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2018 Optimist Atlantic Coast Championship Report & Results

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Little Egg Harbor YC, NJ –September 23   Another Optimist Atlantic Coast Championship is in the books; 21 Green Fleet sailors and 149 Championship Fleet sailors enjoyed 9 and 6 races, respectively, at the well-organized and friendly Little Egg Harbor Yacht Club on Long Beach Island, NJ.

Top 6 Margaux Cowles, Thommie Grit, Audrey Foley, Tommy Sitzmann, Clark Morris, Samara Walshe

Conditions on Saturday started out promising; a nice fresh northerly, 11-16 knots, healthy shallow-water chop, and partially sunny skies. Teams queued up for the long tow to the race course with great anticipation, and the RC was on station and ready to go right on time. Normally a shallow body of water overall, those not from this area learned quickly that shoals and channels were not where our chartplotters said they were. Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on this bay; new government marks, still not on chartplotters, marked new channels, and many of us ignominiously found the bottom on our way out, and in.

The RC was able to get in 4 races on Saturday for each flight, with only one race baffled by shifting, inverting, then dying winds. Sailors were treated to a welcoming feast on shore after sailing, and club volunteers did a great job helping all 170 competitors find their way out of the water with ease and efficiency.

When towing at LEYC, follow the locals!

Sunday was a different day. Rainy and cool with a light NE wind, sailors rigged as rain fizzled about. The RC worked hard on this day to get in 2 races per flight, chasing a light, veering and fickle NE-E wind and battling an ebbing tide, twice abandoning races that weren’t meant to be. In the end, Tommy Sitzmann of Annapolis, MD edged out Worlds Team teammate Thommie Grit by just one point. These two put on a show, dueling against each other and both putting down aces in their last race, to keep the fans nervous and excited. Samara Walshe, an impressive sailor from Edgartown YC, earned 3 awards at this event: top girl, 3rd place overall, and first place in blue fleet(by a long shot). Speed and smarts in fact is gender blind in the Optimist class, with 3 of the top 6 places in the regatta claimed by girls.

Another well-run event for USODA and the LEHYC; the club apparently had 100 volunteers orchestrating this regatta, and it showed. From rigging space, parking, logistics, food and drink, social time, and of course sailing, this was a great event.

Below are the top 25 results. For full results, click HERE

Sitzmann powering upwind
panoramic view from the LEHYC deck during awards… the calm after the storm
The RBC Lion making new sailing friends
Between race yoga?
upwind in fresh wind and challenging chop

Welcome back to College Sailing! Harry Anderson Trophy; Charleston still on top; Cornell wins at home and more.

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Ken Legler Photo

The College Sailing season is upon us and with it came the end of summer as hot, sticky air was replaced by cool conditions reminding sailors of moments preparing in the boat park, listening to halyards rattle as anxieties heighten. Hopefully you are as excited as I am.

This newest edition of the college sailing season comes with a new adjusted schedule that begins with three weeks largely consisting of intra-conference regattas that, perhaps, will make new feel like old.

“Opening weekend provided wonderful conditions at all venues with North or NE winds ranging from five to fifteen both days,” said Tufts University Head Coach, Ken Legler, a tenured steward of college sailing. “September in past years often brought one day of nearly calm but a big Canadian Maritime high pressure system ensured great racing both days.”

Mr. Legler aptly described the conditions at Yale Corinthian Yacht Club for the Harry H. Anderson Jr. Regatta. The home team, Yale came away with the victory, narrowly beating the Terriers of Boston University, 152 total points to 159 respectively. Yale’s victory was solidified by a impressive performance by Claudia Loiacono ‘21 and Shawn Harvey ‘21 in B-Division. The tandem won the division by 27 points, sailing the shifty conditions with only one finish outside the top-10 and 6 first place finishes in 16 races.

Robby Gearon ‘19 and Lexi Pline ‘19 won A-Division with 65 points. The defending National Champions, MIT finished third at the event with 176 points.

Conditions were decidedly different in New England than they were in St. Petersburg, Florida, where a southeasterly breeze swung to south as afternoon thunderstorms brought some breeze to the SAISA Women’s Open. The national runner-up, College of Charleston returned to their natural form as leaders of the Southeastern Conference, winning the event with 41 points, 15 points better than the 56 points by University of South Florida.

