North Kingston, RI (April 30, 2013) — The Club 420 Association today announced a new championship series – The Triple Crown –– launching this summer.  Comprised of the Club 420 Nationals, Club 420 North Americans and the Buzzards Bay Regatta, this series championship will recognize the top teams and the top individual skippers and individual crews accumulating the most points at the conclusion of  these three high-level competitions. 

The Club 420 Association has created a point system which will be used to rank sailors after each event.  The qualifying team with the most accumulated points will win the series.  Skippers must sail all three events to qualify for the individual skipper award.  Likewise, to qualify for the individual crew award, he/she must compete in each of the three regattas.  

Additionally, a newly created Top Rookie will be awarded at each of the three regattas, recognizing the skipper and crew with the best performance.  The teams which qualify for this award will not have individually competed in a Club 420 Association sponsored event previously. 

New Club 420 Association Executive Director, John Vandemoer, shared his enthusiasm about the new championship series.  “The Triple Crown series encompasses a diverse group of regattas highlighting some of the best venues in our Club 420 regatta calendar.  It is my hope that sailors will join the tour this summer and look forward to competing at the highest levels for the first ever Triple Crown. These three events are some of the most popular on the Club 420 circuit and each event should have plenty of good competition and big starting lines.”

The series rules and point standings will be posted on the Club 420 website (www.club420.org).  To be eligible, all competitors must be members in good standing of the Club 420 Association. The standings will be updated after each regatta so sailors can keep track of the scoring.  All sailors competing at these three regattas will automatically be entered to compete in the Triple Crown — no separate entry is necessary. 

The Regattas of the Triple Crown 2013

Club 420 Nationals – July 11-13, 2013 Lake Geneva, WI

The Nationals will be the first stop of the Triple Crown series and there is no better place for a new series than on the waters where sailing legend Buddy Melges grew up and honed his skills to become an America’s Cup and Olympic Champion.  Lake Geneva will be a great test for our Club 420 sailors and will challenge every sailor’s strategy and tactics.  Lake Geneva Yacht Club will be hosting the event.  The regatta website is:  http://lgyc.com/events/2013-club-420-assn-us-national-championship/

Club 420 North Americans – July 19-22, 2013 St. Margaret’s Bay, Halifax Canada

St. Margaret’s Bay is one of the most beautiful venues in Canada and St. Margaret’s Sailing Club has been host to many national and world championships.  They are the perfect host for the second jewel in our Triple Crown, the 2013 North American’s.  With great sea breeze and open water sailing that will test any Club 420’s boat speed, this regatta and venue are not to be missed.  The regatta website is: http://www.smsc.ca/regattas/2013-bay-wind-regatta

Buzzards Bay Regatta – August 2-4, 2013 New Bedford Yacht Club, MA

Although this is not a Club 420 Association sponsored regatta, it is fitting that our Triple Crown series should culminate with the Buzzards Bay Regatta.  This regatta has been popular with the Club 420 class from the beginning.  Buzzards Bay is one of the most infamous venues on the east coast, renowned for its summer sea breeze.  BBR is a popular regatta with limited space, so register early to get a spot on this 100+ boat starting line.  The regatta website is:  http://www.buzzardsbayregatta.com

About The Club 420 Class Association

The Club 420 Association was established in 1980 to promote, foster, encourage and sponsor one-design sailing. The Association sponsors a class North American Championship, US and Canadian National Championships as well as regional championships for the class across North America while promoting the class to all ability and experience levels of youth sailing.   Since 2006, the class membership has more than doubled from 300 to its current 715 members.   The class offers many regional, national and North American championships in both fleet and team racing formats as well as clinics across North America.   Our Nationals / North Americans have had 175 boats attend, with all levels of sailors competing in some of the finest and socially fun regattas you will attend.

About The Club 420

The Club 420 is a two person dinghy which forms the base of many local, high school and collegiate programs in North America.  Simple for beginning sailors and yet challenging enough for collegiate champions.   The Club 420 offers more learning opportunities than any other double-handed boat you can find. Over 5,000 Club 420s are sailed in youth, high school and collegiate programs all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

For more information please visit our website at www.club420.org or visit us on Facebook

Contact:

John Vandemoer, Executive Director

Email –  jnvandemoer@gmail.com