Mahaney, Poulin get under way

Bangor native Kevin Mahaney, skipper of the U.S. Olympic yachting team’s Soling crew, will raise his craft’s sail in earnest Monday at 7:30 a.m. EDT when elimination racing begins in the 27-foot class in the harbor off Barcelona, Spain.

Also, Michael Poulin of Fairfield opened competition in equestrian competition Monday at 2 a.m. EDT. Poulin, 45, began the three-day dressage event.

Mahaney, 30, and crewmen Jim Brady of Annapolis, Md., and Doug Kern of Austin, Texas, are favored to win the gold medal, according to Sports Illustrated. No U.S. Soling crew has failed to win a medal since competition in the class began in 1972.

The Olympic Soling course is 26 miles long. Mahaney will be sailing against representatives from 30 other countries in the seven-race format, which includes match racing for the first time.