Alie Toppa ‘20 and Annabel Carrington ‘19 won A-Division handily, stringing together 9 straight first place finishes. Twin sister, Liza Toppa, sailing with Caroline Bracken ‘19, won B-Division. Jacksonville University finished 3rd with 75 points.

Photo taken from the College of Charleston sailing instagram account

Cornell University won their home event, the Jack Boehringer ’52 Memorial Regatta. The best wo teams in the northern region of the Mid Atlantic Conference (MAISA), Cornell and Hobart and William Smith squared off on Lake Cayuga with what looks to be both team’s top boats. Cornell was one of the great surprises from last year, qualifying for all three spring national championships and HWS was one of the best teams in the nation throughout the season. Yet, Cornell got it done, winning A-Division decisively behind an impressive effort from Clark Uhl ‘19, sailing with Adeline Sutton ‘21 and Becca Jordan ‘21, who finished with 21 points and only one race outside the top-3.

“It was great to get an early season win,” said Brian Clancy, Head Coach at Cornell. “We have a lot of work to do before the Championships in May.”

Photo by Brian Clancy

In the southern region of MAISA, Georgetown showed their depth winning both divisions of the Riley Cup with Andy Reiter ‘19 and Claire Mohun ‘19 in A and Jack Reiter ‘22 and Gwynie Dunlevy ‘20. The quality of competition should improve in MAISA once Cornell and HWS head south to meet the other powers in the Mid Atlantic.

The southern stretch of the Mid-Atlantic and the northern region of SAISA is bracing for a hurricane later this week. Regardless of what that means for racing next week, keep our college sailing friends in mind over the next couple days.

University of Wisconsin won the Fall Fury regatta hosted by Wisconsin. Winning both divisions, the Badgers finished by 30 points, 27 points ahead of University of Michigan. Charlie Kutschenreuter ‘19 with Olivia Staruck ‘20 and Peter Sauer ‘20 won A-Division and Noah Janssen ‘19 with Maggie Houtz ‘19 switched with Scott Sullivan ‘19 and Emma Zalog ‘20 to win the B-Division.

2018 Optimist World Championship Report & Results: USA Takes 2 of top 5!

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Matias Cappizano photo

Limassol, Cyprus, September 5, 2018 — The curtain has finally closed on a long, grueling, but very successful Optimist World Championship. Straight to the point,  Italian Marco Gradoni, the defending world champion, sailed brilliantly and was absolutely dominant at the worlds most competitive Optimist event. He won 9 of the 11 races; hats off to Marco, what a performance!!

For everyone else, the regatta was an intensely competitive battle over 6 days of fleet racing, separated by 2 days of team racing. (Thailand won the Team Race Worlds, see article HERE. ) The 265 competitors sailed in rotating fleets for the first 3 days of the event, and based on those results, were then divided into Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Emerald fleets for the final 3 days. Famagusta Nautical Club was a wonderful host, and provided beach-front access to the sailing venue on the Mediterranean Sea. This was a parents, spectators, and fans-of-sailing paradise!

Team USA was comprised of Thommie Grit (USA-113), Tommy Sitzmann (USA-115), Ryan Satterberg (USA-112), Peter Foley (USA-114) and Stephan Baker (USA-111). This team was coached by Lauderdale YC Optimist Coach Pilo Rocha.  The US Optimist class selects it’s 5 World Championship representatives from the results of the USODA Team Trials, another very competitive and intense process. So, getting the chance to represent the USA at the World Championship in and of itself is an incredible achievement. Their sail numbers are given in order of their finish at the team trials, and Stephan Baker was Team USA’s only returning competitor; last year this phenomenal sailor finished 4th overall at the Worlds. Would he best himself this year? After the qualifying series, three American sailors, Peter Foley, Tommy Sitzmann and Stephan Baker, earned places in the Gold Fleet. Thommie Grit had some tough races and found himself in Emerald, and Ryan Satterberg found himself in Bronze. Both sailors kept working hard, and Thommie ended up finishing 4th overall in Emerald, and Ryan was 12th in Bronze. It was great to see these tough competitors and world-class sailors continue to compete and do so well in the final days of racing.

