(QINGDAO, September 12) -- On Wednesday, September 10, Paul Tingley of Canada lost his series lead of the 2.4mR, a lead he had held since day one of the Paralympics, but on Friday the feisty sailor regained lost ground, committed to the statement he made yesterday that it was still possible for him to win gold.

    In a series that was always going to be a fight to the finish, Tingley presently leads John Ruf (United States), Heiko Kroger (Germany) and Jens Andersen (Denmark) by a tiny one and two points respectively -- the latter two on equal points.

    Only two of the three planned races were sailed today and it is likely only one will be sailed tomorrow, the final day of the Paralympic sailing competition -- and only if the weather dictates so. Should one race be completed, a second race drop will come into play, meaning that any of current top seven could win.

    On a day that racing started late, due to fickle light airs on the Fushan Bay course area, it was a bit of a lottery with different leaders at each mark in Race 7. On some areas of the course, the wind died altogether, with puffs coming through now and then.

    Kroger took the honors in that race from Tingley and Andersen. Yesterday's series leader, Ruf, dropped the ball and came out with his worst result so far, a 10th place.

    However, there were a few bounce backs in Race 8, as breezes swung, strengthened and stabilized somewhat and sailors enjoyed up to six knots of breeze.

    Damien Seguin (France) made up for his OCS of yesterday by winning Race 8 convincingly from Helena Lucas (Great Britain), the only woman in the fleet, and John Ruf picked the ball up again to come home third.

    Racing concludes tomorrow, after which the medals will be awarded to the top three overall.