE, taking the lead with three bullets, ahead of Marko Dahlberg FIN 8 points behind and Megan Pascoe GBR, first woman and best-ranked paralympic sailor on rank 4 in front of John Ruf USA 6th and Paul Tingley CAN 10th of the 57 participants. The results and the report of the day.

One race was finally sailed late in the afternoon in very light dying winds, so that the course had to be shortened. A big shift on the final leg brought Marko Dahlberg FIN on top. Ranks 2 and 3 went to John Ruf USA and Janne Laine FIN. Only 20 of the 58 participants finished this first race of the Worlds, as many, among them some of the favorits for the title such as the Paralympic Champion Paul Tinguely CAN, were of the opinion, that this race had been cancelled. The results and the report of the day.

The 2.4 mR World Championship with handicapped and non-handicapped skippers racing began yesterday at Aalesund NOR with the Practice Race. In a light breeze, Hans Ekhol SWE was the winner ahead of Hans Asklund SWE and Megan Pascoe GBR. The Paralympic-Gold-Medalist Paul Tinguely CAN finished 4th of the 58 participants from 9 nations. The results and the report.

A breeze exceeding 30 kn on the last day of the IFDS Paralympic World Championships on the Olympic courses in Weymouth GBR made racing on the last day impossible. Thursday evening results communicated yesterday (scroll down on Friday news for USA/CAN details) become the official classifications. Thierry Schmitter NED and André Rademaker NED are on the ranks 1 and 2 in the 2.4 mR, Bronze goes to Helena Lucas GBR. In the Skuds 18, Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR had their title already on Wednesday in the pocket. Silver and Bronze goes to Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Greignou USA and Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS. In the Sonars, Cohen/Vexler/Efrati ISR are the Champions ahead of Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR and Wang-Hansen/Kristiansen/Solberg NOR. All ranking lists and the final report.

Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR are the World Champions in the Skud 18s, their third title in a row, on the penultimate day of the event already. Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou USA and Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS will fight for Silver or Bronze today. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN stay on position 9. In the other two Paralympic classes however, the situation is wide open. In the 2.4 mR, the fight for the title will be between the defending champion Thierry Schmitter NED and his training mate André Rademaker NED, and close battles will also be for Bronze as the 3rd (Helena Lucas GBR) and 8th (Heiko Kröger GER) are separated by 8 points only. Mark Leblanc USA 4th and John Ruf USA 5th are also in this battle group. Jackie McRoberts CAN remains on rank 34. In the Sonars, the first four teams have a chance to win a medal. At present, Cohen/Vexler/Efrati ISR are the leaders followed by Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR and the tied Wang-Hansen/Kristiansen/Solberg NOR and Jourdren/Flageul/Vimont FRA. Callahan/Brown/Johnson USA and Doerr/Kendell/Freund USA on the ranks 5 and 6 are outside of the medals. Millar/Tingley/Campbell CAN occupy the 13th place. The results and the report.

After a first half of the Championship with light winds, the Olympic venue 2012 showed another face yesterday with a breeze above 20 kn. With the day ranks 1 and 2, Thierry Schmitter NED is on a solid track to defend his title in the 2.4 mR, as his advantage on the second-ranked Helena Lucas GBR is now already 17 points with three races to go. Andre Rademaker NED follows on the 3rd place, and - with the day ranks 1 and 3 - there is Damien Séguin FRA strongly coming from behind now on rank 5 as another contender for a medal, just ahead of the two Americans Mark LeBlanc USA on rank 6 and John Ruf USA (who did not compete in the last race) who dropped on rank 7. Jackie McRoberts CAN stays on rank 33. No change in the Skud 18, where Rickham/Birell GBR maintain their lead in front of Fitzgibbon/Tesch AUS and French/Creignou USA. On rank 4, five points behind their compatriotes are Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett. John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN are on the 9th position. The day's best of the Sonars Cohen/Vexler/Efrati ISR approached Jourdren/Flageul/Vimon FRA on 2 points, and Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR follow not far away. Doerr/Kendell/Freund USA, sailing their last race as discard (a 13th place), are on rank 7, Millar/Tingley/Campell CAN are 14th. The situation remains exciting until the end. All rankings and the report of the day.

The US Paralympic-medalist John Ruf USA was the man of the day in the 2.4 mR finishing twice on rank 2 on a rainy day with inconstant winds. With this exploit, he is now on the 2nd place overall, only three points behind the leading defending champion Thierry Schmitter NED. The third Helena Lucas GBR has already a certain deficit. Jackie McRoberts CAN is 37th. In the Skud 18, Rickham/Birell GBR continue their ride on top. Fitzgibbon/Tesch AUS and newly French/Creignou USA follow on the ranks 2 and 3. John McRoberts/Jackie Louttit CAN are 8th. In the Sonars, Bruno Jourdren/Eric Flageul/Nicolas Vimont FRA, best of the day and discarding the worst result, are now on the first place. Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR and Doerr/Kendell/Freund USA follow leading a very crowded chaser group. Millar/Tingley/Campbell CAN are 13th. The results and the report of the day.

Big changes on day two of the Paralympic Worlds in the 2.4 mR, where co-favorite Thierry Schmitter NED took the lead with two bullets after a flopped first day. Mark Leblanc USA, Megan Pascoe GBR and Helena Lucas GBR follow closely packed on the ranks 2-4. The 5th Lasse Kloetzing GER is already at some distance. Jackie McRoberts CAN is 32nd. In the Skud 18, Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR stay on top but with two race wins, Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS are getting close. Whitman/Dorsett USA follows on rank 3. McRoberts/Louttitt CAN follow on rank 9. The new leaders in the Sonars are Robertson/Stodel/Thomas GBR in front of Cohen/Vexler/Efrati ISR tied with Hessels/Van De Veen/Rossen NED and - 2 points behind - Doerr/Kendell/Freund USA. Millar/Tingley/Campbell CAN are on the 8th place. Bruno Jourdren FRA and his team dropped on position 10 after a disqualification. The daily report.

