##Annapolis sailor Dee Smith in the International 2.4 Meter he will sail in the Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September.
Dee Smith Qualifies for Paralympics in the 2.4mR
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pinSheet readers may remember an article from last October about Annapolis professional sailor Dee Smith holding a race clinic (that was canceled in a gale) in the U.S. 2.4-Meter, a technical, singlehanded race boat that measures 13 feet and eight inches long. Smith is no newbie to sailboat racing. His resume includes America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race, and Maxi competitions. Still new to the 2.4mR, Smith claimed back then that he was succeeding against the Americans but needed to improve to catch up to other tough international competitors. It seems that he did just that. His journey in this boat began following cancer that ate away at his spine and a subsequent cycling injury. He approached Grant Spanhake, a longtime sailing friend, about helping with the Paralympic team. Spanhake suggested he qualify to sail the boat himself, which however hesitant, Smith agreed to do. Not only did he qualify to sail the boat, his success began early when he placed seventh out of 102 in the 2.4mR Worlds. The 2.4mR is a tactical boat that can be sailed by a broad spectrum of sailors. The class marketing materials note that sailors race it on “ability not agility.” The boat is a “great equalizer,” says Smith, which makes it ideal for the Paralympics. The Annapolis sailor spent his winter competing abroad from Australia to France. His most recent successes were placing sixth at the Sailing World Cup Miami, FL; fifth at the Trofeo Princess Sophia Regatta in Palma, Majorca, Spain; and sixth of 19 at the Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, France. The two World Cup event finishes led to his qualification for the Paralympic Games in Rio September 7-18. deesail.com
80 June 2016 spinsheet.com