Spain Announces London 2012 Paralympic Sailing Team

Spain has announced the seven sailors who hope to compete in next year’s two-person Keelboat Skud 18 and single-person Keelboat 2.4mR sailing events at the Paralympic Games.

The Spanish Paralympian sailing team will include Carolina López, Fernando Álvarez, Diana Cantalejo, Francisco Villa (Fundación También), who recently qualified for Spain in the Skud 18 event. Spain’s current champion Rafa Andarias (CN Jávea), as well as Paco Llobet (CN Arenys de Mar) and Miki Gómez (CN L’Escala) hope to compete in the individual 2.4mR event.

Over the next 13 months, the Paralympian team will train at Base Iberdrola in Valencia in preparation for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Gerardo Pombo, President of the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation (RFEV), thanked Iberdrola, Spain’s leading energy group, for its support in "enabling sailors to share the values of the company,like its work ethic, enthusiasm and commitment to the finest technology to achieve the best results."

Sailing is one of the 20 sports at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, which get under way on 29 August 2012.

At the Paralympic Games, Sailors will compete in three mixed keelboat events: the single-handed 2.4mR, two-person Skud 18 and three-person Sonar competitions – all taking place at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on the south coast of England.