The joint IFDS World Championship of the three Paralympic classes began yesterday on the 2012 Olympic waters of Weymouth GBR in light winds. After a start postponement, two races by class were sailed. In the 2.4 mR, Helena Lucas GBR is on top with the day ranks 3 and 4, closely followed by Mark Leblanc USA and Megan Pascoe GBR. The best Canadian is Jackie Roberts CAN, rank 35. In the Skud 18, Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR are on the first place with two race wins, well ahead of Wei-Qiang Tan/Kok-Liang Lim SIN and McRoberts/Louttit CAN. The best US sailors are Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett USA. In the Sonars, the leaders are Hessels/Van Den Veen/Rossen NED two points ahead of the tied three teams of Bruno Jourdren FRA, John Robertson GBR and Vasilis Christoforou GRE. On the ranks 5 and 6 are the teams of Rick Doerr USA and Bruce MILLAR CAN (with Paul Tingley). The results and the report of the day.

Today, the three Paralympic Classes 2.4 m, Skud 18 and Sonar begin with their World Championships on the 2012 Olympic waters of Weymouth GBR . In addition to the Championship titles, the nation berths for the 2012 Paralympics are at stake. Yesterday's Practice Races were won by Niko Salomaa FIN (2.4m, 46 participants, 20 nations), by Tan/Lim CHN (Skud 18, 21 teams, 13 nations) and by Wang-Hansen/Kristiansen/Solberg NOR (23 teams, 20 nations). The official preview.
CAN and USA are well represented in all three classes with
in the 2.4 mR John Ruf, Mark Leblanc and Daniel Evans (all USA), Christine Lavalle and Jackie McRoberts (both CAN),
in the Sonars Bruce Millar/Paul Tingley/Logan Campbell CAN, and for the USA Paul Callahan/Thomas Brown/Bradley Johnson, Rick Doerr/Brad Kendell/Hugh Freund, Albert Foster/Michael Hersey/David Burdette,
in the Skud 18 John McRoberts/Stacie Louttit CAN, and for the USA Jennifer French/Jean-Paul Creignou and Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett.

Tomorrow Saturday, the Olympic and Paralympic classes will have the first starts at the 129th Keel Week. Most of the top sailors are on the entry list of the last Worldcup event 2011. However, France and England, two of the leading nations in Olympic sailing, will not participate at Kiel, and the US will be represented by some individual athletes only. The entry lists and the event-website. Tormorrow, the first races will be sailed in moderate winds, in the following days, the wind forecast announces a freshening-up Westerly breeze with up to 30 kn !

Yesterday was the final day of racing in the Paralympic classes – 2.4mR (9 races in total), Sonar (10 races) and SKUD-18 (8 races) – at the Skandia Sail for Gold, in Weymouth GBR in rather light winds. No change in the top three of the Sonars where the leader John Robertson GBR and his team is 3 points ahead of the tied teams of Udo Hessels NED 2nd and Bruno Joudren FRA 3rd. Despite of a brilliant win in the last race, Rick Doerr USA and his team remain on rank 5 behind the 4th Wang-Hansen NOR. No change on top the 2.4 m IJ, where Damien Séguin FRA defended his lead against the Andre Rademaker NED, winner of the last race, second, by one point. The former leader Thierry Schmitter NED came back as 3rd on the podium with an excellent 1 and 4 score last day, relegating the tied Paul Tingley CAN on rank 4. Mark LeBlanc USA had a mediocre day with the ranks 7 and 12 descending on the 7th position. No change for the top four in the Skud 18, with Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS, Rickham/Birell GBR, Dunross/Cox AUS on the podium and Whitman/Scott USA on rank 4. All results and the report.

Less wind again - 15-18 kn - on day 4 of the Sail-for-Gold Regatta off Weymouth and all three Paralympic classes could sail three races yesterday. No change in the top three of the Sonars where the leader John Robertson GBR and his team have now a 5 points advantage on Udo Hessels NED, Bruno Joudren FRA is another 4 points behind on rank 3 tied with the 4th Aleksander Wang-Hansen NOR on rank 4. The 5th, Rick Doerr USA, is another 13 points back. In the 2.4 m IJ, Damien Séguin FRA is the new leader, followed by Paul Tingley CAN and Andre Rademaker NED on the 3rd place. The former leader Thierry Schmitter NED, with Z-flag 20% penalties in all three heats, is down on rank 4, followed on rank 5 by Mark LeBland USA. In the Skud 18, the three top teams Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS, Rickham/Birell GBR and Dunross/Cox AUS are on a safe way for the medals, as the 4th ranked Whitman/Scott USA are already 9 points behind. Mc/Roberts/Hopkins CAN are on the 6th place. All results and the report.

In the three Paralympic classes, only the Sonars sailed yesterday at the Sail-for-Gold Regatta at Weymouth. The 20 kn plus and the heavy chop were too strong for the Skuds and 2.4 m. In the Sonars, John Robertson GBR and his team leads after 5 races, followed by the teams of Udo Hessels NED and Bruno Joudren FRA. Team Rick Doerr USA is on rank 7. In the 2.4 m IJ with 4 races in the books, Thierry Schmitter NED leads tied with Damien Séguin FRA. Andre Rademaker NED is 3rd. Paul Tingley CAN and Mark Leblanc USA are on the ranks 4, resp. 7. In the Skud 18 with only 3 races sailed, Daniel Fitzgibbon/Liesl Tesch AUS ahead of Rickham/Birell GBR and Dunross/Cox AUS. French/Creignou USA are 4th, McRoberts/Hopkin CAN 6th. All results and the report

A short race day yesterday as an upcoming thunderstorm forced the Race Committee to cancel further races after one heat sailed on Lake Garda. The event-website does not yet contain updated rankings but a report has been posted.

The three Paralympic classes sailed on race each in the tricky, light afternoon breeze, with no changes at all when it comes to the results. Damien Séguin FRA added another win to his score line in the 2.4 m R single-handed keelboat, as did Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR in the Skuds and Bruno Jourdren FRA with his team in the Sonars.

