August 9, 2023
1 minute reading time
Allianz Sailing World Championships 2023: Ones to Watch - 2.4 Norlin OD
The 2.4 Norlin OD is a strict one-design version of the 2.4mR which has been a singlehanded keelboat of many past Paralympic Games. The 2.4 metre long boat, which resembles a scaled-down 12-Metre from the America’s Cup of the late 20th century, is capable of pointing very high into the wind and offers a very tactical form of racing.
Hot favourite in this division is Germany’s Heiko Kröger. The nine-time world champion won Paralympic gold at the Sydney 2000 Games, finishing fourth at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 before finishing second on the podium at London 2012. He was also Germany’s flag bearer during the Opening Ceremony at the Athens 2004 Games, so here is a sailor who has experienced everything at the highest level of the sport.
Niko Salomaa from Finland was eighth at the Rio Games and will be aiming for the podium. John Seepe of the USA has proven very quick at the PanAm and Canadian Championships in recent months and will be coming to Europe with high hopes. Italy is fielding two very strong competitors with Davide di Maria and Antonio Squizzato. Di Maria won the Para World Championships in 2022 competing in the RS Venture Connect class, while Squizzato has a long history of racing in the 2.4 class.
