THOMAS WINS GOLD IN BEIJING DRESS REHEARSAL
Welsh sailor Stephen Thomas has passed his first test on Paralympic waters in Qingdao, China, winning gold at the IFDS Qingdao International Regatta on Thursday (15 May).
The five-day regatta – the one and only test event for the Paralympic classes sailors ahead of the Games in September – saw Thomas, together with Sonar crew-mates John Robertson and Hannah Stodel, come out on top against strong international competition.
The Qingdao victory comes off the back of the title they won three weeks ago at the French Olympic Sailing Week in Hyeres (FRA) where they dominated the Sonar fleet.
The Paralympic race course proved a challenge for the Skandia Team GBR sailors, with big waves and conditions ranging from four to 22 knots, with the Sonar crew also handed a disqualification in race three of the nine-race series for a startline incident with the French boat.
But the British trio shook off their disappointment to take gold by six points over the French team.
Robertson explained: “It’s pretty special being here in the Paralympic venue, and staying in the Olympic Village – it’s a full dress rehearsal for the Games so we’re really pleased to have done well, and we’ve learned a lot by being here.
“The whole team has just got on really well and has had a great time, enjoying the experience – I think some of the other teams have been a bit intimidated by it all.”
Robertson continued: “The next three months are going to be very interesting. The other teams have been asking some searching questions of us – how old our boat is, how much we weigh! I think we’ve just been sailing consistently well as a team, Hannah’s been making some good calls and we’ve got good speed.”
Read more on the sailors’ experiences of life in Qingdao in their Test Event blog at www.skandiateamgbr.com/ href=“http://www.skandiateamgbr.com”>www.skandiateamgbr.com
