US Sailing's Chubb US Junior Championships Day One Report
Contact: Jake Fish
US Sailing Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (August 8, 2012) – A total of 51 boats and 104 sailors embraced the San Francisco Bay challenge in day one of US Sailing’s Chubb US Junior Championships, hosted by San Francisco Yacht Club, St. Francis Yacht Club, and Tiburon Yacht Club. Sailors were tested against top notch competition in conditions that increased in difficulty throughout the day.
Racing got underway for the three fleets at approximately 11:30 am PDT in clear and sunny skies, with winds blowing at 8 to 10 knots. By race two, whitecaps and choppy conditions took over the Bay and breezes picked up to 18-20 knots. A calmer sea state prevailed by later in the afternoon, but wind speed remained near 20 knots.
In the 20 boat singlehanded fleet sailed in Byte CIIs, Addison Hackstaff (St. Petersburg, Fla.) experienced a day to remember. She won all four races to take a commanding ten point lead over Clay Broussard (Houston, Texas). Broussard turned in a scoring line of 4-2-2-6.
Competition is close in the 20 boat C420 doublehanded fleet. Patrick Floyd (Severna Park, Md.) and AJ Libby (Severna Park, Md.) opened up a five point lead over Christopher Ford (Millbrae, Calif.) and Daniel Ron (Belvedere, Calif.). Floyd and Libby finished third in races one and three, and second and eighth in races two and four respectively. Ford and Ron posted bullets in races two and three. They were sixth in race one and 13th in race four.
In the 11 boat J/22 fleet, the team of Michael Madigan (Newport Beach, Calif.), Jimmy Madigan (Newport Beach, Calif.), Jack Thompson (Newport Beach, Calif.), and Johannes McElvain (San Diego, Calif.) dominated from start to finish. They won all four races today to take a five point lead over Jack Barton (San Anselmo, Calif.), Sam Barton (San Anselmo, Calif.), Corey Lynch (Tiburon, Calif.), and Sammy Shea (Kentfield, Calif.). This year’s J/22 fleet sailing for the Sears Cup will have an added twist to the competition. Competitors have weight requirements as prescribed by the J/22 class, and all have added a fourth sailor to meet those requirements.
Visit the event website at http://championships.ussailing.org/Youth/ChubbJrChampionships.htm for daily recaps, standings, video, photos and more. To get up-to-the-minute updates from San Francisco, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
US Sailing’s Chubb U.S. Junior Championships is sponsored by Chubb Insurance Group, Zim Sailing, Gill North America, and SWITLIK Survival Products. The Championship is a Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas certification event.
Championship Notes
• Championship dates are August 8-10 (Wednesday through Friday) with racing slated to begin at 11 am PT. Start times are subject to change.
• Three races are required to be completed to constitute a series. When fewer than six races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. When six or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. Ten races are scheduled (this is a limiting maximum) with the exception of the triplehanded fleet.
• The sailing area for the single- and doublehanded fleets will be on San Francisco Bay in the area known as “Olympic Circle”.
• The sailing area for the triplehanded fleet will on San Francisco Bay in the area off Paradise Cay.
• US Sailing Championship medals will be awarded to competitors who finish first through third.
• Sportsmanship and Seamanship Awards will be presented as follows: singlehanded – Faye Bennet Sportsmanship Award; doublehanded – Bemis Sportsmanship Award; triplehanded – Cox Sportsmanship Award.
• The Seamanship Trophy will be awarded to the triplehanded team that receives the greatest number of points for neatness and general ship-shape condition of their boats.
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth 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 Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit www.ussailing.org .
About Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
Member insurers of the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies form a multi-billion-dollar organization providing property and casualty insurance for personal and commercial customers through 4,000 independent agents and brokers worldwide. Since its founding in the seaport district of New York City in 1882, Chubb has been a leading insurer of marine-related operations. Chubb provides comprehensive insurance and loss control services to private yacht clubs, marina operators and yacht owners. Chubb’s global network includes branches and affiliates throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Australia. More information on Chubb may be obtained at www.chubb.com.
About Zim Sailing
Zim Sailing, headquartered in Warren, R.I. is the fastest growing manufacturer of one-design sailboats in North America. Currently, Zim manufactures and distributes the Optimist, Club 420, CFJ and the Byte CII. Zim’s customers include high schools, colleges, yacht clubs, community sailing centers and the passionate dinghy sailor. Zim boats have won several local, regional, National and North American championships since the company’s creation in 2008. Zim is dedicated to the success and growth of dinghy sailing. Zim’s experienced staff and support vehicles can be found at many regattas. For more information, please visit www.zimsailing.com or email info@zimsailing.com.
About Gill North America
Gill NA, with headquarters near Atlanta, Ga. is the sole distributor and licensee of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America including Caribbean, Central America, US and Canada. Gill is an apparel and accessories leader in the worldwide marine industry for over three decades and specializes in high tech, breathable waterproof clothing. The company tests, designs and markets a variety of performance-oriented, award-winning apparel and accessories for virtually every type of boating activity with product lines that include foul weather gear; interactive layering systems; footwear; gloves; bags; junior gear; scholastic gear and team wear. Available through hundreds of dealers nationally, Gill NA is the sole distributor and licensee of Gill-brand foul weather gear in North America, where it is the top selling yachting clothing brand. For more information on Gill NA, visit the company website at http://www.gillna.com/orcontact Lance Jones at Gill NA, (678) 730-5581 / e-mail: lance@gillna.com.
About SWITLIK Survival Products
SWITLIK is proud to be a sponsor of the U.S. Youth and Junior Sailing Championships, the pinnacle of performance dinghy sailing for America’s young adults. These fine young sailors exhibit the same type of drive, performance and perseverance that goes into every SWITLIK product.
Established in 1920, SWITLIK has been family owned and operated for four generations. Known worldwide as a manufacturer of the highest quality personnel safety and survival products for the marine, aviation and military/government markets, SWITLIK products are designed and manufactured in the USA to meet the toughest performance standards. From the world's finest race marks to the most trusted survival equipment and technical protective clothing, SWITLIK products are defined by Quality, Performance and Innovation, every day, in all we do. SWITLIK - Simply the best for over 90 years. For more information, please visit www.SWITLIK.com.