Two more races yesterday for the Paralympic classes in a moderate shifty breeze. In the 2.4 m R single-handed keelboat, Damien Séguin FRA added a 1st and a 2nd place to his account and remains the undisputed leader. Unchanged also the top position in the Skuds, where Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR added two more wins, and also with the Sonars, where Bruno Jourdren FRA and his team, ranks 1/4 yesterday, clearly remain on the 1st place.

A windy day also for the Paralympics classes who completed two races each. In the sof.ffvoile.net/results/24mr.htm]2.4 m R[/url] single-handed keelboat, Damien Séguin FRA is the leader with two race wins. Making his debut for this season's Sailing World Cup, Mark LeBlanc USA had a consistent day, finishing 5-5 for 4th overall. In the Skuds, Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR, also with two bullets, are the clear leaders. Bruno Jourdren FRA and his team dominated the Sonars also with two first ranks in yesterday's races. The team of Rick Doerr USA took two 5th places for the day and are in 7th overall.

Two races were sailed on the last day of the Paralympic 2.4 m keelboats, ending the 2011 Palma Wolrd Cup event as first. Finishing again with the ranks 1 and 2, Thierry Schmitter NED , having lead the fleet since the first race, made everything clear to win ahead of Heiko Kröger GER and Megan Pascoe GBR completing the podium. The final rankings, the video of the day and the daily report.

Both with 1/2 race ranks yesterday, Thierry Schmitter NED and Heiko Kröger GER consolidated their top positions yesterday. The two will fight for the title today with Schmitter leading with 4 points. The results and the daily report.

Heiko Kröger GER as best of the day with the ranks 3 and 1 advanced to the 2nd place behind Thierry Schmitter NED 4 points ahead. Megan Pascoe improved of the 3rd position. The rankings and the report of the day.

With the first day's high wind speeds of 25-plus knots behind them, the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics laid down a solid day two in much lighter conditions across the 10 Olympic classes racing at Princess Sofia Trophy. Two additional second-place finishes moved US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR golden girl Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) into the overall lead in the 78-boat Laser Radial class, while in the standard Laser rig class, Rob Crane (Darien, Conn.) turned in 9-2 finishes to join the top-10. Both USSTAG women's match racing teams in the Elliott 6m – Team Barkow and Team Tunnicliffe – went undefeated in their respective round robins and advance to the Gold Round. See the report of US-Sailing-Team-Alphagraphics and the personal web sites of the athletes.

Both with a 1/3 record yesterday, Thierry Schmitter NED and Barend Kol NED have moved to top of the 2.4m Paralympic keelboat. While Schmitter is in command with a 5 points lead, Kol NED on rank two is tied with Heiko Kröger GER, while Megan Pascoe GBR is now another point behind. The daily report.

With gusts over 30 kn, the Troféo Princesa Sofía began in a much stronger wind than predicted. No problem for the big-breeze specialist taking clear control over their opponents in most of the fleets. Giles Scott GBR is on rank 1 with the Finns with two bullets (in his group) leading ahead of Tapio Nirkko FIN and Pieter-Jan Postma NED. The Olympic Champion Ben Ainslie GBR is on position 7 after two 9th race ranks. In the RS:X-men, Dorian Van Rijsselberge NED booked also two race wins with Nick Dempsey GBR and Toni Wilhelm GER on the 2nd and 3rd places. Fletcher/Sign GBR in the 49ers were also 1/1 dominators in front of Heil/Plössel GER and Draper Greenalgh GBR. No surprise that Tom Slingsby AUS as double winner in his Laser group is on one overall, followed by Simon Grotelüschen GER (2/3) und Wannes Van Laer BEL (5/1). And there were more English domintors with Percy/Simpson GBR (1/1) in the Starboats ahead of Kusznierwicz/Zycki POL and Scheidt/Prada BRA. Two bullets also for Evi Van Acker BEL in the Lasers Radial with Annalise Murphy IRL and Marit Bouwmeester NED on the positions 2 and 3. A surprise however on top of the 470 men, where the two newcomers Snow-Hansen/Saunders NZL, both age 20, took two race wins ahead of the experienced Rogers/Grube GBR and Asher/Willis GBR. And last but not least, also Ai Kondo/Wakako Tabata JPN booked two victories in the 470 women, followed by Cohen/Clark ISR and Clark/Hughes GBR. The veteran Alessandra Sensini ITA leads in the RS:X-women with the ranks 1/2. In Women's Matchracing, all 24 teams sailed 3 or 4 flights in three groups. 8 teams, mostly favorites, remain without loss.
The best performers of th USSTAG were the two matchracers Sally Barkow and Anna Tunnicliffe with their teams with no defeat after 3. resp. 4 flights (8 out of 24 teams are without loss so far), and very good also Paige Railey on rank 4 in the Lasers Radial and Campbell/Coleman rank 6 in the Stars. Other best of their nation North American positions are: Tania Elias Calles MEX 13th and Claire Merry CAN 16th Laser Radial, Nikola Girke CAN 12th, Demita Wega MEX 33rd and Farah Hall USA 33rd in the RS:X women (Wega and Hall have two DNCs), Maxwell/Farrar USA 13th 470 women, Hebb/Wolfs CAN 24th Star, Rob Crane USA 15th and David Wright CAN 38th Laser Standard, Bishop/Smith USA 24th, Lada/Inkpen CAN 47th an Murrieta/Murrieta MEX.60th 49ers, Zachary Plavsic CAN 23rd RS:X men, Zach Railey USA 19th Finn, Roberts/Martin 23re 470 men.
See the results overview and the daily review. The breeze from the shore will continue today but less strong, according to the wind forecast.

The 2.4 m IJ Paralympic class fleet went afloat as first yesterday even before the stormy winds declined during the afternoon. Thierry Schmitter NED with two bullets is the clear leader ahead of Heiko Kröger GER and Megan Pascoe GBR. 10 boats from 6 nations sailing. The results and the report of the day.

