Author: Jake Fish

Sailors Put on a Sunday Show at West Marine US Open Sailing San Francisco 


Day 3 – Final Recap: Temko, Muller Qualify for Junior Pan American Games
August 15, 2021 – San Francisco 

Sunday’s final showdown on San Francisco Bay featured another incredible display of speed and modern sailing technology with highly skilled and determined athletes. 

The regatta once again included two race circles featuring the iQFoil and Formula Kite fleets organized by the St. Francis Yacht Club and the ILCA and I420 events were being run by the San Francisco Yacht Club. The ILCA fleets launched from the Treasure Island Sailing Center. 

The ILCA 6 and 4 fleets ran two separate days of racing with no results carrying over from Saturday to Sunday’s scores. The fleets ran medal races on both days. The competitor list featured mostly Olympic Development Program (ODP) athletes.

The Intenational 420 class also competed in a two-day regatta on Saturday and Sunday. Click here to final standings

Sailors raced in 18-20 knots and air temperatures in the low 60s. 

iQFoil 9 

In another leaderboard shake-up on Sunday, Adrien Gaillard (Cozumel, Mexico) captured the iQFoil 9 event after a strong performance on Sunday. He edged Cristobal Hagerman Haro (Bahia de Banderas, Mexico) by just one point. They had a point-share of the lead after Saturday’s racing.  

There was a lot at stake for many of the competing sailors this week. US Open Sailing San Francisco was a Junior Pan Am Games selection event for both iQFoil events. Alexander Temko (Palm Harbor, Fla.) and Noah Lyons (Clearwater, Fla.) were in a tie for third place entering Sunday’s racing. Temko won the last race of the regatta to take third over Lyons who was second. Temko qualified as the top American athlete in the competition.  

“Today, we had some super amazing racing out here on San Francisco Bay,” said Temko. “We had some challenging conditions with the current and the wind. I was fortunate enough to qualify for the Junior Pan American Games by one point. Noah Lyons gave me a run for my money, but at the end it came down to the last race. I’m super happy to represent my country at Junior Pan American Games.”

Six countries were represented in the Men’s iQFoil event, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and South Africa. 

iQFoil 8 

JP Lattanzi (Honolulu, Hawaii) was the fleet leader from start to finish over three days and 13 races. He placed 1-3-1 over three more races on Sunday to win the championship. He won 11 of 13 races this week and still only won by six points over Bryn Muller (Largo, Fla.), the top female in the fleet.  

Muller qualified for the Junior Pan Am Games with her performance this week. She won three races and placed second eight times. Danicka Sailer (Honolulu, Hawaii) finished a strong weekend in third place. 

Open Formula Kite  

The Open Formula Kite completed three more races on Sunday and Kai Calder (Alameda, Calif.) claimed first place honors after taking over possession of first place on Saturday. Calder was even on points with Johnny Heineken (Larkspur, Calif.) and Markus Edegran (Rio Vista, Calif.) after Friday’s racing. Calder won after posting a 2-(4)-1 scoring line and defeating Edegran by five points, despite wins from Edegran in Race 11 and 12. Johnny Heineken (Larkspur, Calif.) took home third place. 

“It was a great three days of plenty of current and breeze out there,” said Calder. “Some tough sailing conditions and really tough battles with the top fleet. I’m really stoked about this week’s results and I think winning the event is pretty sweet. This is the first event I have won so I’m really happy to be doing it here with my friends.”

US Open Sailing San Francisco was also used in the ranking of sailors for the upcoming 2021 Formula Kite World Championships. 

International 420 

The I420 fleet tallied three races on Saturday to start the regatta and two races on Sunday. Jack Murphy (Hillsborough, Calif.) and Sawyer Bastian (San Jose, Calif.) took an early lead after winning the first two races of the event on Saturday.  

They were even on points with the team of Sophia Devling (Newport Beach, Calif.) and Oakley Cunningham (Pacific Beach, Calif.) at the close of the regatta. Devling and Cunningham placed first and second today.  

Final Standings / Results:

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About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series  
The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class and one design racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level national and international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.  

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it was essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.  

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series is an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes.  

The yacht clubs and sailing organizations hosting these West Marine US Open Sailing Series events are the Organizing Authorities for each regatta.  

