For Immediate Release
Contact: Howard Thomas, Press Officer onsite: +30 693-669-8251; or Jan Harley, Media Pro, 401.849.0220
 

Brown Slips to Second at Paralympic Regatta

ATHENS, Greece (September 21, 2004) – Finishes of 5-6 in today’s races on the Saronic Gulf have dropped 2.4 Metre sailor Tom Brown (Northeast Harbor, Maine) to second place overall in the Paralympic Regatta underway at the Agios Kosmas Sailing Centre.

"It was rough out there," said Brown who had moved to the head of the fleet standings after winning races three and four on Sunday. "My head wasn't in the game today. I couldn't get off the line and that makes all the difference in the world. I was behind all day and had to do a lot of catching up."

With six races scored, the series standings now reflect a worst finish discard by each sailor in calculating the total points. Damien Seguin of France moved into the overall lead with finishes of 1-7 for 12 points.  Brown is one point back, followed by Thierry Schmitter of The Netherlands who is third with 15 points.

In light winds on the Saronic Gulf, Brown started the first race in seventh place at the first mark before gradually climbing to as high as third.  In a photo-finish, Great Britain's Alan Smith nipped Brown at the line for fourth place.

"I wanted to escape today and get five or six more points on them (Sequin and Schmitter) and be able to breathe a little bit, but it didn't work out that way," said Brown on the tightening of the overall race. "It looks like it's going to go down to the last day. It just got a whole lot more interesting."

Competition continues tomorrow, Wednesday, September 22, for both the 2.4 Metre and Sonar classes with races seven and eight scheduled.  The USA’s Sonar team of John Ross-Duggan (Newport Beach, Calif.), Brad Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis./Hollywood, Fla.) and J.P. Creignou (St. Petersburg, Fla.) had a layday today and are currently fourth in the overall standings.

The final race of the series is scheduled for both fleets on Thursday, September 23.

For more information, visit www.ussailing.org/olympics/OlympicGames/2004/

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