The Female and Open 420 World Championship is now concluded, at Lake Garda, Italy. For complete results, go here:
http://www.fragliavelariva.com/public_new/listClassifiche.asp?RegataID=%20202#
Blog
RAD 420 (Reduced Sail Design 420) Goal
The RAD was designed to fill a void in most Junior Sailing Programs between Opti and C420. Many programs were having a hard time with keeping and engaging kids that were either becoming too big, getting lonely, getting bored or just didnt want to skipper an Opti. Historically, Sailing programs had three boats to transition to as the kids developed first an Opti, Sabat, Pram or Dyer Dow; then the first crewed boats ( Blue Jays) simple and affordable, then the premium race boats with everything now the C420.
We needed to fill a this gap and many clubs have tried, but in a terrible economy and no clear momentum for any one class, we decided to use our older C420s and get 2 to 3 kids sailing them no trapeze and without spinnakers (although instructors have let the kids try it all for fun challenges). The Main Sail design is about 28% smaller, had a loose foot for easier rigging and launching, and didnt use a full length batten to help in depowering. We decided to keep the existing Jib design as to not create another purchase requirement.
Performance
The design was tested and showed great handling by light crews (150lbs) in 15 knots and in light winds heavier crews (3 kids 240lbs) was still very responsive.
The main concern, after the ability to handle a breeze, was the balance of the boat. The good news was that the standard Jib didnt over-power the boat or drive it off the wind. Its pointing characteristics were marginally effected and noticeable by only the most experienced C420 sailors. We did experiment with raking the mast back a bit and that worked well but felt it almost wasnt needed.
The Program
While several Yacht Clubs have been working with the sail, St Francis, Barrington & Sail Newport. Edgartown went into full swing and had and Opti program for 8-to 11 year olds and the a choice of continuing on to Race Team in Optis or going into the RAD program for 12 to 14 year olds and finally transition to C420 for the duration. We believe that the RAD can include 11 year olds as well in the future.
Results
The Kids loved the boat! Almost all wanted to get back out and sail more. Many of the Opti kids who opted not to sail the RAD were asking to go into the RAD program. Light weather and Heavy air alike Big smiles were seen across all kids. Parents throughout the season kept coming in and saying how much their kids just loved sailing now.
We also had the kids rotate skipper and crew positions throughout the sessions to get the experience of working as a team and understanding the roles on a boat. While we did play with the trapeze and the kids did like this option, recommend that at this stage keep it simple and focus on the sailing. The whole program seems to be the perfect next step out of Optis.
Edgartown Yacht Club Race Week.
We had a start at Edgartown Race Week which was a tremendous success. Seven boats were registered and sailed in 15 to 20 knots the first day, down to virtually no wind the second day and the final day moderate breeze in 5 to 12 knots. Good progress in the boat was shown by all teams Capsizes were at a minimum even in the heavy breezes. Many clubs have inquired and are looking into the design for next season.
The Future
We expect a few more clubs will launch a program in the coming season and that many
more will experiment with the Sails. We think that The RAD is not only great for Jr Sailing, but for the club budgets, and most importantly for the kids who love the new challenge. It is a brilliant way to use the older C420s and continue building on the success of this boat to develop skilled, well rounded and happy sailors.
For further information on the Edgartown YC program please call
For information on purchasing or trialing the sail please contact
Roland A. Van der Meer
Ph: 650 325 9600 x314
ISAF Youth World Sailing Championship Final Results
from ISAF’s page:
http://www.sailing.org/28959.php
Australia, France, Great Britain And Singapore Win Gold On Final Day Of 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship
Windsurfer Joseph GUEGUEN led the French charge in Buzios, winning gold in the Boy’s RS:X event
©Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race
Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship 2009
Buzios, Brazil
The seven Youth Worlds titles went to seven nations as Australia, France, Great Britain and Singapore join Brazil, Hong Kong and New Zealand as gold medal winners on the final day of the 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Buzios, Brazil.
Australian cousins Jason WATERHOUSE and Lisa DARMANIN, French windsurfer Joseph GUEGUEN, British 420 Boys Philip SPARKS and Ben GRATTON and Singapore Laser Radial star Elizabeth YIN are 2009 Volvo Youth Sailing World Champions after a fantastic final day of racing in Brazil. Brazilian Girl’s 420 crew Martine GRAEL and Kahena KUNZE, windsurfer Hei Man CHAN of Hong Kong and New Zealand’s Sam MEECH in the Boy’s Laser Radial, will also step onto the top of the podium at this evening’s Closing Ceremony having already secured their gold medals yesterday.