US Sailing Media Contact:
Jake Fish, Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org

ILCA and I420 Classes Start Racing on Saturday

Day 3 Recap
August 14, 2021 – San Francisco

Saturday’s racing welcomed the ILCA 6 , ILCA 4, and International 420 events to the regatta. The Open Formula Kite, iQFoil 9, and iQFoil 8 events continued their racing after posting five races each on Friday.

The wind and chop on Saturday may have surpassed Friday’s conditions. San Francisco Bay featured north / northwest winds at 15-25 knots. Choppy waters challenged the ILCA and 420 classes, while puffy and gusty breezes made racing tricky for the kites and boards. Air temperatures were in the mid to low 60s for most of the day.

iQFoil 9

Cristobal Hagerman Haro (Bahia de Banderas, Mexico) and Adrien Gaillard (Cozumel, Mexico) moved up the leaderboard in the iQFoil 9 event. Haro posted a 4-1-5-4-1 scoring line on Saturday and Gaillard posted 1-(6)-2-3-2 scores and both athletes have 20 points to take a six point lead over Friday’s leader Xavier Ferlet (Santa Clarita, Calif.).

Six countries are represented in the Men’s iQFoil event, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and South Africa.

iQFoil 8

After five more races in the iQFoil class, JP Lattanzi (Honolulu, Hawaii) continued to excel by winning four more races and he has now won eight of the first ten races of the regatta. Bryn Muller (Largo, Fla.) is the top women in the fleet and six points back, and Danicka Sailer (Honolulu, Hawaii) remains in third place.

Open Formula Kite

Kai Calder (Alameda, Calif.) took possession of first place in the Open Forumula Kite fleet. Calder was even on points with Johnny Heineken (Larkspur, Calif.) and Markus Edegran (Rio Vista, Calif.) after Friday’s racing. He posted scores of (3)-2-1-2-1 to take a two-point lead over Heineken and five points ahead of Edegran.

International 420

The I420 fleet tallied three races on Saturday to start the regatta. Jack Murphy (Hillsborough, Calif.) and Sawyer Bastian (San Jose, Calif.) took an early lead after winning the first two races of the event and placing second in Race 3. They lead Alec Van Kerckhove (Los Altos, Calif.) and Dylan Murphy (Menlo Park, Calif.) by four points. Kerckhove and Murphy won Race 3.

*Stand by for ILCA class results.

Follow the Racing:

  • Regatta News and Coverage: Visit the official 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series event website for news, results and standings, photos and videos, and regatta information.
  • Social Media: Follow @USSailing and the @USSailingTeam on Instagram for breaking news, fun stories, videos, photos, and more from San Francisco.
  • Join the Conversation: Use hashtag – #USOpenSailing in your social media posts.
  • Click here for Photos

 

 

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Big Breeze on Day 1 in San Francisco

 

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Day 1 Recap

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (August 13, 2021) –The Kiteboarders and Windsurfers were rigged and ready to go this morning for signature San Francisco conditions featuring big breeze and strong currents on Day 1 of 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco.

The Men’s and Women’s iQFoil and Open Formula Kite events were challenged with wind speeds reaching over 20 knots and temperatures in the 60s for most of Friday. All three events completed five races.

Open Formula Kite

Taking the early lead in the Open Formula Kite event is two-time Kiteboarding World Champion, Johnny Heineken (Larkspur, Calif.). The competition is stiff in this fleet as Markus Edegran (Rio Vista, Calif.) and Kai Calder (Alameda, Calif.) are even on points with Heineken. The last two races of the day were were won by Heineken to help power the fleet leader into Saturday’s racing. The Open Formula Kite fleet features 17 entries including several athletes who have competed at 2021 West Marine US Open events in California and Florida.

iQFoil (8-meter)

JP Lattanzi (Honolulu, Hawaii) was nearly perfect in the Women’s iQFoil event on Friday. He won the first four races of the event to take a three-point lead over Bryn Muller (Largo, Fla.). Danicka Sailer (Honolulu, Hawaii) is six points back in third place.

iQFoil (9-meter)

Six countries are represented in the Men’s iQFoil event, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and South Africa. Xavier Ferlet (Santa Clarita, Calif.) has an early two-point lead over Mexico’s Cristobal Hagerman Haro and three points over Adrien Gaillard. The top four athletes in the Men’s iQFoil are separated by only four points through five races.