Baker, Foley, Satterberg, Sitzmann, Grit, Coach Pilo

The Gold fleet Americans really shined this year, with Peter Foley (4 top-10 finishes), Tommy Sitzmann, and Stephan Baker all in the mix; in fact, Tommy Sitzmann and Stephan Baker battled it out with the worlds best at the top of the leaderboard, with great success. Tommy ended up 5th overall, and  Stephan launched to 2nd overall on the last day with a stellar Baker-esque performance, indeed besting his past result in 2017, winning the last race by a wide margin. This is a great achievement for both of these sailors, and for US Optimist Sailing as it continues to grow in the competitive International Optimist Class (IODA). Looking at the Nations Cup results (see below), one can see just how competitive this class is, and how many countries are involved at a very high level.
Thanks to team parents, Coach Pilo Rocha, and the USODA for their work in supporting Team USA!!
Top 10 Overall in Gold Fleet:
1.  Marco Gradoni, ITA, 11pts.
2.  Stephan Baker, USA, 44pts.
3.  Panwa Boonnak, THA, 48pts.
4.  Richard Schulteis, MLT, 69pts.
5.  Tommy Sitzmann, USA, 71pts.
6.  Mic Mohr, GER, 75pts.
7.  Dimitrios Bitros, GRE, 95pts.
8.  Iakovos-Dimitrios Deses-Ntentopoulos, GRE, 99pts.
9.  Malthe Ebdrup, DEN, 114pts.
10. Melker Brenton, SWE, 127pts.

Gold Fleet Overall Results
Silver Fleet Overall Results
Bronze Fleet Overall Results
Emerald Fleet Overall Results

Nations  Cup Results

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that these were the best finish positions for Americans at the Worlds. That information was incorrect! Apologies for the error. Thanks to Morgan Reeser for setting the record straight:

Optimist Worlds Winners
1966 – USA – Doug Bull
1969 – USA – Doug Bull
1970 – USA – James Larimore

Optimist Worlds Bronze Medalist
1976 – USA – Allen Lindsey

I applaud USA’s 2018 Opti Worlds results, however out of respect to Doug Bull and James Larimore, and Allen Lindsey, it is worth noting that even Stephan Baker’s 2nd Place this year is the fourth best US result ever in the Optimist Worlds, and is worthy of a printed correction.

 Matias Capizzano photo

Thailand Wins 2018 Optimist Team Race World Championship

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9/2/2018, Limassol, Cyprus — Great day of competition in Team Racing Finals at the 2018 Optimist World Championship.  Medium breeze of 10 to 12 knots allowed the Teams to battle it out until the end.

Great match-ups and performances for Teams THA, ITA, ESP, USA, ISR, ARG, and many more with the first 3 prevailing. Thailand and Italy managed to moved to the final that took place in light wind.  Big advantage for the THA team which sailed great throughout the series and deserved to win the valuable title leaving the Italian Team to second place and Spain the second runner up. Team USA, winner of the last two championships, sailed well and fought hard, but in the end could not overcome some very focused and prepared teams from around the world. USA ended up 4th overall.

Denis Razumovich photo
Congratulations to all Teams for the great performance and the spectacular sailing they presented to everyone, in a venue so close to the spectators. Final Results HERE
A great end to team racing competition brings the beginning of a great final series of fleet racing,  tomorrow.

2018 Optimist Mediterranean Championship (Pre-Worlds) Regatta Results & Report

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LIMASSOL, CYPRUS, August 25, 2018 — 120 of the top Optimist sailors in the world converged this week on the southern coast of Cyprus at the Famagusta Nautical Club to compete in the 2018 Mediterranean Optimist Championship. Since Famagusta is hosting the 2018 World Championship next week, this regatta for many is serving as a “pre-World Championship” event. The Mediterranean Championship is it’s own stand-alone competitive event, it should be noted, and has been held in Limassol in 2017, and 2016 as well.

Cyprus is a beautiful island south of Turkey in the Mediterranean, and a member of the European Community. It is an independent republic and the 3rd largest (and 3rd most populous) island in the Mediterranean. For you history buffs, did you know that Richard I (the Lionheart) was married here in Limassol in the 12th century to Berengaria of Navarre, forced to stop here on his sail to Acre during the Crusades? He did!

Back to Optimist sailing. Featuring 11 races (2 throwouts) over 4 days in excellent but warm sailing conditions, this event offered fantastic sailing and competition; consistent WSW winds and perfect sailing waters greet sailors almost every day. The venue is quickly becoming a go-to place for one-design sailing and racing.

