The Official
Website of the
International
Sailing Federation

The classes currently selected for the 2008 Paralympic Games are the Sonar and the 2.4mR (a three-person and single-person keelboat respectively). The IFDS is scheduled to announce a third Paralympic class, a two-person keelboat, next month. Subsequent to the naming of that class, US SAILING will announce a ranking system for that class in order to name its athletes to the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team.

Created in 1998, the US Disabled Sailing Team annually distinguishes the top three ranked sailors in each of the classes selected for the next Paralympic Games. A complete overview of qualifying events for the 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team is available at www.ussailing.org/olympics/paralympic/2006/rankingsystem.htm. The 2008 Paralympic Games are scheduled for 6-17 September 2008 in Beijing, China. The Paralympic Sailing Competition will be held in Qingdao, a coastal city located 430 miles east of Beijing.

The 2006 US Disabled Sailing Team will be named in the spring of 2006 when all qualifying events have been completed.

The US Disabled Sailing Team is coached by Betsy ALISON (USA). Sponsors of the 2005 US Disabled Sailing Team are Extrasport, Gill, Harken, Nautica, New England Ropes, Rolex Watch U.S.A., Sperry Top-Sider, Team McLube, Vanguard Sailboats, Vineyard Vines, and Zodiac of North America.