2023 Club 420 Women’s North Americans

The inaugural Club 420 Women’s North American Championship was held July 12-14 at Brant Beach Yacht Club in Brant Beach, NJ.

Forty-seven teams of 14- to 19-year-olds came from across the USA and Canada, with a clinic on the first day led by Sarah Mergenthaler Chin and Elizabeth Kratzig along with a team of experienced coaches working with multiple experience levels of sailors. The clinic was followed by a college night dinner with 17 college representatives discussing the transition into collegiate sailing.

Day one of racing had Samara Walshe (Edgartown YC) and Lillie Foster (American YC) gaining four wins followed closely by Sophia Devling (Balboa YC) and Piper Blackband (Bahia Corinthian YC) in 18-20 knots of wind. Day two of racing had slightly less breeze for three races allowing Carly Kieding (Santa Barbara YC) and Kate Joslin (Kate Joslin (San Diego YC) to secure third overall by one point.

By winning, Walshe and Foster received the Lynne Jewell Shore / Allison Jolly Trophy. Lynne Jewell Shore and Allison Jolly are the first women to win a Gold Medal for sailing in the modern Olympic Games in 1988.

“It was great to see these young ladies sail but even more than the sailing, they made some amazing connections with other sailors from all over the country, with mentors and past Olympians at the dinners, on the course and at the clinic,” noted Class President John Morgan. “We are already exited for next year’s women’s event.”

Details: https://theclubspot.com/regatta/DRF0QiUTFW