The US team arrived in stages, with Thommie Grit, and Tommy Sitzmann making it in time to do the entire regatta. Coach Pilo Rocha greeted them and helped sort out charter boat tuning and gear set up, and they were ready to go! They were followed by Ryan Satterberg, and finally Peter Foley and Stephan Baker. For four of the team, this is their first world championship, and they are treating it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For Stephan Baker, he’s been here once before, and last year he finished 5th overall, the best finish for an American, ever, in the Optimist World Championship. The US team has found success in team racing, having won the Team Race World Championship the last 2 years in a row. Exciting days ahead! Said Coach Pilo, “The Mediterranean Championship was a great event to test the racing area for Opti Worlds. We had medium wind conditions out of the South/South West about 8 to 12 knots picking up to 16 knots during late in the afternoon. We had small choppy waves similar as Biscayne Bay. There is no tide and almost no current, just a little bit because of the wind coming from the same direction every day. Looking forward for a great Worlds Championship!!”

Team USA (l to r) Peter Foley, Tommy Sitzmann, Ryan Satterberg, Thommie Grit, Coach Pilo Rocha, Stephan Baker

In the end, team USA member Tommy Sitzmann sailed an incredibly consistent Mediterranean event and represented the United States on the podium, finishing second overall. Winning the regatta was super-fast Malthe Ebdrup of Denmark (who actually came to the USA this summer to sail and finish 2nd overall in our National Championship), and third place was Jedtavee Yonguennarn of Thailand. Full Results HERE. (note, cumulative results are not updated yet with the last 3 races).

Congratulations Tommy, and best of luck to Team USA at the World Championship, and World Team Race Championship next week!!! The US team is supported by USODA, US Sailing, a dedicated and talented Coach Pilo Rocha (Lauderdale Yacht Club), and most importantly by Team Mom/Administrator Andrea Foley along with a host of caring, proud, and excited team parents. Enjoy Cyprus!!

Coach Pilo Rocha (Lauderdale Yacht Club) with 2nd place finisher Tommy Sitzmann

 

A Brief Guide to College Sailing Recruiting Visits

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By Airwaves Writer Abby Tindall
Abby’s passion for sailing was fostered during her summers at Edgartown Yacht Club on Martha’s Vineyard. Inspiring her to become more involved in the sport, Abby now participates in the C420 youth sailing circuit and crews for her high school Severn School, in the Annapolis area. Abby is now herself a recruited senior, and looking forward to sailing in college. You can reach Abby at [email protected]

The tips and tricks to navigate the scary adventure of college visiting
STEP 1, PREPARATION: these are eight items you should consider bringing to make your visit a tad bit easier
College visits for prospective recruits can be scary. They’re a great opportunity to get to know the student life, campus, and team, but it can also be stressful entering a new environment knowing very few people. Its important to portray yourself well, so here’s some words of advice from someone who has done a few…

  • Bring FLIP FLOPS – most bathrooms can be gross so just avoid the nastiness and bring the shoes for changing at night
  • Bring a WASH CLOTH – if you don’t bring a washcloth you’ll try washing your face and realize there’s nothing to dry it off except your shirt… and that’s uncomfortable
  • Bring a reusable WATER BOTTLE – I prefer camelbak with the straw because its easy to just start drinking and you don’t have to deal with unscrewing lids etc. (they have a nice range of colors too including, but not limited to, these)

*water bottles are great because if you are ever in an awkward situation by yourself just drink water and you can look like you have a purpose without feeling a need to check your phone

*they also show that you’re an athlete who likes to stay hydrated, which coaches love

  • Shower BEFORE going – that way you don’t have to mess with the whole process
  • Bring a BOOK/WORK – when hosts are doing homework you need something to do or else they’ll feel like they need to entertain you, which isn’t good for them
  • Bring a BACKPACK/NOTEBOOK – neither are completely necessary but the backpack is convenient if you want to fit in with everyone else and look like a true college student. The notebook I never personally used but a friend’s host asked her to take notes so its always good to just have in case.
  • Bring good OUTFITS – prep your outfits ahead of time so that its one less thing to worry about in the morning. Most hosts will need to get up early and they will leave very little time to get ready. If you prep nice outfits, when they ask you how much time you need in the morning you can be an easy guest that only needs the same amount of time as them.
  • Get in contact with your host BEFORE – it’s so much easier if you know exactly where you are going. Also check if they need you to bring anything (sleeping bag, blanket, etc.)

STEP 2, ON CAMPUS: once you get there, make sure you are always on your game. these are just some tips on how to put your best foot forward.

