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West Marine US Open Series Florida Tour Culminates in Clearwater

Clearwater, FL (February 2, 2022) – The last stop on the Florida edition  of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series begins this week, February 4 through 6, in Clearwater, Florida. Hosted by Clearwater Yacht Club, Clearwater Community Sailing Center, Sail Life, LLC, City of Clearwater & presented by Baystar Restaurant Group, the Clearwater event features the ILCA 6, ILCA 7, Nacra 15, iQFoil, and Formula Kite classes.

“Clearwater Yacht Club is thrilled to be part of the 2022 US Open Series, welcoming officials and competitors from around the world to beautiful Clearwater, FL,” said Yachting Chair Kelley Lesperance. “Our members look forward to continuing the Clearwater Yacht Club tradition of providing support to world class events such as these.”

Stakes are high at this year’s Clearwater US Open event. It is the only Youth Worlds qualifier in the Nacra 15, and the first of two Youth Worlds qualifiers for the ILCA 6 and iQFoil. Nine Nacra 15 sailors will go head-to-head in their one chance to represent the USA at 2022 Youth Worlds in the Netherlands.

In total, 166 sailors will descend on Clearwater for three days of high-caliber racing. The Clearwater area has been the training ground for several high-level racers, including many members of the iQFoil class. First and second place finishers at the 2021 iQFoil US Nationals, Noah Lyons and Alexander Temko, both train out of the Clearwater Community Sailing Center and will be fighting for the podium this weekend.

New this year, sailors from the United States competing in Olympic classes will be eligible for prize money over the three Florida and three California events. Athletes will vie for $1000 for first place, $500 for second, and $250 for third, helping them fund their sailing ambitions.

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Conditions Deliver for Final Day of West Marine US Open Sailing Series Miami

The Open 470 class on the starting line of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series – Miami. US Sailing Team / Allison Chenard

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Racing at the Miami West Marine US Open Sailing Series concluded Sunday with strong winds and even stronger racing across all classes. Biscayne Bay greeted competitors with a 12-15 knot northwest breeze. Though challenging, it was a welcome change from wind delays on Friday and Saturday. 

“While racing was light the rest of the regatta, today was gorgeous racing,” said 49er and 49erFX PRO Lynn Lynch. “The shore breeze was shifty, but after a few tweaks here and there, we got the marks in we were able to run four good races.”  

 49erFX Class 

 The FX class was dominated by Canadian teams, with Tokyo Olympians Ali Tenhove and Mariah Millen taking first place. Teammates Georgia Lewin-LaFrance and Galen Richardson (CAN) came in second and Audrey Staples and Marion LaFrance-Berger (CAN) finished third.  

“This was one of our first regattas after Tokyo, so we were focused on checking off our goals and learning as much as we can,” said Tenhove.  

49er Class 

US Sailing Team members Ian Barrows and Hans Henken came out on top in the 49er fleet with an impressive score line, finishing first in all but one race. Canadians Arie Moffat and Sam Bonin came in second, with a one-point lead over third place finishers Nevin Snow and Duncan Williford (USA).  

Open 470 Class 

In the 470 class, Americans Luisa Nordstrom and Trevor Bornarth made a clean sweep, finishing first in all nine races of the event. Winning the tiebreak for second place was Americans Kyra Phelan and Sawyer Bastian, with 22 points. Alec van Kerckhove and Dylan Murphy (USA) rounded out the podium in third.   

Nacra 17 

Even with only four competitors in the Nacra 17 class, racing was tight and tactical. US Sailing Team athletes Sarah Newbury Moore and David Liebenberg, who are campaigning for Paris 2024, came in first with 8 points. Carson Crain and Caroline Atwood (USA) came in second, while Ben Rosenberg and Cali Salinas (USA) took third.   

Men’s iQFoil  

Fresh off the last summer Games, US Sailing Team athlete Pedro Pascual won nearly every race of the weekend, finishing with a total of nine points. Olympic Development Program athlete Alexander Temko finished in second with 12 total points. 

“Competition and conditions were tough, but I was able to focus on tactics and stay in the pressure,” said Pascual. “I’m looking forward to another great event at the US Open in Clearwater next weekend!”  

Women’s iQFoil & Open Windfoil 

The Women’s iQFoil and Open Windfoil classes were raced together on the iQFoil circle. ODP athlete Dominique Stater took first in the Women’s iQFoil, narrowly beating Bryn Muller, the US representative at the last Jr. Pan Am Games. American sailors JP Lattanzi and Garrett January took first and second place in the Open Windfoil, respectively. 

Finn Class 

Long-time participants in the Miami Olympic Class Regatta, the Finn class saw nine boats competing this weekend. After eight races, Miami local Rodion Mazin took first place with ten points. Peter Frissell took second and John Dane III rounded out the podium in third.  

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series continues in Clearwater Feb. 3-6. Competitors in the ILCA 6, ILCA 7, Nacra 15, iQFoil, Formula Kite will go head-to-head in the last Series stop before the West Coast regattas. Clearwater is one of a two-part qualifying series for Youth Worlds in the ILCA 6, Nacra 15 and iQFoil classes. Registration is still open: https://ocr.ussailing.org/florida-ocrs/ 

West Marine US Open Series Heads to Miami

MIAMI, FL (January 20) – The second stop West Marine US Open Sailing Series opens this weekend, January 21-23, at US Sailing Center Miami. Current and former Olympic class boats will be on display, including 49er, 49erFX, Open 470, Nacra 17, iQFoil, Open Windfoil, and Finn. 58 sailors from six countries will be represented across the seven classes.

Miami is the longest standing Olympic-class regatta in the country and an important stop on the Olympic-class circuit. Over the years, event organizers have collaborated with US Sailing to host international regattas such as Miami Olympic Class Regatta (OCR) and World Cup Series Miami.

This year, sailors from the United States competing in Olympic classes will be eligible for prize money over the three Florida and three California events; a first in US Sailing history. Athletes are awarded for $1000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third.

The US Open Sailing Series is a set of six Olympic class regattas at popular sailing venues across Florida and California. The Series serves as a domestic training platform and provides solid annual racing opportunities for prospective Olympic-bound athletes.

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Each regatta will follow local guidance and ordinances regarding COVID protocols. Protocols are to be followed by competitors, race officials and event attendees. The health and safety of athletes, race officials and volunteers is US Sailing’s number one priority. 

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: Day 1

2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series

LONG BEACH, CA (July 9, 2021) – Olympic energy filled the air for day 1 of the US Open Sailing Series in Long Beach. The event, taking place at the site of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games sailing venue, features 124 teams 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 in the States 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 4 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!” 

Later in the day, Cayard (San Francisco, Calif.) joined Olympic Bronze Medalist, Pamela Healy (San Francisco, Calif.), on site at Alamitos Bay Yacht Club to host the Tokyo Olympic Team Virtual Send-Off. They were joined virtually by US Sailing CEO Alan Ostfield, premiere partner of the US Sailing Team, John Kilroy, and each athlete heading to Tokyo. Details to watch the archived broadcast can be found below. 

The Long Beach component of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series is an exceptional added benefit to competitors taking advantage of the six-regatta series as it provides sailors with top level racing and coaching in future Olympic waters. On a broader scale, the US Open is delivering on a promise to provide annual, high-level racing on a domestic platform- all with the goal of racing toward excellence together on US waters in 2028. 

Watch Tokyo 2020 Athlete Send-off here: Let’s Go to Tokyo! Athlete Send-off Celebration 

  

Day 1 Results


Photo Credit: 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing – Long Beach. Photo by US Sailing/Simon Staff.

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