An Irish Perspective: Sunday morning going down
Denis Kiely of the Irish Sailing Team, at the 20908 Paralympics, tells of his experiences of the final day of racing and with the pack up, entitled variously: Sunday morning going down, or How I learned to stop worrying and love Rhino?? or The D?nouement
'The Gold medal winning German crew arfter the finish of a dramatic race 11 at the 2008 Paralympics - Qingdao'
Sailing2008.com
Results
The final days racing in the Sonar class was even more exciting and incredible than I had anticipated. There were 2 races scheduled. Starting the day the position was France 21, Australia 24, Germany 26 Greece 27, Norway 28, and Israel 34. After the 1st race [Mikey's analysis of the previous day - pressure, gradient, sea breeze, current, cousin in Korea, etc etc was spot on - perfect, the left paid big time - it's just that it was a day out!!!]
After the first race the gap had closed up on France. France were now 28, Oz were on 29, Germany 30, Norway 31, Greece 33 and Israel, who had a 1st in that race were on 35; incredibly close after 5 days and 10 races. The 2nd race - and last race of the 2008 Paralympics - started at 13.15 in ideal conditions, 10 kt, gusting maybe 12 from 110, slight lump. Up the first beat it became apparent that the French were covering the Aussies and looking comfortable in the middle of the fleet - all they had to do was sit on the Aussies who were leading the pack of challengers.
At the bottom mark the last time round the drama began in earnest. The French came out of the mark in 6th position, the Germans were in 5th, close, but not good enough; they needed to be 3 points ahead of the French to win - on a tied score they would lose. The Aussies were in 7th place and the Norwegians were 8th - both behind and with higher points - don't let Jens [German driver] get too far away, or pass him, and the gold was going to Brittany. Close definitely, but a winning position. 
- 2008 Paralympics - Qingdao - Sailing2008.com
As the French hardened up [trimmed their sails] for the last beat we noticed that they seemed to be taking a long time to get the jib in [trim the front sail], and longer - what's happening - is that sail torn? They are nearly stopped! The Aussies sail over them. What's wrong? The Norries sail over them. The French are bearing away, [changing course from an upwind beat] We can finally see clearly that their headsail is torn right across the middle - from leech to luff ['ear to ear' - useless] They are retiring from the race - sensation! What soul destroying bad luck. Gold gone for the French - in a moment, in the blink of an eye? Not quite - the drama was only beginning.
The French retired from the race - they would score 15 points - surely that was it, curtains for their chance of any medal. No, remember the discard system. This was an 11 race, 2 discard series where your worst 2 results were not counted - pay close attention now. Up to this moment the French were discarding 10 and 8 point races.
Now their discard would be this race,15 points - and 10 points. The 8 pointer would now come back into the reckoning [ask Kevin Kelly again] It was as if they had already finished the race while everybody else was still racing - and they had finished in 8th place - scored 8 points - and their final score was 36 points - beat that and you win gold! Remember Jens was in 5th place - 3 points ahead - enough to win if he could hold or better that position. If the Aussies could improve one more place, from 7th to 6th place they would win; and the Norwegians and the Israelis?
They all had a real chance of winning gold in the last two legs of an 11 race series. The tension coming down the final run was palpable. Most people wouldn't be able to calculate all the permutations but they knew it was close. I thought that 3 teams had finished with equal points, The Germans, Aussies and French. As the boats finished through the line there wasn't the usual dash to the winner - at first, it seemed as if nobody knew who had won.
Then the support and media boats began to concentrate on the German boat - and it became clear that they had held their 5th place on the course and they had won Gold - by 1 point! What about the French, the Aussies, the Norries? When the spray finally settled, and the Aussies had survived a protest by the Norwegians, the final scores were, Germany 35, France 36, Australia 36, Norway 37, and the Israelis 38 [incredibly after 2 disqualifications - 15 pointers - gold thrown away!]
Germany won the Gold, France the Silver and Australia the Bronze [under a tie splitting rule]
The Brits finished in 6th place overall. We finished in 9th position - not what we expected or hoped for - I was hoping for 7th or better - it was not to be.
In the 2.4 class Paul Tingley[Canada] held off the challenge of Damien Seguin, France and John Ruf, US to win the Gold. Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon were confirmed as the Gold winners in the Skud class from Dan Fitzgibbon, Australia and Sean MacRiobaird, Canada. Amy and John finished 10th.
