Team GB have won their first ever Paralympic sailing medals since the sport joined the full Paralympic Games 12 years ago.
 
A lack of wind meant that racing was cancelled at Weymouth today. Instead, the overnight positions remained and medals were awarded according to the sailors’ rankings after 10 races.
 
John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Steve Thomas were in with a realistic chance of winning silver in the medal race today. They were ranked in third place and would have been awarded bronze if they hadn’t been dealt a four-point penalty for onshore infringement. The infringement, according to Paralympic GB sailing team leader Stephen Park, was awarded when the bosun was inspecting and repairing some damage to the boat. It was not related to the crew, he said.
 
You can read more about the onshore infringement on the ISAF website. (http://www.sailing.org/32150.php)
 
Helena Lucas, who was guaranteed at least a silver in the medal race, was awarded gold today. She finished the Paralympic Games nine points ahead of her closest rival, German’s silver winner Heiko Kroger.
 
Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell won bronze in the SKUD class after finishing in third place yesterday.
 
It’s the first time Team GB has won a Paralympic sailing medal since the sport joined the full Paralympic Games in 2000. The only other Paralympic sailing event won by Team GB was in 1996, when the British Sonar team took gold during a demonstration race in Atlanta.