Mar 2016 / PARALYMPIANS SET SAIL FOR GUERNSEY

Three of the world’s finest Paralympians are being brought to the island by the Guernsey Sailing Trust and the Guernsey Disability Alliance. During a two day visit, sailors Hannah Stodel, John Robertson and Steve Thomas, will be in the island this April to participate in a number of activities and events.

Steve Thomas is a double below the knee amputee as a result of meningococcal septicaemia in 1995 and started sailing with Robertson in 2003 at age 26. A double world champion in sailing, Thomas also represented Great Britain in ice sledge hockey at the Turin 2006 Paralympic Winter Games. Robertson started sailing with his father at 11 but got his impairment at 22 as a result of a motorbike accident. He became the first skipper in the history of disabled Sonar Sailing to helm his crew to back-to-back world titles in 2005 and 2006. Hannah Stodel started sailing as a junior and went on to become the first British woman to compete in a sailing competition at a Paralympic Games in the Sonar at Athens 2004. At London 2012, the Sonar crew finished fifth after incurring a penalty for an off the water situation but are one of the favourites for gold in Rio.

Guernsey Cheshire Home will also benefit from the Paralympians’ visit.

If you would like to book a table at the dinner on Thursday 7th April at St Pierre Park then please contact friends@sailingtrust.org.gg or call 07781 120076.