Significant changes announced for 2015 US Youth Championships

Published on June 5th, 2014

Portsmouth, RI (June 5, 2014) – While many young and talented sailors are focused on participating at the 2014 U.S. Youth Championships, hosted by the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (Mich.) on August 10-14, US Sailing is announcing significant changes to the 2015 U.S. Youth Championships and encouraging sailors to begin planning to race at this exciting event. The 2015 U.S. Youth Championships will be held at Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Mass. during the second week of August, 2015. This regatta will serve as the qualifier for the 2015 ISAF Youth World Championships to be held in Langkawi, Malaysia from December 27, 2015 through January 3, 2016.

The U.S. Youth Championships is the premiere youth sailing event in the U.S. and continues to align with the U.S. Olympic Sailing Program and youth high performance sailing. The Laser, Radial, 29er, International 420, RS:X 8.5 and Formula 16 classes have been selected for the 2015 event. These boats are recognized by the US Olympic Sailing Program as Olympic Development Classes and key steps along the Olympic pathway. All of these classes, except the Laser full rig, are featured at Youth Worlds.

US Sailing encourages all forms of youth sailing and supports the sailors, parents and class associations dedicated to getting kids on the water. We are committed to providing interested youth sailors with opportunities to experience the boats selected for the 2015 event. US Sailing will be holding a series of events associated with upcoming championships beginning this June to familiarize interested sailors with these boats. The 2014 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship, hosted by the American Yacht Club in Rye, N.Y. on June 15-20, will be introducing the International 420 as part of a clinic that precedes racing. Coach Elizabeth Kratzig will also provide an evening presentation on I420 sailing. There is a provisionally scheduled introduction to windsurfing clinic as part of the 2014 Chubb U.S. Junior Championships on August 4. More events and clinics are being scheduled for 2014 and 2015.

In addition to the resume selection process, sailors may receive an early acceptance invitation to Youth Champs based on their finish at specific events throughout the year. It is important to note that eligible C420 sailors will also be offered early acceptance invitations to compete at the 2015 U.S. Youth Championships in any of the doublehanded fleets (I-420 boys, I-420 girls, multihull, 29er) by placing highly at specified C420 events.