Team Odyssey Update
Day 3 & 4 - Good News!
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Hi folks!
Well here it is just a few hours
before the last day of racing is
scheduled to begin. It has been
such a long journey for our
Sonar team and, indeed, the
entire team USA. I'm so proud
to have been able to represent
our country at these Games! The
first bit of good news that I
need to share is that the Skud
18 team of Nick Scandone and
Maureen McKinnon-Tucker have
clinched the gold medal even
before the last two races of the
series! What a thrill it was to
share that moment with them as
they came off the water. The
races today will for them be a
mere formality, but a victory
lap will be an experience to
remember.
John Ruf is also sitting in a
good position - 2nd place in the
regatta. His lead is not a
comfortable one, but we'll be
cheering him on today.
As for us, we had a great day on
the water yesterday with
finishes of 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
In fact, those places put us in
the #1 slot for the day! While
it didn't change our overall
placement much, we feel very
proud that we went out there and
sailed the way we know how. Now
sitting in 7th place, we're 9
point out of the medals. A spot
on the podium is unlikely, but
we're determined to go out and
give it everything that we can!
I feel incredibly forunate that
my father (who is responsible
for my sailing addiction) and
brothers are here to share this
experience with me. It was a
real lift to see that American
flag and hear chants of "USA,
USA!!!" after the finish of each
race. I am amazed by the amount
of emotion that I'm feeling but
will contain my thoughts and
reflections until after the
racing completes. We're
focused, determined and just
want to go out and have some fun
today.
I'll be sure to send another
update soon!
-Tim, Bill & Rick
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Day 4 input from Hugh
Elliot
Rick Doerr, Tim Angle and Bill Donohue had a good day in the
Sonar with scores or 2-3-4 and moved up one place to 7th but it
looks like too late for a podium finish. Notable in the Sonar
Class is that three of the favorites to medal (USA, ISR and GBR)
are in 6th, 7th and 8th respectively which is testimony to the
very difficult conditions found in Qing-Dao.
On Day 4 of racing, Nick Scandone and Maureen-McKinnon Tucker
score a pair of bullets to take a 9 point lead. With one more
day remaining, they are guaranteed a medal. Since a second
discard comes into play after nine races, it looks like that
medal color will be GOLD. Way to go Nick and
Maureen.
In the 2.4mR Class Paul Tingley of Canada has opened a 5 point
lead on the field with John Ruf (USA) in second place by a
single point over Heiko Kroger (GER), former World Champion and
Gold Medal winner. Only four points separate John from Athens
Gold Medal winner Damien Seguin (FRA) who is in 6th place. Good
luck today, John.
Best regards
Hugh