Qingdao International Sailing Centre

competitions. Wind conditions vary greatly from very light winds to +15knots. During the Olympic competitions, fog was also an occassional factor.

The venue hosted “Good Luck Beijing - 2006" and in May 2008, the IFDS Qingdao International Regatta, where Olympic and Paralympic sailors got a headstart on familiarizing themselves with the venue and weather conditions.

Access from the Qingdao Paralympic Village to the dock, work areas, etc was provided by numerous golf carts making endless daytime rounds. Both ends of the work area had 2 cranes apiece, which could lift large keelboats like the Sonar from cradles and lower these into the water. At night, a laser light show from the main breakwater lighthouse would play from early evening to midnight. Facing the Yellow Sea, the main breakwater with spectator seating, windmills, flags and lighthouse was also the viewing area for the sailing competitions when not on the spectator ferry. Across the bay, the famous May 4th monument and Qingdao's landmark seaside building are easily visible.

The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center covers 45 hectares, comprising a 30 hectare competition area and 15 hectare area for development after the Games. The seven facilities, include the Qingdao Sub-Village, Athletes Center, Administrative Center, Venue Media Center, Logistics Center, Reception Center and Accreditation Center.

Ground was broken on May 25, 2004 and was completed in 2008.

Paralympic Medalists

In the 2-person keelboat event, all three of the medal-winning SKUD 18 teams were composed of one man and one woman. Maureen McKinnon Tucker (USA), Rachael Cox (AUS) and Stacie Louttit (CAN) became the first 3 women to win Paralympic medals in sailing. [cite web |title=Two-Person Keelboat (SKUD18): US claims gold |date=2008-09-13 |publisher=The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad |url=http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/sailing/n214600552.shtml |accessdate=2008-09-19]

References

* cite web
title = Schedules and Results - Sailing
publisher = The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad
url = http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/Schedule/SA.shtml
accessdate = 2008-09-19
* [http://www.sailing2008.org/content/2007-10/17/content_42262.htm Qingdao International Sailing Centre intro]
* [http://www.sailing2008.org/content/2007-10/17/content_42265.htm QISC individual buildings]

External Links

* [http://www.sailing.org/paralympics Sept 2008 Paralympic Sailing Competition, Qingdao]
* [http://www.sailing2008.org/node/node_12256.htm May 2008 IFDS Qingdao International Regatta, Qingdao]