Today is begins the first 2011 World Cup event in Europe on the island of Mallorca with a record partictipation from 53 nations. Practically all of the worlds best sailors are on the entry lists, except the Croatian Finns and Lasers.
The North American continent is represented by an extremely strong US delegation - almost the complete USSTAG team plus some more sailors in all but the RS:X men and 2.4. IJ Paralympic classes (29 boats in total) -, a Canadian team (17 boats) in the classes Laser men/women, RS:X men/women, 49er, Star, Matchrace women, as well as Mexico ( 3) in the classes RS:X women, 49er and Laser women.
After a sunny training period on the waters of the Bay of Palma with the well-known local thermal breeze, the weather is about to change today with a North-Easterly wind from the inland. Racing starts at 9 a.m. UTC (Match Race women), respectively 10 a.m. UTC and can be followed live on the Internet. The official preview.

Vicky Sheen/Nick Donnini/Dennis Manning GBR defeated Russell Lowry/Tom Donaghy/Paulien Eitjes NZL 3-1 in the final of the Blind Match Racing Worlds, getting the title. Luigi Bertanza ITA won the bronze medal in the petite final against Craig Gordon AUS with 3-0 victories. The report.

No changes after the Medal Races of the Athens Eurolymp Week. The winners are Ioannis Mitakis GRE (Finn), Mantis/Kagialis GRE (470), Vagelis Cheimonas GRE (Laser Standard), Anna Agrafioti GRE (Laser Radial), Papathanassiou/Dragoutsis GRE (Star), Byron Kokkalanis GRE (RS:X-Men), Ageliki Skarlatou GRE (RS:X-Women) and Georgios Delikouras GRE (2.4m. Stratis Andreadis sailing for Switzerland, is on rank 29 of the Lasers. The event-website.

The winners of the semi-finals of the Blind Match Racing World Championship 2011, sailed in light winds, were Vicky Sheen GBR (2-0 against Craig Gordon AUS) and Russell Lowry NZL (2-1 against Luigi Bertanza ITA). In both matchs, numerous penalties were imposed. The report.

Vicky Sheen GBR, Russell Lowry NZL, Luigi Bertanza ITA and Craig Gordon AUS qualified yesterday for today's semi finals of the Blind Match Racing Worlds in Perth AUS. The report.

The final matches of round robin 1 were completed along with 10 matches in the second round in a moderate, but persistently shifting breeze under sunny skies at the IFDS Blind Match Racing Championship in Perth. Vicki Sheen (GBR) maintains her lead in the event with eight wins from nine matches. Her loss to Russell Lowry (NZL) today is the only mark on her otherwise perfect score card. Luigi Bertanza (ITA) and Lowry are the two skippers pushing Sheen. Bertanza has six wins from eight matches, while Lowry has seven from 10. A report in boatingOZ.

Yesterday began the Blind Match Racing World Championship 2011 on the Swan River in the center of Perth in a 15 kn breeze. Sound signals on the yachts and marks indicate the correct direction and the position of the opponent. Up to now, five matches of Round Robin 1 have been sailed. With four wins each, Vicky Sheen GBR (4-0), Luigi Bertanza ITA (4-1) and Russel Lowry NZL (4-2) are currently on the ranks 1 to 3. The report.

Sail To Prevail, a national disabled sailing program, held its 1st Annual Paralympic Regatta and Clinic from February 23-27. Thirty Paralympic aspirants completed in ten races in Sonar and 2.4 Metre Classes. Although the fleet was unable to race on Sunday due to lack of wind, the ten races on Friday and Saturday was plenty to satisfy the highly competitive sailors from the USA and Canada. In the Sonar Class, Rick Doerr (Clifton, NJ) took top honors with 18 points, followed closely by Paul Callahan (Newport, RI / Cape Coral, FL) with 21 points and Bert Foster (Wazato, MN) with 22 points. In the 2.4 Metre Class, Sandy Hayes (Scituate, MA) finished first with 7 points, with Dennis Peck (Port Charlotte, FL) and Daniel Evans (White Plains, MD) finishing second and third with 15 and 21 points. See full results.

US SAILING has chosen nine US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) members as the sport's 2010 SportsWoman, SportsMan and Team of the Year, in both Olympic and Paralympic classes, for outstanding on-the-water performance, achievement and sportsmanship. US SAILING's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has named Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) and Finn sailor Zach Railey (Clearwater, Fla.) SportsWoman and SportsMan of the Year, respectively, and Elliott 6m/Women's Match Racing team of Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.), Molly Vandemoer (Redwood City, Calif.) and Debbie Capozzi (Bayport, N.Y.) as the Team of the Year. In the Paralympic classes, the OSC has selected 2.4 mR sailor John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wis.) the SportsMan of the Year and the Sonar team of Rick Doer (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Me.) as the Team of the Year. The US Sailing Press Release.

The breeze filled in more and more this Friday and racing was abandoned when gusts of over 40 kn rushed over the Bay. The Finns completed their qualifications with Ben Ainslie GBR on top for tomorrow's Medal Race. Giles Scott GBR and Ed Wright GBR complete the English ‚podium' of the qualifiers. Jonathan Lobert FRA folllows on rank 4. Only one race was completed by the 470s, where the lead in the men's class has changed to Schmid/Reichstätter AUT one point ahead of the previous leaders McNay/Biehl USA. In the women's, Vogl/Flatscher AUT are two points ahead of Kadelbach/Belcher GER. Also the progam of the 49ers was reduced to one heat, with Burling/Tuke NZL replacing Delle-Karth/Resch AUT on top. Storck/Moore USA follow on the 3rd place. All other results and the event-website.

