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Jean Paul De Trazegnies wins 2022 Sunfish North American Championship
Story and photos courtesy of the US Sunfish Class:
The USSCA’s North American Championship was sailed this past weekend (June 16-18) at Hyannis Yacht Club, Hyannis, Massachusetts. With big breeze and choppy seas forecast for the regatta, it was going to be a competitive event amongst the Class’s top sailors. In the end, it was!
Thursday’s first day of sailing was in winds that increased steadily from 12-15 knots to low 20s with a steep chop by the conclusion of sailing. After four races, Peruvian Catarina Romero sat atop the leaderboard followed closely by two of her countryman: former Sunfish World Champion Jean Paul de Trazegnies and Ricardo Seguel Lacamara.
It was still anyone’s championship to win going into Friday’s second day of racing, only to have 30-knot winds and four-foot swells result in the day’s races being scrubbed.
Saturday’s final day of racing was a blend of the first two. Winds in the 20s were the norm, with three more races completed. These tougher conditions proved more of a challenge for Catarina than for her heavier competitors with her final day’s scoreline being 8-8-(10) taking her out of overall contention. However, Jean Paul’s 1-4-2 final races cemented the World Championship for the Peruvian. Ricardo Seguel Lacamara moved into second for the series with Colombian Juan Carlos Caniazlez in third. The top finishing US sailor was Dan Hesse (Saratoga, NY) in sixth.
Jean Paul said of the Championship, “The regatta was really great with epic conditions. The battle at the top of the fleet was really hard and it was great that my fellow Peruvian, Catarina Romero, was in that battle every race just inches away!” Catarina, who led after the first day (sailed in more moderate conditions) note about Saturday’s windier conditions, “It was harder for me today with the more wind on the course and the bigger seas. Jean Paul and I are from the same club in Peru and we train together and race a lot against each other.”
USSCA President Will Kresic extended his thanks to Event Chairman Paul Dierze and the Hyannis Yacht Club for hosting a world-class event.
Results https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_regatta_results.php?regatta_id=24171
Airwaves Career Center Spotlight: Summer Sailing Program Director
Giving Back to Move Sailing Forward: SailGP’s Inspire Program
Chicago, IL , 15-20 June 2022– Sail1Design is here in the beautiful city of Chicago to catch the SailGP Tour’s stop at Chicago Yacht Club and also to check out SailGP’s “Inspire” program. At first glance (and what most people likely only ever see or hear about) SailGP looks quite simply like an exotic, high-flying foiling catamaran race league, featuring sailing’s very best 
professional sailors competing on this tour as they eye opportunities to sail in the next America’s Cup. Accurate? Yes. A complete definition of SailGP? Not at all. In doing a little reading up, and chatting here on the sidelines, I learned a bit more about this organization and came away with a much better understanding and appreciation for it’s multi-layered mission. Here’s the short of it:
Through a truly global (and very exciting to watch) sail racing tour, featuring a ten-team league competing in the the 50+ knot F50 catamaran, SailGP has identified 3 core existential goals:
- Clean Energy Roadmaps (#poweredbynature) SailGP’s target is to accelerate the transition to clean energy and be the most sustainable and purpose-driven sports and entertainment property. SailGP’s aim is to become a global benchmark for clean energy events, to launch a new era of sustainable events powered by clean energy.
- Racing For a Better Future (Impact League) Introduced for SailGP Season 2, the Impact League tracks the positive actions our teams make to reduce their overall carbon footprint and help accelerate inclusivity in sailing.
- Community Education & Outreach (Inspire Program) Inspire is SailGP’s community, education and outreach initiative, powered by our belief that sailing can be a force for good, Powered by Nature, Driven by Purpose. Our goal: To leave a positive legacy and build a sustainable sport – by providing equal, life-changing opportunities and new career pathways for all, regardless of race or socioeconomic background. SailGP Inspire aims to serve a leading role in helping to diversify the sport of sailing for youth without race, gender, and socioeconomic status presenting a barrier to entry. The Inspire program has 3 pathways:
- Inspire Learning Using sailing to educate and inspire youth about sustainability and the power of nature. School program delivered in advance of each event, using resources that bring sustainability to life through STEM-based modules.
- Inspire Careers Providing young adults with a unique opportunity and pathway into the sports, events and engineering industries. Targeting young adults (18-23 years) with an interest in sports, sustainability, technology and engineering.