  • Feel free to ask your hosts ANYTHING – it makes the conversation flow easily if you’re always asking questions. Asking about the dorm situation or food programs are easy ones that they’re more than happy to answer…
  • Be EASYGOING – if your host asks to go somewhere, go! if they ask which you would rather do (and you can’t tell which one they want) then add a little of your own input but end with “but I really have no preference, I’m happy to do whatever”
  • DON’T go on your phone a lot – it makes you seem distanced and shows a lack of involvement in the school
  • DON’T be a smart a** – no one likes when the students act like they’re the best sailors in the world and try to prove it. Just act low-key.
  • Always have THINGS TO SAY ready – this is key if you never want a lot of awkward moments. For instance:

*If they ask “how was the trip?” you could respond “ahhaa it was great! I got to stop by Lu’s on the way”  or “well, my flight got delayed but it’s all good!” or “very uneventful which was nice.”

*If they ask “how were the classes ?” you could respond “the chemistry class was so cool because I knew some of the stuff and could follow along” or “the physics class was so tough but the teacher was incredible” or “I was a little lost at times but the course was so interesting.”

  • Always have QUESTIONS ready –  coaches will often ask “do you have any questions for me?” and you want to be prepared. This would be a good thing to discuss with your parents beforehand. They can help you come up with topics and talking points. You can inquire about anything but here’s some suggestions:
  • team dynamic
  • resources
  • academia vs athletics
  • opportunities / internships nearby
  • admissions process / next step
  • MOST IMPORTANT TIP : take in all you can and ask yourself if you could see yourself there! While helping the students and coaches get to know you as a person is great but make sure you’re getting to know the college too. College will be exciting and fun so make sure you learn which place will make it perfect for you.
  • When in DOUBT, just follow my dad’s advice: “be cool.”

STEP 3, FOLLOW UP:

  • When you’ve gone home, reflect on what you loved about the visit and craft an email. Most of the time during you meeting with coaches they will tell you that the next step is to send in scores and transcripts etc. during junior year and update them throughout. So, start by thanking them for organizing the visit, then add a blurb about parts of the school that you loved, and end by ensuring them that you will keep them in the loop!

While these tips and tricks can’t promise that you’ll get recruited, a good visit can distinguish you. It lets coaches know that you could fit in well.

See also:

Annapolis Yacht Club is Hiring: Full-time Jr. Sailing Director

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Annapolis Yacht Club is pleased to announce an opening for a Junior Sailing Director position. As AYC nears the opening of the new main clubhouse and two new facilities (Activity Center and Sailing Center), the position of Junior Sailing Director is available to oversee the operations of the nationally recognized Junior Program. For more information on this exciting opportunity, and to see the full job ad, click HERE
AYC was founded in 1886 as an informal canoe club. Today the Club’s mission is to encourage and support a wide range of boating activities and to maintain facilities for the recreational and social use of its 2000 members. Members and guests enjoy the spectacular view from the Clubhouse deck from where they can see all the Club’s facilities on Spa Creek in Annapolis Harbor.
The Annapolis Yacht Club is a full service, year-round premier private yacht club that provides high-quality programs for its members. These include sailboat racing, cruising for sailors and power boaters, a vigorous junior sailing program, fun and educational winter activities, social events, and first class dining and banquet facilities.
AYC is a prominent fixture in Annapolis, is a good corporate citizen, and provides select opportunities for non-members such as its Junior Sailing program. In addition, AYC’s Race Committee supports club racing and world-class regattas and international championships. AYC members are pleased to welcome these competitors and other visiting yachtsmen to the Clubhouse and sailing facilities.

About the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation
The Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation (AYCF) was established by the Annapolis Yacht Club to provide an opportunity for its members to act collectively to foster local excellence in national and international amateur sailing competition, contribute to maritime-related charitable and educational organizations in the Mid-Chesapeake Bay region, and support charitable and educational activities undertaken by the Club.

Community Outreach
Annapolis Yacht Club has been a gathering spot for its members for over 130 years, and it also has served many decades as a beacon of generosity throughout Annapolis and its surrounding communities.

Throughout the holiday season, AYC’s Thanksgiving Food Drive feeds dozens of local families, while the Club members’ participation in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program provides toys to about 150 local children. AYC is about much more than just donating money and toys — the Club’s members donate ideas and elbow grease toward the Club’s philanthropic endeavors, and Club staff take a hands-on approach to distributing toys to the children at Salvation Army.

