Rio 2016 preview: sailing

Three sailing classes will be contested at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games: the one-person 2.4 Norlin OD, the two-person SKUD18 and the three-person Sonar.

Each event consists of 11 races, with two races being contested every day from 12-16 September. The final race will take place on 17 September.

The sport will be contested in Marina da Gloria, located in the Guanabara Bay, in sight of the Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains, right at the heart of the Games.

2.4 Nordic OD class final

Great Britain’s London 2012 gold medallist Helena Lucas will look to top the podium again in the 2.4 Nordic OD class, but will face a hard race as she goes head-to-head with France’s Athens 2004 gold medallist Damien Seguin and Germany’s reigning world champion Heiko Kroeger. Australia’s Matthew Bugg will be another strong contender.

SKUD18 class final

Australia’s current Paralympic champions Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch will be leading the way in the SKUD18, but Poland’s Monika Gibes and Piotr Cichocki showed sensational form last May, winning the World Championships, and will pose the biggest threat.

Sonar

The USA’s Alphonsus Doerr, Bradley Kendell and Hugh Freund were consistent throughout the whole regatta. They won gold at this year’s World Championships, in the Netherlands, and are hoping to repeat in Rio. But Australia’s Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden, and Great Britain’s John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas, may have other ideas.

Location: Marina da Gloria – Guanabara Bay

Schedule: 12-17 September pool play

Mark your calendars for…

Saturday, 17 September

• 12:00-15:00 Final races

Ones to watch:

• John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas (GBR): They will be competing in the sonar class at their fourth consecutive Paralympic Games.

• Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden (AUS): Rio 2016 will be the first Paralympic Games at which the trio will compete together.

• Damien Seguin (FRA): The Athens 2004 gold medallist has won one gold and two silvers at World Championships since 2013.

• Heiko Kroeger (GER): The reigning world champion is hoping to top the Paralympic podium again, as he did at Sydney 2000.

• Helena Lucas (GBR): Even though she will take part in a super competitive 2.4 Norlin OD class, London 2012 gold medallist seeks to reach the Paralympic podium once more.

• Dan Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (AUS): The reigning Paralympic gold medallists will be the strong favourites for gold in the SKUD18, although they ‘only’ took bronze at this year’s Worlds.

How to follow:

• IPC Facebook

• IPC Twitter

__

Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs).

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.

Visa International is the exclusive payment card and the official payment system for the Paralympic Games.