A Canadian Perspective: Leading in the 2.4's
'Canada leads Britain home in the Skud 18 class'
Dan Tucker Click Here to view large photo
Brian Todd (CAN) reports on Races 7 and 8 of the Paralympic Games Qingdao
With only two races left to go and a 9th race setting a 2nd drop in motion Nick Scandone an Maureen McKinnon Tucker USA have essentially won the Gold medal in the Skud 18 class!
All week long Nick and Maureen sailed an excellent series with no race worst than 3rd and plenty of bullets, he sure was the class of the fleet. But there is still a big dual for second place, John McRoberts and Stacie Louttit CAN hold a 1 point lead going into the last day over Daniel Fitzgibbons and Rachael Cox AUS It will be an exciting finish to the Skud 18 class's first time in the Paralympic Games.
The 2.4 is where the real close action is, Paul Tingley (CAN) is sitting in first place but there are still a number of sailors that are within distance to make for a dogfight especially after a second drop kicks in. Second place is held by John Ruf USA while Heiko Kroger (GER) is in third. The depth in the top 10 of the 2.4 class is adding to the drama as there are places changing all the time, as they say 'it ain't over till it's over!'
The Sonar class tightened up today and they got the 9th race in to get a 2nd drop. FRA is still leading, AUS is second and GER is third and there is only a 7 point spread between first and 5th! Ken Kelly, Don Terlson and Marc Shaw CAN had an 8 and 11 today and sit in 11th place overall.
So it is all down to tomorrow for the Canadians , looks like we have 1 medal in the bag and in very good position for the second, right now it is a matter of colour, in the best case scenario we have Silver and Gold! The wind tomorrow is supposed to be a little better which bodes very well for our sailors.
The real race begins following the last finish - the one to get the containers packed!
Brian Todd
Canadian Sailing Team
by Brian Todd 
Avalon, NSW