AYC is devoted to giving back to the people in the community living with developmental and physical disabilities. The Club hosted Warrior Sailing Program participants for a three-day Basic Training Camp in September 2016 and 2017, helping introduce wounded, ill, and injured military service members and veterans to the sport of sailing.

Annually, AYC hosts Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) for the CRAB Cup, a regatta featuring sailors who suffer from developmental and physical disabilities. AYC hosts the regatta and handles the operations so competitors can enjoy spirited competition free of charge. The winner receives the coveted Don Backe Memorial Trophy, named in honor of the founder of CRAB.

The Club members and staff at AYC take pride in giving back to the community — not just as a buzz phrase, but as a way of demonstrating what it means to be a good neighbor and promoting the sport of sailing.

2018 Club 420 North American Championship & Triple Crown Results & Report

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August 5, 2018

Arnone and Reynoso best a large field at 2018 Club 420 Association North American Championship and win the Triple Crown
Buzzards Bay, MA — The Club 420 Association 2018 North American Championships was held at Fort Tabor Park August 2-5 by the New Bedford Community Sailing Center in New Bedford, MA
Consistency, risk management and experience played huge factor in the first two days of North Americans in Buzzards Bay. Big breeze of 15-22kts from the SW along with solid waves and chop met the 346 sailors through the two days of qualifying for Gold and Silver. Arnone and Renyoso led from the start, posting bullets for five of the first six races.
Fleets split after two days and the first day of Championship racing was canceled due to a front with lightning, squalls and torrential downpours moving through the area. The final day brought clear skies and the nice SW breeze famous to Buzzards. The placing for the top spot never changed with the New Jersey team finishing the championship round with 5, 2 and 1 places (13). Rounding out the top five were Jack Murphy and Tommy Szymanski from Chatham, MA (37); Ansgar Jordan an Patrick Mulcahy from California YC (40); Benton Amthor and William Quinn Keernan from Christschurch School in Virginia ((48); and Rayne Duff and Savannah Young from the USVI (49). Top sailors in the silver fleet were Brielle Willoughby with Madeline Demming from Surf City YC in New Jersey and Alexander Kessler with Mallory Stafford from Edgartown, MA.
After regattas in California, Ontario, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey, contention for the Triple Crown was tight with less than 30 point separating the top 5. It took the North Americans to decide the winners – Luke Arnone and Noble Renyoso.

TOP FIVE:

Full results are at https://www.regattatoolbox.com/results?eventID=c9IFNchzqB

Exciting video coverage at https://www.facebook.com/Club420Association/videos/1774660705945722/

About the Club 420 Association – The Club 420 Association was established in 1980 to promote, foster, encourage and sponsor one-design sailing for youth sailors. The Association annually sponsors a North American Championship, US and Canadian National Championships as well as regional and team racing championships across North America while promoting the class to all ability and experience levels of youth sailing. For more information visit www.club420.org

About the Club 420 Triple Crown – The Triple Crown was established in 2013 to honor youth sailors (skipper and crew) for achievement in winning on aggregated points in a series of designated championship races in the Club 420 sailboat throughout the course of a single year. Events which count toward this point series include the Club 420 US Nationals, Club 420 Canadian Nationals, Club 420 North Americans, the Buzzards Bay Regatta, and other significant events designated by the class. This series championship recognizes the top teams and the top individual skippers and individual crews accumulating the most points at the conclusion of these high-level competitions.

S1D Marketplace: Get it Seen, Get it Sold!

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Over a decade ago, Sail1Design was born as a resource & classified site for one-design and performance sailboats, gear, and more. In that time we’ve grown so much, adding Airwaves® News, and of course our Career Center & Job Board (www.sailing.jobs). But let’s go back to the beginning.

S1D way back when!

Did you know that S1D is the official classified site of the US Club 420 Class Association, and the US Optimist Class? What’s more, we work closely with both US Sailing, the Interscholastic Sailing Association (ISSA), and the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) to help programs sell and buy fleets of boats, and more.

Here are some recent postings, which gives a sense of the diversity of our site, and please contact us if you need help selling!!

