Historic youth events in Marblehead

Top young sailors from around the USA will compete in the 2021 Chubb U.S. Junior Sailing Championships on August 11-13 in Marblehead, MA. This US Sailing National Championship features single-, double-, and quadruplehanded competition for the historic Sears Cup, Bemis Trophy, and Smythe Trophy.

Sailors compete regionally to earn an opportunity to race at this championship in one of three fleets. Competing sailors range in age between 13 and 18. Each Area is eligible to send at least one sailor/team to compete in each of the fleets for the 2021 event:

• U.S. Junior Singlehanded Championship for the Smythe Trophy to be sailed in the ILCA 6.
• U.S. Junior Doublehanded Championship for the Bemis Trophy to be sailed in the Club 420.
• U.S. Junior Quadruplehanded Championship for the Sears Cup to be sailed in the RS21.

The ILCA 6 and Club 420 boats are chartered by Zim Sailing, and the RS21 boats are chartered by host Eastern Yacht Club.

The top three eligible athletes in the singlehanded fleet will receive early acceptance to the 2021 U.S. Youth Sailing Championships coming up this October in Arapahoe, NC.

“Many of the country’s top sailors have competed for the Sears, Bemis, and Smythe trophies over the years,” said John Pearce, Sport Development Director at US Sailing. “This regatta draws top talent from the regional level and gives them the opportunity to be a part of the great tradition, while also learning from top coaches and competing against other top young sailors. It’s extra special this year because we are celebrating the 100-year Anniversary of the Sears Trophy.”

The Eastern Yacht Club hosted the first of these Championships in 1921 for the Sears Trophy with the 2021 edition returning to celebrate the 100-year-old event.

“The Sears Cup was started by Eastern Commodore Herbert M. Sears in 1921,” said Henry Brauer, Commodore of the Eastern Yacht Club and US Sailing Board member. “The first several years of the regatta were held in Marblehead and the visiting teams stayed aboard Constellation, Commodore Sears’ 131’ Schooner. It is exciting to bring the Sears Cup back to its original home to observe how far the event has evolved with a sport boat being used for the Sears Cup.”

Sailors are taking part in onshore and on-water clinics with a collection of top coaches from around the country on August 10. The following coaches are on site working with the sailors throughout the championship:

• Richard Feeny – US Sailing Youth National Coach
• Cappy Capper – US Sailing Master Coach Trainer
• Matt Lindblad – Head Sailing Coach at MIT
• Cori Radtke – Assistant Sailing Coach at Bowdoin College
• John Pearce – Director of Sport Development at US Sailing

The races will be mostly sailed in the waters outside of Marblehead Harbor in Massachusetts Bay.

Competitors will also be recognized with these additional awards:
• Singlehanded – Faye Bennet Sportsmanship Award
• Doublehanded – Bemis Sportsmanship Award
• Triplehanded – Cox Sportsmanship Award
• The Ship Shape Trophy will be awarded to the quadruplehanded team that receives the greatest number of points for neatness and general ship-shape condition of their boats.

Event information – Previous winners – Photos

Source: US Sailing