#ThrowbackThursday - Beijing 2008, USA SKUD18 dominates first fleet outing

With three successful Paralympic sailing competitions delivered and the sport continuing to grow, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) awarded sailing a third medal event slot for Beijing 2008.

To fill it a two-person keelboat was specified by the then International Federation for Disabled Sailing. Enter a new sporty, clear-sailed, fully battened boat; miles away from the traditional Paralympic classes – the SKUD18.
 
The SKUD18 had been conceived as a ‘Skiff of Universal Design’; inherently accessible to everyone regardless of mobility or physicality. It was the first Paralympic class to specify both a severely disabled sailor and a woman in the crew. This innovative keelboat was the brainchild of accessible sailing expert Chris Mitchell and Julian Bethwaite; the skiff master behind Olympic speed machines the 49er and 49erFX. Like it’s Olympic siblings the SKUD18 is a thoroughbred racing machine, featuring a powerful high aspect main sail and an enormous asymmetric spinnaker – a first in Paralympic sailing.
 
Eleven nations competed in this exciting new class for the honour of taking home the first Paralympic skiff gold. The fleet that lined up in Qingdao was a mix of new blood -adrenalin seeking skiff sailors hungry for glory – and experienced masters.
 
One boat in particular stood out; right from the start Nick Scandone and Maureen McKinnon (USA) completely dominated. Scardone was a formidable competitor, his skills honed alongside the best in the world in the 470, in the cool-headed and relentlessly positive McKinnon he had found a perfect foil. The pair, who had been sailing together less than two years, notched up five wins and three second places over the course of the Paralympic Sailing Competition with their lowest place finish a third in race five. Great results were not unexpected for Scandone and McKinnon who had demonstrated their blazing pace repeatedly in the run up to the Games, but helm Scandone’s failing health seemed to have given them extra fire. The Americans outclassed the rest of the fleet so comprehensively that they could sit out the final race and still secure the coveted gold. Even a win for their closest rivals would leave an impressive six-point buffer.
 
Silver and bronze too had been quickly secured. Five second places and only one result outside the top five gave Dan Fitzgibbon and Rachel Cox (AUS) the second step on the podium. Just three points behind the Aussies, John McRoberts and Stacie Louttit (CAN) seized Canada’s second sailing medal of the Games.
 
Just months after his win in Beijing, Nick Scandone passed away from complications of his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. With his health deteriorating even before the Paralympics to the extent that further adaptations had to be made to his boat just so he could participate, it is a credit to Scandone that he performed so admirably and opitimised the values that the Paralympics stand for.
 

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place between 7-18 September in Rio de Janeiro and the sailing is scheduled to be raced between 12-17 September in Guanabara Bay.

Find information below on how to follow the Rio 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition.

RIO 2016 PARALYMPIC SAILING COMPETITION

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Sailing Competition will take place at the Marina da Glória, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will feature 80 athletes from 23 nations competing across three events. Racing is scheduled to take place from 12-17 September 2016 and the competition format for all events is fleet racing.

ENTRIES
A full list of sailors racing at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games is available to view here – http://www.sailing.org/paralympics/rio2016/qualification/sailors.php

PRESS RELEASES
World Sailing will be releasing international press releases after racing throughout the duration of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. All the latest news and reports will be available to read here – http://www.sailing.org/paralympics/rio2016/news/index.php

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the event on World Sailing’s social networks:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ISAFWorldSailing
Instagram – https://instagram.com/isafworldsailing/
Twitter – @worldsailing
Snapchat – Follow our Story on Snapchat, search for worldsailing

USEFUL LINKS
World Sailing Paralympic Website – http://www.sailing.org/paralympics/rio2016/home.php
Competition Schedule – http://www.sailing.org/paralympics/rio2016/about/schedule.php
Latest Paralympic Sailing news – http://www.sailing.org/paralympics/rio2016/news/index.php
Online Notice Board – http://www.sailing.org/paralympics/rio2016/onb.php