Storms disrupt US Youth Championships

Corpus Christi, TX (June 27, 2017) – Storms and tornado warnings kept the US Youth Championships under postponement for much of the third day, but the forecast settled down in the afternoon for racing in 8-15 knots on Corpus Christi Bay.

The race committee set up two race courses, one for the International 420, Laser and Laser Radial, and a second course for the 29er, Nacra 15 and Techno 293 Plus.

Singlehanded Dinghy – Laser Radial
Joseph Hou (Newport Beach, Calif.) extended his lead from nine to 11 following two more races today. He leads Asher Zittrer (Seabrook, Texas), who is in second place. Charlotte Rose (Houston, Texas) is the top sailor in the girls division and she is fourth overall.

“The sailors have done a really good job of being patient and waiting for the breeze to develop,” said Amanda Clark, Laser Radial coach and two-time Olympian. “It’s enabled us to see the sailors racing in a variety of conditions and it gives the sailors a good feel for what their physical and mental endurance is.”

“They have access to racing against older sailors who have more experience, so it’s a chance to learn what you know.

“Singlehanded sailing is very self-sufficient, and there’s something important about being able to take responsibility for your own racing. There’s a lot of accountability and everyone is stepping up their game and learning what they are truly capable of and setting their sights ahead. I think that’s important about this event, especially as a qualifier for Youth Worlds. We know these kids are aiming high and this could take them to the next step and possibly the Olympic track.”

Standings – Top 5
1. Joseph Hou, Newport Harbor YC/Alamitos Bay YC, 6-1-1-1-1-10-[11]-1- ; 21
2. Asher Zittrer, Lakewood Yacht Club / GCYSA, 12-4-4-4-5-2-1-[14]- ; 32
3. Leo Boucher, Severen Sailing Association, [27]-6-17-2-3-3-3-5- ; 39
4. Charlotte Rose, Houston Yacht Club / GCYSA, [23]-14-10-9-2-1-5-8- ; 49
5. Carrter Pearce, SCYC / Lauderdale Yacht Club, 10-11-14-3-4-4-[21]-9- ; 55

Skiff – 29er
David Eastwood (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Sam Merson (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) maintained their first place position after three more races in the 29er fleet. They lead by four over Neil Marcellini (Lafayette, Calif.) and Ian Brill (San Diego, Calif.). Catherine Lindsay (North Palm Beach, Fla.) and Jana Laurendeau (Billerica, Mass.) are the top girls team and fifth overall.

“It’s the fastest fleet in the country and their going as fast as they’ve gone all summer,” said Richard Feeney, US Sailing Youth National Championship Coach and 29er coach. “At the front of the fleet they are pushing each other. It’s a great reality check for what the top end looks like.

“The ability to build muscle memory and sail the boat effectively at high speeds on the course without thinking about it too much is important. You keep part of your brain busy with the tactics and strategy, but you need to shift gears quickly.”

Standings – Top 5
1. David Eastwood/Samuel Merson, Santa Barbara Yacht Club, 3-2-3-5-[7]-1-2-1-4-3- ; 24
2. Neil Marcellini/Ian Brill, Richmond Yacht Club, 2-6-4-2-4-2-3-6-1-[19/OCS]- ; 30
3. Robert Shelley/Severin Gramm, 2Ninner Skiff Squad, [11]-10-1-4-1-3-1-8-9-1- ; 38
4. Harry Melges/Finn Rowe, Lake Geneva Yacht Club/ BMSC, 5-5-5-8-2-7-6-[9]-2-2- ; 42
5. Catherine Lindsay/Jana Laurendeau, 2Niner Skiff Squad, [12]-4-6-1-3-10-9-3-3-4- ; 43

Multihull – Nacra 15
It’s a three-way race at the top of the Nacra 15 fleet with leaders Mark Brunsvold (Sarasota, Fla.) and Dylan Heinz (Sarasota, Fla.) holding on to a two point lead over Jake and Maxwell Mayol (Newport Beach, Calif.). The Mayols were the fleet’s top team on Tuesday by posting a 1-2-1 scoring line. Luke Melvin (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Kyle Collins (San Pedro, Calif.) are four points behind the leaders.