Our site, was, is, and will remain free for boats under 25′. While we do have a featured ad service which requires a very small investment, it’s not a requirement.
Our client and mailing list has grown enormously over the years, and we are directly connected to most every sailing club/yacht club/collegiate/interscholastic program in the country. Using our marketplace is a highly effective and efficient tool to market your sailboat, RIB, powerboat, gear, or want ad. We even have small businesses for sale on our marketplace! Borrowing our old tag line, Get it Seen, Get it Sold: Get Results.
Please consider using Sail1Design as your sailing marketplace. We also offer professional brokerage for larger boats. and we are always looking for new listings. We have an outstanding track record selling RIBS, sailboats, and more!! Want personalized, effective, and dedicated professional service? Email [email protected]

Wow! US Sailing Hires Greg Fisher

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BRISTOL, R.I. (August 2, 2018) – US Sailing, the national governing body of the sport, has hired Greg Fisher (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) as Chief Operating Officer of Olympic Sailing. Fisher, a former Collegiate All-American, World Champion and world-renowned expert in the sailing community, recently completed his eighth season as Director of Sailing at the College of Charleston (S.C.). Fisher will be working alongside Malcolm Page, Chief of Olympic Sailing, and the leadership team at US Sailing to assemble and leverage internal and external resources to prepare the Team USA to compete and excel at the highest levels of international competition, including the Olympic Games.

Fisher will lead the administrative, operational and business planning functions, and will work to further develop US Sailing’s Centers of Excellence, advance the Olympic Development Program and drive stronger collaboration with college sailing. He will also support fundraising and marketing and communications activities. Fisher will focus his efforts on building a strong culture and program that enables high performance sailors for international success. He will engage and align with other areas of the organization, including the Youth and Education departments, to help deliver on US Sailing’s strategy to build a cohesive and connected organization and sport.

“I’m really excited to have Greg involved and assist in molding the future of Olympic Sailing,” said Page. “Greg has an amazing reputation in the sailing industry and has been a leader in college sailing. Probably the most important aspect about Greg is his great personality and overall skills in team building. These traits will assist us in building a winning system within the United States for years to come.”

During his tenure at the College of Charleston, Fisher and the Cougars collected an impressive list of accomplishments, including Four Fowle Trophies for the “Best all-around sailing team in the Country”, two coed Fleet Race National Championships, three singlehanded Men’s Nationals Championships, three Team Race National Championships, and one Match Race National Championship. He also presided over 39 All-Americans and Honorable Mentions and 10 Academic All-Americans.

One of the most accomplished competitors in United States sailing history, Fisher has captured 22 North American or National Championships in seven different classes over the course of his successful sailing career, and a J/22 World Championship in 2008.

“I am honored to be able to work alongside Malcolm, the tremendous staff at US Sailing and the skilled and dedicated pool of Olympic athletes to help further this exciting strategy for the Olympic Program,” said Fisher. “There is a strong team in place supporting all aspects of the Olympic and youth sailing programs at the organization. US Sailing has made significant investments in supporting high performance sailing in the U.S. The recent successes at Youth Worlds is a product of the strength of the plan and the potential ahead. I am excited to be able to help contribute to this initiative.”

“Though I’ll miss our sailors, coaches and supporters at the College of Charleston, my experiences there and in college sailing have prepared me well for this new challenge and direction in my career.”

Fisher has been an active volunteer for US Sailing in many different roles over the years. A former member of US Sailing’s Board of Directors, Fisher served as Chair of the One-Design Council and Chair of Championship of Champions Committee. For his contributions to the sport, Fisher was honored by US Sailing with the Community Sailing Award for Outstanding Director of a year-round program in 2012 and the One-Design Service Award (John Gardiner, Jr. Trophy) in 2007. He also received a US Sailing Arthur B. Hanson Medal in 2003 for contributing to an on-the-water rescue in Annapolis, Md.

“Greg brings an innate understanding of the sport of sailing in the U.S. and a track record of building sustainable programs that consistently deliver excellence,” said Jack Gierhart, Chief Executive Officer of US Sailing. “We are thrilled that he is joining US Sailing to work with Malcolm and the rest of our team as we rebuild our leadership in Olympic sailing, and importantly, leverage those investments and successes to improve and grow the entire sport of sailing across America.”

Fisher has been involved in the sailmaking industry since 1976. He started his own business, Fisher Sails in 1988 and helped develop the One Design brand at North Sails from 1991 to 2010.

