FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (January 17) – The first event of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series wrapped today, completing six races in a wide range of conditions. Lauderdale Yacht Club welcomed 135 sailors in the three ILCA classes – ILCA 4, 6, and 7.

Only two races sailed on Sunday after a  morning postponement due to light winds. Racing was then cancelled on Sunday due to a squall line passing through the area. Monday’s racing saw a 12-17 knot shifty shore breeze.

Roger Casellas (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), winner of the ILCA 4 fleet, had a banner event, winning his division by 17 points with a score line of 2-1-3-1-3 (9). Isabella Mendoza Cabezas (Key Biscayne, FL) took second and Alfonso Lanseros (Key Biscayne, FL) came in third.

Winner of the ILCA 6 fleet, Robby Meek (Annapolis, MD), started off strong on Saturday with a 1-2 score line. After a mid-fleet race to begin Monday, he was able to grind back and secure first place overall. US Sailing Team ODP sailors Christina Sakellaris (Milton, MA) and Charlotte Rose (Houston, TX) took second and third, respectively.

“The conditions were super tricky, but I’m happy with my results,” said Meek. “I was glad that we were able to get four good races off in the breeze today.”

Marshall McCann (Miami, FL), a member of the US Sailing Team ODP, took first place in the ILCA 7 fleet after a weekend of tight racing at the top of the pack. Tom Ramshaw (Toronto, Can.) took second and Leo Boucher (Annapolis, MD) took third.

“The fleet was so close it wasn’t until the last race that I knew I was in contention for first place,” said McCann. “I went out, sailed my own race, and kept it simple.”

As podium finishing American sailors in Olympic Classes, Meek, McCann, Boucher, Rose and Sakellaris were awarded prize grants – $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place, and $250 for third.

“It’s great to see some of the best sailors in the country, but it’s even better to see the developing sailors who were yesterday’s Optimists champions realizing how much more of a path lies ahead,” said Regatta Co-Chair Bob Meagher. “We’re happy that US Sailing and West Marine continue to make that path easier for them with the Series events.”

The series continues this month with the West Marine US Open Sailing Series Miami, featuring many of the Olympic Classes, including the 49er, Nacra 17, and 470; and the WMUSOSS Clearwater, featuring formula Kites, iQFoil and the ILCA classes.

Photos from the event can be found online and accessed with the password “WMUSOSS.”

About the West Marine US Open Sailing Series 

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series serves as a domestic training platform and provides solid annual racing opportunities for prospective Olympic-bound athletes and one design racers.  

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.   

About West Marine 

For more than 50 years, West Marine has been the premier retailer of boating, fishing, sailing and paddling gear. With 236 stores located in 38 states and Puerto Rico and an eCommerce website reaching domestic, international and professional customers, West Marine is recognized as a leading resource for cruisers, sailors, anglers and paddlesports enthusiasts. West Marine crew members share the same love for the water as our customers and provide helpful advice on the gear and gadgets they need to be safe and have fun.