After a difficult day with only one delayed race at least for some of the classes, the 425 participants are on the water today in a lovely up to 15 kn breeze. The Lasers Radial already completed their program with 3 races, and Zhang Dong Shuang CHN is the clear leader ahead of Marit Bouwmeester NED, Sara Winter NZL and Nathalie Brugger SUI. The 470s too have finished their Tuesday races. In the 470 men, Belcher/Page AUS are first followed by McNay/Biehl USA and Schmid/Reichstädter AUT. In the small 470 women fleet, Vogl/Flatscher AUT lead in front of Wagner/Steinherr GER GER. The leaders in the good-quality 49ers fleet are Delle-Karth/Resch AUT, on top after 5 races followed by Burling/Tuke NZL, Storck/Moore USA and Outteridge/Jensen AUS. The Finns begin todays' races in the afternoon only. Yesterday, Giles Scott GBR was the winner in the only race followed by Zach Railey USA and Ben Ainslie GBR. The Lasers Standard sailed two heats in two groups with Tom Burton AUS leading ahead of Nick Thompson GBR. The results will be continuously updated during this morning, and the race-blog informs real-time on the happenings on the race courses. The event-website.

The latest edition of the International Federation for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) Bulletin contains reports on past regattas as well as the invitiation to the Annual Meeting, including an interims status regarding the evaluation of a new Paralympic boat class.

US Sailing's Olympic Sailing Committee (OSC) has finalized the selection procedures for the 2012 U.S. Paralympic Team for the three events at the 2012 Paralympic Regatta (Aug. 29-Sept. 9, 2012) in Weymouth/Portland, England. Sailors qualify based on their combined performance at the 2012 IFDS World Championship, in Port Charlotte, Fla., (Jan. 8-16, 2012), and US Sailing's 2012 Rolex Miami OCR, in Miami, Fla., (Jan. 22-28, 2012.) The three sailing at the 2012 Paralympic Games are one-person keelboat (2.4mR), two-person keelboat (SKUD18) and three-person keelboat (Sonar). A maximum of one boat per event, pending country qualification can be sent. Maximum team size is six sailors. The report and theinterview with Dean Brenner, the Chairman of the Olympic Sailing Committee.

Paul Tingley, CAN the Paralympic Gold medalist of 2008 added a 2.4 mR World Championship to his trophy collection. Standing in second prior to the final day of racing at the 2010 Worlds in Hoorn NED, Tingley did a masterful job in controlling his most dangerous competitor Stellan Berlin SWE who finished second in the last heat with Tingley fourth, which was just about enough to secure the title with a slim two-point margin. It was a dramatic turnaround because after 10 races the frontrunner was Friday's leader Hans Asklund SWE who had finished third to Berlin's 25th and Tingley's 14th. But Asklund added an 18th in the last heat, which he could not discard. In fourth, Bruce Millar CAN, who also sailed a consistent series, followed by Helena Lucas GBR. Several favorites, including Heiko Kroeger GER (6th), Thierry Schmitter NED (12th) and defending champion John Ruf USA (48th) had trouble with the difficult conditions with chop, light air and poor visibility through most of the week. The final results and the Canadian report.

Currently 84 entries are registered for the 2.4 mR world championship in horn NED that will start next Sunday. Only two US competitors are making the trek to the Ijselmeer, Mark Bryant and defending champion John Ruf. They will be up against formidable opposition that includes Heiko Kroeger GER, the strong Dutch with Thierry Schmitter, Barend Krol and Andre Rademaker, the ladies from UK, Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe, and, of course, 2008 Olympic Gold medalist Paul Tingley CAN. Not entered at this point is Damien Seguin FRA, the 2004 Olympic champion and one of this year's dominant sailors at the ISAF World Cup in the 2.4 mR. The event Web site.

When Ed Gallagher goes sailing off San Francisco, he wears a webcam on his head, straps a netbook computer to his hip and hops onto a 36-foot boat with his dog. Then he relies on Herb Meyer, a skipper back on land, to watch the live, streaming webcam video and give him instructions. Gallagher, who is 59 years old, is blind. The sailing experiment is part of Mr. Gallagher's broader project to offer a remote guidance system to help the blind perform everyday tasks from reading expiration dates on food packaging to crossing streets (since bicycles and hybrid cars are difficult to hear). In the past four years, the retired building contractor has performed a number of dangerous—and ordinary—tasks using the system. He has driven a car through the Rocky Mountains, fired handguns, practiced archery and repaired his broken thermostat—all the while receiving instructions from a sighted person miles away.
Ed. note: An inspirational story for sure, especially for the growing number of blind or vision-impaired people taking to the water in sailboats. However, doing this on remote control rather than with a live person on board can be tricky as you'll find out when you read the entire report in the WSJ.

San Diego's Challenged America adaptive sailing program for the disabled sponsors the third Department of Veterans Affairs' Summer Sports Clinic for recently injured veterans, held at the Marriott Hotel and Marina, September 19 - 25, 2010. More than 100 recently wounded US veterans will participate in this year's event. Along with Challenged America, Sail USA 11, and Hipp Marine have joined to provide the sailing opportunities on San Diego's Bib Bay, from the dock of the Marriott Marina. An estimated 400 to 500 people will be involved in the program, to include participants and their families, medical support and other VA personnel, government officials, celebrities, and volunteers, most coming from around the nation. See the Challenged America Web site.

In each of the four classes (2.4 Metre, SKUD-18, Sonar and J/22) competing at the eighth annual C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta for sailors with disabilities, an unbroken winning streak on the second and final day of racing determined the championship winners. The second and final day of the event started with a 5-7 knot westerly breeze that built to a top speed of 12-14.
In the five-boat Sonar fleet, John Porter with 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist Maureen McKinnon Tucker and Gerry Tiernan USA (10) were unbeatable, scoring 10 bullets for the class win. Second overall was Paul Callahan/Brad Johnson/Tom Brown (18). SKUD-18 Silver medalists at the 2010 IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship, Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett USA (6) clinched their third consecutive class win at The Clagett after winning all four races on Day 2. In the 12-boat 2.4 Metre fleet, Charles Rosenfield USA (7) won all four races to move up from fourth and take the championship ahead of Britt Hall USA (12) and Peter Wood CAN (16). 2006 IFDS Blind Sailing World Champions JP Creignou/Jan Bartleson USA (8) with 2000 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Magnus Liljedahl and David Bannister wrapped up the 2010 Sail Newport Blind National Sailing Championship title after winning all five of their races today in the seven-strong J/22 fleet. Details at the regatta Web site.

