Two titles for U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Champs

For the first time in the history of the U.S. Junior Women’s Singlehanded Championship, the Nancy Leiter Clagett Memorial Trophy was awarded to two competitors, across two classes, for the 2019 edition held July 11-13 in San Francisco, CA.

Representing Dallas Corinthian Yacht Club, Lucija Ruzevic (Denton, Texas) claimed victory in the Laser Radial fleet.  The Laser 4.7, a new division this year, was won by Hailey Thompson (Kentfield, Calif.) from San Francisco Yacht Club. The young women edged out a total of 40 competitors to claim the titles as National Champions.

This year’s edition of the event was hosted by Richmond Yacht Club, located in Richmond, Calif. Ruzevic and Thompson triumphed in typical bay area conditions, facing moderate-to-heavy breeze and one-to-three-foot chop. Across the four final races, both finished in first place three times, and in second once. Their results in these races allowed each of them to clinch the Championship.

While this is Thompson’s first appearance at the event, Ruzevic returned after competing at the 2017 edition. While finishing in sixth-place then, she was pleased to climb up the scoreboard this week, “I’ve sailed this regatta twice now, and I’ve worked really hard over these past few years. So, it’s nice to walk away with the win.”

FINAL RESULTS:

Laser Radials (Top 3 of 29; 10 races, 1 discard:
1. Lucija Ruzevic – 13/1-1-3-1-2-[4]-1-1-2-1
2. Sarah Young – 18/[7]-2-1-2-1-2-3-2-3-2
3. Kaitlyn Hamilton – 34/4-4-6-[10]-4-5-4-3-1-3

Laser 4.7s (Top 3 of 11; 10 races, 1 discard):
1. Hailey Thompson – 19/4-5-3-1-1-[7]-2-1-1-1
2. Sophia Debs – 23/1-1-2-3-2-1-[9]-8-3-2
3. Catie Vendervort – 27/2-3-1-5-3-4-1-5-[8]-3

Event details – Results – Photos

Hailey Thompson (left) and Lucija Ruzevic. Credit: John Liebenberg

The U.S. Junior Women’s Championship was started in 1980 by C. Thomas Clagett Jr. (Washington, D.C.) at the Ida Lewis Yacht Club in Newport, R.I. Competitors sailed for a trophy in memory of Tom’s wife, Nancy Leiter Clagett (Washington, D.C.) who passed away in April, 1977.

Source: US Sailing