Silver medalists Glenford Gordon (left) and Elsa Meyers. Photo: Allison Knights Bramble

Meanwhile, the Level 2 team of Glenford Gordon and Elsa Meyers took silver.

According to a press release from Platinum Sponsor of the VI Special Olympics team, Digicel, the team is expected to return home on Wednesday at 5:30pm.

Below is a blog from Alison Knights Bramble of the Special Olympics BVI Team, reporting on the final days of sailing in Athens.

Today is the last of a long, hard but fun regatta – I am pretty convinced that even the Olympic Regatta is not seven days.  The Team is subdued, but understand what’s at stake. Glen and Elsa are looking at a Gold medal if they can sustain their performance of yesterday, but the Aussies will be determined not to lose to a tiny little country like ours.

Jaye is aiming at fourth position in his very tough division full of Greeks on their home territory.  Today, I want him and Akeem to go out and have fun.

Jaye Noel and Akeem David

The Dream Team is the toast of the regatta – in my mind, they are no better sailors than our other two boats, but it seems however whether we like it or not, they are genuinely unique.

I have been keeping details close to my chest all week on the massive disappointment that was thrust upon us last Sunday afternoon.  As I have explained before, Special Olympics divide sailors into levels using Unified Partners or Coaches in the boats.  The only exception to this (in the crewed boats) is level 4.  This is where we entered Delroy and Lenford. This is why they trained together and learned to fly kites and use the trapeze system.  Firstly, we were informed that these pieces of equipment were not to be used by anyone (presumably because SOI don’t believe these sailors are capable), then to add insult to injury, they announced that the BVI Level 4 boat was the only entry.

To me, this was a huge blow. After all the preparation and knowing that one boat does not constitute a race – how on earth could Special Olympics think otherwise?  More to the point, why did they wait till we arrived at the regatta to tell me this?  We registered in March!

After expressing my disgust in the only way I know how with the organizers, (I missed the bus that night and had to pay for a taxi ride back to the camp so I could make my point), I arrived back to the team feeling as dejected as is possible.  Talking with Lorna and Elsa, we decided to not tell any of the boys until after the divisioning two days.  The Race Committee had told me that Delroy and Len would start alongside the Level 2 fleet, so they still raced.  But as the only boat in the level, they were automatically entitled to Gold.

My initial reaction was – “a sad way to win”.  BUT, on reflection, watching the performance of these two boys all week, listening to the amazed compliments from other very big countries and the fuss everyone has made of them, they of course do deserve every carat of those gold medals.

The British Virgin Islands has produced sailors that as Lorna quoted – “Have outclassed themselves”. We are the only one of 185 nations to produce this kind of caliber of athlete – apparently.

For me, seeing each of our sailors leave the dock with boat handling skills that surpass everyone else here, is enough.

The most significant point of all of this, is that ‘The Dream Team’, although I told them earlier in the week about their ‘Gold’, they either didn’t quite understand or didn’t care.  Their competitive edge racing 7 other boats in a different level with unified sailors (supposedly better than the SO sailors..?) in each boat, has been a delight to see. I will publish the actual finishes for the week later today.  So that everyone can see their overall positions over-the- water in a fleet that apparently they should be at the back of!  They were always at the front….

There is no doubt in my mind now that Delroy and Len deserve their medals and have worked just as hard as everyone else in the team. At coaches meetings, I hear congratulations from all sides that we fielded a level 4 team.  This just leaves me shaking my head in wonder, as if we can do it why can’t they?  I am sure that every sailing country here will be clambering to catch us up now and in 4 years, the next World Games will look very different – but that’s fine because so will we. The BVI will always be in front and as is now expected, will continue to set an example.

When a regatta such as this is happening, it’s hard to make as much of a fuss over the team as perhaps I would like.  Meeting them off the water with smiles and congratulations and high fives is ok, but then we are always on to the next thing.  It may be packing up to catch a bus, or chasing dirty washing for the laundry, or nagging them about not having ‘eyes bigger than their belly’ (in-joke).  It’s on going -getting to bed on time, hammering on the doors at 6.00am, greeting bleary eyed teenagers, reminding them of their social manners and continuingly feeding their continually emptying stomachs.

I was proud of the boys and Elsa before we left home; I had no doubt about any of them.  Over the past seven days, I have never been more proud of any group of young people that I have accompanied to a regatta, anywhere.  Whatever happens today can’t change that now.  Lorna has had her fair share of work as Head of Delegation. She has left a few minutes before us every day to ride into Athens to attend a compulsory HOD meeting – mostly listening to unnecessary grumbling by people that like to do that, but never-the-less, it’s an aspect of the running of the delegation that I can’t begin to cover and I couldn’t have done this without Lorna.  We have had the same DAL since we arrived in Crete – Mary; she is a lovely lady and very efficient, making all our lives easy.  She loves the boys and they are showered with hugs and praise whenever she is around, which is just about all day.

Eleni is our personal assistant on the dock and around the Sailing Centre – she has just finished her exams and on her way to university.  A 420 sailor herself, she has been brilliant and funny with it.  Delighted with her BVIWSC t-shirt, she is already wearing it.

UPDATE

Well what a morning that was! I have gained 50 more grey hairs as Elsa and Glen battled the Aussie boat. First BVI led, then they were tied, then it all came down to the last race – too little wind and way too much pressure for teenagers.  The Aussie boat has beaten us back into Silver position.

Greeting sailors off the water when I know exactly how gutted and frustrated they are is not easy – Elsa needs space and Glen needs a cuddle, they both got what they   needed.  This all just ahead of the ‘Dream Team’ coming ashore with a threat of a protest by the other Aussie boat – (I am getting a little tired of these down under people!) But the conversation got disturbed when the ambulance arrived for Lenford!  It’s all happening this afternoon.  He’s okay, but twisted his knee, so they want to x-ray.  He walked off the dock, so we are more concerned about him missing the prize giving.

Next casualty – Akeem! He comes staggering up the dock weaving back and forth like a drunk (I wish).  Bad sea-sickness.  He only took 5 minutes to recover, but I had to fight off another ambulance!!

I really think we should have finished up yesterday!  One day too many…

We are now sitting waiting for prize giving, looking for 1 gold, 1 silver and a 5^th place finish.  I guess that’s not a bad haul for a little country.  We will certainly have left a mark when we leave on Tuesday.  Elsa and I are seriously contemplating breaking a couple of rules before the end of the day.  One jumping off the end of the dock (do you think the Warship will shoot us!?) and the Special Olympics rule about absolutely no alcohol..!  If we don’t get shot for jumping off the dock, maybe we’ll sneak a beer later.

RESULTS

Level 4                                    GOLD             SO BVI Delroy Gordon / Lenford Pope

Level 2                                    SILVER          SO BVI Glenford Gordon / Elsa Meyers

Level 1                                    Fifth place       SO BVI Jaye Noel / Akeem David

More detailed results will be posted later, but I think the above is fairly self explanatory.