Paul Tingley led the Canadian Sonar team to a gold medal as Para-racing concluded today at the Sailing World Cup in Miami.
Tingley and his team-mates Logan Campbell and Scott Lutes wrapped up top honours with a race to spare after a strong series.
Their week featured three consecutive race wins midway through, putting them in a good spot leading into the final day.
A third and a fourth in the opening two races was enough to seal gold and with the pressure off, they completed the regatta with a seventh.
“It feels like the work is starting to pay off,” said Tingley, the 2.4mR gold medallist at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
“We are committed to the process and it takes time as a team.
“We have worked hard on our communication and as a result, we executed really well this week.
“The very best in the world are here and we beat the best.
“Gold is the reassurance we needed going into Rio.”
Australia’s Colin Harrison, Jonathan Harris and Russell Boaden took second followed by France’s Bruno Jourdren, Eric Flageul and Nicolas Vimont-Vicary.
Meanwhile in the 2.4mR, Great Britain’s Helena Lucas asserted herself with a trio of victories that ensured she took her first gold at the Miami World Cup after five previous attempts.
Lucas had a shaky start, retiring from the first race of the series, but came back well to win seven of 10 races over the week.
A perfect final day of three race victories sealed her fate as she ended well clear of Canada’s Bruce Millar in second and the United States’ Charles Rosenfield in third.
“It’s been a really good regatta,” said Lucas.
“We have had some great winds and some good conditions in different directions.
“It’s made it a good regatta and we had 20 knots yesterday so it’s been great.
“Miami is always a really nice one to win so it’s great to start 2016 off with a win.”
Lucas won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and was the first British athlete in any sport to be selected for Rio 2016.
No-one has been able to defend the 2.4mR gold medal at the Paralympic Games, but Lucas has a full schedule this year as she attempts to achieve the feat.
“This is a good stepping stone for my preparations in September,” she said.
“It’s busy from now on until the Paralympic Games.
“I have some stuff planned in the UK in February and then from March onwards, I will be at the World Cup and European Sailing Federation events.
“It’s a busy calendar from now on.”
Para-sailors have a relatively quiet period before a busy schedule in April and May that includes the Sailing World Cups in Hyeres and Weymouth & Portland, as well as the Para World Sailing Championships in Medemblik, The Netherlands.
- By Daniel Etchells
- This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, www.insidethegames.biz