Follow the Racing:

  • Regatta News and Coverage: Visit the official 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series event website for news, results and standings, photos and videos, and regatta information.
  • Social Media: Follow @USSailing and the @USSailingTeam on Instagram for breaking news, fun stories, videos, photos, and more from San Francisco.
  • Join the Conversation: Use hashtag – #USOpenSailing in your social media posts.

 



Olympians Paul Cayard, Pam Healy, and Helena Scutt were featured at LIVE West Marine store events in Alameda and Sausalito on August 11 and 12.

In anticipation of the start of West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco, West Marine and US Sailing hosted two LIVE events at West Marine stores in Alameda and Sausalito featuring Olympians Paul Cayard, Pam Healy, and Helena Scutt, along with Olympic hopefuls.

Watch the Sausalito event below:

US Sailing’s Reach program, Kilroy Realty, and the Surfrider Foundation hosted Sustainability Day for youth in San Francisco this morning at Crissy Field. US Sailing invited youth sailors and summer camp participants representing the local Bay Area for a fun day focused on best practices in sustainability and protecting our oceans and waterways. The event featured a collection of the athletes racing this week.

Follow @USSailing on Instagram for fun photos, videos, and more from this special event at Crissy Field.

About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series
The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class and one design racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level national and international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it was essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series is an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes.

The yacht clubs and sailing organizations hosting these West Marine US Open Sailing Series events are the Organizing Authorities for each regatta.

US Sailing Media Contact:
Jake Fish, Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org

San Francisco to Host West Marine US Open Sailing Series Finale  

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (August 10, 2021) – The West Marine US Open Sailing Series enters the sixth and final event of the 2021 circuit in spectacular San Francisco, a premiere global sailing destination, as sailors from around the nation will come together for three days of racing in five classes.   

Registration remains open for sailors interested in competing at West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco.  

Click here to register! 

US Sailing launched the debut of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series at the beginning of 2021 with host yacht clubs in Florida including three events in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Clearwater that took place in January and February. The second half of the 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series took a West Coast swing this summer with events in San Diego and Long Beach.  

The next and final event on the 2021 schedule is San Francisco on August 13-15, 2021, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club and San Francisco Yacht Club. The competing men and women sailor athletes will be racing in the ILCA 6, ILCA 4, International 420, Formula Kite, and iQFoil in San Francisco Bay this week. 

There is a lot at stake for many of the competing sailors this week. US Open Sailing San Francisco will be a Junior Pan Am Games selection event for the iQFoil. The event will also be used in ranking sailors for the 2021 Formula Kite World Championships. 

Follow the Racing:    

  • Regatta News and Coverage: Visit the official 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series event website for news, results and standings, photos and videos, and regatta information.   
  • Social Media: Follow @USSailing and the @USSailingTeam on Instagram for breaking news, fun stories, videos, photos, and more from San Francisco.       
  • Join the Conversation: Use hashtag – #USOpenSailing in your social media posts.   

Olympians Paul Cayard, Pam Healy, and Helena Scutt Featured at LIVE West Marine Store Events in Alameda & Sausalito

In anticipation of the start of West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco this Friday, August 13 through Sunday, August 15, West Marine and US Sailing is hosting a pair of LIVE events at West Marine stores in Alameda and Sausalito featuring Olympians and Olympic hopefuls. Join us for these special events! Click below to learn more.

US Sailing’s Reach program and Kilroy Realty to Host Sustainability Day for Youth in San Francisco on August 13 at Crissy Field. Click here to learn more.

About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series 
The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class and one design racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level national and international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come. 

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it was essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis. 

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series is an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes. 

The yacht clubs and sailing organizations hosting these West Marine US Open Sailing Series events are the Organizing Authorities for each regatta. 

US Sailing Media Contact:
Jake Fish, Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org

Register to Compete at West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (July 26, 2021) – US Sailing launched the debut of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series at the beginning of the year with host yacht clubs in Florida including three events in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Clearwater that took place January and February. The second half of the 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series in California is in full swing this summer. Following events in San Diego and Long Beach, the next and final event on the 2021 schedule is San Francisco on August 13-15, 2021, hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club, Treasure Island Sailing Center, and San Francisco Yacht Club.

Registration is open for sailors interested in competing at West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco.

Click here to register!

About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series
The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class and one design racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level national and international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it was essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series is an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes.

