> US SAILING Media > Latest News > 2009 > Team Extreme Dethrones Silver Panda at 2009 U.S. Team Racing Championship
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACT:
Jake Fish, US SAILING Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
(401) 683-0800
MARION, Mass. (September 28, 2009) – The New York Yacht Club’s Silver Panda team learned the hard way on Saturday that all winning streaks comes to an end. Silver Panda’s three-year vice-like grip on the U.S. Team Racing Championship was broken up by Stuart McNay and Team Extreme in a thrilling final on Sunday.
Team Extreme consists of former and current Yale University sailors including, US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics member, McNay (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), Michael Hession (New Haven, Conn.), Zachary Brown (New Haven, Conn.), Emmet Smith (New Haven, Conn.), Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas, VI) and Marla Menninger (Costa Mesa, Calif.). This was only the second time they sailed together as a team of six. The new champions sealed the win by edging the three-time defending champions in the last race, 12-9, to win by a 3-2 final score.
Team Extreme needed a third race to knock out "les courtesies" and advance to the semifinals. They then went, 3-0, dismissing Tall Boyz to reach the finals. Team Extreme had been undefeated on day one. They sailed well in the big breeze that day, but fell to fifth in the standings after day two. The big breeze was back for day three.
Meanwhile, Silver Panda would needed to win three in a row to beat Team San Diego Yacht Club in the semifinals. In the finals, the wind was blowing over 20 knots and the 5-6 foot swell continued to roll in. Team Extreme and Silver Panda swapped wins, bringing the series, 2-2, in the best of five. Close to 200 races had been held over the past two days, and it all came down to a single 10 minute race with five legs.
The hundreds spectators that had watched the racing each day from Tabor Boy, the training ship of Tabor Academy were now gone. Some were now sitting in the comfort of warm dry automobiles that lined the near shore, trying to follow the bright sails that sat against the muted gray background.
The final race of the 2009 U.S. Team Racing Championship for the George R. Hinman Trophy was decided when Team Extreme crossed the finish line with a wining combination. Silver Panda did not go down without a fight, but it was not to be their day. Team Extreme, which had started the regatta on the first day with all wins, would end the regatta with a win and take the national championship.
In third place was Tall Boyz, comprised of Sean Doyle (Cos Cob, Conn.), Susan Doyle (Cos Cob, Conn.), Clay Johnson (Toms River, N.J.), Elyse Dolbec (New York, N.Y.), Kyle Kovacs (Brant Beach, N.J.), and Megan Watson (Hingham, M.A).
Silver Panda owns four of the six U.S. Team Racing Championships won by the NYYC since 1999. Three newcomers joined the Silver Panda team for this year’s U.S. Team Racing Championship. Joining Colin Merrick (Portsmouth, R.I.), Amanda Callahan (Canton, Mass.) and Peter Levesque (Tiverton, R.I.) was Carrie Amarante (Wayne, N.J.), former USSTAG member, Tim Wadlow (Beverly, Mass.) and Ery Largay (Beverly, Mass.). Silver Panda’s team racing resume runs deep. They also won the 2009 and 2007 ISAF Team Racing World Championship.
A total of 16 teams, sailing in Vanguard 15s with a three-boat / six-sailor team format, battled it out for US SAILING’s George R. Hinman Trophy in Sippican Harbor for three days of racing. The championship was 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.
This year’s field included 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.
Complete results, daily reports, and photos from US SAILING's U.S. Team Racing Championship are available on the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Adult/USTRChampionship.htm.
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.
- Race report contributions made by by Chris Petracco.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership 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 AlphaGraphics. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org.
About Rolex Watch U.S.A.
Since Rolex Watch U.S.A. first presented timepieces to America's Cup defenders in 1958, the company has consistently recognized and encouraged excellence in every important arena of competitive sailing, including US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics preparation, US SAILING championships, disabled sailing, offshore, one-design and women's events.
About LaserPerformance
LaserPerformance formally Vanguard Sailboats has a long history of providing benefits and support to US SAILING, its members, events, and programs. Today, LaserPerformance has the role of official sponsor of the US Youth Championships, the U.S. Junior Women's Doublehanded Championship, the U.S. Junior Women's Singlehanded Championship, the U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championship, the U.S. Junior Singlehanded and Doublehanded Championships, and the U.S. Team Racing Championship. LaserPerformance's commitment to supplying the boats and support for these events is what helps to ensure high caliber competition at these Championships. Many of the world's most popular dinghies are built by LaserPerformance. The impressive list includes three of the nine Olympic class boats (Laser, 470 and 49er). Boats being supplied to US SAILING Championships are the Laser, the Laser Radial, the Club 420 and the Vanguard 15. For more information on LaserPerformance, call 401-683-0960 or visit their web site at www.laserperformance.com.
About Dry Creek Vineyard
Recognized in sailing circles and known for its sailboat labels. The Dry Creek Vineyard family has expressed its passion for sailing since the early 1980s by designing wine labels featuring classic sailing yachts. Founded in 1972 by David S. Stare, Dry Creek Vineyard is located in the heart of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, Calif. The winery is known for producing some of California's finest Fum-Blancs and Zinfandels. Their wines are easy to recognize due to the spirited yacht paintings that appear on each bottle from Dry Creek Vineyard. For more information on Dry Creek Vineyard please visit www.drycreekvineyard.com.
About Kattack
Enjoy the thrill of the race after the race and see exactly what made the winner come out ahead. Kattack is an easy-to-use, affordable application that provides entertaining and enlightening “Birds-Eye” sailboat race playback for Yacht Clubs, Fleets, Schools, coaches and Regattas. Developed by avid sailors, it is an invaluable tool to help improve starting, boat handling, tactics and strategy. For more information about Kattack, visit our website at www.kattack.com.
About SailProud
SailProud is a lifestyle apparel company focused on a dedication to transitional performance and stylish, nautical design. The brand is now focused on growing to become a passionate community of sailors, yachters, and maritime enthusiasts worldwide. Every garment created by the company has been ruthlessly engineered and tested to be simply the best apparel for having a great day on the water, on shore, or anywhere else your day might take you. Besides manufacturing some of the softest and most comfortable shirts on the planet, SP apparel truly works - onmoisture wicking, odor prevention, temperature management, and more. At SailProud we pride ourselves on a relentless focus on quality, performance, and comfort - all while remaining passionate about growing the sport and giving back to worthy causes.