SAILING: Meet the men you dare not cross tacks with. Britain's Michael Kennett teamed with unified partner Nick Jones were gritting their teeth against a southerly sea breeze in Dún Laoghaire harbour yesterday as the race for gold at the Special Olympics sailing regatta got under way.
But such is the determination in their Level 1 division that all three teams, two British and one Swiss couple, ended the opening medal rounds tied on equal points.
Just who can pull what strings afloat is very clear to Michael and Nick. The level 1 rules are clearly defined and say that Michael is in charge of the jib sheets, the ropes that control the small sail, and they're both acutely aware that if Nick touches same then they're out.
Nick concentrates on steering and controls the mainsail and cannot afford to look around in case the boat goes off course. He depends on his partner to watch for boats on a collision course. Michael must also use his weight to balance the 12 foot dinghy they sail and give his unified partner position reports on how they are doing against nearby boats as they progress upwind and downwind on the triangular course.
It's not easy to be the eyes and ears for someone else, but small boat sailing is clearly a teamwork event where the combination of a special needs athlete and a unified partner are pitted against the elements.
Nick, a 29-year-old special needs school technician, clearly underlines their commitment to each other, "if Michael or me make a mistake, we capsize." Of course, avoiding a swim can make things tense on board at times but, says Michael, the pair have developed a good bond since learning to sail together and the buzz afloat keeps driving them on for gold.
Just yesterday, however the fresh winds had abated but still a light sea breeze allowed a full schedule of races to be completed. It carried the extra bonus that capsizing was also unlikely and that the emphasis was on light air tactics instead.
A good start was half the battle as competitors chased lines of wind blowing over the east pier wall for any advantage they could find.
The points made by the British duo are echoed by Missy Kennedy Allen, the unified partner of Katie Anderson also competing in the Firefly dinghy for the USA.
Missy also makes the point that the water is so cold here that they were delighted not only to have done so well by finishing the day with a second and a win in tow races but also not to capsize, a big fear after the opening day's stronger westerlies.
As with all gold medal racing, no quarter was given yesterday but in spite of the presence of on the water umpires a number of on the water incidents have forced race results to be marked provisional as contestants faced the prospect of taking their on the water tussles ashore in front of a protest jury yesterday afternoon.
The opening rounds finished by lunch time yesterday in time for a shopping trip to Blanchardstown but recommence this morning in Dún Laoghaire harbour at 9 a.m. with VIP racing also occurring during tomorrow's schedule. Spectator viewing is available from both pier walls, subject to wind direction, but perhaps the best vantage point is from the marina breakwaters.
