Qualifying underway at U.S. Team Racing Championship

Newport Beach, CA (October 4, 2013) – Twelve teams and 72 sailors cascaded on Newport Harbor for the first of three days of racing at the U.S. Team Racing Championship, hosted by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. It was a busy day on the water, as the race committee completed 89 races, including the entire first round robin stage and half the second. This year’s roster boasts former U.S. Team Racing Champions, college All-Americans, and new teams have been formed for this high-level team racing exhibition.

Leading the charge through the first round robin was Ladies and Gentlemen and Jet Lag. Both of these two teams went 9-2 in the opening set. Jet Lag features skippers Mateo Vargas (Treasure Island, Fla.), Kevin Laube (San Diego, Calif.), and Oliver Toole (Santa Barbara, Calif.), with crewmates Tally Buckstaff (Belvedere, Calif.), Nikki Obel (Marina del Rey, Calif.), and Carolyn Ortel (Annapolis, Md.). Ladies and Gentlemen includes skippers Justin Law (Newport Beach, Calif.), Michael Menninger (San Francisco, Calif.) and Tyler Sinks (San Diego, Calif.), with crew Adrienne Patterson (Miami, Fla.), Marla Menninger (San Francisco, Calif.) and Lucy Wallace (Middletown, R.I.). Ladies and Gentlemen is 4-0 through the second round robin, while Jet Lag is 2-2. The two teams split their head-to-head match-ups today. Results and Standings.

Early this afternoon, winds were 6-7 knots from the Southwest. Teams will finish the second round robin, split into Gold and Silver fleets, and complete the knock-out series Saturday.

Team racing is one of the fastest growing disciplines in sailing. Over 100 races are sailed in just a few days. Each race or flight lasts under 30 minutes and normally, three flights are racing simultaneously with teams swapping out after each race. The format is a double round-robin followed by a knock-out series sailed between the eight teams who have recorded the highest number of wins during the round-robin series. The intended course is a digital “N”. Other courses may be used. Each six-person team consists of three skippers and three crews racing Club FJs provided by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Teams were selected to race based on team resumes.

Check out the roster for a full list of teams competing in Newport Beach this week.

The winning team will be presented the George R. Hinman Trophy. US Sailing medals will be awarded to the top three placing teams.

For real-time Twitter updates, results, standings, video highlights by Chris Love, photos, and more information from the 2013 U.S. Team Racing Championship, please visit the event website.

The 2013 U.S. Team Racing Championship is sponsored by Gill North America, Hobie Polarized Sunglasses, and Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whiskey. This US Sailing National Championship is a Sailors for the Sea – Clean Regattas certification event.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager, jakefish@ussailing.org, 401.683.0800 x614

Championship Personnel:
Adam Deermount – Event Chairman
Scott Mason – Event Principal Race Officer
Jennifer Lancaster – NHYC Race Director
Liz Walker – Championships Director