The yacht clubs and sailing organizations hosting these West Marine US Open Sailing Series events are the Organizing Authorities for each regatta.

US Sailing Media Contact:
Jake Fish, Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org

Sailors Challenged by Tricky Conditions at US Open Sailing Long Beach Final

LONG BEACH, Calif. (July 12, 2021) – It was a lighter and tricky day for the 124 sailors competing at the West Marine US Open Sailing Series in Long Beach on Sunday, hosted in collaboration by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, and The US Sailing Center Long Beach. The third and final day of the regatta was a day to remember for the eight classes in competition on San Pedro Bay off Long Beach.

Click here for Final Standings.

Watch the Video Recap from the Final Day of Racing:

 

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Quotes of the Day:

Sammie Gardner (San Diego, Calif) – Winning 29er skipper with Alice Schmid on their win: “It’s great to see our hard work pay off in our results.”

Tommy Kraak (Palos Verdes Estates, Fla.) – Winning ILCA 6 sailor on the conditions: “Light wind is not my kind of conditions, but I was able to get the wind.” Noting the confidence a win has on his training, Kraak looks ahead at Youth Worlds in Lake Garda, Italy. “This event was huge to prepare me for it.”

Markus Edegran (West Palm Beach, FL) – Winning Kite Foil sailor: “It felt really good after the last US Open Series down in Florida to put this together and come away with a win.”

PRO Bill Stump: “This is the first time we ever ran Kiteboard and iQFoil races. It was great fun, but don’t blink – the races are over fast. Jeff Johnson from SDYC told me I’d really like running races for Kites and Foils. I’m now a total fan of super-fast racing and enthusiastic sailors.”

Follow the Racing:  

About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series:   

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class and one design racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level national and international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.   

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it was essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.   

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series is an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes.  

To learn more about the West Marine US Open Sailing Series and to follow all the action in 2021, visit the series website at usopen.ussailing.org.      

US Sailing Marketing and Communications Contacts: 

Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org    
Justine O’Connor, justineoconnor@ussailing.org  

Long Beach is Next Up at West Marine US Open Sailing Series

Preview: West Marine US Open Sailing – Long Beach 

LONG BEACH, Calif. (July 6, 2021) – The West Marine US Open Sailing Series continues the summer swing through California this week in Long Beach, one of the nation’s most popular sailing locations.  

The site of the Olympic Sailing competition for the 2028 LA Games will be in the spotlight as sailors in eight classes will race over three days on July 9 – 11, 2021. Men and women sailors will be racing the 29er, Finn, Foiling Kite, iQFoil, ILCA 7, ILCA 6, ILCA 4, and Nacra 17. 

West Marine US Open Sailing Series – Long Beach is hosted by Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, and the US Sailing Center Long Beach. The regatta will be sailed in the waters of San Pedro Bay off Long Beach. 

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series launched in January 2021 with a big splash in Florida over three events at major sailing venues in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Clearwater. This exciting new racing series resumed in San Diego on June 12 – 13 and racing was conducted in five classes. Read the Recap from San Diego. 

Long Beach is the second of three stops on the California tour. Following the stop in Long Beach, the series continues up the California coastline to San Francisco on August 13 – 15, 2021. 

Mike Van Dyke, Rear Commodore of the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and Event Co-Chair, discussed the Long Beach sailing conditions and looks forward to competitive racing this week. “Long Beach is blessed with near perfect sailing conditions almost year-round,” said Van Dyke. “The summer months, predictable sea breeze fills in the 12-18 knots range. Some might think this predictability removes some of the challenges of other venues, but it places a premium on boat handling and consistency of scores to come out on top.” 

Van Dyke also discussed the Olympic Sailing legacy in the Long Beach area. “Southern California has a long legacy of producing Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Due to the weather and the almost year-round ability to train, the presence of youth development organizations, like CISA, promoting pathways to international and Olympic competition, we continue to be a hub for those with Olympic aspirations.”  

“When Los Angeles expressed interest in bidding again for the games, it created excitement in the sailing community with the motivation to replicate the 1984 games. With US Sailing setting up base here for athletes to train under the guidance of Paul Cayard, as well as the local clubs, Long Beach Yacht Club, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club, and US Sailing Center Long Beach, we are putting together an organizational structure to work under LA 2028.” 

