Leaders unchanged after Day 2 of Paralympics
Brian Todd of the Canadian Sailing Team reports from Day 2 of the 2008 Paralympics:
Another long day on the water, three races in 4 to 6kts from the compass bearing of 145 to 175. The 175 was a little earlier on then it settled in the 160 range. There were pressure bands that worked for some but the current in the first 2 races was not as much of a factor as in the last one.
Paul Tingley (CAN) sailing out of (RNSYS) still tops the leaderboard in the 2.4 class but USA, John Ruf made some gains today with 2 good races, Heiko Kroger from Germany is in third. The racing was again very tight in this class with lead changes and people moving up and down the fleet.
The Skud 18 class leader Is Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon Tucker from USA sailing very well and have accumulated only 5 points. Second place is Australia with Dan Fitzgibbons and Rachael Cox have 8 points and Canadians John McRoberts and Stacie Louttit are in third with 10 points, as they say plenty of racing left!
In the Sonar, France is in first place on the day but there are some protests pending. Australia is in second and third place Germany. The Canadian team of Ken Kelly, Don Terlson, Marc Shaw had a 10-11 - 14 and are in 13 place overall, again it is very tight in that fleet and anything could happen with less than half the regatta completed.
Best race of the day went to Louttit and McRoberts, they won the last race convincingly leading from start to finish, they played the current very well and covered every move of the fleet!
Tomorrow is a lay day and it his much deserved and need by the racers and I am sure the committee. The Canadian team will be checking out the area as it is our first day off since we arrived here, who said there was no wind in Qingdao - sometimes not much but enough to sail, race and train for sure. Qingdao is definitely challenging place to sail so the winners here will certainly be well deserved.
Canadian Sailing Team
by Brian Todd 
