CONTACT:
Jake Fish, US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
MARION, Mass. (September 25, 2009) – With sustained winds of 18 knots for much of the day and gusts to 28 knots, the 2009 U.S. Team Racing Championship for the George R. Hinman Trophy, enticed the 16 teams with ideal, if not at times, extreme conditions. With 95 races finished, but a round-robin not yet completed, Team Extreme posts a 100% win record with 12 wins. Defending Champion, Silver Panda, also with 12 wins, has 1 loss for a 92% record. Silver Panda, lost their first race of the day to Tall Boyz, and have not yet raced Team Extreme. That match is set for the top of day 2. Tall Boyz, with an 82% record, completes the top three.
The forecast for day 2 is lighter breeze from the east veering to the south – south west. Heavier crews that worked well for teams on day one may be challenged with the lighter breeze. But as it is with team racing, a losing combination can quickly change to a winning combo with the skill level of these teams. With half of the teams with seven or more wins, day 2 can be the moving day for a number of teams. A completion of the round robin then the seeding of teams into groups, for the overall championship will round out the day.
“The day stated with a bang”, according to Charlie Enright (Bristol, R.I.) of last year’s 3rd place Tannery Loungers. “We lost one of our skippers at the first mark of the first race with a strained back,” Enright continued, “but we managed to salvage a decent day with alternate helmsman Kaity Storck (Huntington, N.Y.), stepping in for the remainder of the day.”
This year’s field includes eight US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics (USSTAG) members, five former ICSA College Sailors of the Year, and three former ICSA Quantum Women Sailors of the Year.
A total of 16 teams, sailing in Vanguard 15s with a three-boat / six-sailor team format, are vying for US SAILING’s George R. Hinman Trophy in Sippican Harbor for three days of racing. The championship is hosted by the Beverly Yacht Club (Marion, Mass.) and sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., LaserPerformance, Dry Creek Vineyard, Sail Proud, and Kattack. This event attracts the best team racers in the country, with competitors selected based on their team resumes.
Complete results, daily reports, and photos from the U.S. Team Racing Championship are available on the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USTRChampionship.htm.
To follow the action live using Kattack tracking, go to http://americanregatta.com/regattas/2009/usteam/.
For video highlights of the 2009 U.S. Team Racing Championship, go to Sailgroove at http://www.sailgroove.org/videos/coverage/view/235627-hinman-us-team-racing-championship.
- Content contributions made by Chris Petracco.