2019 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship

The 2019 U.S. Youth Sailing Championship hosted for four classes on June 22-25 in Beach Haven, NJ.

Several sailors set the tone early to lead their fleets from the first race. Brothers Justin and Mitchell Callahan (Miami, Fla.) dominated the I420 fleet, finishing first in eight of eleven races, and only finished one race outside the top three. In the 29er fleet, Hayden Earl (Boston, Mass.) and Tommy Styron (Hamden, Conn.) likewise led the pack from race one.

Nacra 15 team Ben Rosenberg (East Greenwich, R.I.) and Sidney Charbonnet (Metairie, La.) led the Nacra 15 fleet from day one. In varying conditions, keeping it simple was key for this team. “I really think keeping our heads out of the boat was big this week. We also had really good communication and kept it simple, just focusing on what we practiced,” said Charbonnet.

Her skipper, Rosenberg, also noted that having US Sailing Team athlete, Sarah Newberry, as a coach gave them an interesting perspective. “It was really cool to hear about her experience on the higher end, Olympic-level and be able to connect that to the youth stage of the sport.”

Newberry is currently pursuing an Olympic campaign for 2020 in the Nacra 17. As one of the six US Sailing Fleet Coaches this week, she provided feedback for all of the sailors in the Nacra 15s.

While some sailors dominated early, the leaderboards in the singlehanded fleets came down to the final races. In the Laser full rig fleet, Chase Carraway (Wrightsville Beach, N.C.), stayed close behind until winning the final six races, putting himself six points ahead of the next closest competitor.

In the Laser Radial, Chapman Petersen (Winnetka, Ill.) had a setback with a U-flag penalty in the penultimate race but closed strong with a bulled to secure the victor.

Event details – Results – Twitter

FINAL RESULTS – TOP THREE:

I420
1. Justin Callahan and Mitchell Callahan 13/1–1-2-[8]-1-3-1-1-1-1-1
2. Oliver Hurwitz and Ethan Froelich 36/3-3-1-7-4-6-[DSQ-21]-3-2-2-5
3. Will Michaels and Louise la Fontisee 46/6-[10]-3-2-5-1-6-9-3-9-2

Laser
1. Chase Carraway 18/4-3-3-[5]-2-1-1-1-1-1-1
2. Marcus Huttunen 24/1-2-1-1-3-[5]-2-5-4-2-3
3. Caleb Yosov 26/2-1-2-[7]-1-2-3-4-2-7-2

Laser Radial
1. Chapman Petersen 29/3-[6]-4-4-1-4-2-1-3-[UFD-40]-1
2. Will Foox 32/1-1-1-14-2-1-[15]-4-1-4-3
3. Connor Nelson 46/[26]-9-2-8-10-3-6-2-2-2-2

Nacra 15
1. Ben Rosenberg and Sidney Charbonnet 18/1-1-1-1-[3]-3-2-1-1-2-1-1-1
2. Jack Sutter and Charlotte Versavel 30/2-2-2-2-[6]-2-1-3-2-1-5-3-4
3. J.J. Smith and Will Murray 36/4-3-3-[6]-1-1-3-3-2-3-4-2-2-5

29er
1. Hayden Earl and Tommy Styron 22/2-1-2-3-[8]-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-6
2. Connor Boland and Garrett Dixon 50/5-2-1-7-1-3-[9]-4-7-6-4-3-2-5
3. Griffin Gigliotti and Aidan Iaconis 56/[UFD-10]-6-8-4-9-4-4-2-2-3-2-2-3-7

Sportsmanship Award Winners of the David M. Perry Trophy
• Radial – Natalie McCaffrey
• Laser – Max Doane
• i420 – Danny and Maddy Hughes
• 29er – Hoel Menard
• Nacra 15 – J.J. Smith

The top finishing doublehanded team or singlehanded sailor, as well as the top female doublehanded team or singlehanded sailor, in each fleet at the 2019 Youth Champs will be considered eligible to receive International Travel Grants, made possible by the US Sailing Foundation. These top travel grants will be designated for athlete travel to an international competition (outside of North America) in 2020, subject to approval.

Since the first edition of the Youth Champs in 1973, the regatta has served as a transformative step for young sailors who aspire to reach the highest levels of sailing. Participants fill the rosters of successful college sailing programs and routinely achieve All-American status. Youth Champs is also part of the pathway for ambitious athletes who hope to earn a place on the US Sailing Team, and ultimately at the Olympic Games.

Source: US Sailing