2004 Paralympic Games at Athens, Greece - Day 4
by Sacha Oswald, RYA 21 Sep 2004 21:05 BST
Steady day for Smith at Paralympic Games
The Saronic Gulf hosted just one Paralympic sailing class today, the 2.4mR, as the Sonar class enjoyed a day of rest.
The conditions were kind and although there was a delay waiting for the wind to come in, the sea breeze eventually emerged and provided steady winds which reached 12 knots and allowed a further two races to take place.
Team GB sailor Allan Smith sailed his best day of the event so far; scoring a fourth and an eighth place he has maintained his position of eighth place overall in the sixteen boat fleet.
Smith said, “We had some really good racing today and I felt that I sailed pretty well. It is such a competitive fleet but I was up there today, although I didn’t manage to move up the scoreboard as there were a number of people that sailed better days.” He continued, “I will just have to keep doing what I have been doing for the remaining three races, the opposition is really tough but I will just have to go out and sail the best I can.”
The strength of the competition in the class in evident as, at the end of day four, there is a new event leader in the form of Frenchman Damien Seguin who has a small one point lead over Thomas Brown of America.
Tomorrow will see both the Sonar and 2.4mR classes in action as they race their penultimate day of the event.
Results after day four:
Sonar
1, Dror Cohen/Arnon Efrati/Benni Vexler, ISR (1,(DSQ),4,1,4,4) 14 pts
2, Jens Kroker/Peter Reighl/Olaf Jacobs, GER ((9),8,2,2,3,1) 16 pts
3, Udo Hessels/Macel Van De Veen/Mischa Rossen, NED ((6),4,5,4,2,3) 18 pts
GB
6, John Robertson/Stephen Thomas/Hannah Stodel (11,2,9,(OCS),1,10) 33 pts
2.4mR
1, Damien Seguin, FRA (1,1,4,5,1,(7)) 12 pts
2, Thomas Brown, USA (4,2,1,1,5,(6)) 13 pts
3, Thierry Schmitter, NED (3,3,2,(6),3,5) 16 pts
GB
8, Allan Smith (9,(10),7,7,4,8) 35 pts
Don’t forget that you can leave your messages of support for the team; just visit our online message board at www.gbrsailing.org.uk where you will also be able to find out further information on the events and the competitors.