Paralympics: Kiwi yachtie sixth with tidy effort

By GREG ANSLEY

SYDNEY - Christchurch sailor Andrew May yesterday finished his Paralympic campaign sixth in a competition dominated by North American and European sailors.

May, a paraplegic who finished sixth in the Atlanta Games Sonar competition, spent the early races of the 2.4m R keelboats series finding his pace in an unfamiliar class.

Manager David Pearson said May lacked regatta experience and worked on boat speed and handling to match rivals who competed regularly in the Northern Hemisphere.

Starting back in the fleet, May worked his way up, scoring several thirds, including his final race yesterday, when he finished ahead of gold medallist Heiko Kroeger, of Germany.

"I think that's pretty amazing for someone who doesn't have his own boat and who raced against a fleet which sails throughout the European summer," Pearson said.

The silver medallist was Jens Andersen, of Denmark.

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