Sailors break barriers at Olympic qualifiers

The ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami brought the top Olympic and Paralympic sailors to Coconut Grove this week. Paralympic competitors took in a week of racing, launching from host site, Shake-A-Leg Miami. They have been on quite a rigid schedule with launch times at 10 am daily for first Sonar and Scud race at 11 am followed by a noon launch for 1:00 pm 2.4mR races. 

Paralympic sailors from around the world come to Shake-A-Leg for this opportunity to compete for a spot in the Rio 2016 Olympics against other sailors with a range of disabilities from double leg amputees to paraplegics. Disabilities are the last thing focused on during this week, as sailor break barriers and set records. Team Argentina, England, Brazil, Ireland, Virgin Islands, Canada and Italy are a sampling of Paralympic teams being represented this week. 

On Thursday, January 29, there will be a great photo opportunity at dockside from 9 to 9:30 am as 2.4mR sailors load for the 11 am race. Scud and Sonar sailors will load from noon to 12:30 pm for the 1 pm race. At noon all sailors will be in the Bay; a great time to photograph all race classes.

On Friday, January 30, from 5:00-10:00 pm, in conjunction with the UM PT students, they are hosting a party for the all the Paralympic sailors and others attending the World Championships. 

The ISAF Sailing World Cup is a world-class annual series for Olympic sailing. The regatta is a mainstay on the winter circuit for sailors who are campaigning for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Competitions. In 2015, the ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami is the second of five regattas included in the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup, the seventh edition of the annual series for Olympic sailing. Regatta Headquarters is located at the US Sailing Center Miami, an official Olympic Training Center.


Photos courtesy of ISAF