2.4 Paralympic campaign, ROAD TO RIO, 2016

Ok, I have kept this a bit quiet, but I have to let it out of the bag..  That is correct, I am doing a Paralympic campaign in the 2.4 for the Paralympics in Rio next year.  The first question I am sure you are asking, How the hell can Dee to this?  Well, between my cancer and a bike accident in San Francisco during the Cup 2 years ago, left my spine pretty solid, full of metal.  My buddy Fuzz Spanhake suggested I look into it and after some research, I was certified disable enough to sail.  I was a bit surprised as I never would have thought.  I have sailed the boat a little bit so far and learning very fast.  I have done all the bad things you can do and some good things.

The Europeans are good.  They are fast and smart.  They have also been in the class for a long time.  I need to catch up.  I sailed in Hyeres last month to finish 10th.  And now sailing in Medemblik against the best and not doing well at all.  But I have learned a lot.  This little video tells the whole story in a short time.

First, I sailed average starting with a 5,11 the first day. I was not fast enough.  Then, the second day, I started too early, but my video has me behind the starting line, OCS.  On the third day the bilge pump would not work, DNF, and today the worst, another DNF.  The problem was the OCS was a 4th, the first DNF was also a 4th and the last one today in big breeze was a 2nd.  So, I am getting there, speed anyway.

The Good, the not so Bad and the Ugly

The class is now calling me Diver Dee!!  Too much.  Started first, lead most of the beat.  On the run, a nice 25-30 knot puff hit me and I sailed under.  Now I have experienced everything, I hope.  

The video was so good that I had to put it up asap..  

Special thanks go to my sponsors, North Sails, Gill, Velocitek.

The Gill Dry suit saved me today

More later