- Inspire Racing World-class program to identify the next generation of diverse high-performance sailors in each host city – providing a unique experience and making foiling accessible. Local and international sailors selected through the host governing body and WASZP Class association.
Yes, that’s the short of it….lot’s on here! So, SailGP has identified a both noble and ambitious mission. I honed in on just one part, Inspire Program’s “Inspire Racing.” On opening day,
Wednesday, we found a really cool container/trailer, just next to Chicago Yacht Club, opened up with gear and 8 Waszp single-handed foiling boats lined up, ready for the 16 youth entries
that filtered in to their first meeting. SailGP provides training and then a regatta for them, in some cases having the waszps sail in the same area as the F50’s…. cool!
INSPIRE RACING CORE MISSION
- World-class program to identify the next generation of diverse high-performance sailors in each host city – providing a unique experience and making foiling accessible
- Focus on selecting and training a group of sailors from outside traditional settings
- Local and international sailors selected through the host governing body and WASZP Class association
- Training clinic in the lead-up to the event with professional foiling coaches
- Racing during SailGP events on the official racecourses
- Strong legacy through providing equipment and training, and ultimately as a pathway to professional sailing
After the 16 sailors were divided up into Gold/Silver fleets, the Gold fleet had a chance to show their stuff in front of the Navy Pier crowd, and Saturday’s conditions were good for racing. Unfortunately the wind on Sunday was too light (in fact the F50’s had to race outside the jetty), so the Inspire regatta was cut short.
Afterwards, all Inspire racing sailors had a chance to be recognized on the main stage, and also met the winning F50 team… Tom Slingsby & Australia!
2022 S1D Coach of the Year Announced!!
Remember, for Coach of the Year, we only choose candidates from nomination letters sent in, so we sit back, wait, and take what we get. This year, we were faced (again) with a lot of really good nominations, and we whittled that down to a small list of finalists. It was difficult to narrow this deserving field. Not easy. After going back and forth, noting two candidates received more than one nomination letter, we were again overwhelmed by both, and decided the tie could not be broken!
There were several important themes found in both winner’s nomination letters (dedication, knowledge, energy, positivity). However, one overriding theme for both, in this crazy and difficult year, was each coaches willingness, dedication, and openness to their respective teams.
So this year, S1D Coach of the Year Award goes to Stanford University’s CHRIS KLEVAN and Lauderdale YC’ Coach ERIK BOWERS. Both received multiple letters not only from players, but parents as well. Please scroll down and read excerpts from some of the letters we received.
Chris and Erik add their names to an incredibly impressive list. Here are our former winners:
S1D Coach of the Year Winners
2022- Chris Klevan & Erik Bowers
2021 – Maru Urban & Bobby Lippincott
2020- John Mollicone
2019- Jon Faudree
2018- Scott Iklé
2017- Bill Healy
2016- Bill Ward
2015- Frank Pizzo
2014- Chris Dold
2013- Steve Hunt
Excerpts from letters sent for Chris
I am writing to nominate my head coach Chris Klevan for Coach of the Year. Freshman year coming to Stanford all the way from the east coast was daunting not only for me and the incoming class but also for our two new coaches, Brian as head coach and of course Chris as an assistant. But off the bat Chris’ energy and love for sailing was infectious. Whether he is sailing during practice or on the coach boat, Chris is constantly giving the team feedback, pushing us to bring a competitive edge to practice, and of course, making sure each of us is present and having fun doing the sport he so dearly loves.Chris was able to transition to head coach seamlessly and did an outstanding job in his first year. He brought on two extremely talented assistant coaches to help contribute to an energetic and driven team culture. Chris works tirelessly to ensure everyone’s voices are being heard and accommodating when conflicts may arise. Something I value most about Chris is how approachable and supportive he is, always willing to sit down with us and talk through a problem head-on. I feel especially lucky being a crew on the team and getting to learn firsthand from one of the best dinghy crews OF ALL TIME — proven by the countless videos of Chris’ boat handing I have on my phone!The team culture Chris has helped develop, both as an assistant coach and this season as a head coach has been pretty unique and to me the main reason why we have been successful the last few seasons — finishing top 5 at every nationals this season, having 4 All-Americans and 2 Honorable Mentions on a team of only 16 sailors.
