2012 US Team Racing Championship Day One Report

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jake Fish
US Sailing Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614

LARCHMONT, N.Y. (October 19, 2012) - As expected, the competition was outstanding and the conditions were very challenging on Friday at the US Team Racing Championship, hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club. Twelve teams in pursuit of the historic Hinman Trophy took on Larchmont Harbor in gusty breezes, considerable chop, and rain in the first of three days of racing.

Teams completed 42 of the 66 races in the Round Robin stage. It was a great start for Team Extreme, which includes a roster of Yale University graduates. The 2009 US Team Racing Champions went 5-1 today. They collected wins over defending champions Minor Threat, as well as Tannery Loungers, West Kirby Hawks, and Who Dat. Their only loss came at the hands of five-time champion Silver Panda. Skippers Zachary Brown (San Diego, Calif.), Thomas Barrows (St. Thomas, USVI), Stuart McNay (Chestnut Hill, Mass.), and crew Emmet Smith (New Haven, Conn.), Marla Menninger (New York, N.Y.), and Michael Hession (Chicago, Ill.) make up NYYC Team Extreme.

Silver Panda went 4-2 today. The Woonsocket Rockets and the Larchmont Yacht Club also had a good start to their regatta by going 5-2. The Rhode Island Pistols were 5-3. See the updated results and standings.

Check out the roster for a full list of teams competing in Larchmont, N.Y. this weekend.

The Round Robin will resume an hour early Saturday morning at 9:30 am. Racing began on Friday morning at 10:30 am in heavy winds from the southeast at 15 to 20 knots and temperatures in the mid-60s. Racing was called at 4:30 pm

“Regardless of what the scores reflect, every team was in the game and spectators who were viewing from the Club's veranda and front lawn were treated to a spectacle of yachting,” said Ed Padin, Event Chairman. “The conditions ranged from rain squalls with puffs from 5 to 20 knots. In the afternoon, the front cleared and sucked the wind out of the Sound.”

For results, standings, video highlights by Chris Love, photos by Peter Braune, and more information from the 2012 U.S. Team Racing Championship, please visit the event website.

For breaking news and race results from Larchmont, stay connected with US Sailing through Twitter and Facebook.

US Sailing’s Championship of Champions is sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A., Gill North America, Hobie Polarized, and Old Pulteney. This championship is a Sailors for the Sea - Clean Regattas certification event.

Championship Notes
• Teams are racing in Vanguard 15s.
• Each competing team shall consist of three skippers and three crews.
• Teams were selected or invited by the U.S. Team Racing Championship Committee from team resumes, applications, and qualifying events.
• The intended format is a round robin followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals.
• The intended course is a digital N.
• The racing area will be located in the waters of the Larchmont Harbor.
• The highest finishing U.S. team qualifies to represent the United States at the 2013 ISAF Team Racing World Championship.
• Olympians competing this week: Stu McNay (Team Extreme) - 2012, 2008 in the 470; Erik Storck (Storm Trysail Club) - 2012 in the 49er; Trevor Moore (Silver Panda) - 2012 in the 49er
• Other US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider member - Charlie Buckingham (Minor Threat)
• US Sailing Olympic Development Team members competing: Zachary Brown (Team Extreme), Chris Barnard (Newport Harbor Yacht Club), Frederick Strammer (Lauderdale Yacht Club)
• Championship Personnel:
- Edward R. Padin, Event Chairman
- Glenn Oliver, US Team Racing Championship Committee Chairperson
- Jed Kelly, Regatta Committee Chairman
- Cynthia A. Parthemos, Event Principal Race Officer
- Liz Walker, US Sailing Championships Director