- Who has claimed the sailing Paralympic crown?
- 2008:
GER (sonar) - 2004:
ISR (3-Person) - 2000:
AUS (3-Person)
The Athletes
Matt Damon lookalike Stephen Thomas has the top of the London 2012 podium on his boat’s radar
Sailing since she was a toddler, Hannah Stodel has amassed a treasure trove of medals. But it's the gold at London 2012 she really wants to add to her haul
Sonar sailing team member John Robertson has some perfectly understandable fears (and some really rather peculiar superstitions)
How it works: Sailing
It's no pleasant afternoon on the boating lake. A regatta consists of a series of gruelling races at sea over several days. The crew that consistently keeps inside the buoys, stays ahead of everyone else and avoids sinking will emerge victorious.
What you need to know
Points don't mean prizes in Paralympic sailing. The further back you finish in a race, the more points you get. You can also rack up your tally by being disqualified for various reasons, including making a false start.
It is thought the first international sailing competition took place in 1851, when an American boat joined a race around the Isle of Wight, which is just down the coast from Weymouth where the 2012 sailing event will take place.
Germany has enjoyed their fair share of success. Since sailing became a Paralympic sport in 2000, they've collected the most gold medals.
Paralympic sailing is broken down into three events involving single, two- and three-person boats, and crews can be comprised of men and/or women.
In Beijing, Britain had representatives in each category.It's hard enough qualifying for the Paralympic Games, let alone winning them. There are more than 70 nations with Paralympic sailing teams, but only 12 slots in the two-person event and 14 in the single and three-person categories.
What to say: Sailing
As the boats jostle for position at the beginning of a race tap the person next to you and say, "These pre-start manoeuvres remind me of my first dinghy regatta at Cowes." They're bound to invite you for a weekend on their yacht.
Who's good: Sailing
It's not just the Germans who are clogging up the podium, the US and Canada are there too.
Inside stories
Growing pains
Sailor Hannah Stodel tells us about her journey from child star to Paralympian
2012: Great British hopes
From newcomers to Paralympic veterans, which British stars will be hotter than a vindaloo in a sauna at London 2012?
Video
Upcoming events
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