US Team Racing Championship Preview - Top Teams Compete This Weekend in Larchmont
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jake Fish
US Sailing Communications Manager
jakefish@ussailing.org
401.683.0800 x614
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (October 17, 2012) - Twelve of the best teams from the United States and Great Britain will compete for the esteemed George R. Hinman Trophy at the U.S. Team Racing Championship, hosted by the Larchmont Yacht Club, this Friday through Sunday, October 19-21. Once again, this year’s roster boasts former U.S. Team Racing Champions, World Champions, Wilson Trophy Champions, and an impressive pool of sailors who have had success in various disciplines and racing backgrounds.
The defending champions are back. Minor Threat of the San Diego Yacht Club burst onto the team racing scene last year in Houston to win the Hinman Trophy in their first attempt. A team comprised of college All-Americans bested the 2009 champions, New York Yacht Club Team Extreme, and other top flight teams in the Championship Round for the title.
They return their entire team from last year’s championship squad. Each member of Minor Threat has been an ICSA (Intercollegiate Sailing Association) All-American at least once. All three skippers are three-time ICSA All-Americans. Members of Minor Threat include skippers Cy Thompson (Newport, R.I.), Charlie Buckingham (Newport Beach, Calif.), Tyler Sinks (San Diego, Calif.) and crews Kelly Stannard (Salem, Conn.), Lucy Wallace (New York, N.Y.) and Alex Taylor (Boston, Mass.). Buckingham garnered College Sailor of the Year honors for 2011.
New York Yacht Club’s Team Extreme includes a roster of Yale University graduates. All six have returned to action from the 2009 championship team. They were second last year and third in 2010. In 2011, they were second at the ISAF Team Racing World Championships. Team Extreme won back-to-back Wilson Trophies in 2011 and 2010. 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.
No team has had the history of success at the U.S. Team Racing Championship like New York Yacht Club’s Silver Panda. Although some of the members have changed over the years, Silver Panda has captured this title on five occasions, including 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2002. After taking a hiatus from the event last year, Silver Panda will shoot for number six. Skippers Colin Merrick (Portsmouth, R.I.), Peter Levesque (Tiverton, R.I.), Trevor Moore (Naples, Fla.) and crew Andrew Schneider (Marblehead, Mass.), Carrie Amarante (Wayne, N.J.), and Caroline Levesque (Tiverton, R.I.) make up this year’s edition of Silver Panda. Merrick, Amarante, Peter Levesque, and Caroline Levesque return to compete this year from the 2010 championship team. Merrick is a four-time winner of the Hinman. Silver Panda won the ISAF Team Racing Worlds in the 2009 and 2007.
The West Kirby Sailing Club will make the trip from Great Britain and take aim at their first Hinman. They have finished second twice at the U.S. Team Racing Championships. The three-time UK National Champions won the ISAF Team Racing Worlds in 2011. Returning from last year is the Spinnaker Sailing Club team from Great Britain, who edged West Kirby for the 2011 UK National Championship earlier this year.
Check out the roster for a full list of teams competing in Larchmont, N.Y. this weekend.
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 will be 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 double 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
About US Sailing
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 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 Sperry Top-Sider preparation, US Sailing National Championships, disabled sailing, offshore, one-design and women's events. For more information, please visit us at www.rolex.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/ or contact David Pritchard at david.pritchard@gillna.com.
About Hobie Polarized
Hobie Polarized is a leading designer, developer, marketer and distributor of polarized eyewear. The brand’s innovative lens technology allows total glare reduction, 100% UV protection, enhances contrast and provides optimum visual acuity. The company’s products are sold worldwide and are used by watermen at all skill and lifestyle levels. The Hobie Polarized headquarters is located in Plainview, New York. For further information, please visit the company’s website at www.hobiepolarized.com.
About Old Pulteney Single Malt Whisky
Old Pulteney Single Malt Whisky is crafted at Pulteney Distillery in Wick, Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1826 by James Henderson at the height of Wick’s herring boom. The distillery lies in the heart of ‘Pulteneytown’, which was one of the most important and biggest herring fishing ports in Europe.
Old Pulteney Single Malt whisky has a long standing association with the sea and is known as the “Maritime Malt.” Its carefully crafted taste carries the windswept and rugged character of the North, the salty and fresh air of the North Sea, and the distillery’s rich maritime heritage runs through every drop of this fine malt. The award-winning Old Pulteney portfolio includes the World Whisky of the Year title, in Jim Murray’s 2012 Whisky Bible Awards. Visit us at http://www.oldpulteney.com/.