Lisa Meier, Port Captain at LBYC and Event Co-Chair, also spoke of the history of Long Beach and Olympic Sailing. “Long Beach has a long history participating in the Summer Olympics! In 1932, the Southern California Yachting Association was given full authority to choose the “official games boat” and designated the Olympic Monotype Class. Again in 1984 Long Beach hosted Olympians from around the world. The yacht clubs and sailing centers of Long Beach joined forces along with hundreds of volunteers to spend years preparing for an outstanding Olympic Sailing venue and Games.”  

“Long Beach Yacht Club, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and The US Sailing Center Long Beach have joined together to assemble teams of dedicated volunteers from Southern California to prepare and host the regattas, tests and worlds in preparation for 2028. In 2024, after the Paris Olympics, the sailing world tilts in the direction of Long Beach. The community will be poised to welcome the world, preparing venues and connections that will have lasting positive effects on all who participate.”  

Follow the Racing:   

About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series:   

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class and one design racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level national and international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.   

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it was essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.   

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series is an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes.  

To learn more about the West Marine US Open Sailing Series and to follow all the action in 2021, visit the series website at usopen.ussailing.org.      

US Sailing Marketing and Communications Contacts: 

Jake Fish, jakefish@ussailing.org    
Justine O’Connor, justineoconnor@ussailing.org  

Final Recap: Champions in Five Classes Decided on Sunday at West Marine US Open Sailing Series – San Diego

 

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Final Standings

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 13, 2021) – It was a mad dash to the finish in champagne conditions on Sunday at the 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series – San Diego. Top athletes competing in the ILCA 7 (Laser), ILCA 6 (Laser Radial), ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7), Finn, and 29er events this week raced over two days this weekend at the launch for the West Coast tour of the 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series.

Sailors raced in moderate breeze, 10 to 12 knots, under sunny skies for most of Sunday. Sailors on both courses experienced swells with choppy conditions and three to four foot waves rolling through. The wind held steady on the right side of the course for most of the day.

The young and talented ILCA 7 (Laser) fleet featuring 18 sailors included action-packed and close racing throughout the weekend. Leo Boucher (Annapolis, Md.) closed out a successful regatta on Sunday with another strong performance. After posting 1-2-2-1 results on Saturday, he remained consistent on Sunday with scores of 2-2-[5]. Boucher edged Ford McCann (Kemah, Texas) by two points. McCann won three races in the regatta including the final race of the event to pull within two points of the lead. Connor Nelson (Tampa, Fla.) took home third place honors. The win for Boucher marks his second West Marine US Open title of 2021. He also won last February in Clearwater.

“We had more pressure and breeze today which put more sailors in play at the top, so it was super competitive,” added Boucher.

Thomas Kraak (Palos Verdes Estate, Calif.) won first place overall in the ILCA 6 (Radial) fleet, while Katharine Doble (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) was the top performing female sailor in the fleet and second overall. Kraak sailed fast on Sunday with a 1-3-2 scoring line to win by four points. Doble had a strong regatta this weekend after jumping out to an early lead on Saturday by winning two of the first three races of the event.

“I had some great moments this week, especially yesterday with the starts,” said Doble. “We had a couple of pin favorite starts and I was pleased with how they went for me. I made a good decision on the first beat, and I think that was really important to break out from the fleet and then have all the options.”

“It’s great to have the series come here in California,” she added. “Being able to compete against such a talented fleet in San Diego is a great way for me to train without having to travel too far.”

The Finn class had a race thrown out from Saturday due to a drifting mark and made up that race on Sunday. They had ample breeze on Sunday and sailors were allowed to pump and rock the boats around the course. In the end it was Rob Coutts (La Jolla, Calif.) who just edged AJ Nosar (Long Beach, Calif.) in a tiebreaker to take home first place. Coutts won two races this weekend including the final race of the regatta to win the championship. Nosar was second in Race 6. James Buley (San Diego, Calif.) placed third overall, just one point off the lead.

Sammie Gardner and Alice Schmid (San Diego, Calif.) continued their dominance in the 29er fleet on Sunday. The duo capped off a successful regatta with another strong day on the water. They won four of the seven races this week and won the championship by two points over Anton Schmid and Peter Joslin (San Diego, Calif.) who were close behind. Kelly Holthus and Jon Seawards (La Jolla, Calif.) finished third.