I know I may have bored the hell out you with the account of the finish of the Sonar series - but I was there and it simply had to be recorded. I don't recollect such a close and exciting finish to any series and sailors with much wider experience told me it was the closest most exciting end to a series they had ever experienced.
A tale of a star
All over? Well almost. We arrived back at the dock at around 1500. But no rest. Immediately a frenzy of boat derigging starts. Gene Hinkel [the guy must be older than me but he can hop around and work a boat like a youngster of 40] arrives on our boat and races through the process of getting the mast down. Open that pin there, connect this bit here - 15 minutes after we arrived at the dock we had the sails and mast! off the boat. Over to the crane, crane out the boat - and place it in its trailer sideways!! - the only way it will fit in a container. Haul it to its container - line it up, assemble a small army of Chinese [or should that be the other way round - leave it] and push the boat into the back of a 40' container - with an inch to spare on either side! Done - major job out of the way- less than 2 hours after coming ashore! 2 ribs [15' + 80 hp engines] to be placed in another container. Chinese enlisted again - you'd be afraid you would step on one of them and squash them - jumping around, in, on and under the ribs, incredible din, all the Chinese shouting together - rising to a crescendo - then quite and everybody gives another heave. By 17.30 we had the heavy work on the 2nd container finished. Bottle of Jameson presented to James Loom, leader of the Chinese gang, excited by his name on the label, said it was specially distilled for him - but I think he was well aware of the brand name - and he is far too bright and able to be taken in by b*****t.
James and his assistant/boss? Lily own? work for - [no idea] a boat business called Ling Bo. Produces boats remarkably similar to European designs and sells them for 25% or less of the western price. Did a lot of business with the Irish during the Olympics and Paralympics and seemed to get on very well with us.
The star story?
A boat used by Ireland [Peter O'Leary] in the Olympics and stored off site in an overflow yard to be placed in the Sonar container and shipped with it to Miami. Lily, James and I go off to pick up the boat in the overflow yard. There seems to be some kind of temporary security post with poorish dorm type living quarters [bit of the other side of China?] with all kinds of security people, police, young PLA? squadies and private security people all hanging around [and living in?] it. Find the star on its trailer hook up and proceed to the entrance when this character gives a shout in through the window at James - and James stops! No uniform, fawn slacks and no-sleeved T-shirt. What is this? James gets out, Lily gets out. boat can't be moved without this guys say so. Who is he? what rank? What does he want? No idea. Big discussion, raised voices between this guy and Lily and James. Much pointing at me - I could make out 'irlanda' - and at the boat. By now there were about 20 people observing the performance. The guy definitely seemed to me to have a few pints on board - or whatever the Chinese equivalent is. Others seemed to get involved in the discussion at random - no shortage of opinions. Police men in uniform said their bit - no effect. I thought a party type?? in civvies might be able to pull rank - but nothing doing. By now I had got out of the car and was doing the walking around bit as well, but said nothing. It was like some theatre performance - choreographed - every body had their part, Mr. Implacable now centre stage, now in the wings, bursts of discussion - by everybody and anybody - mad! I needed to get the boat to the container yard pronto - but I could see I had only a walk on part with no speaking in this little drama - so I kept my mouth shut and just watched. There was an immaculate Harley Davidson parked in the middle of the stage/discussion and I offered to trade the star for the Harley but nothing doing - it was that kind of situation, desperate, but not serious!!
The Harley had Police and above it Sheriff!! written on it in English! What was that about? Sheriff?? There is definitely a parallel universe, star treckian quality about China - you know the one where the Enterprise, Kirk and Spock and co arrive in a universe light years from earth - and they find that the inhabitants found a Chicago gangster era film and their whole society is lived as some kind of fantasy gangster world set in 30's Chicago? At times, China reminds me a little bit of that - not necessarliy a 30's Chicago but it has some sort of almost fantasy other world quality about it?
Eventually, after about 40 mins a guy? What guy? not sure? arrives with a clipboard and A4 sheet. I'm asked to sign some sort of waiver and in an indecipherable scrawl I go Whereas etc', sign my name - and we're out of there!! What was it all about - no idea!
Started this this morning, spent the day finishing off the containers - including loading the bloody star; it finally fitted in - more Chinese, more shouting - with half an inch to spare! Finished this now at 01.50. Tomorrow? may do a little sightseeing in and around Qingdao and/or leave for Beijing. Hope to be in Beijing on Tuesday - heading for home.
Totally knackered! Rhino? - another day - maybe!
Good night.
Denis.
by Denis Kiely 
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Devonport, TAS