As a summer nor'easter reluctantly released its grip, sailing got underway on Narragansett Bay for the eighth annual C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta for disabled sailors. In the five-boat Sonar fleet, 2008 SKUD-18 Paralympic Gold Medalist Maureen McKinnon Tucker/Gerry Tiernan/John Porter USA (5) won all five races. In the 3-boat SKUD-18, Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett USA (4) hold a one-point lead over husband-and wife team Brian Skeels/Sarah Everhart-Skeels USA (5). There are seven teams racing for the 2010 Blind Sailing National Championship title in J/22s, with each four-person team comprised of two sighted guides who assist the two sailors with visual impairments. After four races, 2006 IFDS Blind Sailing World Champions JP Creignou and Jan Bartleson with 2000 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year Magnus Liljedahl and David Bannister are leading the standings with five points The 12-boat 2.4 mR fleet sailed three races with Britt Hall USA (4) leading Peter Wood CAN (8), followed by Scott Lutes CAN (14). The event Web site, all results and the Facebook page.

US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics members Scott Whitman and Julia Dorsett scored a silver medal in the 12-boat SKUD-18 fleet at the 2010 IFDS World Championship, held in Medemblik, The Netherlands, behind Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell. GBR Their final position qualified the United States in the SKUD-18 class for the 2012 Paralympic Games. Whitman and Dorsett sailed consistently, finishing first or second in all but two races. Light air was the theme of the week, except for yesterday when it blew with 20-30 knots. "We train in all kinds of situations, so we handled the light air really well and then did the same when the breeze picked up,” said Dorsett. "It was exciting to finally get some breeze in the afternoon today. The highlight was our first reach at the windward mark when we were motoring.” US sailors faced tough competition in the other two classes: 2008 Paralympian Rick Doerr and his crew, Hugh Freund and Bryan Tabler, finished 12th in the Sonars, and Mark LeBlanc took 15th among 47 boats in the 2.4mR. The next opportunity to qualify as a country in the 2.4 mR and Sonar classes will be at the 2011 IFDS World Championship. Read the entire release.

It was an exciting sailing day in Medemblik with 'fireworks' in all classes. Fantastic weather, and , at last, good wind varying from 20 – 30 knots. In the 2.4 mR local hero Thierry Schmitter NED saved his best for last with two bullets to wrest away the title from Heiko Kröger GER. Bronze for Megan Pascoe GBR. Paul Tingley CAN finished 4th, ahead of Damien Sequin FRA. In the Skud 18, ther was nothing to stop Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR from winning the title ahead of Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett USA and Daniel Fitzgibbon/Rachael Cox AUS. Another Dutch winner in the Sonars, with Duo Hassles/Marcel van de Veen/Mischa Rossen who came from behind to edge the team of Jens Kroker GER. In third the team of John Robertson GBR. The final outcome hinged on a protest of NED vs. USA which was ruled in favor of the Dutch who won their second title after 2003. The event Web site, Sander van der Borch's gallery and the last day's video.
Ed. note: Due to technical problems with the IFDS Web site, we were unable to provide links to the class results. We apologize for this inconvenience.

After Monday's cancellation conditions were much better yesterday in Medemblik NED at the IFDS World Championships with winds SW to W, 6-10 kts, and blue skies. In the 2.4mR class, , Heiko Kröger GER (22) holds ma narrow lead over Megan Pascoe GBR (24). Thierry Schmitter NED(30) is third. Marc LeBlanc USA (92) remained in 16th. A pattern is emerging in the Skud 18 where Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR (8 pts.) always seem to remain half a step ahead of Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett USA (11). The Brits had a pair of bullets, while the US team had a pair of deuces. In the Sonar the team of Jens Kroker GER (18) has a two-point edge over Udo Hessels NED (20) and six over Team Dror Cohen ISR (24) who are in third place. Two races are scheduled for today. The event Web site with images and videos.

Up in Medemblik NED, the 470s' story was repeated. "All racing is canceled for today due to bad weather and high risk of thunderstorms. Today's races are rescheduled,” read the RC's announcement. Tuesday July 13th, Races 6, 7 and 8, Time of 1st Warning signal 10.25 hrs, Wednesday July 14th, Races 9 and 10, Time of 1st Warning signal 09.55 hrs. Current class leaders: Sonar: Jens Kroker/Robert Prem/Siegmund Mainka GER; 2.4 mR: Heiko Kroeger GER; Skud 18: Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR, with Scott Whitman,/Julia Dorsett USA in second.

Tropical conditions with sun and light to moderate winds prevailed on the first two days of sailing at the IFDS World Championships in Medemblik NED. Three classes are vying for the title, four races are in the books, no discards yet. The ultra-competitive 2.4 mR singlehanded fleet (48 boats) is led by Megan Pascoe GBR (13 pts.). Battling behind her is a group of four sailors who are separated by two points: Heiko Kroeger GER (22), Thierry Schmitter NED (23), Bjørnar Erikstad NOR (23) and Paul Tingley CAN (24). Marc Leblanc USA (64) currently is 15th. In the 12-boat Skud 18 fleet it is a duel between Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birrell GBR (6 pts.) who have 1-2-1 on their scorecard. In second Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett (18) who have two seconds and a first, but also an OCS in the third race. In third the team of Al Musatakim Matrin MAS (19). John McRoberts/Brenda Hopkin CAN (25) are eighth. In the 19-boat Sonar fleet, the Top 3 are the teams of Christoforou Vasilis GRE (14), Dror Cohen ISR (15) and Jens Kroker GER (17).Rick Doerr USA (36) is ninth. More on the event site.

