Pictured: Daniel Evans (Miami, Fla.) and Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Ct.), 2.4mR class, US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2014
Halifax, Nova Scotia – Day 3 of the IFDS Disabled Sailing World Championship saw all three courses plagued by light and inconsistent wind conditions. The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider had an up-and-down day, but remains in reach of its objective. “A main goal for this regatta is to qualify the country in all three disciplines [for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games],” said US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider Paralympic Coach Betsy Alison. “We are within striking distance of that as we approach the halfway point of the event, and we’re optimistic that we’ll be able to achieve what we came here to do.”
One common theme of anyone witnessing a Paralympic-classes regatta for the first time is the awe that it inspires. “Most sailors don’t know how high the level of competition is at these events,” said the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider’s Charlie Rosenfield (Woodstock, Ct.). “The 2.4mR and our other classes are very technical boats, and it requires a lot of sailing ability and and time in the boat to perform well.”
In the two-person SKUD-18 class, Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Cindy Walker (Portsmouth, R.I.) remain in 6th overall but are within 1 point of 5th position. The top 5 finishers at this event qualify their country for the SKUD-18 event in Rio 2016. “We tried to stay focused all day, but had a bad start in the only race,” said Porteous, who finished 4th. “We found a good lane afterwords, and played the shifts well.”
The Sonar fleet had to race in the lightest breeze seen on any of the three racecourses, and tough tactical battles ensued.“We were doing alright, but then missed a big shift and a pressure patch on the second upwind leg,” said Sonar crew Tim Angle (Reading, Mass.). “Hopefully today’s race will be our [discardable] race. There is still a lot of the regatta left, and the plan is to stay focused and aim for that podium.” The US team of Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Angle and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine) sits in 6th overall.
The 2.4mR fleet had a similarly challenging day, with a single light and shifty race completed. One highlight occurred when 2.4mR IFDS Worlds rookie Ted Green (Newport, R.I.) boldly port-tacked the fleet at the start of the race. “I had a grin from ear to ear,” said Green, who crossed in front of the entire 49-boat fleet during the maneuver. 2008 Paralympic bronze medalist John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wisc.) fell to 6th overall from 4th after a mid-teens finish, but remains in nation-qualifying position (top 8 countries) in the 2.4mR class.
Pictured: Ted Green (Newport, R.I.), 2.4mR Class
Rio 2016 Nation Qualification System Notes: The 2014 IFDS World Championship serves as the first nation qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. A percentage of berths for Rio 2016 will be allocated based on final results at this event. The top 8 nations will qualify for The Games in the 2.4mR class, the top 5 nations in the SKUD-18 class, and the top 7 nations in the Sonar class. More information: http://www.sailing.org/37521.php
Racing at the 2014 IFDS Worlds will take place in Halifax from Tuesday, August 19, to Sunday, August 24.
Top US Results: 2014 IFDS World Championships, Day 3
2.4mR Class:
• 6th, John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wisc.)
• 13th, Ted Green (Newport, R.I.)
• 23rd, Daniel Evans (Miami, Fla.)
SKUD-18 Class:
• 6th, Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Cindy Walker (Portsmouth, R.I.)
• 9th, Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Gerry Tiernan (Falmouth, Maine)
Sonar Class:
• 6th, Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Tim Angle (Reading, Mass.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine)
• 12th, Andrew Fisher (Greenwich, Ct.), Mike Hersey (Hyannis, Mass.) and Bradley Johnson (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Event website:
Results:
http://www.ifdsworlds2014.ca/view-results.html
Photos:
US Sailing Team photos from the IFDS World Championship are available here: http://bit.ly/1pW56do
For photo download password, email: willricketson@ussailing.org
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RSVP Today for the Golden Spinnaker Regatta and Gala, September 27th:
Come sail with the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider in Newport, Rhode Island at New York Yacht Club’s Harbour Court! Enjoy cocktails, dinner and an auction for items such as a VIP trip to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and Olympic flags signed by the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Teams. – See more at: https://www.ussailing.org/gsr2014
About the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider
The US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. The top boats in each Olympic and Paralympic class are selected annually to be members of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry Top-Sider; other sponsors include Harken and Team McLube. Yale Cordage is a team supplier. The US Sailing Center Miami is an Olympic training site. Oakcliff Sailing and Clearwater Community Sailing Center are US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider training centers. Chubb Personal Insurance sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider athletes.
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org
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Press contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing. willricketson@ussailing.org, +1 978 697 2384