US I-420 Fleet Improves Game at Kieler Woche

By Michael Rudnick
(June 30, 2013) – One of the largest fleets duking it out in the Baltic Sea this past week at Kieler Woche (Kiel Week) in Kiel, Germany was the 159-boat I-420 fleet. Team USA had 3 boats finish in the top 10, as well as the #1 women’s boat, in the 4-day, 11-race regatta. Nine of the ten USA teams sailed with LISOT.

LISOT/Team USA spent 5 days at the venue training prior to the the 4-day regatta, which saw typical cold, windy and rough Baltic Sea conditions.

Team USA fought hard right up through the very last beat despite challenges that included equipment failures, black flags, and a damaging collision that disabled one Team USA boat (Russell/Finn was awarded redress points, secured a back up boat, and ended up finishing 9th overall). Head Coach Steve Keen, and Jordon Factor, coached for LISOT/Team USA.

This is a big change in performance for TeamUSA from last year, when the USA had only a single boat in the top 10 and 2 boats in the top 25. After 6 qualifying races and 5 finals races, including 1 drop in each series, the three American teams who made the final top ten are:

6 – Wade Waddell / Henry Fernberger (2013 US Sailing Development Team)
8 – Reinier Eenkema van Dijk / Spencer McDonough (2013 US Sailing Development Team)
9 – Russell Clarida / Finn Mundinger

Megan Grapengeter-Rudnick / Haley Fox (2013 US Sailing Development Team) were the first women’s team, finishing in 13th place overall.

More than 4000 sailors from 48 nations in 32 classes raced a total of 420 races over the course of the 9-day Kieler Woche event. American sailors participated in 8 classes (29er, 420, J/24, 470 M, 49er, 49erFX, Finn M & Laser Radial W) with podium positions going to three-time Kiel Week winner Paige Railey who took silver in the Laser Radial – Women (42 boats), and as previously published, Mike Ingham (USA 4242) took silver with 41 pts in the 43-strong J/24 fleet. Complete results