Pictured: Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Cindy Walker (Portsmouth, R.I.) on the left, Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Gerry Tiernan (Falmouth, Maine) on the right. SKUD-18 class.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2014
Halifax, Nova Scotia – After a brief delay on the water due to lack of breeze, the collective patience of competitors and race officials was rewarded with another picturesque day of racing at the 2014 IFDS Worlds. Warm temperatures, flat water and winds of around 12 knots made for perfect conditions for the three Paralympic racing classes. American boats are now in the top six in each fleet. Leading the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider in results for a second day was the Sonar team of Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Tim Angle (Reading, Mass.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine), who have posted a consistent scoreline of 4,6,4,6 over 4 races to stay close to the top of the fleet. “The game plan out on our racecourse keeps changing,” said Doerr. “We have been setting ourselves up conservatively in the middle of the course. The only guys who passed us today were ones who made ‘hail Mary’ plays out to a side. We are happy with our scores, and know that consistency is key. In 2008 [at the Paralympic Games], the Sonar that won gold averaged a 4.2 score during the regatta. We’re trying to play ‘small ball’ and minimize our losses.” Doerr, Angle and Freund sit in 4th overall.
In the 2.4mR fleet, John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wisc.) moved up 4 spots to 4th overall on day 2 after recording scores of 4,19 in the 49-boat fleet. “There are a lot of good boats out there, and it’s a pretty deep fleet,” said Ruf. “I’m having a good time so far.” In the SKUD-18 class, the two US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider boats had an up-and-down day, with mid-fleet finishes in both races.”We kept getting pinned out to a side of the racecourse, and my [electrically powered] seat had some technical problems, so tomorrow hopefully we’ll have a smoother day,” said crew Cindy Walker (Portsmouth, R.I), who sails with Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.). The pair are in 6th overall, with teammates Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Gerry Tiernan (Falmouth, Maine) in 9th.
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 2
2.4mR Class:
- 4th, John Ruf (Pewaukee, Wisc.)
- 13th, Ted Green (Newport, R.I.)
- 27th, 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:
- 4th, Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Tim Angle (Reading, Mass.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine)
- 11th, 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