HANNAH STODEL Sponsored by <strong>Oyster</strong> Marine, Eighteen year old Hannah Stodel becomes the first British woman selected to sail at a Paralympic Games. 42 www.oystermarine.com
MIAMI OCR 2004 The Miami OCR is a very important event for both the Olympic and the Paralympic teams. It is used as an early indicator, as well as qualifier for some countries. We arrived to find very little wind, which as all the locals told us was very unusual, but that’s sailing! All the top teams from the Worlds were there, meaning that competition was extremely competitive and would be tight. We started the event well being consistently in the top five of our fleet. Unfortunately, our luck changed half way through the week and John our helm was taken ill, meaning that he couldn’t sail. Our coach Mark Barron sailed with us so we could continue racing, but some of the other countries that were competing were not very happy with this as we were beating them without our proper race crew. So unfortunately we had to retire from the rest of the event. However, the experience was useful, and we now have an indication of how the other teams are doing and can predict who we will be racing against in the Paralympics. 3 SAIL WORLD CHAMIONSHIPS After the Miami OCR, we travelled to St Petersburg, Tampa for the able-bodied 3 Sail Worlds, where we enlisted the help of former Laser Youth Squad sailor, 22 year old Mark Addison, to sail with us as the fourth crew. We knew that the sailing was going to be of the very highest quality and we weren’t really expecting much, merely using the event as a means of training against some of America's top sailors. However with only one day remaining we were lying 2nd behind the American Paralympic representative. The able-bodied sailors got the shock of their lives! We raced consistently, proving that we are an equal match for the able-bodied sailors, assisted by Mark and his stunning work on the foredeck. Unfortunately on the last day, there was really thick fog in the morning, meaning that the racing was postponed. However, not to be beaten, the principal race officer sent us out, where we spent the next two hours trying to find the committee boat and not crash into each other. With five minutes to spare and five general recalls later, we had started. Disappointingly we were over the line, and even though we went back, we still got a 20% penalty and a disastrous last race. Unfortunately with all races to count this pushed us down to 5th overall and the second Paralympic boat. NATIONAL OFFSHORE ONE DESIGN REGATTA This event ran directly on from the 3 Sail World Championships, by which time we were all very tired. After the disappointing end to the Worlds, we were determined to do better. The racing at the NOOD is over longer courses, and rather interesting as you have to share your course with seven other types of one-design boats. After some very tight racing in 25 knots of breeze, the disabled sailors were still proving that they could be as competitive as the able-bodied sailors. We only managed to complete four races due to the ever increasing breeze, with three 4ths and an 8th place. Again we were 5th overall and were beaten by just one point for Paralympic honours. In March we will be returning to St Petes to take part in the Disabled Midwinters, which looks like being as competitive as the World Championships. Doing well at this competition has always been our main goal and we will be doing our best to win gold at this event. All of this of course would not have been possible without the support of Richard Matthews, <strong>Oyster</strong> Marine and many of <strong>Oyster</strong>'s owners and suppliers. Having been invited to attend the <strong>Oyster</strong> owners London dinner, little did I realise that in the space of a couple of hours my total funding requirement for the year would be raised. Everybody was so generous and I am very grateful to you all. My Paralympic dream is now very much a reality and, along with the rest of Team GBR, we will be Sailing for Gold in Athens 2004. Hannah Stodel For more information about the British Paralympic Association see: www.paralympics.org.uk
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