Delta Lloyd IFDS Worlds 2010 are under way in Medemblik NED with titles on the line in the singlehanded 2.4 mR class, the Sonar and the Skud. Ten races are scheduled in each class, with a separate course for each class. Sailors to watch in the 54-boat 2.4.mR class are reigning World Champion Thierry Schmitter NED André Rademaker NED, Heiko Kröger GER, Olympic champion Paul Tingley CAN plus British ladies Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe. In the 20-boat Sonar fleet defending World Champions Jens Kroker/Robert Prem/Siegmund Mainka GER will battle Dror Cohen/Arnon Efrati/Benny Vexler ISR and Rick Doerr/Hugh Freund/Brian Tabler USA. Alexandra Rickham/Niki Birell GBR are defending their title in the 12-boat Skud 18 class, competing against Scott Whitman/Julia Dorsett, USA and John McRoberts/Brenda Hopkins CAN amongst others. Racing to start today with light wind and sun in the forecast. The event www.ifdsworlds2010.com Web site.

In an all-Italian final Luigi Bertanza and Sylvia Parente ITA beat Anna Gamba/Enrico Sosio ITA 2-0 to claim the title at the IFDS Blind Match Racing World Championship for IBSA B1 classified blind sailors. In the B1 petit final Manuel Ugarte/Federico Albir ESP beat Kylie Forth/Erin McGlew AUS 2-1 to claim third place overall. In class B2, Lucy Hodges/Toby Davey GBR won the International Championship over local favorites Alessandro Malapiero/Elisabetta Bardella ITA. In the B2 petit finals first-time match race helmsman Pekka Rantanen FIN sailing with local crew Egidio Carantini beat Andrea Pesaresi/Gianluca Battisti ITA 2-0. The event Web site.

The semi finals of the IFDS Blind Match Racing Championships were sailed in 4-6 knots of wind in Gargnago on Lake Garda ITA. In B1 Gamba/Sosio ITA, who were third before yesterday, beat favorites Forth/McGlew AUS for a berth in today's finals where they will meet fellow Italians Bertanza/Parente who eliminated Ugarte/Albir ESP. If history is any indication, Bertanza will be difficult to beat when they race for the B1 World Championship. Experienced blind match racers Malapiero/Bardella ITA, swept the semifinals in B2 against Rantanen/Carantini FIN and will meet Hodges/Davey GBR who beat Pesaresi/Battisti ITA in the other semifinal yesterday. In B2 they are racing for an International Championship. The event Web site.

Through the first three days, light air has plagued the racers at the IFDS Blind Match Racing World Championships in Bogliaco, Lake Garda ITA
Still, the B2-classified sailors, competing for an IFDS International Championship, have completed their round robin with semifinals scheduled for today. Hodges/Davey GBR (5-0) lead Malapiero/Bardella ITA (4-1) and Rantanen/Carantini FIN (4-3). Antony Bersani/Mario Alciati USA are in 6th.
In the World Championship for B1-classified sailors, 18 of the 21 matches have been sailed in the round robin. Bertanza/Parente ITA (5-0) lead Forth/McGlew AUS (4-1) and Gamba/Sosio ITA (3-2). The sparse event Web site.

Racing commenced on Lake Garda, Italy for the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships, 2010 Homerus Blind Match Racing. Conducted in conjunction with Homerus Associazione Onlus, the event is using the ISAF Experimental Appendix CBS for Blind Match Racing and the innovative Homerus system of acoustic buoys. The championships are sailed in pairs of identical keelboats by a two person blind or vision impaired crew with a sighted observer on board. Three acoustic buoys, each with a unique signal, define the course and each boat has its own acoustic device that changes signature when it is on port or starboard tack. Yesterday's winners on the B1 course include Forth/McGlew AUS, Bertanza/Parente ITA, and Gamba/Sosio ITA, On the B2 course Malapiero/Bardella ITA and Hodges/Davey GBR had two wins each. The Web site and a report by David Staley.

After three days of generally light conditions on Rutland Water, yesterday brought moderate to fresh winds at the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class Worlds and SKUD18 International Championships, which conclude today. Wind was a northeasterly mainly 16-18 knots with the occasional gust over 20. In the Access 303 Double class is lead by Pegan/Mircsev HUN, while Rickham/Birrell GBR are ahead in the Skud 18s. The leaders in the singlehanded classes are as follows: 2.3 Single: Angus MacGregor AUS; 303 Single: Zoltan Pegan HUN; Access Liberty: Magali Moraines FRA. Herb Meyer USA is 15th. The class Web site.

USSTAG's John Ruf, the 2008 Paralympic Bronze Medalist and 2010 World Champion in the 2.4mR, finally won his first 2.4mR National Championship Sunday with all top-3 finishes and 16 points in this 10-race series (2 discards). Behind him three Canadians: Bruce Millar, (18 pts.), Alan Leibel (19 pts.) and Jerry Wendt (33 pts.). The three-day event was sailed out of Noroton Yacht Club in Darien, Conn., where the conditions varied from 3-5 knots to 12-18 knots with strong ebb current. For a lake sailor like Ruf, battling the chop and the current on Long Island Sound was challenging. "It does not come naturally at all,” said Ruf. "Being able to fight back to the front was the key factor at this regatta.” Ruf was awarded the Nick Scandone Trophy, which honors Scandone's sailing accomplishments. Scandone lost his battle with ALS in January 2009, less than four months after winning a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in China. The complete results. Congratulations to JR and thanks to USSTAG communications director Marni Lane for sending this report.

Light breezes and rain made for difficult conditions for the second racing day at the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class Worlds and SKUD18 International Championships at Rutland Sailing Club GBR. Only the SKUD 18s and two-person Access 303s got two heats in while racing for the single-person classes had to be abandoned. Molesworth/Alton GBR have a 6-point lead in the 303 two-person competition ahead of Sasahara/Suzuki JPN and Pegan/Mircsev HUN. In the SKUD 18s, Rickham/Birrell GBR own a 7-point lead over Cogswell/Foreman GBR and Mirc/Eychenne FRA. The report.

