Board classes take off at Long Beach OCR

Long Beach, CA (July 9, 2021) – Olympic energy filled the air for day 1 of the US Open Sailing Series in Long Beach. The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, taking place at the site of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games sailing venue, features 124 competing boats across 8 classes – 6 Olympic classes (Finn, Formula Kite, iQ Foil, ILCA 7, ILCA 6, and the Nacra 17) and 2 youth Olympic development classes (the 29er and the ICLA 4).

On the water, elite Olympic coaches helped prepare the competitors for the west coast leg of the Series with three days of pre-event sessions hosted by the Olympic Development Program (ODP). Two-time Olympic Bronze Medalist, Charlie McKee (Bend, Oregon), coached the Formula Kite sailors for the week and was impressed by not only the depth of talent developing, but also how the talent is developing together as a squad in the newest class on the program for Paris 2024.

“We are super happy with everything that has happened here,” said McKee. “We had a great training camp leading into this event. It’s our first time having the kites at the West Marine US Open Series here in California. We have 23 kites on the line and the level of racing is really high. There is a good mix of teenagers that are super talented and adults that are experienced veteran Kite Foilers, and everyone is working together in a collaborative way to improve.”

Bringing an international technology-driven approach to our US program, Yaniv Meir (Israel) worked with the iQ Foil group in Long Beach. His proven experience working with dominant Israeli board sailors is helping to invigorate the discipline and jumpstart US efforts for both the 2024 and 2028 Games.

“There’s no question the world of windsurfing changed because we changed the discipline to the IQ Foil,” said Yaniv. “Naturally for such a big country like the U.S. the benefit of changing the discipline is giving young sailors the opportunity to jump into a new and exciting class and follow their dreams.

“I am bringing the experience of coaching windsurfing, but what I get from the sailors is the excitement. What I have seen the last four days is the combination of my experience and knowledge of windsurfing with their ambitions. There’s no doubt that it’s opening the door for the US to do great things in the near future, where young American talent shows real results.”

The eight classes are competing across three separate sailing circles off Long Beach and it’s all hands on deck to make the event a success. Southern California activated a volunteer staff of over 100 dedicated individuals from the local sailing community.

Members from the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht club, and the US Sailing Center Long Beach worked together to host the 2021 event, laying the foundation that will continue to build over the next seven years in the lead up to Los Angeles 2028.

“With 124 teams racing here in Long Beach, the West Marine US Open series continues to gain momentum,” said Paul Cayard, Olympian, World Champion, and current Executive Director of the US Olympic Sailing Team. “Apart from enjoying the conditions, support of top coaches and the local sailing community at large, these athletes are showing the depth that we are cultivating in the USA. The future of US Olympic Sailing is bright!”

US Open information – Event details – Results

Organized by US Sailing and host yacht clubs at venues in Florida and California, the inaugural 6-stage West Marine US Open Sailing Series seeks to fulfill demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States to provide a path to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes.

2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series:
January 15-18: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
January 21-24: Miami, Florida
February 4-7: Clearwater, Florida
June 11-13: San Diego, California
July 9-11: Long Beach, California
August 13-15: San Francisco, California

Source: US Sailing