ROYAL Southampton's Helena Lucas is back on the Qingdao circuit today helming one of two British boats, one=person 2.4mR by rcompeting in ihe 2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta which gets underway o today, Sunday, May 11.
Skandia Team GBR has fielded seven sailors across the three Paralympic Classes at this only Test Event ahead of the Games in September.
After their decisive win at the French Olympic Sailing Week in Hyeres (FRA) last month, John Robertson, Hannah Stodel and Stephen Thomas fly the GBR flag in the three-person Sonar class, Niki Birrell and Alex Rickham will compete in the two-person SKUD event, while Helena Lucas and Megan Pascoe will helm the two British boats in the one-person 2.4mR event.
Helena, 33, has competed on the tricky Qingdao waters before, standing in for double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson in the Yngling class at the 2006 Pre-Olympics, while Shirley had her twins. Helena along with Shirley ’s crew of Annie Lush and Lucy Macgregor claimed silver at that event.
Helena , who will be the British 2.4mR representative at the Games in September, says the team have settled in well.
"We’ve been here for eight days now and are feeling like locals. After unloading our containers, we’ve managed to sail everyday in good conditions with only one day of light winds and battling the tide.
She said: “The team are getting on well in our first proper regatta as the selected Paralympic team, and we are looking forward to the event ahead. The results might not matter here but we are keen to continue to learn as much as we can about this tricky venue.”
RYA Olympic Manager Stephen Park said: “It’s fantastic to have the opportunity of a Paralympic Test Event to establish how the link between the Olympic Village and the competition and international zones will work for the Games, and also to give our sailors some more experience of sailing in the Qingdao waters before coming back in September when the competition will be really all that matters.”