___________
Chris is most definitely one of the greatest coaches and sailors in all of college sailing. He also is one of the most humble, hard-working, and passionate coaches. Chris’ passion for sailing and ability to communicate Team Racing plays as well as how to accomplish certain mechanics within the boat is greater than most coaches I’ve ever worked with. Also, in stressful situations, Chris never loses his cool and delivers his coaching with grace and with straightforward, to-the-point communication. Beyond this, Chris is a crew himself so he has paid careful attention to the development of crews on our team, which is often something other coaches overlook. Likewise, he often hops in the boat to crew to demonstrate moves to both skippers and crews, which is something most head sailing coaches don’t do. Chris likewise attended all of Stanford sailing’s early morning workouts, showing the team that he was fully a part of our process to get stronger on and off the water. Chris is a leader by what he shows to the team, not just what he says. Chris stepped into the role of head sailing coach after a few years of turmoil for the Stanford sailing team and completely re-ignited the team and the team’s goals. He motivated the team to work hard and gain a much stronger team culture, inspiring members of the team to schedule practice times outside of the normal days a week just to put in extra work. Here, if there weren’t enough crews at early practice, Chris would again step into the boat, helping sailors realize their potential and encourage them to go the extra mile. Importantly, Chris cares about his sailors as people and not just athletes. Chris takes care to meet with sailors and make sure they are doing okay with school work, sailing, and life overall. When a fellow student-athlete at Stanford passed away, Chris as he did in all the weeks before, checked in on everyone on the team and made sure to treat everyone as a person, and not just a student-athlete. Coaches this year in both well-established and up and coming programs have achieved amazing results, but Chris did it in both women’s and coed disciplines, and in both fleet race and team race. Likewise, this was Chris’ first year as head coach for Stanford. Many other teams have historically strong team cultures and finishes and strong coaches. Chris is the most deserving for this award, however, for this year in particular because of how strong he has made the Stanford sailing team in just one year. Aside from results, his dedication to the team has created a team culture that I am confident will last beyond this year. Chris Klevan should absolutely be the Coach of the Year this year.
____________
I am nominating Stanford’s new head coach Chris Klevan. It should not be dismissed that he is the first collegiate head coach to be a crew- and an incredible one at that. He is a great sailor, a great person, and a great coach. He has grown into his position from an assistant last year and truly cares about his team. He’ll eat with us, sail with us, and run with us which is the truest form of “leading by example.” He is so passionate about sailing and hired two young assistant coaches that share the same passion and really push the team to put everything they have into the sport.
Excerpts from letters sent for Erik
Erik’s track record of training the top youth ILCA sailors in the country speaks for itself. This year alone, sailors from his program finished top 3 (four out of top five) at the US Sailing Youth Championship, first at the high school Cressy radial championship, and first place in ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 at the 2021 Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta. He accompanied a team of approximately 15 sailors to the 2021 ILCA6 Youth World Championships in Lake Garda Italy, where his sailors garnered 2 spots in the top ten in the boys fleet, and a top ten finish in the female fleet, as well.
In addition to the success on Thrace course, Erik leads a program with a culture which focuses on camaraderie and relationships; the team is cohesive and supportive of each others’ successes, and teammates are truly friends.
The most impressive accomplishment of his coaching prowess may actually be the success that his trainees have achieved OFF the water. We recently learned that EVERY SENIOR has been accepted into a top-level college where they will continue to pursue their love of sailing.
_____________
Erik brings that racing experience and authentic sailing background to his coaching. He has been in the arena doing it himself for decades and has seen every situation. It is not uncommon for him to recall a race for one of his athletes from years ago, a certain situation, challenge, and “play it back” for his athletes…and is nearly “photogenic recall” on each and every race for his teams and athletes, “remember that one time on the one leg 3 years ago where X, happened, and this might happen again today, etc….” are not uncommon discussions with his team members. I believe Erik has coached over 300 of the last 365 days, through both programs at these schools/clubs and private coaching. Even on the “off days” he is doing phone conversations and planning for what is next. He is tireless not only as a coach, but keeps himself in elite conditioning himself, with daily cross-fit workouts he does sometimes alone, but often with some of his athletes. Of course, this example sets the tone for the athletes and teams he coaches…particularly in the ILCA class
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S1D Marketplace Spotlight: APEX 18 RIB 2013 DELUXE TENDER