“The highlight of the weekend for us was being able to go out in the ocean with waves and practice surfing, especially since we had such great wind today,” said Alice Schmid. “It helps us get a better feel for racing in different conditions. We’re stoked that we won. It came down to the last race and was very close.”

Oscar Parzen (San Diego, Calif.) led the pack in the ILCA 4 (4.7) fleet and won by six points over Talia Hamlin. Parzen won four of seven races this weekend.

Event News and Social Media:


Event Media Contacts:
Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications
jakefish@ussailing.org    

Casey Coffin, SDYC Communications
casey@sdyc.org  

Day 1: California Tour Gets Underway at West Marine US Open Sailing Series

West Marine US Open Sailing – San Diego. Photo by Ellinor Walters.

by Casey Coffin

West Marine US Open Sailing – San Diego. Photo by Simone Staff.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 12, 2021) – The West Coast tour of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series kicked off on Saturday in full San Diego sunshine. With only two days of racing, stakes were high on Day 1 for a mix of young Olympic hopefuls and experienced sailors.

The 29ers and the Finns set out this morning for Course A while the ILCA 7 (Laser), ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) and ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) ventured slightly further and took on Course B. The breeze stuck around 8-10 knots with some puffs and favored the left side for most of the day, an unlikely occurrence in San Diego. All of the classes sailed four races today.

The ILCA 7 class was dominated by Leo Boucher. After three races, Boucher took the lead by six points over Ford McCann with a 1-2-2-1 scoring line on the day. All three of the current top standings are participating in the series as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP).

The ILCA 4 was the smallest fleet on the water today with five boats on the starting line. Oscar Parzen beat Kousei Hatter by only two points, finishing with seven overall in the current standings and winning two of the four races. With such light winds, Parzen found it challenging to move quickly, but sailed smart and stayed consistent in the results.

“The first race was pretty important,” said Parzen. “In most regattas, it is, because you don’t know a lot about the conditions and the fleet, and it sets your mental attitude for the rest of the day. I’m planning on going out there early again tomorrow to practice like I did today.”

Parzen is currently training for the ILCA 4 National Championships in Norfolk, Virginia in two weeks. “My goal overall in sailing is to just have a really good time.”

The top 10 sailors of the Radial fleet experienced a really fair game with a variety of scoring and results across the fleet. Katherine Doble finished day one with two bullets in three races, earning herself the first place spot on the standings.

“The courses were well set and long,” said Doble. “A big priority for me was getting off the start well. I have good speed in these conditions, being from California, but if you have a good start, it makes the other decisions come easier. To get off on the right foot in race one was an important way to start the day and the regatta.”

She continued, “I’m really excited that the US Open Sailing Series has come to the west coast. It’s great to have such talent come right here and get to race against them in the conditions that we have here on the west coast in the summer.”

Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Robert Kinney finished first in the Finn Fleet, two points ahead of James Buley in second and four points ahead of AJ Nosar in third. The fleet sailed four races.

In the 29ers fleet, Samantha Gardner and Alice Schmid were a force to be reckoned with. The duo spoke at an in-store event with fans on Friday night at West Marine – San Diego alongside two-time Olympic medalist and San Diego Yacht Club mentor JJ Fetter. Fetter checked in with them on the water, where they explained they were working on finding their rhythm and climbing back up after a rough start on race one.

Paul Cayard, Executive Director of the US Sailing Team, made an appearance on the West Marine Coaches Corner this morning. With Los Angeles 2028 in the future, Cayard emphasized how crucial a domestic platform like the West Marine US Open Sailing Series really is.

“Building a domestic platform in the United States is fundamental to us being the strongest team in the world. Having 70 to 80 sailors racing against each other six times a year in the US, heading towards Los Angeles 2028 when we’re sure a lot of international sailors will also participate in these regattas, is a fantastic opportunity and a fundamental building block in making the USA the strongest country in the world in sailing,” said Cayard.

 

 

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West Marine US Open Sailing Series Begins Summer Tour in San Diego

Top Young Sailors to Compete in San Diego 

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (June 10, 2021) – The West Marine US Open Sailing Series launched in January 2021 with a big splash in Florida over three events at major sailing venues in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Clearwater. This exciting new US Sailing racing series resumes this weekend in sunny San Diego, a historically popular sailing location with Olympic sailing roots.  