One final race was held for each event on another bright and breezy day in Buzios and whilst seven different nations ended up winning medals, France was undoubtedly the star performer. The French ran out clear winners of the Volvo Trophy, the prize awarded for the top-performing nation, and picked up two silvers and two bronze to add to GUEGUEN’s gold. Last year’s Volvo Trophy winners Great Britain came in second this time around, ahead of Italy, with Brazil scoring a best-ever result of fourth and New Zealand fifth.
French Team Leader Gildas PHILIPPE is himself a former Youth World Champion, winning gold in the 420 back in 1991, a year in which Robert SCHEIDT (BRA), Dean BARKER (NZL), Carolijn BROUWER (NED) and Gustavo DORESTE (ESP) all also won Youth World medals. He’s in doubt as to the potential of the young sailors here in Buzios, “All champions pass through this regatta before coming a real great champions,” he says, adding that this key element of the championship has never changed, “There are more nations now, so the level maybe a bit higher but for the best sailors, they’re almost the same.”
The French windsurfing team led the charge, winning medals in both RS:X fleets today; gold in the Boys and bronze in the Girls. Joseph GUEGUEN did not have the best of starts in the decisive final boy’s race, but all week long he’s been quickest in the windier, planing conditions and came back strongly to win today’s race ahead of Oliver-Tom SCHLIEMANN (GER), clinching the title by three points. “It’s been the perfect regatta,” said GUEGUEN. “I’ve worked a lot this year so this is my reward.
“This morning I was a little bit stressed, but spoke with my coach, Faustine MERRET [Athens Olympic windsurfing gold medallist] and knew I just had to focus on my race, because it was too close for tactics. I just tried to keep it simple, just do what I know I could do.”
Last year’s champion Michalis MALEKKIDES of Cyprus secured silver this time around by finishing third in today’s race, whilst Brazil won their second medal of the championship with Buzios local Jorge Renato AMARAL just hanging on to bronze thanks to a fourth place finish today.
In Girl’s fleet, Hei Man CHAN of Hong Kong already had the gold medal secured, but rounded off a stunning performance this week with her fourth win of the series today. In the British-French battle for the remaining podium spots, Izzy HAMILTON (GBR) triumphed, finishing just ahead of Leonore BOSCH (FRA) in today’s race to secure silver, with BOSCH taking bronze.
The gold medal had also already been secured in the Boy’s Laser Radial fleet, with Sam MEECH (NZL) the runaway winner this week. Argentina’s Tomas PELLEJERO triumphed in the battle for second overall, winning today’s race to take silver in style. Denmark’s Pascal TIMSHEL took the bronze.
Singapore’s Elizabeth YIN won Asia’s second gold medal of this championship with a typically assured performance in today’s final race of the Girl’s Laser Radial event. Yin began the day with a six-point lead over Anne-Marie RINDOM (DEN). Heidi TENKANEN (FIN) and Mathilde DE KERANGAT (FRA) again showed their speed in the breeze to place first and second in today’s race but behind them the focus was on YIN and RINDOM, with the Danish skipper needed at five boats between her and the Singaporean to take gold. YIN was not to be denied, coming in seventh, just two places behind RINDOM to secure the title. Denmark wins silver, with DE KERANGAT’s second place today elevating her up into the bronze medal position.
On the 420 course, today’s breezy conditions were again just about perfect for the British Boy’s pairing of Phil SPARKS and Ben GRATTON, who clinched the title with another dominant race win in today’s decider. After being disqualified from race four of the series they’ve been virtually faultless for the second half of the championship.
“We knew we were quick in this wind so we were quite conservative on the start and just went for the space,” SPARKS explains, “We speeded off the line and just went full speed upwind and got to the windward mark in first with a bit of a gap.”
From there only the Kiwis ever came close to threatening, but by the final run the Brits had victory secure and cruised across the line to take gold. In the battle for silver Chile’s Benjamin GREZ and Carlos VERGARA were looking good until a problem with their spinnaker hoist on the final reach cost them several places and this was enough for Gabriel SKOCZEK and Thibaut SOLER (FRA) to clinch second overall. Still GREZ and VERGARA were delighted to claim bronze, the first-time Chile has won a medal at the Youth Worlds.
Martine GRAEL and Kahena KUNZE (BRA) already had gold wrapped up in the Girl’s 420 fleet but that didn’t stop them powering to victory in their favoured windy conditions today. Italians Camilla MARINO and Claudia SORICELLI have also excelled in the breeze this week and follow
ed the Brazilians in to take second place today and the silver medal. Singapore won their second medal of the championship as Griselda KHNG and Cecilia LOW showed they are not just light wind specialists with a fourth place today giving them the bronze.
