Sailing at the 2008 Summer Paralympics
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
13 Female Sailors
25 Nations
41 Boats
| Sailing at the XIII Paralympic Games | |
|---|---|
 Paralympic Sailing | |
| Venue | Qingdao International Sailing Centre |
| Dates | 8–13 September 2008 |
| Competitors | 67 Male Sailors 13 Female Sailors 25 Nations 41 Boats |
.svg)
Eighty athletes representing 25 countries in three keelboat classes - the 2.4mR, the SKUD 18, and the Sonar, took part in sailing in the 2008 Summer Paralympics. Sailing was held in two designated areas on the Yellow Sea, Qingdao, Shandong province, from September 8 to September 13.
Competitors had a wide range of physical disabilities including degenerative nerve disease, blindness, missing limbs, and polio.
Boats were prepared and launched from the docks of the Qingdao International Sailing Centre, which also included the accessible Qingdao Paralympic Village, a 5-star hotel which previously housed the Olympic Sailing athletes.
Three sailing events were held. All were mixed events, meaning that men and women could compete together.
International disability classification in sailing is done by a committee, which gives each competitor a number score with lower numbers corresponding to more severe disability. Sailors were classified under the IFDS Functional Classification System 2005 (FCS 2005). To take part in Paralympic sailing, an athlete must have a score of 7 or less. Functional Classification System full details:
| Event | Boat | Classifications |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Person Keelboat | 2.4mR | All sailors are required to have a minimal disability or a higher level of disability as defined in the FCS 2005. |
| Two-Person Keelboat | SKUD 18 | Crew shall include a female and one severely disabled sailor with a 1-point classification. |
| Three-Person Keelboat | Sonar | The total Sonar crew points shall not exceed 14 points. |
The 2-person keelboat (SKUD18) made its official début in the Paralympics. The only Paralympic class keelboat with a spinnaker, emblazoned with the national flag of each country. Of the 11 countries competing in the SKUD event, 7 had female crew.
