2015 International Canoe US National Championship held August 22-23 in Newport, RI. Photos by Luka Bartulovic/SailingShot Photography.

The International Canoe US National Championship opened on day one to cloudy conditions and a building 7 knot north-easterly pushing into the moorings outside Sail Newport.

The race course was set just north of the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, keeping to the west of the main channel. A small swell filled in from the north, but wake from passing working and power boats kept the chop on course confused.

The conditions tested the patience of the fleet with unpredictable wind variations mixed with tossing wave patterns. Mike Costello on Dance Commander scored a perfect day with 3 straight bullets, Steve Gay nipping at his heels and finishing the day on 8 points including a tough 4th place in the last race. Steve and Will Clark sit poised to compete tomorrow for 3rd position.

On the second day of the International Canoe US National Championship the competitors were greeted by a 10 knot northerly blowing in mist and patches of light rain to the lawn at Sail Newport.

The course was again set to the north of the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge and to the west of the main channel. The small swell again filled in from the north, but the weather put a dampener on the pleasure craft-created wake leaving much more predictable conditions for the sailors.

In the first race of the day, Steve Gay nearly broke Mike Costello’s streak from the previous day, leading around the course before Mike squeezed out a little extra to put his nose across the line first and preserve the streak of first-place finishes.

The rest of the day was a show of dominance from Dance Commander with Mike Costello at the helm, leaving the fleet behind in scoring straight race victories to win the Leo Friede Trophy as US National Champion. Steve Gay was the first to successfully achieve a port tack start, clearing the front of the fleet in the sixth race of the championship. A strong performance from John Kells in Mayhem allowed him to leap-frog the Clarks, establishing himself in 3rd position.

Final Results