2004 Paralympic Games at Athens, Greece - Day 5
by Sacha Oswald, RYA 23 Sep 2004 10:24 BST
Close racing on penultimate day of Paralympic Games
Both of the Paralympic sailing disciplines were in action today on the waters off Athens as the 2.4mR and Sonar classes competed in their penultimate day of racing.
Again the wind provided a good battle ground for the competitors with a ten knot sea breeze and relatively steady wind conditions.
It was another mixed day for the Team GB Sonar team of John Robertson, Stephen Thomas and Hannah Stodel who scored a tenth place in the first race of the day, which they followed up with a respectable fourth. This result leaves them placed seventh overall going into the final day of racing.
Stodel said, “It has been a really difficult week. We have struggled to get our heads around the conditions here in Athens but we will just have to try and go out on a high tomorrow.”
Dror Cohen, Arnon Efrati and Benni Vexler of Israel have managed to hold onto the overall lead going into the final day of racing and currently head up the fleet by four points from Udo Hessels, Marcel Van De Veen and Mischa Rossen from the Netherlands.
In the 2.4mR class, Team GB sailor Allan Smith scored an eighth and a twelfth which maintains his position of eighth place overall just behind the Norwegian sailor Bjornar Erikstad. Damien Seguin of France continues to lead the fleet although racing is tight as Thomas Brown of America is on equal points in second place, so there will be all to play for going into the last race.
Tomorrow will see the final day of racing for both the 2.4mR and Sonar classes with one further race scheduled.
Results after day five:
Sonar
1, Dror Cohen/Arnon Efrati/Benni Vexler, ISR (1,(DSQ),4,1,4,4,3,1) 18 pts
2, Udo Hessels/Marcel Van De Veen/Mischa Rossen, NED ((6),4,5,4,2,3,2,2) 22 pts
3, Jens Kroker/Peter Reighl/Olaf Jacobs, GER ((9),8,2,2,3,1,7,7) 30 pts
GB
7, John Robertson/Stephen Thomas/Hannah Stodel (11,2,9,(OCS),1,10,10,4) 47 pts
2.4mR
1, Damien Seguin, FRA (1,1,4,5,1,(6),3,2) 17 pts
2, Thomas Brown, USA (4,2,1,1,5,(5),1,3) 17 pts
3, Thierry Schmitter, NED (3,3,2,(6),3,4,4,1) 20 pts
GB
8, Allan Smith (9,10,7,7,4,8,(12)) 52 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.