West Marine US Open Sailing – San Diego is hosted by the San Diego Yacht Club and Southwestern Yacht Club on Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13. The San Diego event is the first of three stops in California as part of the series. Following the stop in San Diego, the series heads North with events in Long Beach in July and San Francisco in August.  

“We are excited to continue the series as the summer tour in California gets underway this weekend in San Diego,” said Leandro Spina, Olympic Development Director at US Sailing. “It’s great to be working closely with local sailing community here in San Diego who are committed to Olympic sailing. There is a collection of good, young athletes from the Olympic Development Program and also from the local community who are competing in the series.” 

Racing Details: 

  • Racing Days: Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13 
  • Sailing Venue: San Diego South Bay and the Pacific Ocean course off Point Loma in San Diego. 
  • Racing Classes: ILCA 7 (Laser Standard); ILCA 6 (Laser Radial); ILCA (Laser 4.7); Finn; 29er 

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“We have been running Olympic-class regattas like this for years, and we welcome the collaboration with US Sailing,” said Susi Graf, Regatta Chair at the San Diego Yacht Club. “As part of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series we are benefiting from the overall organization of the series in many ways: sponsorships, marketing, technical expertise, equipment and more. Going forward, our event will just get bigger and better as we all work together towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.” 

MarkSetBot, a revolutionary new race committee tool that increases the accuracy and efficiency of mark setting, is a supporting sponsor for the three West Marine US Open Sailing Series events in California. They are providing MarkSetBot devices for all three of these events. 

 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series events in California:  

  • June 12-13: San Diego, California
    San Diego Yacht Club / Southwestern Yacht Club  
  • July 9-11: Long Beach, California
    Alamitos Bay Yacht Club / Long Beach Yacht Club / US Sailing Center Long Beach  
  • August 13-15: San Francisco, California – Registration Coming Soon!
    St. Francis Yacht Club / Treasure Island Sailing Center / San Francisco Yacht Club  

Registration is open for sailors interested in competing at West Marine US Open Sailing Series events in San Diego and Long Beach. Click here to register 

  • San Diego: Registration period closes Thursday, June 10.  
  • Long Beach: Registration period closes Saturday, July 10.  
  • Registration for West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco will likely open in June. 

Join us for a Panel Discussion with Sailing Olympians and Olympic Hopefuls: 

As we kick off the West Marine US Open Sailing Series in California, we invite you to join us in a panel discussion with sailing Olympians and Olympic hopefuls.  

Join San Diego’s JJ Fetter and athletes at West Marine US Open Sailing – San Diego where they will share their stories and answer questions from the attending audience. 

Fetter is a two-time Olympic medalist and four-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award winner. Samantha Gardner and Alice Schmid are competing at West Marine US Open Sailing – San Diego and Diego Escobar is coming off the pre-US Open Olympic Development Camp. 

Meet the Panelists: 

  • JJ Fetter (San Diego, Calif.) – Two-time Olympic Medalist 
  • Samantha Gardner & Alice Schmid (San Diego Yacht Club) – 29er Team 
  • Diego Escobar (Mission Bay Yacht Club) – ILCA (Laser) Sailor 

Event Details: 

  • Friday, June 11, 2021 at 5:30 pm PDT / 8:30 pm EDT 
  • Location:
    West Marine San Diego
    1250 Rosecrans
    San Diego, CA 92106 

About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series: 

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series offers an increase in high-quality Olympic-class and one design racing for U.S. athletes with a long-term goal of attracting top-level national and international competitors to race in these regattas for years to come.  

US Sailing and the larger community of sailors in the U.S. identified a demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States that serves to provide a runway to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes. With the 2028 LA Olympics on the distant horizon, it was essential for US Sailing to establish a consistent and predictable cycle for athletes to plan for on an annual basis.  

This series of regattas allows US Sailing to provide more support for sailors at these events through advanced and in-person coaching, training, and data collection. The series is an important part of the training plans for young sailors participating as part of the Olympic Development Program (ODP), a US Sailing initiative supported by the AmericaOne Foundation that provides world-class coaching support to promising American youth sailors competing in high-performance classes. 

To learn more about the West Marine US Open Sailing Series and to follow all the action in 2021, visit the series website at usopen.ussailing.org.   

Event Media Contacts:
Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications
jakefish@ussailing.org    

Casey Coffin, SDYC Communications
casey@sdyc.org  

 

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