Pictured: Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Maureen McKinnon (Marblehead, Mass.) racing on day 3 in the SKUD-18 fleet.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26, 2016
Medemblik, the Netherlands – Competitors at the 2016 Para World Sailing Championships (May 24-28) / Delta Lloyd Regatta experienced a light-air affair on Day 3 of racing, but regatta officials managed to conduct a full day of racing in Medemblik. The US Sailing Team Sperry continues to battle near the top of the fleet in the Sonar and 2.4mR classes, while the SKUD-18 Rio 2016 selection battle continues to heat up with over half the regatta now complete.
Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine) went into the day as the Sonar class leaders, and are now in 2nd overall after scores of 10,2 on the day. “You just need to look at the big picture all the time,” said Doerr, who will become two-time Paralympian in August. “You can have bad races, but you need to keep it in perspective. We worked hard in the first race to keep on the tails of the lead boats after an early foul, and in the second race to get a good overall score.”
The Rio 2016 selection series for the SKUD-18 is in its final stages, with just two more days of racing left at the Worlds. Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Cindy Walker (Middletown, R.I.) are in 10th overall, and continue to be the lead U.S. team in the regatta after six races. “We feel good about certain things we’ve done so far,” said Everhart-Skeels. “Our communication and teamwork is good. There is room for improvement in other areas, and we are ready to make those changes. This fleet is good, and we have to be better.” Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Beijing 2008 SKUD-18 gold medalist Maureen McKinnon (Marblehead, Mass.) are in 11th overall, just behind the other American boat. Everhart-Skeels and Walker must be the top U.S. Boat by at least two places overall at the Worlds to win selection.
Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.) had the best day of all US Sailing Team Sperry competitors, with scores of 9,1 on Thursday. Smith, an America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race veteran, is now in 6th overall. Smith was granted redress for races 1 and 2, due to damage inflicted on his boat by a competitor.
Pictured: Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.), U.S. Paralympic Team & US Sailing Team Sperry, US Sailing Team Sperry. Photo: Sander Van der Borch / Delta Lloyd Regatta
The 2016 Para World Sailing Championships (May 24-28) will will continue until Saturday in Medemblik, The Netherlands.
Note: All athletes selected for the Rio 2016 U.S. Paralympic Sailing Team are subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).
US Results: 2016 Para World Sailing Championships
Sonar (Paralympic Three-Person Keelboat)
- 2nd overall, Rick Doerr (Clifton, N.J.), Brad Kendell (Tampa, Fla.) and Hugh Freund (South Freeport, Maine), U.S. Paralympic Team & US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
SKUD-18 (Paralympic Two-Person Keelboat)
- 10th overall, Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Cindy Walker (Middletown, R.I.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
- 11th overall, Ryan Porteous (San Diego, Calif.) and Maureen McKinnon (Marblehead, Mass.), US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
Note: Everhart-Skeels/Walker must beat Porteous/McKinnon by two places or more to win Rio 2016 selection.
2.4mR (Paralympic One-Person Keelboat)
- 6th overall, Dee Smith (Annapolis, Md.), U.S. Paralympic Team & US Sailing Team Sperry (national team)
Pictured: Sarah Everhart-Skeels (Tiverton, R.I.) and Cindy Walker (Middletown, R.I.), US Sailing Team Sperry. Photo: Sander Van der Borch / Delta Lloyd Regatta
Quick Links:
- Previous Event Reports:
- 2016 Para World Sailing Championships Homepage (Delta Lloyd Regatta)
- USA Image Gallery: 2016 Para World Sailing Championships
- US Sailing Team Sperry Social Media:
About the US Sailing Team Sperry
The US Sailing Team Sperry 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. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. The title sponsor of the team is Sperry; other sponsors include Gold-Level partner Sunbrella and Silver-Level partners Harken, Team McLube and Groupe Beneteau. 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 Training Centers. Chubb Personal Insurance and the Gowrie Group sponsors US Sailing’s National Team Tour, a nationwide presentation program for US Sailing Team Sperry athletes. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics
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. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org
– end –
Press Contact: Will Ricketson, Olympic Communications Manager, US Sailing. willricketson@ussailing.org, +1 (978) 697-2384.