Racing commenced on Rutland Water in the UK East Midlands today for the Bruce Wake 2010 Access Class Worlds and SKUD18 International Championships with 100 competitors from 10 countries. In a light and variable breeze under an overcast sky all classes sailed two races. In the Access 303 Double the leaders are Molesworth/Alton GBR, followed by Takeshita/Germain FRA and Kodaira/Ariyoshi JAP. In the single classes, the 2.3 Single is led by Angus MacGregor AUS, followed by Monique Foster GBR and Carlos Alberto Araujo POR. In the 303 Single class Zoltan Pegan HUN leads Chris Ruston AUS and Gerard Eychenne FRA while in Access Liberty Magali Moraines FRA is ahead of Chris Cook AUS and Clare Andrew GBR. Herb Meyer USA is 16th. In the SKUD 18s, Rickham/Birrell GBR lead Cogswell/Foreman GBR and Mirc/Eychenne FRA.
More on the event Web site.

After a day of close and challenging racing at the Robie Pierce Regatta hosted by Larchmont YC, the title went north of the border. John McRoberts CAN had to overcome a DSQ in Race 5, but followed up with a 2,1,4 score line to eke out the win with 44 points. Second, also with 44 pts, but losing the countback were Andrew Fisher and 2008 Paralympic Gold Medalist Maureen McKinnon-Tucker USA. In third place Tim French with 45 followed by Ted King with 46. See the final results.

Racing conditions were perfect for Day 1 of the Robie Pierce Regatta hosted by Larchmont Yacht Club. Nineteen teams of disabled sailors sailed four races in a 10-11 knot SW breeze under partly sunny skies. Anticipated heavy weather and hail never developed. After yesterday's practice racing, slight adjustments were made to adaptions in the Ideal 18's to accommodate all of the sailors' needs. Racing will continue on Sunday. The top five after four races are 1-Duane Farrar, 2-John McRoberts, 3-Tim French, 4-Ted King, 5-Peter O'Hara. See all results.

Last year, a total of 22 teams raced in the inaugural Robie Pierce One Design Regatta on Long Island Sound, making it the area's largest one-design event for sailors with disabilities. Competing with the physically disabled were two blind crews and one skippered by a stroke survivor. This year's event runs from June 3 to 6 and will be hosted by Larchmont YC, which has declared to continue the high standard of competition. As many as 35 Ideal 18s adapted to meet the specific needs of each disabled sailing team will be provided. The event is named after Robie Pierce, a driving force in national and international disabled sailing who was diagnosed with MS in 1985. The objective of the regatta is to foster the sport of sailing among the disabled community – attracting new participants and opening new opportunities for established sailors. The event Web site.

"Up two degrees ... hold it there," says tactician Al Spector to Mitsuhiro Iwamoto, steering a J24 race boat sailing a beeline toward another boat. "Tack on a long count. Three... two... one... tack! It sounds like typical regatta chatter. But these tactical calls are especially important. Iwamoto is blind. The event was the first California Invitational Blind Sailing Regatta, organized on the Oakland-Alameda Estuary by the Marin Sailing School and Island Yacht Club. Teams represented Boston, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, the Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors and Iwamoto's team, called 'California 1'. Read the story on SF Gate

After two light-air races in the Paralympic classes in Hyeres, Damien Seguin FRA and Helena Lucas GBR are tied in points for first in the 14-boat 2.4 mR class with three points each. In third is Megan Pascoe GBR, followed by Palma winner Thierry Schmitter NED and Barend Kol NED. The 9-boat Sonar class is led by the Norwegian trio of Aleksander Wang-Hansen/Per Eugen Kristiansen/Marie Solberg.

The Circolo Vela Gargnano on Lake Garda ITA will host the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championships 2010, Homerus Blind Match Racing from 20-27 June. Conducted in conjunction with Homerus Associazione Onlus, the event will employ the ISAF Experimental Appendix CBS for Blind Match Racing using the innovative Homerus system of acoustic buoys. Teams from Italy, Spain, Great Britain, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Finland have already confirmed their entries. This is the 12th Homerus International Championships and the inaugural event to be conducted as an IFDS authorized World Championship. A separate series of match races will be held for the B1, B2 and B3 classifications for the first time in Bogliaco. The B1 Division for totally blind sailors will be an IFDS World Championship, while the B2 and B3 Divisions will sail Level 2 IFDS International Championships. The preview on the ISAF site.

Victory for second consecutive year for Thierry Schmitter NED in the Paralympics class 2.4mR. In second Helena Lucas GBR and third Andre Rademaker NED. Schmitter deserved to win as he controlled the standings all week long, while Lucas won her third race at the end to vault past Rademaker. Paul Tingley CAN constantly improved his results in the individual races, but remained stuck in sixth overall.

Separated by three points Thierrry Schmitter and Andre Rademaker NED are duking it out for the lead in the 15-boat 2.4 mR class at the Princes Sofia on the Bay of Palma. But watch Helena Lucas GBR, just one point behind with the advantage of two first-place finishes, which could decide a tie break in her favor. She already took third here last year. Canada's Paralympic hero, Paul Tingley, is clawing back from a bad first day and stands in 6th overall after five races and one discard.

A Dutch triple pack is leading the 2.4 mR class after two races at the Trofeo Princes Sofia in Palma. Andre Rademaker, followed by Thierry Schmitter and Barend Kol and the top lady, Helena Lucas GBR. Canda's Paralymic Gold medalist Paul Tingley had a 6th in the first race but a DNS thereafter, which puts him in 11th overall.

Larchmont Yacht Club and American Yacht Club (Rye, NY) will hold their second annual Robie Pierce One-Design Regatta for sailors with disabilities from June 3 to 6 in Larchmont, NY. Last year's inaugural regatta at American Yacht Club saw 22 teams compete in Ideal 18s. Robie Pierce has been a driving force in National and International disabled sailing for nearly 20 years. A life-long sailor prior to his 1985 diagnosis with MS was Pierce's impetus to share his sailing experience with the disabled community. Registration