Media Contact: Jake Fish, US Sailing Communications Manager, [email protected]

*Photo credit to College of Charleston

About the US Sailing Team
The US Sailing Team is managed by the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for the sport of sailing and sailboat racing. US Sailing names the top Olympic class athletes to the team annually, through both event qualification and at the discretion of team leadership. US Sailing helps these elite athletes with financial, logistical, coaching, technical, fitness, marketing and communications support. US Sailing Team sponsors include partner Helly Hansen, Harken, McLube, and Groupe Beneteau, and Marlow Ropes. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org/olympics.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.

2018 Youth Sailing World Championship Final Results & Report

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courtesy of World Sailing, Corpus Christi, Texas, USA

US Junior Doublehanded Women’s Championship Report & Results

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Courtesy of US Sailing
MENTOR, Ohio (July 29, 2018) – Another great week of junior women’s sailing came to an exciting conclusion Sunday on Lake Erie. It was an especially exceptional weekend for the team of Maddie Hawkins (Edgewater, Md.) and Yumi Yoshiyasu (Houston, Texas) who claimed the Ida Lewis Trophy at the 2018 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship, hosted by Mentor Harbor Yachting Club. It was the second consecutive win at this US Sailing National Championship for Hawkins who won this title last year in Annapolis, Md.

Forty teams of two in the Club 420 featuring young women sailors, age 13-18, wrapped up an action packed week in Mentor, Ohio for three days of racing Friday through Sunday, two day of clinics on Wednesday and Thursday with a strong cast of coaches from around the country, and a series of social events and experiences throughout the week in the greater Cleveland area.

Hawkins and Yoshiyasu were incredibly consistent all week. They won four races and placed no worse than fourth, despite a 10th place finish in Race 10, which was their throwout score. The team of Colleen O’Brien (Fair Haven, N.J.) and Michaela O’Brien (Fair Haven, N.J.) stayed close all week with Hawkins and Yoshiyasu and sailed at a high level throughout. They won Race 9 and 10 to close out the weekend in second place, just five points back. Vanessa Lahrkamp (Rye, N.Y.) and Katherine McNamara (Darien, Conn.) took home third place honors.

“We have been greatly improving our starts and just having a fast boat helped us look up for pressure which was a big key for this regatta,” said Hawkins. “We had a lot of fun at the scheduled activities this week, including the Yoga session and the Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame. Overall it was a really good experience.”

Next up for this dynamic duo is the I-420 World Championships this week in Newport, R.I. and back to high school sailing in the Fall.

Top 5 – Final Standings
1. Maddie Hawkins/Yumi Yoshiyasu, Annapolis YC/Houston YC, – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 1 – 2 – 4 – 2 – (10) ; 16
2. Colleen O’Brien/Michaela O’Brien, Bay Head YC, – (4) – 4 – 2 – 1 – 4 – 3 – 3 – 2 – 1 – 1 ; 21
3. Vanessa Lahrkamp/Katherine McNamara, American YC, – 6 – 3 – 7 – 3 – 5 – (8) – 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 ; 40
4. Cordelia Burn/Sarah Moeder, Bay Head YC, – 11 – 5 – 5 – 7 – 7 – 7 – (13) – 7 – 4 – 4 ; 57
5. J.J. ( Jessica) Smith/Laurel Tyson, Sarasota Youth Sailing/CRYC, – 2 – 6 – 3 – (OCS-41) – 15 – 11 – 4 – 6 – 3 – 11 ; 61
Complete Standings and Results

US Sailing Championship head coach Richard Feeny and this list of coaches worked with the junior sailors all week including the clinics on Wednesday and Thursday:

  • Scott Ikle (Head Coach, Hobart and William Smith Colleges)
  • Beka Schiff (2016 Hobbs Trophy Winner – Sportsman of the Year)
  • Amanda Callahan (Head Coach, Roger Williams University)
  • Alana O’Reilly Marks (2006 Quantum ICSA Women’s Sailor of the Year)
  • Dillon Paiva (Assistant Coach, US Naval Academy)
  • Brian Clancy (Head Coach, Cornell University)
  • Arielle Darrow (2020 Olympic Campaigner)

As part of the event, MHYC showcased their community to the sailors and their families. The young women toured the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame followed by a dinner excursion in Cleveland. Sailors enjoyed a Lake Erie beach luau, Shrimpfest, sunset yoga, and Italian feast after racing each day.

News & Coverage:

  • Visit the event website for more information on the Championship.
  • Take a look back at the updates from the race course using #idalewis18 on Twitter and social media.
  • The 2018 U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship is sponsored by Gill North America.

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