Standings – Top 5
1. Mark Brunsvold/Dylan Heinz, Sarasota Youth Sailing, 2-1-3-1-1-3-3-3-[5]-2- ; 19
2. Jake Mayol/Maxwell Mayol, Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, 4-3-2-[5]-2-2-4-1-2-1- ; 21
3. Luke Melvin/Kyle Collins, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, 1-4-1-2-3-4-[7]-2-1-5- ; 23
4. Nicolas Martin/Chase Sabadash, Seabrook Sailing Club/Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, 3-2-13-4-4-1-1-6-10-[14/DNF]- ; 44T
5. Helen Horangic/Charlotte Versavel, Peninsula Youth Sailing Foundation, 5-7-4-[9]-6-5-5-4-4-4- ; 44T

Windsurfing – Techno 293 Plus
Following three more races, your new leader in the Techno 293 Plus fleet is Maverick Putnam (Palm Harbor, Fla.). He trailed Michael Cramer (Miami Beach, Fla.) and Manual Nores (Miami Beach, Fla.) by one point through five races. Putnam won the first race of the day and placed second in races seven and eight. Nores is now in second and Cramer is third.

Standings – Top 6
1. Maverick Putnam, Clearwater Community Sailing Center, 3-1-1-3-[4]-1-2-2- ; 13T
2. Manuel Nores, Miami Yacht Club, 2-2-2-2-1-[3]-1-3- ; 13T
3. Michael Cramer, Miami Yacht Club, 1-3-[6]-1-2-2-4-4- ; 17
4. Alexander Temko, Clearwater Community Sailing Center, [5]-4-4-5-5-5-3-1- ; 27
5. Dominique Stater, Miami Yacht Club, 4-[5]-3-4-3-4-5-5- ; 28
6. Gabriel Varra-Gonzalez, Miami Yacht Club, 6-[7/DNS]-5-6-6-6-6-6- ; 41

Doublehanded Dinghy – International 420
The team of Thomas Rice (Garden City, N.J.) and Trevor Bornarth (Stuart, Fla.) have a four point lead heading into tomorrow’s finale. They lead Joseph Charles Hermus (Bellport, N.Y.) and Walter Henry (Syosset, N.Y.) who is in second place. Max Anker (Old Greenwich, Conn.) and Leyton Borcherding (Greenwich, Conn.) are in third. In fifth place overall is Carmen Cowles (Larchmont, N.Y.) and Emma Cowles (Larchmont, N.Y.) leading the girls division.

Standings – Top 5
1. Thomas Rice/Trevor Bornarth, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club / LIMA, 1-12-9-2-1-1-3-[14]- ; 29
2. Joseph Charles Hermus/Walter Henry, Bellport Yacht Club, 2-5-6-6-8-4-[12]-2- ; 33
3. Max Anker/Leyton Borcherding, Riverside Yacht Club / LISOT, 4-11-1-5-5-7-[17]-1- ; 34
4. Eduardo Mintzias/Declan McGranahan, Coral Reef Yacht Club, 11-9-[12]-7-4-2-4-4- ; 41
5. Carmen Cowles/Emma Cowles, LISOT/Larchmont Yacht Club, [16]-6-7-1-3-6-11-8- ; 42

Singlehanded Dinghy – Laser
Chase Burwell (Clearwater, Fla.) remains on top of the Laser fleet after another strong day. He extended his lead by a point and now leads Jake Vickers (Annapolis, Md.) by six points.

Standings – Top 5
1. Chase Burwell, Carlouel Yacht Club, 3-1-2-3-3-1-3-[5]- ; 16
2. Jake Vickers, Annapolis yacht club/Severn Sailing Association, 2-3-1-[8]-6-3-5-2- ; 22
3. Cameron Feves, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, 1-[8]-8-4-1-2-6-6- ; 28
4. John Kirkpatrick, Sail Newport, [17/OCS]-2-9-1-2-4-13-1- ; 32
5. Carson Shields, Lakewood Yacht Club / GCYSA, [12]-6-6-5-4-12-9-3- ; 45

Event details: www.ussailing.org/racing/championships/youth/youthchamps