The Multihull – Hobie 16 provided the final race of the championship, which also proved to be the closest and one of the most exciting. Australian cousins Jason WATERHOUSE and Lisa DARMANIN just held off the challenge from defending champs Romain BELLET and Valentin BELLET (FRA) to win gold by a single point.
“At the moment I’m more relieved than happy, but I’m still pretty happy!” WATERHOUSE said after a stressful day on the water. “We just got out there and tried keep to consistent. It was good breeze and we got off the line well, got up there and just tried to stay there.”
After a shaky start to the regatta 2008 champions, the French BELLET brothers, stormed back in the stronger winds which have typified second half of the series. However, they left their charge just a little too late and although they won today’s race it, the Aussies came in third to claim gold. Silver went to France, with Italians Francesco PORRO and Luca MARSAGLIA completing the podium.
Tonight the Closing Ceremony will be held in Buzios, marking the final act in a fantastic 39th edition of the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship. As well the near-300 young sailors representing 59 nations who have competed in Brazil this year, South American sailing superstars Santiago LANGE (ARG) and Torben GRAEL (BRA) will also be in attendance to celebrate the success of this year’s event.
U.S. Junior Women’s Doublehanded Championship Final Results
NBC Nightly News Features Story On Teen Solo Sailor
Zac Sunderland Set to Break Record for Youngest Sailor to Go ‘Round the World
On June 17 of last year, at age 16, Zac Sunderland set out – by himself – aboard an Islander 36 that he bought with his own money earned from summer jobs, in an attempt to become the world’s youngest person to sail around the world alone.
This week, some 26,000 miles and 13 months later, the now 17-year old from Southern California will make landfall in Marina del Ray, California, completing his solo circumnavigation.
A news story about Zac appeared on NBC Nightly News this Sunday, July 12. If you do not see the video clip below, click here to watch this national network coverage.
US Youth Championship Final Results
Four New Titlists Crowned at U.S. Youth Sailing Championship
GREENWICH, CONN. (June 30, 2009; Day 5) – Trophies for all four classes competing at this year’s U.S. Youth Sailing Championship were on the line during Tuesday’s final day of racing. The breeze was steady today on Long Island Sound, ranging from 8 to 12 knots.
In the Laser class, Zeke Horowitz (Team FOR) captured the Robert L. Johnstone Trophy by surpassing previous leader and ISAF Youth World Championship qualifier Chris Barnard (Newport Harbor YC) on the final day. Horowitz finished his last two races with two 4th places, while Barnard finished 5th and 10th down the stretch. Barnard had a 10 point lead after Sunday and a one point advantage going into today. Ian Heausler (Davis Island YC) made a late push by winning the final race, and closed out the regatta three points back for second place overall.
In Laser Radial action, Orange Bowl Champion Christopher Stocke (Sarasota Youth Sailing Program) held off Anne Haeger (Lake Beulah YC) and Nevin Snow (San Diego YC) to take the Robert and Ann Conner Trophy. Stocke was tied with Haeger for the lead going into today, while Snow was two points back. Stocke’s 4th and 3rd place finishes beat out Snow’s 1st and 4th; and Haeger’s 13th and 7th. Stocke won by a six point margin.
In C420 sailing, the team of Stephanie Hudson (Lake Beulah YC/Chicago YC) and Rebecca King (California YC) rallied today with a 6th place finish, and overtook Kevin Laube (Mission Bay YC) and Reece Bernet (Southwestern YC) for the three point win to take the Manton D. Scott Memorial Trophy. Laube and Bernet slipped to second with Tuesday’s 12th place finish.
In the 29er class, the team of Antoine Screve (SFYC) and James Moody (SFYC) collected three third place finishes to seal the win by a point over Mac Agnese (LYC) and Ian Simms (St. Francis YC/RYC). Tuesday’s racing was dominated by the team of Maxwell Fraser (Richmon YC) and David Liebenberg (Santa Cruz YC/San Francisco YC), who won all three races today and the final race on Monday.
The U.S. Youth Sailing Championship was hosted by the Indian Harbor Yacht Club in Greenwich, Conn. Sponsored by LaserPerformance and Gill North America, the U.S. Youth Sailing Championship is the pinnacle of youth sailing competition in the United States. The country’s top single- and doublehanded young sailors, both girls and boys, ranging from 13 to 19 years of age raced for four prestigious trophies from Friday, June 26 through Tuesday, June 30. US SAILING selected this field of sailors from across the country, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, based on their sailing resumes and performance at regional, national, and international competitions.
Complete results: http://championships.ussailing.org/…/US_Youth_Champs.htm.
